Top News About Writing Resumes Career Advice & Information

By Peter Fisher

Writing a cover letter for your job application is so important yet many people find it difficult to get the words just right. If you could get some really good quality and well written cover letter examples it would make the whole process much easier and take away at least some of the stress of job hunting. Especially if they were free!

Most people find letter-writing in general quite difficult; made all the more so when it comes to writing about themselves. How do you get the balance of a cover letter just right without either boring the reader rigid, or sounding too cocky?

Because it can be so difficult, some people put all of their emphasis into preparing their Resume or CV. Whilst this too is important, many recruiters or hiring managers will turn to the covering letter first to understand the applicant and determine their reasons for applying.

You must take advantage of this by submitting a well-written cover letter that has been customised to the specific situation and application. Many cover letter examples I see as a Recruiter and Career Coach are clearly copies of other applications made before - even sometimes with the previous addressee's name on them!

Do not think you can get away with this, it just marks you out as lazy!

So what you need as your starting point are some good quality cover letters with well chosen words that guarantee interest, then all you need to do is alter the lines that relate to YOU and YOUR SKILLS plus any specific personal information requested.

Because a great cover letter is also a simple cover letter with the right words, this effect can be achieved.

Armed with a great covering letter for your application and being ready to follow up any intermediate enquiries, PLUS sending a 'Thank-You' letter after your interview, can make the difference between success and failure. To help you along, on my Career Change web-site I have included 8 cover letter examples - all carefully written - that can easily be modified as I suggested above; in fact if you look around you will find masses of information to show you precisely how to modify your letter for maximum impact.

As well as great cover letter examples for the application itself, you will also find a 'Thank-You Letter' plus a version of a 'Resignation Letter'. This is how free cover letter examples make your cover letter writing simple.

Peter Fisher is an expert Author and Publisher of Your Career Change Follow this link for masses of cover letter writing information and your free Cover Letter Examples

August 15, 2006 00:57 - A Resume Secret You Simply Must Know

By Carla Vaughan

Resumes are an essential part of our work lives. We hate writing them, but we know we need them. What is so remarkable is that they are not that difficult to write. Yet, we procrastinate putting our credentials down on paper. Why? Is it perhaps because we are afraid it will be time consuming?

If you want a professional resume, you have to make the time to write it.

The resume secret you simply must know?

Use a proven guideline to lead you through the process so that you don’t waste time floundering about wondering what you should list on your resume. One of the best guidelines you can use is shown below. It will show you, step by step, how to create a professional resume.

Follow this resume guideline and make the whole process easier and less time-consuming. You know you need a resume. Do it right.

The first part of a resume is the HEADING. It tells the employer who you are and where to contact you. List your name, address, phone number(s) and email address if you want to be contacted that way. Make sure all of the information is 100% accurate.

The next section is the job objective. While some experts say this section isn't necessary, you stand a much better chance of getting the job you are seeking if you tell the employer exactly what position interests you. Otherwise, the employer is left wondering what you might be best suited for. Sure the cover letter will mention what you are looking for, but what if the cover letter gets separated from the resume? Right, so use a resume objective and make life a little easier for everyone.

You can either put your work experience or your education in the next section. If you list your education next, be sure to include the name and location of the institution, your course of study, graduation dates (or dates of attendance) and your GPA if it's good.

Work experience is fairly easy with one exception: the dates of employment. That is what usually drives people the craziest. In this section, write out the name of the employer, your title, the dates you were employed and your work-related responsibilites and accomplishments. Consider that anything which relates to your new job should be at the top of your list so the employer reads that first. If you write that you opened the mail when you also supervised 6 people, you have it backwards.

Activities/Honors and the like should have a section of their own and should be listed toward the bottom of the page. Again, if it fits with your job objective, list it. If it doesn't, but it looks good, use it if you have space.

Other possible sections could include foreign languages, computer experience, volunteer work and professional affiliations. If they apply, use them.

References don't even need to be mentioned. Everyone knows that if you are asked for references, you can provide them. Don't waste resume space on something that adds nothing to your credentials.

So, now you have everything you need to write your resume. Ok, so you have a great guideline for writing your resume. The rest is up to you, your memory and whatever time it takes to get it all in print.

Yes, it's a bother to have to write a resume, but you have to do it, right? Just get it done. You can do it!

Author: Carla Vaughan, Owner of Professional-Resume-Example.com

To read more about resumes, follow this link: Resume Related Articles These articles are designed to help you better understand the resume-writing process.

My goal in creating Professional-Resume-Example.com has always been to help job seekers put their credentials down on paper in a way that appeals to employers.

There is no cost for any of the information on the site. It's all free.

We have recently added these new sample resumes to our site:

Sample Accounting Resume


Sample Bank Teller Resume


Sample Chef Resume


Sample Clerical Resume


Sample College Student Resume


Sample Customer Service Resume


Sample Education Resume


Sample Elementary Teaching Resume


Sample Executive Resume


Sample High School Student Resume

August 16, 2006 14:19 - How To Make A Resume Stand Out -- Smart Strategies To Beat The Competition

By Nigel Patterson

When you're applying for a job and competing against hundreds of other candidates, it can sometimes seem impossible to get noticed, however well suited you are for the position. That's when a powerful resume and cover letter come into their own, raising your profile to make your application stand out from the rest. Here are six strategies to help you present your talents with panache:

1. Understand and promote your 'personal brand'. Can you identify what it is that makes you a uniquely valuable asset in your work? Which of your professional attributes are you most proud of -- and, more importantly, how would an employer benefit from them? Develop a statement of your most powerful selling points as a self-marketing tool.
2. Have you targeted your resume? You may be describing your skills and attributes, but it's important that you speak to the needs of the hiring company. Don't get so bound up in talking about yourself that you forget to highlight the features of your skill-set that are most likely to appeal to your prospective employer. Sure, it takes a little more time to personalize your resume for each application you make -- but you'll avoid giving a bland and generalized impression.
3. Show, don't tell. Aspiring writers are taught to show their characters in action rather than just describe what they're like -- so use this technique to validate the summary statement of your skills. Don't let unsubstantiated claims raise doubts in a recruiter's mind. Give quantifiable evidence of your achievements where appropriate -- dollar amounts, percentages or other measurements -- to convince and impress an employer.
4. Make keywords work for you. Did you know that more and more employers are turning to digital solutions to help them screen candidates for vacancies that attract large numbers of applications? Including industry-specific keywords in your resume raises the likelihood of scoring a relevant match when your resume is scanned. Look at the job description or advertisement to research terms that ought to be used. These might include:
   • names of widely known companies
   
   
   • job titles, such as consultant, administrative assistant, customer service, bookkeeping
   
   
   • competency statements, such as change management, staff development, team leadership
   
   
   • professional certifications
   
   
   • IT skills, for example database management, CAD or knowledge of particular software programs
   
   
   • other terminology or acronyms familiar to professionals in your industry
5. Organize the information in your resume to focus on your strongest features. Do you want to illustrate your career progression over time, or would it be more effective to highlight clusters of skills you've acquired through a variety of roles? Many recruiters prefer the reverse chronological format -- but it may not suit a candidate who has changed careers or whose last position is not what qualifies them best for the job they want now. Try drafting a chronological and a functional version of your resume and compare them side by side to see which structure gives the better picture.
6. Make it a good-looking document. If your resume is your professional calling card, it's not unreasonable to expect an impeccable standard of presentation. Spelling mistakes and poor grammar are pet peeves for many recruiters and can consign your entire application to the waste paper basket. Proofread your resume and cover letter carefully -- and don't be too proud to ask a trusted friend for help if you need it!

Nigel Patterson is a business writer and publisher of http://1stClassResume.com.

Visit his website for free resume examples, tips on writing an effective cover letter and preparing for a job interview.

Check out these new additions of sample resumes to our site:



Sample Human Resource Resume


Sample Logistics Resume


Sample Military Resume


Sample Nursing Resume


Sample Pharmaceutical Industry Resume


Sample Pharmaceutical Sales Resume


Sample Professional Resume


Sample Receptionist Resume


Sample Sales Resume


Sample Secretary Resume


Sample Software Sales Resume


Sample Student Resume


Sample Teachers Resume

August 19, 2006 11:52 - You Aren't Single Dimensional - So Why Is Your Resume?

By Heather Eagar

Choosing a resume style is as difficult or easy as choosing the most suitable dress or suit for that all-important interview. It is all too simplistic to say that a one ‘jacket fits all’ strategy will work for everyone when deciding what resume style to use – still, most job seekers take this approach and use a functional resume, even when it may not be well suited to their specific situation. One appropriate alternative to the functional resume is the combination resume. You may wonder how this type of resume will work for you. What you need to understand is the fact that each person’s situation is different, and resume readers (your potential bosses) are different people with variable moods and different points of view.

A combination resume can be an effective alternative to a functional resume in many cases. Let’s take a look at what a combination resume really is.

Combination Resumes

As the name implies, a combination resume is one that merges the styles of both the functional and chronological resumes. The combination resume doesn’t just present the facts in reverse chronology but also highlights the functional aspects of each position that you have held, such as your unique skills, the experience gained in all previous jobs and your knowledge.

How Will A Combination Resume Work For Me?

Combination resumes suit all those who have varied (read: checkered) employment histories. This can be due to gaps in employment or having held substantially different positions. If you are changing your career, a combination resume will most likely work well for you. This is because they emphasize your skills and adaptability more, which is typical of changing careers at regular intervals. A combination resume is also perfect for students and new graduates with only part time or internship experience.

The crux of the matter is that the combination resume provides the perfect platform for highlighting and presenting your soft skills, in addition to allowing you to list your work experience in a chronological sequence. For all these reasons, a combination resume is a workable alternative to a straight chronological or functional resume.

Here is a snapshot of candidates that would benefit from using a combination resume:

1. Entry level candidates who have very short work experience to speak of but strong academic excellence and marketable skills.

2. Older employees - they can make use of the summary section to highlight their strong credentials from their long careers.

3. Frequent career changers. With the caveat that if you are radically changing your career, it is more advisable for you to use a functional resume than the combination resume.

4. Candidates who have had gaps in their employment for long periods of time and are now attempting reentry to the job market.

5. Lifers. Those job seekers who have spent a long time in a single job or similar jobs without breaks or any changes whatsoever. They could very well use the chronological style, but the combination resume will present them as more polished and adaptable (key here).

Doing Double Duty

The key to a combination resume really lies in how effectively you market your skills and abilities on paper. Use the combination resume to head off possible red flags that can torpedo your chances with a particular employer or for a particular position right from the start. Take advantage of the benefits of a combination resume by positioning your unique combination of skills and accomplishments upfront.

By using a combination resume, you give the employer what they want, (because employers either consciously or unconsciously look for a chronological-format resume) and give yourself an immediate advantage over the competition - candidates that use other resume types.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end. If you need resume examples and tools, go to http://www.NothingbutResumes.com.

Take a look out our popular resume samples:

Sample Accounting Resume


Sample Bank Teller Resume


Sample Chef Resume


Sample Clerical Resume


Sample College Student Resume


Sample Customer Service Resume


Sample Education Resume


Sample Elementary Teaching Resume


Sample Executive Resume


Sample High School Student Resume


Sample Human Resource Resume


Sample Logistics Resume


Sample Military Resume


Sample Nursing Resume


Sample Pharmaceutical Industry Resume


Sample Pharmaceutical Sales Resume


Sample Professional Resume


Sample Receptionist Resume


Sample Sales Resume


Sample Secretary Resume


Sample Software Sales Resume


Sample Student Resume


Sample Teachers Resume

August 22, 2006 21:56 - Writing A Teacher Cover Letter That's In A Class Of Its Own

By Nigel Patterson

When a teaching vacancy is advertised, it may elicit hundreds of responses from well qualified candidates with a keen interest in the position. That's why it's so important to write a cover letter that instantly commands attention and persuades the recipient to give your resume the attention it deserves.

Cover letters in the teaching profession usually follow the same fundamental principles that apply to most other career fields:

• convey a professional image in the style and appearance of your letter


• make sure to put your name, address and contact telephone number in the letter as well as on the resume


• address the recipient by name in the opening


• identify the position for which you are applying


• offer compelling but succinct content that highlights your most significant skills, experience and training


• request an interview in a strong closing paragraph that emphasizes your interest in the position

It's very important to address the superintendent, principal or other hiring representative by name in your salutation. Everyone will be aware that you're probably making several applications for different jobs -- but personalizing each letter is further indication of your specific enthusiasm for a vacancy.

You can take this targeted approach further by matching relevant features of your teaching history to the requirements of a position. You'll have ample scope to focus on key skills in your resume, of course -- and as part of your job application you may be asked to complete a form which includes space for a personal statement. You'll also probably have time to expand on your educational philosophy in an interview. But a short, one page cover letter will give you the opportunity to focus on points that make you a persuasive candidate to interview.

These questions may help you to decide what aspects of your application are most likely to impress:

• do you have qualifications that make you particularly well-suited?


• have you undertaken relevant courses or training as part of your on-going professional development?


• do you have experience working with children in grades or age ranges that relate to the post?


• are you experienced in teaching students of different abilities?


• what general curriculum skills can you offer alongside your expertise in your specialist subject?


• do you have experience in curriculum planning or development?


• do you have extra-curricular interests or experience that might be valuable?

You can communicate detail to a busy reader quickly by laying out key information in bullet points. Try drafting your letter in different formats to help you assess its legibility.

As a final check, don't forget to proofread hard copy of your letter (and resume) for mistakes of spelling or grammar -- you're a teacher, after all!

Nigel Patterson is a business writer and publisher of http://1stClassResume.com

Visit his website for cover letter examples, advice on resume writing and preparation for a job interview.

These are our latest additions to Rogers Resume Help Center:

Sample Bank Teller Cover Letter


Resume Site map


Sample Resumes


Resume Cover Letters


Sample Dentist Resume


Sample Beautician Resume

August 24, 2006 22:16 - Free Resume Templates are Useless Without This Key

By Peter Fisher

Yes your free resume templates are just that; on their own they are almost useless without the key to show you how you can use them to your best advantage.

With the right guidance you can take a standard free resume template and really make it come to life, yet without it your CV or Resume may at best just look and sound like someone else's!

To get your facts together when you write your CV, it helps to know exactly what is wanted and expected by both employers and recruiters. They expect to see certain elements in your CV and have come to expect it presented in a certain way, using particular words that convey exactly the meaning they are looking for.

You can't be sure this will be the case with a free resume template; although good and useful, having been prepared by well-meaning writers they still aren't YOU.

What you want is an expert CV writing guide that that shows you how to prepare your CV and guides you to use the right words and phrases that are relevant to your job or profession. As an expert Career coach, I see so many badly written CVs and Resumes that I wanted to help you ensure that your CV or Resume didn't fall on it's face like they did.

What was needed was a tool to help you get the best from free resume templates.

There is just such a tool available and you can get yours free by visiting Free Ultimate CV Guide

Peter Fisher is an expert Author and Publisher of Your Career Change He coaches and writes for people undergoing career change. For your free templates and the key visit visiting Free Ultimate CV Guide

For your convenience, here are our latest addtions to Rogers Resume Help Center:

Sample Bank Teller Cover Letter


Resume Site map


Sample Resumes


Resume Cover Letters


Sample Dentist Resume


Sample Beautician Resume