Resume
- Edit your resume for each and every job you apply for!
- Ideally you want the employer to look at your resume and cover letter and say "Wow, this person is perfect! Bring them in." This goal can be achieved by a clean tailored resume specific to what that job is looking for.
- Objective: To work for {insert company} as {insert position}. I know it sounds cheesy and you don't need an objective section but if you have one it should not be general but rather a specific objective to get the job you are applying for!
- Keep it clean, keep it to one page. More is not better, better is better. Resume reviewers want to see things that are applicable, and they don't want one line going onto a second page. Just keep paring it down to the best stuff until when you hit print preview it all fits on one page.
- Yes this takes more time than just sending the same resume to everyone. But almost any employer would rather look at a tailored resume which only includes relevant experience.
- If you think there is a connection but it is not obvious and you really want to include it you need to make it clear in your cover letter. "Being a life guard requires dedication, hard work, and social responsibility," for example. "Baby-sitting requires responsibility and I will apply those skills to this job," and so forth.
- It can be hard to remember everything you've done, every award you received, every time you volunteered somewhere, organized an event, went to a seminar etc. Ask friends that have known you a long time to help you brain storm. You never know what will be useful to a job.
- It is useful to have a master resume (also called a curriculum vitae), with everything you have ever done on it. Having theme resumes like "Non-Profit", "Corporate" or "Environment", "Education," will help speed up the editing process.
- Save all your resumes as attachments and e-mail them to yourself. This keeps them readily accessible through hard drive crashes, etc. You may also want to note which resume you have given to which employer, so that you do not slip and confuse interviewers. Having a job search binder where you use dividers to keep resume, cover letter and research for each job.
- You can put things in the best light possible but don't out right lie. For example, don't say you worked somewhere you didn't work, but if you need to use a coworker as a reference because your boss and you weren't the best of friends that is fair.
- References: you're choosing them, make them good. Use professional references, not your mom's best friend. It's fine if they are also your friend but the reference should refer to your employment relationship not that you're a really awesome best friend. Call your references ahead of time and let them know what job you are applying for, what you are doing with your life and ask them if you can use them as a reference. If they sound excited about your next move and happy that you called, definitely use them. Trust your gut; if you're not sure, don't use them. Some employers for legal reasons will only verify dates of employment and can answer the question, "would you rehire this person?" Hopefully you have a good enough sense of how you left that relationship to only choose employers that would say yes. Many smaller companies and coworker references will give much more information. You want people that are 100% on your side and want the best for you. Employers expect them to be good, so small comments carry a lot of weight. Be aware that "where do you think this person could improve?" is a common question meant to trick references into providing an honest critique.
You can call to confirm they received your application. Do not call incessantly for the "status" of your application. Do not harass them for an interview. Do not come by unannounced. It's rude and it will not help!
