an enticing cover letter and resume is the first step to landing yourself your dream job
an employer receives hundreds of resumes in response to an advertised vacancy and out of these, only a few really stand out. to bag the call for the much-awaited interview, you need to start with an articulate and well-written cover letter and resume. understand that these are marketing documents and the employer is not reading intently but is skimming through the pile of resumes. therefore, the more exclusively you can customise your cover letter and resume to the required open position you are applying for, the better you stand a chance for the interview.
custom make your cover letter
your cover letter must be one page and highly personalised to each job you are applying for. it must answer why you are the right fit for the vacant position and how you can add value to the organisation. further, when you’re emphasising your professional experience, use statements of accomplishment instead of role descriptions. also, make sure you quantify your accomplishments.
format your resume
your resume and cover letter must be well formatted and appealing to the eyes of the hiring manger. ample open space and a clear, easy-to-read font make it convenient for the employer to read on. be sure that each mailed resume is printed on good quality paper. For instance, HR jobs in Hyderabad may require language proficiency in Telugu. So ensure you highlight that well, it you hold that skill.
ensure your cover letter and resume are free of spelling errors and typos
remember that your resume is your ticket to that dream job. ensure appropriate grammar and no missing words or typing errors. hiring managers will overlook your resume if they find any mistakes. remember that the hiring manager will also evaluate your carefulness and attention to detail.
write and customize the ‘objective’ on your resume based on the job you’re applying for
the ‘objective’ section of your resume is your shot at matching your skills, traits, experience, and job requirements with what the employer is looking for. read the job posting carefully and create a customized objective. do not lift the ‘objective’ off the internet if your aim is to get noticed by the hiring manager.
elucidate your education and experience
your resume should include the degrees you have received in reverse chronological order, the most recent degree mentioned first along with the name of each institution, location, and your date of graduation. also, include your major/minor fields and projects worked on if applicable.
as for your work experience, list it also in reverse chronological order. this part can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work if any. mention the name of the company, the position, and dates of employment. list key responsibilities, accomplishments, and skills achieved in each job.
contact information
we live in the ‘digital age’ and contacting you shouldn’t be a tiresome task for the hiring manager. make sure it’s easy for the hiring manager to contact you on your cell phone or via email. your name, address, and contact details (phone number and email address) should be at the top of your resume. also, ensure you use a professional email address (for instance –katesmith@gmail.com rather than tweetytaurean@hotmail.com).
highlight your skills
the ‘skills’ section is optional and it aims to highlight skills such as computer expertise or any other skills related to the position for which you’re applying and which have not been mentioned anywhere else in your resume. you could also mention foreign languages you are familiar with along with the level of familiarity (intermediate, proficient, fluent).
resume length
your resume should be concise and a maximum of two pages. remember that strong resumes need not be lengthy. no hiring manager has the time or patience to flip through a ten page resume – one to two pages are sufficient to display your accomplishments and experience.