Landing an interview can prove to be one of the more difficult tasks in one’s career pursuit. As the nation’s economy continues to suffer from financial loss and job layoffs, many citizens are looking for ways to ease back into “career” hunt. Hunting for a career is a full-time job for the unemployed, between searching for positions on Craigslist.com, Linkedin.com or other well-known career linking sites and attending interviews. The job market is saturated with jobseekers forwarding resumes and cover letters – make yours stand out.
Throughout my collegiate career I attended many job fairs and interviews and learned “career” hunting techniques along the way. There are only four (4) steps to take to landing an interview regardless of the position: Resume 101, The Cover Letter, Stand Out Samples and The Email
Resume 101
Center full name at the top of the resume Add address, phone number, email address and website (if applicable Add Education, Experience, Affiliations, and Skills Work experience should descend from most recent Bold and underline the title of the position (add 2-3 bullets under each position) Use past tense unless currently employed in the position Cater resume to position applying It is okay to have a resume longer than one page (if you are an experienced worker or professional) Keep it simple and traditional – it’s the internet not all computers upload items the same Save resumes as .PDF to perserve structure
Before sending or uploading your resume check out the name of the hiring manager or head of the HR department. Add a personal touch by personally greeting the recruiter in your cover letter. I’ve found that stating, “Greetings Ms./Mr. _____” works very well, and if a name is not found I write, “Greetings Recruiting Committee,”. Use your cover letter to bring a voice to your resume and diversity to your portfolio.
The Cover Letter
Cover letters should have four (4) main paragraphs:
Introduce yourself, education and position applying Explain your work experience in-depth Select 2-3 examples of past positions and successes within the organization (new programs, incentives, sales increase) Always be sure to include figures and statistics Ie. Created advertising campaign increasing sales 78% Express why you are a great candidate for the position How do your experiences and goals align with this position? How will you be beneficial to the organization? How will the experience be mutually beneficial? Add availability, current location, phone number, email address and end with “Sincerely,” If you have a means of transportations state that you have “reliable transportation” Add professional web site links to prove you are social and digital media savvy
Stand Out Samples
Applying to jobs online/”career” hunting can seem like placing your resume into a never ending black hole. Stand out by adding a “leave-behind-packet” to enhance your resume and cover letter.
The Stand Out Sample packet should include:3-4 work or portfolio samples specifically catered to the position you are applying – showcase your best works.
For example, if you are a communications or public relations professional add: email blasts, press releases, articles and/or diagrams of your work increasing awareness or sales.
The Email
The email to the employer is the easiest, but most important part of the process. Just as we have catered all items to the recruiter, we will also cater the email. The email should be 2-3 sentences, a brief introduction and gateway to your resume and cover letter.
Greet the recruiter “Good Morning Ms./Mr. – ” State your name and the position in which you are applying Briefly describe your experience (one sentence) State you have attached you resume, cover letter and work samples Provide email and phone Add if you have a reliable transportation and when free for an interview End with “Thank you,”
I encourage all applicants to follow-up with the recruiters on all active resumes 4-5 days after applying to a new position.