Use the Cover Letter and Resume to Open Doors
It's Proof of the Ability to Do the Specific Job
Jun 20, 2009
Follow this easy checklist to create a winning cover letter and resume to ensure highlighting of particular job experiences and talents to the specific job and company.
Time to Showcase Personal Talents
Don't wait for the interview.
This is the time to showcase one's talents for the specific job. Resolve to spend the additional time now to create an appropriate resume and cover letter for each position applied for. There's a lot of competition out there right now. So show the potential employer that the best candidate has a great and responsive cover letter, with the resume as support for that information.
Keep a copy of the ad within easy reach and reading while creating the cover letter. Keep referring back to the ad to ensure all requirements for the position are touched upon.
Consider creating a list of everything that should be mentioned, and check off each item on the list as it is completed. Don't just repeat what the ad says; tell them quickly how the experience or talents prove the stated ability or skill has been achieved.
Expand on proven experience or abilities.
This goes with the above point – make sure one expands on certain experiences to quickly showcase and match experience with criteria. This is crucial: not only should one match requirements with talents, one needs to let the prospective employer know how this is proved.
Have Different Resumes for Different Applications/Talents
Resume preparation: The resume needs to support the cover letter as well as giving more details about the candidate. Does the resume in front do that? Does the resume showcase the talents as pertaining to the specified job advertisement? Don't worry if it doesn't.
Now is the time to change it to suit each job application. Yes, this might mean changing from a standard chronological resume to a more functional resume or hybrid/combination; or even adding in (and changing as needed) a short skills assessment at the beginning of the resume. Take the time now to do it.
Final Proofing: Proofread not just for typo errors, but for readability. Does it make sense? Has the the above checklist been followed? If sending by mail or fax, is the cover letter signed? If sending by email, is that also listed in the cover letter?
Make sure a record is kept of where the resume and cover letter is sent, and of course which version was sent. This will help in following up for a potential interview.
Bottom Line
By following the above checklist one will ensure in putting the best foot forward in the cover letter and resume. Don't wait for the interview to showcase talents; the time to do that is in the first correspondence with the potential employer, so that an invitation is received for that important interview.
 |
