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The articles in this section cover topics ranging from common resume blunders to understanding hiring managers' criteria.

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324 Articles. Showing 311 to 320
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cover Letters

Here are brief answers to some frequently asked questions about cover letters:

1) What is the proper tone of a cover letter?


Highlight Your Accomplishments!

We can't emphasize enough how important it is to highlight accomplishments. This is the number-one item that makes or breaks a resume, yet it's the one area that people struggle with the most. First, you need to understand what is meant by an "accomplishment." To have accomplished something in your work, you did not have to negotiate a multi-billion-dollar deal or find the answer to world peace (although those would certainly be worth mentioning). You simply need to have done something that produced a favorable result, whether that was for your employer, your coworkers, your clients, or even you. This could be as simple as making your coworkers' jobs easier by devising a new method of filing documents. Simple? Yes. An accomplishment? Absolutely. The main thing you want to get across when describing your jobs is that you did them well. Employers want to hire people who have proven themselves as to be valuable.


The Summary of Qualifications or Profile

The opening of your resume should show power and confidence. Writing a summary of your previous experiences will grab the employer's attention and increase your chances of getting an interview. The top portion is the part that will be focused on the most. This needs to be filled with power to show that you will be an asset to the company. When you summarize prior work history, it allows the employer to get to the point and not be bored with your resume. Summarizing will free up space on the resume and will allow you to put focus on the more important things. This also allows you to focus on important parts of previous jobs. There are a few main areas to focus on. These are Profiles, Summary of Qualifications, Areas of Expertise, and Professional Accomplishments. Each section is very important and should grab the employer's attention. Creating a powerful resume is the first step to obtaining a job.


How to Sell Yourself to an Employer

The key feature in obtaining a job is selling yourself to the employer. Selling yourself is the only way to get even in the playing field. Others may have fewer qualifications, but if they can sell themselves they can secure the job they want. Put yourself in the place of the employer and list what you would want to see on a resume when hiring someone. When you cater to the mind of an employer you have made a critical step in the process. Remember that your resume and cover letter may be their only chance to get to know you, so make it count. Pay attention to networking with those around you every day. Which ones catch your attention and which ones don't? Make sure to know your audience and tailor your resume to them.


Indicating Race/Religion/Political Affiliations/Sexual Orientation or Other Personal Information in Resumes and Cover Letters

Indicating race, religion, political affiliations, and sexual orientation in a resume can often be touchy. The best way to do it is inadvertently. Place the information in the resume in a subtle way. Only mention them if they are directly related to your previous work experience and if doing so will be an asset to your present job search. In a resume, there is no room for unnecessary information. Pay attention to the time factor; if only a few months were spent working on a project that would reveal race, religion, political affiliations, etc., it won't be necessary to include on the resume. Make sure that you don't have too much emphasis on your personal hobbies in your resume. This can easily backfire as the employer may think you can't separate personal and professional life. They may see that you will need frequent or excessive time off. Be cautious in all things that you include on your resume.


Internships: How to Make Yours Stand Out

Does the following sound familiar?
  • Performed research and gathered information
  • Assisted supervisor with presentations
  • Wrote client correspondence
  • Helped manager prepare quarterly reports
  • Observed and summarized meeting minutes
  • Worked with manager to prepare drawings and specifications


Misrepresentation on Resumes

Be completely honest on all parts of your resume. Many people recently have lied to grab an employer's attention. This may work for them at first, but it usually backfires during the interview. Employers may even set this as a trap to see whether or not you will be honest. It can be a very embarrassing moment when the interview is taking place. There are certain things that you can or cannot stretch the truth on. You should never fill in gaps of time to make it look as if you were not unemployed. However, it is okay to leave previous jobs off of your resume. It is your resume and you can put what you want on it. Be sure that what you put on it is honest. One of the worst things to do is Resume Theft. This is when someone takes all of the information from someone else's resume to make theirs look better. This is not only unethical, but can be very damaging for future job opportunities. Remember that the resume and cover letter are only stepping stones to employment and don't guarantee a job. Be honest in sincere in all that you put on your resume.


Show that You've Been Moving Up, Not Across or Down

When listing work history, always put the most recent job first. Likewise, put more information about your most recent job than older jobs. This will show your employer that you are moving up and want to continue to do more. If you dedicate the same amount of space for each job, it will appear that you are not moving up, but staying in the same spot. The only time that this wouldn't apply is when your recent job was temporary or short lived. In this case write more about previous jobs and your work experience. It is also nice to show all jobs in one company grouped together. Then list advancements within the company. This will show that you are able to stay with one company for a reasonable time period and that your work is valued within that company. Always remember that you never get a second chance at a first impression.


Stay on Top of the Job Search Process!

Whether you're a new graduate or you've been in the workforce for decades, it's never too late to start putting some serious work into your self-marketing materials. The problem many experienced job seekers run into when trying to write a resume is that their heads spin when they begin to think about what they've done over a 10- or 20-year career. That's why it's a good idea to start early, long before you will be looking for a new job.


The Role of a Cover Letter vs. a Resume

It is assumed by many that the role of a cover letter is to get an employer to want to read your resume. The idea behind this is that the letter should pique the interest of the employer and make him/her want to see what your resume reveals.


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