Best job seeking tips, part 2 - resumes and cover letters - Denver Jobs

There are many things that are in your complete control when it comes to searching for a job. The most obvious thing that is in your most immediate control is your resume and cover letter.

Think of resumes as your marketing brochures - they promote your skills, your experiences, your education, your accomplishments and your career progression. Written correctly, they will also exude confidence, passion and a differentiating value that sets you apart from your competitors. In much the same way, a well-constructed cover letter will include a compelling narrative that discusses specific skills and experiences that connects you to the job which you are applying.

There are a variety of ways to write a resume. I've seen hundreds of variations. However, in today's world of high-tech Applicant Tracking Systems (we'll get to that later!) as well as the competitive nature of applying for a new position, there are simple common sense things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired. Below are several tips relating to resumes and cover letters.

One unfortunate truth is that in today’s world, often your resume is actually never even considered by a human being, but by a sophisticated, turbo-charged database called the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). An ATS is a software application designed for recruitment tracking purposes and to manage resume data. Your resume or on-line application should include key qualifying phrases and information that matches with the job description. An ATS is programmed to look for these words and phrases and if your resume does not include these, it may never be seen by a recruiter.

A short branding statement should be included on the top of your resume that starts with the words “I am….” followed by a description of your expertise, your experience and your skills. This is also a good exercise for that inevitable question “Can you tell us about yourself?” For example:

I am an Accomplished Marketing and Communications Executive (MBA) with over ten years experience creating and implementing B2B and B2C marketing communications campaigns and programs. I have demonstrable project and campaign management skills focused on targeted, creative, integrated marketing strategies that enhance brand and generate revenue. I possess highly developed analytical problem-solving, decision making and follow-through capabilities and am able to provide clear assessments of issues with well thought out recommendations.

This statement should be followed by three columns of no more than 9 key words and phrases that best describe your expertise. These words can be interchanged to match the qualifying words you recognize on a job posting. Below these columns is where you begin your reverse chronology of your experience – most recent job first.

An HR recruiter has a large pile of resumes they will scan through. The recruiter has about 45 seconds at most to determine to determine if you match the qualifications of the job. They will be looking for criteria in this order:

1.) Do you meet the basic criteria as stated in the job description (education/expertise/background)?

2.) Do you have the stated years of experience and the chronology of progressive experience as stated in the job posting?

3.) Are there any red flags such as gaps in employment, ‘job jumping’, typos, etc.?

Looking for a job is not a time to be modest! This is ‘show time!’ and you have every right to take credit for your accomplishments, to highlight your skills and expertise and to demonstrate the results of your hard work. Highlight real accomplishments on your resume. Instead of saying, "I managed a sales program for ABC Company," add details that show real results! For example, “I created and executed a sales campaign that resulted in a $5 million increase in revenue and increased our market share by 15%.” Prospective employers, particularly executive management, like to see vision, hard work and the results of that hard work.

For entry level job seekers, a one-page resume is fine, but for most mid-senior level professionals, a two-page resume is not only appropriate, its expected

Never put your picture on a resume unless you are applying for a position such as a TV reporter or a model.

Education, boards and volunteer projects should be represented at the end of the resume, never the beginning. However, educational titles are appropriate to highlight (Joseph Smith, MBA)

Create a cover letter that with bullet points with specific scenarios you’ve faced in your daily career that match the requirements that are spelled out in the job posting.

Your cover letter needs to answer four specific questions:

1.) Why am I the most qualified?

2.) How does my experience/skills/expertise match the job requirements?

3.) What differentiators set me apart from other applicants?

4.) How will hiring me add value to the organization?

Create different resumes and cover letters that focus on job duties tailored to specific industries which you’ve worked in. So when applying for a job in health care, education, technology, etc. your resume reflects strengths in that industry.

Have several people review your resume and cover letter for typos. A universal theme is: "If there's a typo throw it out. Period."

If you have a physical address to mail your resume and cover letter, send your packet by registered mail with a return-receipt requested. If possible, hand deliver your resume packet. In this day and age of high tech and email, many employers appreciate the effort when people hand-deliver their resume. Plus, you know it got there before the deadline. Use high quality paper.

If you are in a creative career (marketing/advertising/pr/graphics) think about having have a good portfolio on hand for the interview. It should show the progress of a creative project from beginning to end.

Always have at least two good general reference letters available to include if asked.

Include in the cover letter a very specific list of job requirements and matching qualifications in side-by-side columns so that the HR person reviewing the submission can see quickly that you have all of the qualifications for the position. An HR person explained to me that many hiring managers never see most resumes because the person screening resumes didn't think they saw all of the required qualifications.

Don't send duplicate resumes to HR, the receptionist and the supervisor. They all end up on the same desk in the end, and it looks like you're either desperate or trying to do an end run.

In closing, don't give up! There's a world of career opportunities that are waiting for you!

For more information, go to http://www.andrewhudsonsjobslist.com