The Resume Blog by Resumeedge » Samples

Make a Good First Impression with Your Cover Letter

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:31:13 +0000

If you decide to include a cover letter when submitting your resume, it’s important to read these tips:

1. Don’t simply send a cover letter that states – ‘my resume is enclosed (attached, follows, whatever)’. That’s a given. You’re wasting the hiring manager’s time and you’re missing out on a great opportunity to sell yourself by being so cryptic.

2. Never address the cover letter to Dear Sir or Madam – or worse – To Whom It May Concern. That’s equivalent to Dear Occupant. Go online and find the name of the hiring manager at the company. Call the company and ask the receptionist to whom a letter should be addressed. If you’re answering a blind ad (the company’s name isn’t given), then don’t use a salutation. Instead, write:

Re: Job #876ABC

Re: Junior Accountant Position

Then get right into the body of your letter.

3. Use the letter to tell the hiring manager about you – not the company. You’re wasting the HR person’s time when you state something like – “I’m excited about applying to your company because you make the best widgets in the business. USA Today stated that you were…” Guess what – the hiring manager already knows all this. What s/he doesn’t know is who you are and what you can bring to the company in terms of knowledge, skills, abilities.

4. Use the opening paragraph to state the job you’re applying for and why you’re the perfect candidate for the position. Don’t make the hiring manager guess as to the purpose of your letter. Most won’t. They’ll simply move on to the next candidate.

5. Bullet the middle of the letter and state your most stellar achievements – as they pertain to the qualifications needed for the job. In other words, sell yourself here.

6. End the letter proactively, stating that you’ll be contacting the hiring manager to follow up on your interest in the position. If you don’t take that first step, you might be waiting a long time for an interview.

A cover letter isn’t just another document giving you a chance to say you want a job. Again, that’s a given. It’s a marketing piece, like the resume, to sell the hiring manager on your unique talents and abilities.

Reverse-chronological versus functional or combination resumes

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:34:11 +0000

The skills and experience information in modern resumes can be listed using three separate formats:

1. Reverse chronological

2. Functional

3. A combination of the two

Reverse chronological

Generally speaking, hiring managers prefer that employment data is provided with the most recent job listed first, followed by the next most recent, and so on. In that way, it’s easy to see career progression from an entry-level position to a more senior status. It’s also easy to detect gaps in dates of employment. It’s these gaps that cause candidates to select functional formats.

Functional

Functional formats stress what skills you have, rather than where and when you used them. These formats are best for students who have just graduated from college and have little “real-world” experience; those who have been out of the workforce for long periods because they were raising children; or job seekers who are transitioning from one career or industry to another. However, sometimes joining a functional with a reverse chronological format makes the most sense – these are called combination resumes.

Combination

With this format, skills that are relevant to the current job search are placed in a special section by function, while the Professional History or Work Experience is presented in a standard, reverse-chronological format. This format offers the best of both worlds, and is highly popular with job seekers and hiring managers.

For more information and to see our samples: http://www.resumeedge.com/resume-writing/resumes/resume-types/index.php?nav=rc.rc

Resume Best Practices

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:12:00 +0000

Resume Best Practices & Standards

1. Resume Design: Selecting the right design template to showcase your accomplishments based on your industry is important. If you’re in a conservative industry (banking, accounting), your template should reflect that and not lean heavily on designer fonts or frivolous designs.

2. Page Length: Recruiters and Hiring Managers prefer resumes to be two pages or less. However, the rule of thumb is: a modern resume is as long – or as short – as it needs to be, provided only relevant information for the new job search is included. Nothing extraneous.

3. Qualification (Opening) Summary versus Objective Statement: Recruiters and Hiring Managers prefer a qualifications summary over an objective statement every time. They want to see what candidates can bring to their organization in terms of performance rather than the candidate stating a position they want.

4. Quantify Accomplishments: A resume must have quantified accomplishments not a reiteration of a job description. Example: Increased productivity 58% within three months of hire by retraining staff on latest accounting software. Providing percentages, dollar figures, and timeframes strengthens achievements.

5. Strong Data Prioritization & Organization: The resume needs to be organized in standard sections. Within each section, the data is presented in reverse-chronological order (the last job or school listed first). The information is prioritized based on value to the Recruiter and Hiring Manager. Information pertinent to the targeted position should be showcased first. For example, if Education is the most important qualification; it’s presented before Work History, rather than last on the document.

6. Non-relevant & Repetitive Data: An effective resume focuses on enhancing your candidacy and avoids repetition and inclusion of non-relevant information. For example, hobbies & interests should only be included if relevant to the job. Personal information (birth dates, marital status etc.) is included in some oversea resumes.

7. Language: Use of business language is critical to the professionalism of a resume. Resumes should avoid the use of personal pronouns (“I’ “my” “we”) and slang at all times.

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: UK

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:30:00 +0000

UNITED KINGDOM

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. Secondary education, include dates/names/locations of schools, plus qualifications received

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Include reasons for leaving

Interests/Hobbies: Describe how time outside of work is spent

Format: Education followed by professional experience

Length: No longer than two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company

Length: One page

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: Thailand

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:06:00 +0000

THAILAND

Resume Guidelines

Education:

1. University: include data about student training work/thesis projects stating length of time and references.
2. Secondary school/high school – state major subjects studied; provide details on specific courses and programs. Indicate if you’ve studied abroad.
3. Include extracurricular activities

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Professional Experience:

1. Explain all gaps in employment
2. If employed part time, indicate why you did not choose full time work

Military Experience: Include details, including military service status

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Begin with personal information, then academic achievements, additional information (training, professional associations, hobbies), employment record (reverse chronological order), and references.

Length and Format:

No more than two pages, three is the max; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. What job is being applied for, why, and how you found out about it (newspaper ad, etc.)
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Address to person in charge of recruitment

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: Switzerland

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:06:00 +0000

SWITZERLAND

Resume Guidelines

Format:

1. Education
2. Awards/honors
3. Additional education/specialized training
4. Detailed work experience descriptions (reverse chronological format)
5. Achievements/accomplishments
6. Special skills (especially languages)
7. Interests/hobbies
8. Personal information

Format: A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Length: One to two pages

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. State current position
2. Position you’re applying for and why
3. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
4. Career goals
5. Geographical preferences
6. Ability to relocate
7. Salary range
8. State if currently unemployed
9. Address letter to specific person

Length: One page

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: Sweden

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:51:00 +0000

SWEDEN

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Photo

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Education:

1. Provide focus areas during upper secondary school/high school (i.e. specific courses/programs)
2. Indicate if you studied abroad

Professional Experience:

1. Indicate whether it was full or part time work
2. Explain gaps in emp loyment
3. For part time work, explain why you didn’t choose full time

Military Experience: Include with focus on training, field of responsibility, and managerial positions. List dates and location of service.

Interests/Hobbies: Briefly mention

Format: Begin with education, followed by professional experience

Length: No more than two pages

Other: It’s important you have your resume/CV “attested” or “verified.” Ask someone who can verify information’s validity (i.e. a parent, teacher or good acquaintance). Have them sign final page of resume/CV, references, grades, etc.

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Include when you started current position, work content, field of responsibility, organizational level/reporting structure, name of employer.
4. Personal data: Include marital status, ability to relocate, availability to travel for business
5. Recent volunteer experience, longer periods of foreign travel, your future professional goals
6. Indicate if you’re presently unemployed

Length and Format: No more than one page; A4 page setup rather than 8 ½” x 11”

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: South Africa

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:06:00 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Marital Status
3. Nationality

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (include level of proficiency)
2. Computer Skills
3. Public Speaking
4. Specialized Training

Education:

1. List high school/secondary school name and graduation date

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors
2. Explain gaps in employment

Formats:

1. Brief profile: Summarized version of comprehensive resume that includes personal data, educational background. Professional experience is not elaborated. Current or relevant positions are detailed. Brief profiles are submitted initially.

2. Comprehensive CV: Includes specifics in each position you’ve held. Begin with personal data, then education, followed by experience. Chronological, reverse chronological or functional formats are all acceptable

Length: No restrictions

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Include qualifications and area of expertise
2. Name current employer and describe your position
3. If applying to a job posting, list the reference and job title at top of page
4. A work permit is required if you are not a South African
5. Explain why you are not presently employed
6. Specify availability to interview

Length: No more than one page

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: Singapore

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:26:00 +0000

SINGAPORE

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Age
2. Race
3. Nationality
4. Sex

Education:

1. List high school/secondary school name and graduation date
2. Include extracurricular activities during high school and college

Professional Experience:

1. Indicate your reason(s) for leaving
2. Explain gaps in employment

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills (especially the ability to speak Mandarin. Japanese, Bahasa Indonesian/Malaysia, or Thai are useful. Helpful Chinese dialects are: Cantonese in Hong Kong and Kwang-chou, and Hokkien in Taiwan and some parts of China.

2. Computer Skills

3. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – US Companies)

4. GAP (General Accounting Principles – British Companies)

Military Service: Include rank, achievements, areas of training, responsibilities

Hobbies/Interests: Include to give employer idea of what kind of person you are (can also mention religious interests)

Length: No longer than three pages; one page is most common

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Address to a specific person
2. In Singapore, Chinese surname appears first (i.e. Tan Eng Hock should be written as Mr. Tan)

Global Resumes & Cover Letters: Saudi Arabia

Darlene Zambruski — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:56:00 +0000

SAUDI ARABIA

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information (Include):

1. Date of Birth
2. Marital Status
3. # of Children
4. Nationality
5. Citizenship(s)
6. Religious Affiliation

Education:

1. Include name and address of each institution attended

Professional Experience:

1. Use company descriptors
2. List all employers worked for

Special Skills (include):

1. Language Skills
2. Computer Skills

Residency Permit/Letter of Release:

1. Note whether you have a transferable igama (residency permit) or can obtain a letter of release from your present employer

Format:

Education, experience, personal details (in that order); do NOT leave any gaps in dates.

Length:

Three to four pages is acceptable

Cover Letter Guidelines

1. Position you’re applying for and why
2. Skills, experience, abilities that will be valuable to targeted company
3. Detail any commitments preventing you from traveling to an interview on specified dates