Preparing a Resume/Cover Letter By Jonathen Peck

A resume is a summary of your main skills and qualifications when looking for a job. It is not very long, running only about a page, but it is most likely the first impression you will have on the employer and it will be the deciding factor on if you are contacted for the position. A resume must be well organized, carefully designed, formatted properly, free of errors, and easy to read for the employer. There are many guideline on how to put together a very good resume.

A second part used while putting together this document is a cover letter. A cover letter is a general introduction attached to another document such as a resume. It is basically a way to introduce yourself and show your interests in the position.

Cover Letters

There are three types of cover letters:

• The application letter which responds to a known job opening
• The prospecting letter which inquires about possible positions
• The networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search

Also a cover letter is no more than one page and divided into four different sections.

1. Header-sender's address and other information, the recipient's contact information, and the date sent after either the sender's or the recipient's address.
2. Introduction-It states the specific position desired and catches the employers attention
3. Body-The body highlights or amplifies on material in the resume or job application
4. Closing-A closing sums up the letter, and indicates the next step the applicant expects to take.

The Resume

There are key guidelines when starting your resume to follow:

• First find an organization that fits your strengths and fits your goals
• Determine a layout that is professional and uncluttered
• Be consistent throughout your resume
• Proofread to make sure there are no errors and the information is accurate

Overall a resume is a list of your qualifications and skills to help you preform the position they organization is hiring for. You will need to reflect on many different categories of information while completing your resume. There are many ways to organize your resume but here is a general overview in order.

1. Heading
2. Job Objective
3. Qualifications Summary
4. Education
5. Employment Experience
6. Related skills and Abilities
7. Honors and Activities
8. References

Writing effective resumes and cover letters is not very hard. They just take time and propper formatting to make you stand out of the other thousand resumes companies get. A helpful site I found that helps prepare your in writing a resume can be found at http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/a/aa040801a.htm. Not putting the time and effort into your resume can fail to get you the interview. Follow all these tips and guidelines in preparing a resume to get the position you want!

Sources

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/a/aa040801a.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_letter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resume
Writing That Works(Oliu, Brusaw, Alred) p539-555