I’ve seen many resumes, cover letter, and emails from job seekers. I have to admit that some make me very sad but assure me of the value of my Get Hired Cover Letter and Resume Critique service. If you have not had a second pair of eyes on your cover letter and resume now is the time.
1. Use Your Government Name
• On your resume and cover letter
• When you subscribe to your email service
• As your email address
2. Choose Words Carefully
• Only use words when you are sure of their meaning
• Don’t use negative language
3. Highlight Your College Degree If You Are A Graduate
• Once you graduate from college there is no need to list high school courses or activities
4. Don’t Over Share Personal Information
• Refrain from sharing information that provides answers to illegal interview questions such as family or marital status
5. Customize Your Resume
• Include only information that is pertinent to the position for which you are applying
• Jobs older than ten years should only be included they add to your credibility
6. Include a Proper Cover Letter
• A cover letter is not an essay and should not begin with a paragraph
• A cover letter should contain a heading, address, salutation, body, closing, and signature
7. Name Your Employment Documents
• Each of your documents should have a name that includes your government name
• Eliminate generic titles, version numbers, and dates
• Documents can include name of employer submitting to
8. Provide All Documents Requested
• Incomplete applications are usually discarded
• Follow employer instructions to avoid being disqualified from the applicant pool
• Send a complete employment package the first time
• Avoid sending writing samples that are over 5 pages long
9. Don’t Submit Extra Documents
• Employers do not spend a lot of time on each application so including additional information is rarely beneficial
• Only submit references when asked
• Do not include pictures or more than one writing sample
10. Length Is Important
• Try to limit your resume to two pages unless you have decades of valuable work experience
• Be strategic with page breaks and how information is carried over to the following page
• White space is important but do not include blank pages
• References provided upon request is unnecessary
Nicki Sanders, The Packaged For Success Coach, is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager. She has packaged her Masters of Social Work degree and over 15 years of work experience into Packaged For Success, a training and professional development company. Packaged For Success provides career coaching to college students, entry-level job hunters, and experienced employees seeking a promotion. Packaged For Success also offers communication and productivity improvement training for employees and supervisors and provides consultation on building sustainable, impactful, socially responsible community programs.
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