7 Key Aspects You MUST Pay Attention To When Writing An Appealing Resume And Cover Letter

I’ve just finished conducting a very intensive two-day training yesterday on “Cover Letter, Resume and Email Writing” where we addressed some of the most pertinent issues in the job-seeking process.

As we explored the various strategies and options in writing these essentials tools in the search for jobs, the participants took note of the important yet often over-looked dimensions of cover letter and resume writing. I was pleased that everyone got started working on their letters and resumes and quite a few had produced high quality content. I wish every single one of them the very best in their job search endeavors.

Hence, if you are in the process of seeking for a new job or possibilities of career enhancement, here are the key aspects you must pay attention to when it comes to creating appealing resume and cover letter:

1. Customize them towards the individual job title, job scope, company and industry. It’s best to avoid using a ‘standard’ or ‘generic’ set of cover letter and resume for every single application you send. This will only reduce your chances as they will come across as ‘less fitting’ to what each company wants.

2. Typographical errors must be eliminated. They simply don’t provide any positive impression about you. This will not do you any justice.

3. Format them for easy reading. With the exception of cover letter, resumes should not be clumps or bunches of paragraphs where your talents are ‘hidden within the jungle’. Use bullet points and other formatting tools to enable your potential employers an easier time understanding you. On the other hand, cover letters’ paragraphing should also not be long essays with unbroken points.

4. Pay attention to the language used. As your choice of words and phrases affects the mind of the employers, take heed of using the appropriate words that will best highlight your positives and increase your chances.

5. Write them for your potential employers, instead of for yourself. Remember that your resume and cover letter is not a personal diary, writing for your own leisure reading. They are read by all the employers you send to. Therefore, write it through how they will read it, from their point, not from yours.

6. Emphasize your strengths in your letter and resume. Instead of hampering yourself or being too negative, work on bringing out your strengths and the positives through these articles. Seek a fair balance in the tone of your cover letter and draw out the affirmative aspects in your resumes.

7. Avoid unnecessary information in your cover letter and resume. Some job seekers clutter their resumes with things that are irrelevant and lost focus in the process. This will only seek to distract your potential employers from qualifying you as a likely candidate for their employment. Take care to leave out what are not necessary and put in the appropriate information in your letter and resume.

Here’s my sincerest wish to you for your success in job search. May you Excel Beyond Excellence!

*** To aid you further in your job seeking process and should you be looking out for online job sites or employment agencies, you can find some of the most helpful sites here:

Useful Job Search Sites: http://wekie.com/2007/11/06/useful-job-search-sites

Prominent Job and Employment Agencies: http://wekie.com/2008/05/13/prominent-job-and-employment-agencies

Source: wekie.com

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