Free Resume Advice For Job Seekers

When I lecture to audiences on job market skills (specifically on resume development and cover letter creation), I always outline specific key principles (along with the key factors as outlined in my previous blog) to think about and apply in the initial formulation stages and throughout the resume development process. These key principles are essential tools in laying the foundations in creating a winning marketing document. Resume writing is not a difficult process; however, it is an ‘art form’ so to speak. This ‘art form’ comes in the process of learning how to apply concise, high impact writing techniques in a consistent manner throughout the document.

You need to apply the ‘KISS-S Principle’: keep it simple, keep it succinct, and keep it smart!

Firstly, keeping it simple means using language that is easy to understand. You must write your resume and cover letter for the broader job market so that anyone reading your documents (regardless of profession, trade or industry) can understand them. Do not use any jargon or technical terms unless you are applying for a position in a trade or profession that uses them and where it may be beneficial to incorporate such terminology. Importantly, your resume and cover letter must be absolutely free of any spelling, punctuation, grammatical and typographical errors.

Secondly, keeping it succinct means the content must be distinct and concise; the key is brevity and the aim is to save the reader time. You must keep sentences short and to the point, write only pertinent information and do not waffle. If you find in the drafting process that a single sentence extends to 3-4 lines, take it back to the drawing board, rewrite and break the sentence down into 2 or 3 shorter sentences. Shorter, sharper sentences makes for better retention on the part of the reader; less chance of the reader losing concentration; and short sentences pack a punch.

Thirdly, keeping it smart is all about the visual presentation. Your resume must look interesting and visually appealing at the very first glance. When designing the first page of your resume think in ‘letterhead style’. Do away with the cover page, this is a worthless piece of paper and tells the reader nothing. You want to present the vital information on the first page in a visually appealing format. That first page should ‘jump’. Create your resume in a certain style and maintain the layout throughout the subsequent pages. Aim for consistency, not doing so can be distracting for the reader. For example, do not go changing font styles throughout the document, if you are using times new roman 12pt font on the first page then use the same font throughout; if you have left-justified your section titles/headings on the first page ensure you keep them justified in this manner on subsequent pages. Key titles or section headings can do a lot for the document both from a visual and from a content standpoint. Each title should make a commanding statement. Importantly, sectioning your resume will reflect structure and present a well organised image, not just of the document but of yourself. After all, this is the first impression the reader will see of you!

When developing your resume and cover letter, ensure you pay attention to these principles. Guaranteed, you will find the process easier as it goes along, and it will also make the updating process effortless.

Remember, it’s all about marketing you!

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

When I lecture to audiences on job market skills (specifically on resume development and cover letter creation), I always outline specific key factors to think about and apply in the initial formulation stages and throughout the resume development process. These key factors are essential tools in laying the foundations in creating a winning marketing document. Resume writing is not a difficult process; however, it is an ‘art form’ so to speak. This ‘art form’ comes in the process of learning how to apply concise, high impact writing techniques in a consistent manner throughout the document.

You need to alter your mind set and think in terms of the ‘3-factor think tank’: think objectively, think laterally, and think quality!

Firstly, by thinking objectively, you should be thinking in third person when writing your resume and cover letter. As you are developing your resume and letter you will be undergoing a lot of internal dialogue – asking yourself questions about what you have done, what you have achieved, what skills you have developed, and so forth. Ask yourself these necessary questions in third person, in other words, remove the ‘I’ from the equation and instead replace it with your name. By doing this, you will find a subtle shift in the mindset, like you are thinking about somebody else instead of yourself. The majority of people find it way easier to write positive things about somebody else rather than themselves.

Secondly, by thinking laterally, you need to think in terms of the skills you have developed both in and out of work situations. For example, skills you have attained and developed whilst studying or attending training courses, in paid employment, in volunteer or community involvement, and so forth.

Thirdly, by thinking quality, you must think in terms of the quality of the written content, not the quantity. A two-page concisely written resume can blow a 5-page resume right out of the water. Do not stress if you do not think you have produced enough content. Concentrate on the content you do have. When writing your cover letter, never exceed one page unless specifically requested. The word quantity should not exist in your vocabulary.

When developing your resume and cover letter, ensure you pay attention to these factors. Guaranteed, you will find the process easier as it goes along, and it will also make the updating process effortless.

Remember, it’s all about marketing you!

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

Follow these basic yet very important guidelines:

• Write a new cover letter for every application. You don’t necessarily need to create a new letter from scratch, what you can do is create a standard template and use this to rewrite/tweak for each new application especially if you’re applying for the same type of positions. However, if you’re applying for completely different jobs, for example a sales position versus an accountant’s role, you would need to create two completely different style cover letters.
• A cover letter should contain a minimum of 3 paragraphs (introduction, body and conclusion); maximum of 5 paragraphs (introduction, 1-3 for the body, and a conclusion).
• Ideally, the cover letter should not be longer than 1 page in length. I have written hundreds of cover letters and only in two instances have I had difficulty reducing two client’s letters to one page. I am a concise writer in general, and in these two instances, I didn’t want to remove any further information from the letters, so I used this very effective technique…I reduced the font size a notch in both cover letters; reducing one from Times New Roman 12pt to 11.5pt and the other down to 11pt. But remember, careful with reducing font size, I wouldn’t go less than 11pt if using Times New Roman font.
• Keep sentences short and to the point, write only pertinent information – do not waffle. Shorter, sharper sentences make for better impact. Also, reduces the loss of concentration on the part of the reader. Remember, short sentences pack a punch.
• Do not state information in the cover letter that can be found in your resume or visa versa; paraphrase the information, don’t just simply copy and paste.
• Add a sentence or two about why this employer and the position is right for you. This will add value, shows you are interested, and that you’ve done a little research into the company. Research the company’s mission statement and goals and incorporate a point or two (paraphrased of course) that tie in with your value system.
• State your achievements, skills and attributes that set you apart from all other applicants. Remember, the cover letter is a key selling tool. Do not shy away from expressing confidence in yourself. Lacking in confidence and not being able to express it (in written form or verbally) is a key leading contribution to the rejection of applicants.
• You can use bullet points, but not excessively when listing skills, attributes, and so forth.
• Double check for errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Never ever criticise your current or previous employer(s).
• Provide all your contact details including e-mail and available contact times.
• Consistency is paramount across the board; ensure you use the same font when developing your resume as that used in the cover letter.

If you have any specific questions relating to cover letter creation that you would like answered, or require further clarification on any of the above points, please do not hesitate to post a comment. Alternatively, go back to my Contacts webpage and send me an email.

Remember, I’m here to help market you!
Cheers,
Annie Cerone