This can be a Catch-22 situation for many, especially if you’re underemployed or soon to be unemployed. You know what you’ve made, you know what you’re worth, and you know what you should ask for. However, you’re also aware of the current economy and don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

So how do you include salary expectations that will meet the employer’s request while keeping you in the running?

The answer depends upon your situation.

1. If you’re not worried about personal finances and are confident of what you can bring to the targeted company, by all means name your price. It should be in keeping with salary ranges for the industry and locale, but you won’t have to lowball the figure.

2. If you’re currently employed but are desperate to leave your company for whatever reason, then you should offer a range of salaries that include the lowest you’ll accept/the salary you do make/and what would be the ideal compensation. For example, you would write: Salary expectations: 60s to 80s (You would be making mid-70s at your present position).

3. If you’re unemployed and need money, then you should write a range, like #2, but keep it on the lower side and add that the salary is negotiable. Something like this: Salary expectations: 60s to 70s and negotiable.

Although it’s always disheartening to accept a pay cut, it’s also important to remember that you can’t get a pay raise until you’re working at the company. The only way to get your foot in the door may be to accept lower pay. So be judicious in what you write in a cover letter as to your salary expectations.

Your résumé presents factual information about your qualifications, experience, and educational credentials. You use the résumé to present yourself as a good match for a position based on the content in a job posting. It is common for job seekers to use one résumé for several employment contacts. While this is a customary practice, a cover letter lets you personalize your résumé package for a specific job opportunity.

You no doubt have value-added skills that are above and beyond those listed as the fundamental job requirements. These skills can distinguish you from other candidates. A cover letter lets you present this information and add value to your marketability.

In creating your résumé package, your cover letter is an informative and even fun way to demonstrate that you can communicate in a clear and concise fashion. You do this with the words you use, the tone of the letter, and the visual presentation.

Although there are no set rules to creating cover letters, the following are some guidelines:

Be brief – Cover letters are not essays. Use one page to communicate who you are, what you can do for your potential employer, and why you are the best candidate for the position.

Be professional, yet personal – Avoid using the same tone and language you use in your résumé. Address your reader as if you were speaking to him or her in person. Your cover letter should add to whatever is in your résumé, not repeat it.

Tell who you are – Open the letter with a clear statement of who you are and what you do. Don’t make your reader search for that information in the body of the letter or worse have to figure it out from the content of the letter.

Maintain consistency – Use the same heading format on all documents within your résumé package (résumé, cover letter, references, follow-up letters, thank-you letters).

Highlight your value added skills – Spotlight your skills that do not appear in your résumé such as your work ethics, teamwork ability, and skills that are not listed as requirements for the job but are useful to the organization.

Explain why you want to work for the company – Do you like their product or service, their financial standing, their position in the industry, or their direction for the future? Companies like to know what captures your attention.

Proof, Proof, Proof – Make sure that your letter is clear, concise, and error free. Make a checklist that addresses grammar, punctuation, and words that are spelled correctly but out of context (form instead of from, you instead of your, etc.). Use this checklist for your own proof reading and have someone else read it if possible.

A cover letter can make the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over. Use a cover letter to help boost your chances of getting the job offer.

Rule #1 — Appearance

The resume and cover letter must be aesthetically pleasing and consistent in appearance. This would include using the same heading and fonts in each.

Rule #2 – Target Your Audience

Always use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation. If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job posting, a bit of Internet research or a well-structured phone call can produce results.

Rule #3 – A Strong Opening

A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture and retain a hiring manager’s interest. Pared down to essentials, for a quick and effective read, it should include reference to the position being sought and a brief statement as to why the applicant feels qualified to fill the job.

Rule #4 – Showcasing Accomplishments

Include a bulleted area to emphasize accomplishments pertinent to the targeted job.

Rule #5 – A Proactive Closing

Always initiate further action at the end of a cover letter. A proactive closing indicates that the applicant will call within a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to meet.

For example, a Certified Public Accountant who works with non-profit companies and the self-employed would not write:

• Oversaw 501 (c)(3) accounts; provided 1099s to meet government regulations.

A non-accountant would be mystified when reading the above.  A better way to present the same data would be:

• Oversaw non-profit – 501 (c)(3) – accounts; provided self-employment tax forms (1099s) to relevant parties to avoid IRS related fines and penalties.

One government site – The Defense Finance and Accounting Service – suggests the following:

Using Appropriate Terminology

Use plain English. Write your resume as though you are submitting it for review by someone who has no technical understanding of the kind of work done in positions you may have previously held. Imagine that you are explaining what you have done and the skills you have used to a friend who has never worked in the same kind of jobs as you.

Describe the knowledge and skills you possess and the duties you have performed using terminology common to the general occupational field. Describe skills and experience in universally accepted terms that could be readily understood in both the public and private sectors.

Minimize the use of acronyms in your resume narrative. If you must use them, explain what they represent, what processes or systems they describe, and how you have used the knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with them.

The following examples demonstrate ways “technical goulash” can be translated into something understandable for both the Resume Builder and staffing specialists:

BAD:  Use IATS to process travel vouchers.

BETTER:  Use an automated financial system, IATS, to compute and process travel reimbursements for transportation, meals, lodging, and similar entitlements.

BAD:  Process vouchers and issue a variety of disbursements using SRD1.

BETTER:  Using knowledge of disbursing principles and procedures, examine requests for payments to individual military and civilian employees, private sector vendors, and other public agencies. Perform a quality control review to ensure that these requests are in order, assign appropriate accounting classifications, and prepare checks or electronic transfer payments. Use an automated disbursing system, SRD1, to accomplish these actions.

This straight forward, three sentence paragraph might be sufficient to describe all of the major duties performed by a disbursing clerk or technician position.

BAD:  Assist functionals in writing SCRs. Develop interfaces and serve as the POC for all EC initiatives.

BETTER:  Work with functional users of automated financial and accounting systems to help identify needed changes and to write system change requests (SCRs). Write computer programs to enable automated systems to interface and to communicate with each other. Serve as the primary contact for automated electronic commerce (EC) systems and improvements.

Descriptions of duties performed, knowledge used, and skills applied in accomplishing those duties should be simple and straightforward, descriptive, and reduced to only essential information. When finished writing a paragraph, it is helpful to stop and ask yourself the following questions:

Would a third party who is not familiar with my occupational background understand the kind of work that I do? 

Is there nonessential information (nice to have, but not helpful in meeting mandatory qualification requirements) in what I have written?

Have I omitted any unique, but relevant special experience or skills I possess that might distinguish me from other candidates if my resume reaches the desk of a selecting official?

Have I adequately described the major characteristics of my occupation or background and skills that are most common to my occupation?

If unemployment or underemployment has given you more free time than you would normally have, take advantage of that time to make yourself more marketable in the current job scene. 

One of the best ways to increase skills that could be readily used by future employers is to freelance.  Freelancing can include anything from writing to editing to graphic design.  Anything that can be done outside of the office on your home computer is considered freelancing.  This is the perfect opportunity to bring already-refined skills into the open.  Even if the work is unpaid, having work that is published or prominently displayed for future employers in a magazine or Web site is a great way to make your work stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. In addition, the more practice you have in a certain skill area will make your expertise even better.

Another great way to sharpen skills is to obtain a certificate for a certain skill-set at a nearby community college or skill center.  Certificates range from Speed-reading to Leadership.  Not only are these classes discounted because they are in a neighborhood community college, they will also teach or sharpen your skills.  Then, you can use these certificates to obtain an advantage when applying to jobs where most people have the same type of skills at the forefront. 

The best way to sharpen skills and obtain experience that is crucial to future employment, especially in a field outside of your expertise, is to intern.  Internships are up as companies need more staff and have fewer funds.  Thus, unpaid or underpaid internships are everywhere and can be created by companies.  Therefore, if you want to go into an industry where you have little experience, this is an opportunity to obtain it.  In these types of situations, if your work is really phenomenal, there may be a position that opens up in the company during the internship.

When sharpening up skills in this economy, it is important to make your skills and talents stand out from the rest of the applicant pool.  Thus, obtaining publication, certificates or experience that others lack is the fast-track way to getting the job of your dreams.

 To request Marina for your resume or cover letter order, please select her name in the ‘select editor’ field of the online order: http://www.resumeedge.com/ or http://resumeedge.ca/

If unemployment or underemployment has given you more free time than you would normally have, take advantage of that time to make yourself more marketable in the current job scene. 

One of the best ways to increase skills that could be readily used by future employers is to freelance.  Freelancing can include anything from writing to editing to graphic design.  Anything that can be done outside of the office on your home computer is considered freelancing.  This is the perfect opportunity to bring already-refined skills into the open.  Even if the work is unpaid, having work that is published or prominently displayed for future employers in a magazine or Web site is a great way to make your work stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. In addition, the more practice you have in a certain skill area will make your expertise even better.

Another great way to sharpen skills is to obtain a certificate for a certain skill-set at a nearby community college or skill center.  Certificates range from Speed-reading to Leadership.  Not only are these classes discounted because they are in a neighborhood community college, they will also teach or sharpen your skills.  Then, you can use these certificates to obtain an advantage when applying to jobs where most people have the same type of skills at the forefront. 

The best way to sharpen skills and obtain experience that is crucial to future employment, especially in a field outside of your expertise, is to intern.  Internships are up as companies need more staff and have fewer funds.  Thus, unpaid or underpaid internships are everywhere and can be created by companies.  Therefore, if you want to go into an industry where you have little experience, this is an opportunity to obtain it.  In these types of situations, if your work is really phenomenal, there may be a position that opens up in the company during the internship.

When sharpening up skills in this economy, it is important to make your skills and talents stand out from the rest of the applicant pool.  Thus, obtaining publication, certificates or experience that others lack is the fast-track way to getting the job of your dreams. 

To request Marina for your resume or cover letter, please select her last name in the “select your editor” field on the online order. www.resumeedge.com

Let’s go through our “don’t-let-this-happen-to-you” list:

1. Using a suffix after a family name. If you’re a Jr. or a Sr. leave it off. It makes you sound too young or too old. Have a family nickname? Keep it in the family. A resume should have your given name only.
2. Funky email addresses: HateMondays@email.com may sound cool to your friends. To an employer it’s unprofessional.
3. The What-I-Want Objective: A resume is not the time to give an employer your wish list. Use a summary of your skills, instead, to tell them what you can offer.
4. Generic Phrasing: Adept professional, seasoned manager, dynamic candidate. These phrases take up valuable space unless you support them with a quantified accomplishment.
5. Accomplishments That Aren’t: Without the results, they’re daily duties and lose their impact. Always include dollar figures, percentages, and time periods. For example: Grew sales 38% within six months, representing an increase of $100,000 in revenue, through targeted cold calling.
6. Buried Skills: The end of a resume is not the place for important certifications, licensure, or multilingual capabilities. Put them in the opening summary where they won’t be overlooked.
7. Listing Hobbies or Interests: If it’s not pertinent to your career goal, leave it off. White water rafting may make you a liability to the employer’s health care plan.
8. Haphazard Organization: List your most important skills first, followed by the next most important, and so on. Education doesn’t always go at the top or at the bottom of the resume. It and the other sections go where they will most impress.
9. Failure to Target: Consider an employer’s needs when writing your resume. A one-size-fits-all model will likely fail.
10. Use of first person and slang: Resumes are business documents written in the third person. Keep yours conservative and businesslike.

Ten easy reminders to get you started.

Although many employers require a college degree, there are hundreds more that do not. When you find yourself in the job market, it is important to focus on your expertise and specifically target the position by accentuating experience and/or training that parallels what the company or organization is advertising for. Searching for a new position without a degree can be difficult, therefore, a strong resume is imperative and a pointed cover letter can give you the visibility you need.

By having your resume professionally written, you give yourself an edge over other candidates who present a document that is self-prepared. Your editor will need you to gather information together to showcase what you have to offer, which can include goals, accomplishments and achievements, leadership abilities, communications and interpersonal skills, computer proficiencies, along with specialized experience related to your field as well as classes and seminars you have attended. Although it is important to have enough detail to encourage the reader to develop an interest in bringing you in for a face-to-face interview, you don’t want to bombard them with too much. When someone runs into a resume that is too long or doesn’t have enough spacing within the body of the document, it can be intimidating and simply not read. Keep in mind that employers are scanning through looking for keywords and phrases that “match” what they are looking for.

Being a well-rounded individual is also important, especially when first starting your career. Many candidates who have very little experience and don’t have a strong academic background should accentuate other areas within their lives that show community involvement, activities where they have gained organizational and motivational skills, team collaboration, training, discipline, adhering to and following guidelines, etc. These are areas that create initial dedication and build character, which can help the reader see you as a person with a strong level of integrity and an outstanding work ethic.

A cover letter can often times allow the candidate to “speak” about what they have to offer in a more informal way and target each job and company based on in-depth research of both the organization and their employment needs. It is simply a way to introduce yourself and touch on highlights they will find in your resume. There is no need to mention that you don’t have a degree, but it can be helpful to indicate how your background (both work experience and/or what education you do have) has prepared you for the type position you are applying for.

When an advertisement indicates that potential applicants should have a college degree, it never hurts to go ahead and submit your resume anyway. Sometimes companies will list this need but end up hiring someone who has a strong background that fits the job requirements. Don’t rule yourself out by not applying for the position. They may not respond, but if you haven’t submitted your resume, you can be assured that you will not hear anything back!

In closing, simply remember that an education is typically the first step in securing a rewarding career opportunity. Even if you haven’t had a chance to pursue a degree, present yourself in a professional manner that demonstrates how you will prove to be a very valuable employee. You should come across as an individual who feels quite confident as a potential asset to your next company.

Lou Huskey served over 25 years in creating effective resumes as a professional recruiter first with a private employment agency, then with Management Recruiters, and eventually as owner of her own recruiting and consulting firm. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and has prepared thousands of resumes for candidates at all levels over the span of her career. Lou has a solid understanding of exactly what prospective employers are looking for in a resume and how to “sell” an individual’s background by creating effective resumes, cover letters, follow-up and thank you letters for each of her clients. Her expertise also includes a strong knowledge of interview strategies and career counseling, which has proven to be of great value in assisting individuals to be successful in face-to-face interviews with prospective employers.

To request Lou for a service on ResumeEdge.com, simply choose her last name (huskey) in the ’select your editor’ field.

Following up demonstrates your drive and initiative. Someone who calls and says, “I have applied for such and such position. I understand you must be busy, but I would love to hear back from you because I am really interested in working for XYZ Company” is not only proactive, but also shows consideration for the employer’s side of the process.

However, there is a fine line between aggressively following up and being downright annoying. From your perspective, you’re anxiously waiting to hear if you got the job. On the other side of the equation is a stressed-out human resource manager trying to make a decision from a stack of resumes. Follow-up calls are acceptable … up to a point.

It’s a tough situation. If you call and the recruiter has six positions open and 125 resumes for each one, no way will he or she stop and search through the piles. You are more likely to get voice mail anyway. Some advise to call after hours and leave a message. Then you’ve made it known you’re really interested, but the employer doesn’t have to respond, only note that you’ve called.

Employers who use electronic application processes usually have clear guidelines as to how they want people to follow up. They don’t want to get calls to see if an application was received, since many automatically send out an acknowledgement or receipt. Some also have procedures in place for applicants to track their resumes online.

There is no way human resources people in large companies can physically get back to every applicant anyway. A corporate recruiter from a large asset management company notes that because of the tremendous volume of applications they get, their Web site clearly states applicants are not to call. So if applicants do call, it is seen as a bad move along the lines of “You are not following the process on our Web site. You have shown us already that you don’t know how to follow instructions.”

If there are no instructions about how an employer wants you to follow up, the consensus is to wait about two weeks and then have the follow-up call or e-mail. Most agree that if your cover letter states you will follow up in a specific time frame, follow up in that time frame. If you don’t, you send the signal that you are not doing what you said you would do. How’s that for a recommendation? In any case, err on the side of caution to ensure that you aren’t pegged as pushy, irritating, or a waste of anyone’s time.