Resumes, Cover Letters, Interviews

Resumes

 What to include in a resume

• Profile at the top of the resume listing highlights of your strengths and experience
• Accomplishments at each job
• Job history, including volunteer activities
• Educational history/additional training
• Organizations/memberships/relevant hobbies and side projects
• Contact information
   

Resume tips

• Arrange information under bullet points rather than paragraphs.
• Make sure that your job information directly relates to the job requirements. You must have 75 per cent of the requirements.
• Highlight skills and accomplishments relevant to the job.
• Use action verbs and resume power words. Use a professional tone.
• Describe measurable goals met.
• Use basic fonts for a clean look: Helvetica, Times, Ariel, Verdana, Courier. Point size should be between 10 and 14 points.
• Include contact information (name, phone number, email, address) on the top of page one. Make your contact information stand out. Have a professional voice mail message and email address.
• Give more space to your most recent and relevant work experience.
• Explain time gaps.
• Do not add statement "References Upon Request", but you may include references if there is room.
• Do not include SSN/birthdate/marital status/street address/phone number. Use email and cell phone for contact information.
• Be truthful. State your abilities accurately.
• Keep it brief. Limit your resume to one or two pages, and use fewer words for scannability.
• Write and rewrite. Plan to write several versions of your resume before it feels right. No grammatical errors.
• Be professional. Print your resume on high-grade paper using a quality printer.
• Be accurate. Proofread your resume (and have a friend do the same) for any errors.
• Keep your resume up-to-date.  Make changes as they occur.
   

Creating a resume

 Delivering a resume

• A Print Version, designed with bulleted lists, italicized text, and other highlights, ready to print , send as an attachment, and mail or hand to potential contacts and interviewers. This could be MS Word or a PDF file.
• A Scannable Version, a less-designed version without the fancy design highlights. Bulleted lists are fine, but that's about the limit.
• A Plain Text Version, a plain text file ready to copy and paste into online forms or post in online resume databases. This might also be referred to as a Text-Only copy.
• An E-mail Version, another plain text copy, but this one is specifically formatted for the length-of-line restrictions in e-mail. This is also a Text-Only copy.
   

Posting a Resume

Posting your resume on a national job board is a good way to be found, but responding to ads via specific job postings related to your experience is probably the quickest way to get a response. Search for jobs daily and respond to those that you feel you are most qualified. Use your name in the document file name when you post on the Internet. For instance, name a file JohnDoe.com

• The Riley Guide to Posting a Resume 
   

 Cover Letters

• Cover letters are recommended, but optional, depends how much explaining you need to do.
• Each cover letter should be written in response to the specific job requirements.
• Keep to half a page, 2- 3 paragraphs
• Include name and address of the specific person to whom the letter is addressed.
• Be specific: explain why you are sending the resume, and include job title.
• Emphasize key skills and accomplishments: why you are the best choice for the job.
• Reflect the corporate culture.
• Explain why you are applying, if overqualified, or changing fields.
• Close with a request for an interview, a thank you and contact information.
• If you sent a plain text resume, send a plain text cover letter.
• Sample cover letters
   

 Interviewing

• Prepare for the interview, research the company, find out more about the job.
• Overdress a little, be enthusiastic,  take your resume and references, arrive on time.
• Turn off cell phone and pagers during the interview
• Answer each question with consideration and care. You may think about the question before answering. 
• Avoid making jokes and being overly friendly.
• Speak up and clarify questions as needed.
• Be postive about your experiences and skills but do not embellish.
• Avoid discussion of your personal life.
• Avoid criticizing a former employer or coworker.
• Always have 2-3 questions written down to ask the interviewer,
• Workforce Commission Interview Guide
• Workforce Commission Sample Questions