Essentials For A Cover Letter and Resume

Now more than ever it is essential to have a professional cover letter and resume. In the past year the United States economy has begun an upward swing towards stabilization. Many people were out of jobs and looking for work for the past three or four years, if not longer. Fortunately, the tide is turning and jobs and work expansion is returning.

Although companies are beginning to hire again, they are in a fortunate situation. Companies are now able to be selective in who they hire, because so many people have been out of work. This means that more jobs are available, but the best jobs are more competitive than ever.

So how do you standout to be the top candidate? Obviously, there is not a simple answer to this question. However, what will at least guarantee you have given yourself the best chance is to have a professional cover letter and resume. Often, people focus entirely on the resume. The resume is an important part to getting an interview and possibly the job. But without a doubt, the cover letter is what separates candidates.

Thinking back to the competitive market for the top jobs this becomes obvious. If a handful of people have been out of work and are now applying for a single position; chances are they all have a similar background. Don't simplify or take anything away from your resume. Your resume should be carefully laid out with a professional feel. However, what will separate a candidate from his peers is their ability to express who they are in their cover letter.

A resume should cover what you have done with your past work experience and your cover letter should share why those experiences will make you a fantastic addition to the company. Too often candidates repeat their resume in their cover letter.

What should your cover letter include?
-It is essential to show a personal interest in the company or job you are applying for. Take the time to explain why you are interested because your new employer wants to find an interest in you.
-Second, only explain your past work experience only if it will show the employer what you have learned that will now benefit them in some way. Leave your past jobs for the resume.

-Finally, this is your opportunity to share who you are. Make your cover letter authentic and meaningful. Share your work habits and traits that will benefit the company.

Taking the time to write a strong cover letter will guarantee your employer will be more likely to look at your resume and call you in for an interview. Getting an interview is the most challenging part of applying for any job.

Let's look at this from the employer's point of view. If you were to be the employer looking to make a hire what would you want to know about that person? Some of the ideas that might be important would include, who are they? What can they offer to your company? Why should they want to meet you? These are just a few of the ideas that should be covered in your cover letter.

Again, this is also your opportunity to share who you are and what makes you unique. One of the most important aspects of this is to be authentic. Sounding authentic does not mean using synonyms to sound smarter or diversify your cover letter. This will only make your cover letter authentic. Instead, use your own language to share your confidence and excitement about this job opportunity.

Finally, one of the most detrimental parts of creating a cover letter and resume is lying. Whatever you do, do not lie. This is your opportunity to sound confident and proud of your accomplishments. Under no circumstances should you lie about what you have accomplished. Although this sounds obvious, young adults who are beginning their work experience may not have the experience of other candidates. It can be challenging to share what they have learned. Use volunteer experiences, internships or other work experiences, just don't lie.

What about the resume? Resumes are fairly straightforward. They need to document your past work experience. However, the trick to writing a great resume is the professionalism piece. A resume needs to be clear and concise. Busy, resumes will overwhelm the employer as well as distract from your achievements. Another helpful tip that makes an unbelievable difference is printing your resume and cover letter on professional resume paper. It is a simple trick that shows the employer you made an extra effort to send in a quality application.

What if you are stuck with how to start this process? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources available to help you. Don't break the bank on resources, but spending some money on a cover letter resource that helps outline your cover letter and even your resume can be worth its weight in gold.
One resource that can help is coverletterresources.com

Finding a cover letter resource that best fits your needs can be worth its weight in gold. Take a moment to visit coverletterresources.com. Here you will find some helpful hints as well as some products that will help you build your application.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_T_Applebaum

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