pile of applications is increasingly made up of
people who don't even remotely qualify for the
advertised position. These job applications
frequently consist of a resume in an envelope. Why
waste the paper, the stamp and the time? If you find
yourself applying because it's an area of work you
might want to get into, or think you'd like, don't
bother.
Unless you can make the stretch and fit between
your qualifications and background and the
described opening, you are wasting your time. Each
application or resume gets less than five minutes of
my time. You need to quickly qualify yourself as a
potential candidate because the employer doesn't
have or take the time to do it for you.
2-Write a targeted cover letter that introduces
your key qualifications and highlights your "fit"
with the position for which you are applying.
Address the letter to the person conducting the
candidate search, when known. And, no, don't
presume familiarity and write, "Dear Susan."
Until I know you, my name is "Ms. Heathfield."
Additionally, the cover letter needs to specifically
address the available position. Spelling and correct
grammar do count. So does the spacing of words on
the page, an attractive overall appearance, and the
"feel" of the paper. Online applications, which are
the norm these days, must be targeted and
formatted appropriately. Pay just as much attention
to spelling, grammar, and appearance.
3-Target the resume to the job. Would you like to
know how many people are looking for a
"challenging opportunity to utilize my skills with a
progressive employer who will provide
opportunities for growth?" Don't even ask; the
answer will break your heart if this is how you
routinely describe the position you seek in your
resume.
Even more importantly, in this day of
instantaneous electronic publishing, no one needs
to photocopy 100 resumes at an instant print store.
Customization counts. Customization is everything
when you are looking at substantially different
opportunities, too. Say, you are looking for a
training position or a marketing position. The
identical resume won't sell your skills for either
field.
3-Lead with your strengths. What makes you
different from 40 other applicants? On your
customized resume, start out with the background
and experience most important for the position you
seek. The stage of your career is also highly relevant
to the placement of information on your resume. If
you are just graduating from college, lead off the
first portion of the resume with your education and
degree.
A seasoned veteran will start with an
accomplishment summary and then list jobs, titles,
companies and responsibilities chronologically. A
network administration applicant should lead with
his or her certifications (Microsoft Certified Systems
Engineer (MCSE) and list software and hardware
experience (Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server)
before listing jobs and education. The key is to
make it easy for the resume reviewer to see that you
are qualified for the position. You want your resume
in the coveted "yes" pile awaiting an interview or
phone screening.
4-
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are
those of the comment writers alone and does not
reflect or represent the views of Somayina.
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