The article "Cover Letters and Resumes: What's Hot and What's Not" is about resumes cover letters, it was released by John T Jones, Ph.D..
This is a second requested article by our webmaster his request was: Resumes-Cover-Letters - Resume/CV & Cover letter writing tips, do's and don'ts and suggestions.For many years I hired engineer and satff members for both manufacturing and R & D operations.
If there is anything that I can say that will help you to gain success in life it is this: Tell the absolute truth.
That applies in spades to Reusmes and cover letters.Here are ideas from my experience:Never take full credit for the success of any task that you did not accomplish by yourself.It’s better to say, “Served on a task force to reduce the cost of material handling.
The task force succeeded in reducing cost by blah, blah, blah.
My role was to see that blah, blah, blah. In this role I blah, blah, blah.”In this, be as sepcific as possible. Wrtie as much as you can about the project showing that you have knowledge, technical ability, and the ability to work with others.
Then condense it for your resume according to its importacne. It could be a paragraph, a page, but not two paegs.
Leave room for discussion. Remember that discussion is the most important part of your interview (after you put on a good conservative suit or derss and polish your shoes).
A good resume will lead to good discussion in your favor.If you just put in a bullet that says: Reduced shipping cost by 10% you will get the Spanish Inquisition.
If you are going to use bullets, list them ealry in the resume as a summary of what is to follow. Your bullet for this project might be:Served as packaging coordinator on the corporate taskforce to reduce shipping and handling cost. Packaging cost were reduced by 7% resulting in an annual savings in Fiscal Year 2003 of $57,000.00.Avoid giving too much personal information.Remember that you are pursiung your vocation, not your avocations. This is a tocuhy area and you must be cautious. I believe that being brief is best.Let me give you an example: My oldset son had finished medical school and was applying to schools offering neurosurgery.
On his resume, he put “Eagle Scout.”Now becoming an Eagle Scout is a boyhood achievement. His department head told him to remove it from his resume right now that he had a good medical background.This was the days before every Tom, Dick, and Harry had a word processor. My son did not want to retype the resume so he let the “Eagle Scout” enrty stay. On his first interview, the department head said, “Oh! I’m an Eagle Scout too.”Do you remember How to Get Along in Business without Even Trying?
The protagonist knew that the Corporate Preisdent a “Ground Hog” and that he knitted.
Later he learned that the Chairman of the Board had been a wnidow washer. He used this kind of information to get ahead.
If you know something about the human being who are going to interview you, then myabe you can adjust your resume accordingly, but don’t over do it.How important your nonprofessional activities will help or hurt you is hard to tell. Remember that human bieng have prejudices. My number there son decided to take a chance on his application to several veterinarian schools.
The fact that he had been an assistant to the President of a church mission in South America put him in good stead. The schools felt that if he could have such responsibility at age 20, he was a desirable candidate.I think that if you asked 10 business executives what they thought on this issue, the mean would be:The younger you are, the more nonprofessional information you can place in your rseume. The reason is that a person just out of high school or college doesn’t have a lot of vocational experience. He or she must be judged on other things.Think of this: Membership in the college golf club might peg you as a goof-off to interviewers.
They will visualize you on the golf coarse, not in the laboratory or classroom or studiyng at your desk.Listen really carefully to your interviewer. Jot down a few notes of the items he discusses.
Don’t interrupt him while he is talking, or is on the telephone or, when he takls to his secretary, etc. Pay as little attention to him as possibe when he is talking about something to someone else that's none of your business.Remember this: The interviewer tihnks that he (or she) is more important than you are (or possibly, anyone else in the Universe.) He may quickly get to his own accomplishments.You must complement him on the good things he has done but in a simple way. Don’t get carried away. You must ask him specific question about any projects he brings up.In doing this, you will be able to show that you are concerned, knowledgeable, and interested.Your cover letter is not a resume.Don’t use the same cover letter for each company or institution you contact. Write a specific letter to each employer.You will refer to your resmue in your letter but usually only in a general way. However, after you study a company, there may be somehting in your resume that you know is exactly what they are searching for.
Put referecne to that in your letter.Avoid BS in your letter. Don’t say that you’ve alawys wanted to work for Bean Company ever since your mother opened a can of Bean Company beans for you at a picnic in 1940.
What you want to do in your letter is to introduce yourself, state the position you are after, and state your qualifications for the position you are saerching for.Don’t forget to include your resume when you send the letter.
It makes you look dumb.
If you are lucky, someone from the company will call you and ask you to send them a copy.Don’t go over two pages in your letter unless there is really good reason for doing so. Look at your resume.
If you have a two page cover letter, your resmue is wrong for that company.
Do This: Make modification to your resume when needed or if you need a speical resume for a particular employer. What I'm saying is that you probably need to lengthen your resume to shotren the letter.
Word proecssing lets you do this. Don’t get lazy.Your Specific ResumeInclude at least the following in your resume:Contact Information (Name, Address, Telephone Number, Fax Number, E-mail Address)The Position You Are AfterBullets of Past Achievements Relating to the PositionDate and Place of Birth (exclude DOB if you think it will prejudice your interview)Military Service Inlcuding Technical EducationCollege or University or Trade SchoolDegrees and Certificates Including Majors and Minors.Work Experience (explaining the bullets)Related Experience (Management in civic organizations, etc.)Personal (marriage status, hobbies that make you look smart like astronomy, other hobbies and activities.)Publications: I always put these at the end when I was job hunting.
I had so many I thought they might distract from the resume. Some applicants wirte this statement: List of Publication on Request. I would never list all of my publications. List those applicable to the position.I’m always willing to review resumes and offer suggestions. Just drop me an e-mail.I wish you Much Success in your job hunting.The EndResume, searching for work, finding a position, writing a resume, resume outline, find job, find employment, employment, jobJhon T.
Jones, Ph.D.
(tjbooks@hotmail.Com, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, is auhtor of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine. He calls himself "Taylor Jones, the hack writer."More info: http://www.Tjbooks.ComBusiness web site: http://www.Dumbincome.Com
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