The Research Study: How Does Your Résumé Compare? Competitive Career Intelligence for 6-Figure Canadians * found that the introductory piece — the top third — within most résumés assessed could be enhanced further. WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT : Readers initially scan a résumé to determine if the candidate may be appropriate for their requirements. Therefore, the first section of a six-figure candidate’s résumé is the most important... 

Asked what method job-seekers should deploy to explain gaps in their employment history, respondents to the the 2010 Orange County Resume Survey* offered no strong preferences. About 40.4 percent advise including a statement in the resume’s Work Experience section describing reasons for the gap(s), while 8.3 percent felt this statement should appear at the bottom of the resume. Almost 26.2 percent suggested including a statement in the cover... 

Almost half (49.4 percent) of surveyed employers said they prefer chronological resumes, according to results from the 2010 Orange County Resume Survey.* Almost 39 percent preferred a combination of a chronological and functional resume format, while just under 6 percent preferred a purely functional format, 3.5 percent had no preference, 2.4 percent preferred a portfolio. Given strong sentiment against any type of functional format reported by... 

A cover letter is supposed to be brief, readable, and professional. A fax cover sheet or a handwritten note should preferably never be used, especially when you want an employer to view you as a serious potential employee. The ideal cover letter is four to five paragraphs long, with each paragraph consisting of maybe three or four sentences. Keep in mind, too, that “less is more.” Your letter should preferably be no more than one... 

Close to two-thirds (62.7 percent) of employer respondents in the 2010 Orange County Resume Survey* said that when receiving resumes electronically (the most common delivery mode these days), they prefer them as a Word .doc. More than a third (36.1 percent) surveyed prefer PDF files, while 1.2 percent favor Rich Text (.rtf). Text-only (.txt) and online resumes in .html format received no support in the survey. Although a Wod .doc is usually a safe... 

You can find many books, websites, and other guides with hundreds of sample cover letters. Use them as a starting point to help you get ideas for format and content, but don’t copy them. Write your cover letter in your own words so it has your voice and style. Take the time to research the company and convey your own enthusiasm for the job. A bland, generic cover letter says that you didn’t care enough about the position or the employer... 

More than half (53.6 percent) of surveyed employers in the 2010 Orange County Resume Survey* said they have no preference for the type of paper resume are printed on when they are sent by postal mail, hand-delivered, or brought to an interview. Almost a third (31 percent) preferred white paper of the type found in most printers and copy machines. Almost 11 percent preferred heavy gray or cream paper. Paper choice is thus one less decision job…  Read More →

In the Research Study: How Does Your Résumé Compare? Competitive Career Intelligence for 6-Figure Canadians *, 29 percent of résumés assessed did not present a clear strategic target. WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT : Prospective employers are looking for an ideal match between an applicant and an opening within their organization. Therefore, the recipient of the résumé needs to know what position the candidate is seeking. WHAT TO AVOID : General... 

When you’re planning to relocate, submitting your resume with a cover letter to various companies in hopes of establishing a relationship and inquiring about employment opportunities is a great idea. A cover letter is an extremely important part of your direct-mail campaign, but also be sure you’ve devised an overall strategy about relocating. Research companies in the new location, decide which ones to target, and identify key people... 

Results from the 2010 Orange County Resume Survey* recently revealed that more than a third (37.6 percent) of employers believe resume length should be determined by the level of the position applied for. Just over 30 percent prefer a one-page resume; almost 19 percent prefer a two-page resume; and 8.2 percent have no preference. Many job-seekers feel constrained by a mythical “one-page” rule. These results suggest the constraint  Read More →

A resume by itself can be limiting; but when paired with a cover letter, both documents serve as a highly effective tag team. Consider this: An employer has a large number of applicants to review, yet he or she can take only seconds to consider each candidate. By knowing what is useful to the employer and calling attention to that in your cover letter, for example, you help quickly answer the question, “Why should I hire this person?”... 

“Self-marketing success requires three essential elements,” said Susan Guarneri, the “Career Assessment Goddess,” in the Q&A interview she did with Quint Careers : understanding who your target audience is and their needs, having a credible and compelling message that your target audience values, and capturing that target audience’s attention. Resumes have been the primary tool for self-marketing in the past.... 

The importance of first impressions is clear when it comes to cover letters. In just a few paragraphs, you’ll present your communication skills, your attention to detail, your interest in the company, and let’s not forget your qualifications that are perfect for the job. A cover letter is also a great place to shine a bit of your personality too. Not sure what details to snapshot in your cover letter? Start by making a list …  Read More →

A paragraph in your cover letter should describe who you are and what makes you stand out writes Deborah Brown-Volkman, president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a career, life, and mentor coaching company. “Include your strengths and what you are passionate about in your career.” Brown-Volkman advises that you think of this paragraph as completing the sentence, “Here’s why I am a good candidate…”  Read More →

Hiring decision-makers surveyed for the book, Top Notch Executive Resumes identified this as one of their Top 30 Executive Resume Pet Peeves: Resume contains inexplicable acronyms and industry-specific jargon. Here’s an example of a head-spinning array of acronyms and jargon from one resume reviewed for this book. The reader can figure out many of them, but it would so much easier if they were spelled out; Manage the Asia Pacific WCS IT...