Whether you are a recent graduate looking to start your career or a seasoned professional in search of new employment, the cover letter, resume and interview are the means by which you will be communicating your abilities to prospective employers. With today’s competitive job market, it is necessary to draft your cover letter and resume with care and arrive prepared for your interviews. We have put together some helpful hints for you to keep in mind.

| The Cover Letter | The Resume | The Interview |

Keep the following in mind when drafting your cover letter:

• Make sure your cover letter piques your prospective employer’s curiosity. The reader should be drawn to your resume, eager to learn more about your accomplishments.
• Keep it brief. Prospective employers do not want to read about your life history. Do not clutter it with needless facts.
• Tailor it to the position and company to which you are applying.
• Be sure to say why you think you will be a good match for the position.
• Mention traits and skills that you have that are necessary for the position you are seeking. Be sure to include any skills you have that will set you apart from other candidates.
• Don’t forget to sign your cover letter.
• Include “enclosure” or “encl.,” several lines after your signature to indicate your resume is enclosed.

Constructing Your Letter

Heading/Date/Inside Address:
If you are writing a traditional letter, select a standard business-letter format. Your letter's design should match your resume.

Salutation:
It is best to address your letter to a specific person (e.g., "Dear Mr. Smith:”) but use “Dear Hiring Manager,” if there's no way to find that out. Use “Dear Search Committee:" if the decision will be made by committee. Avoid stale salutations such as "Dear Sir/Madam:" and “To Whom It May Concern:”

Opening Paragraph:
Your opening paragraph should clearly state the position for which you're applying. Include a reference code if requested and the referral source (e.g., recommendation from a current employee, Monster, etc.). Your opening may also include a synopsis of why you are a top candidate for the position:

Body:
Your letter's body contains the sales pitch. This is your chance to outline the top reasons why you're worthy of an interview. When writing the body text, keep in mind that hiring managers want to know what you can do for them. Demonstrate how your credentials, motivation and track record would benefit their operation. Review your top five selling factors and weave them into the body, perhaps as a bulleted list.

Back up achievements with specific examples of how your performance benefited current and former employers. Precede your bulleted list with a statement such as “Highlights of my credentials include:” or “Key strengths I offer include:” Keep your letter positive and upbeat. This is not the place to write a story about your employment situation. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes; would you call yourself in for an interview?

Closing Paragraph:
Your final paragraph should generate a call for action, so express your strong interest in an interview and state that you will follow up soon to confirm your resume was received and discuss the possibility of meeting face-to-face.

Complimentary Close and Your Name:
End with a professional close such as “Best regards,” “Sincerely” or “Respectfully yours.”

Example:

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Constructing your resume
There are so many different employment experiences possible; there is no single resume template that works for everyone. There are, however, generally accepted ways to arrange the information to present it in the best light.

The two styles are chronological and functional.

Chronological is the most common resume style, and the one employers prefer. In the chronological format, the emphasis is placed on employment experience. Start with the most recent job at the top of the list. Potential employers can easily see what you have done this way.

Your skills and previous relevant experience, including educational, are presented at the beginning of your resume.

Organize your skills and experience so the employer can see how this relates to the job position you are applying for.

Be sure to include month and date of employment. (BE SPECIFIC)

Functional is not as common, but is effective if you’ve held a number of similar positions as you can really highlight your skills.

Some Tips to Keep in Mind

• Sell yourself – don’t be shy! Think of your resume as a piece of marketing material.
• Take the time to prepare your resume. After all, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
• Review your resume with someone whose business savvy you respect. A second opinion may make a difference.
• Take advice from the professionals. If a hiring manager or recruiter suggests you make edits, do it! Don’t be offended.
• Check your resume thoroughly for proper grammar
  and spelling!
• Try using a template to create your resume. MS Word (and other word processing software) has this template.
• Make your words count – avoid large paragraphs and use action verbs such as “developed,” “managed,” and “designed.”
• Have a unique, strong job objective. For temporary work, stay away from job objectives that may limit you to certain positions.
• Avoid anything longer than 2 pages. The ideal resume is only 1 page. Keep it concise – short and strong.
• Make your resume easy on the eyes. Use normal margins. Do not cram your text.
• Boldface important items, such as previous job titles, degrees, and skills.
• Be honest – most employers can easily spot a falsified resume.
• Always have several copies of your resume with you. You never know when a networking opportunity will arise!
• Consider using a resume writing service if you do not have the time to create what you think is the perfect resume.
• Don’t list references. They take up too much space. Simply write “References available upon request”. If an employer wants references, they will ask.
• Don’t write in the first person, such as “I did...”
• Don’t use colored paper. If the resume needs to be faxed it may be too dark to read.
• Don’t include hobbies or other personal information unless you feel strongly that the experience will help you gain employment.

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THE INTERVIEW
The interview gives you the opportunity to sell yourself and to learn more about the position for which you are applying. It allows you to demonstrate to a prospective employer why you are the right person for the position and lets you discover if the company’s expectations are right for you. We have compiled some helpful hints to keep in mind for your next interview . . .

Before the interview:

• Get good directions and take a test drive the day before so you can arrive in a timely manner. Try to arrive at least ten (10) minutes early so you don’t feel rushed. Check in with the receptionist when you arrive.
• Decide on three (3) questions you are going to ask the interviewer to show you are prepared and interested in the position.
• Visualize the interview going well. Use your imagination to see yourself succeeding.

Questions you should consider asking:

• What specific responsibilities of the position do you regard as most important?
• What are the other responsibilities?
• How do you operate in terms of assignments, delegation of responsibility and authority, general operating style, characteristics that you like in a subordinate, characteristics you don’t like?
• What are the major challenges, as you see it, of this position?
• What are the limits and responsibilities that this position entails?
• What growth opportunities does the company offer?
• Choose appropriate attire for the position. Wear conservative colors; blues, grays and browns are preferred.

For Women: For a professional interview, a straight forward business suit is best. Wear sensible shoes, no open toed, be moderate with make-up and perfume. Wear simple jewelry. Hair and fingernails should be well groomed.

For Men: For a professional interview, a clean, ironed shirt and conservative tie are a must. A simple jacket or business suit is a good idea as well. Shoes should be polished, face should be clean shaven; facial hair should be neatly trimmed. Hair and fingernails should be well groomed. Use cologne or after-shave sparingly.

Think about the type of questions the interviewer might ask and decide how you would like to answer.

Questions you should be prepared to answer:

• What motivates you in a job and in your personal life?
• Why should I/we hire you?
• What interested you most about our position?
• What skills do you bring to us and how ca you put them to work?
• Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?
• What goals have you set for yourself?

During the interview:

• Avoid bringing anyone to the interview with you. If you do, have them wait outside.
• Be polite and respectful.
• Use a firm handshake when greeting the interviewer and when concluding the meeting.
• Address the interviewer as Mr. of Ms. unless asked to use their first name.
• Show interest in the job and the duties involved.
• Avoid dropping names of important people you know.
• Remain poised and alert.
• Make eye contact.
• Avoid negative body language. For example: frequent touching of the face, frequent movement, slouching, speaking at a face pace, mumbling.
• Avoid common interview mistakes:
• Arriving late for the interview.
• Remaining low-key and display now enthusiasm for the job.
• Answering most questions with simple “yes” and “no.”
• Speaking negatively about former/current employer.
• Before you leave, find out when a decision will be made regarding the position.
• Don’t forget to SMILE.
• End the interview with a firm handshake and thank the interviewer for his/her time. Reiterate your interest in the position and your qualifications.
• After the interview:
• Write a thank you letter within twenty-four (24) hours. Remind the interviewer of your strengths and why you are the best person for the job.
• Follow up with a phone call within a week of when the interviewer indicated you would be notified.

GOOD LUCK!

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