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Any good job hunter needs a resume package. The cover letter and resume always go together and do the same basic thing in somewhat different ways. A job hunter without both of them will most likely not get very far in the hunt for a good career position.
With that in mind, let us take a look at what these essential documents should do for you. The first part, the cover letter, is a short one page letter comprising 3 or 4 paragraphs. It functions as an introduction to the resume. It is the part that will always be seen by the gatekeeper.
The second part is the resume itself. Numerous job hunters make the mistake of considering they can simply leave a resume without a cover letter. That is like putting on a suit and tie, but forgetting the shirt or the pants. They're a package and they go together.
The resume itself may be in either functional or chronological format. The functional format focuses on skills. The chronological format focuses on employment listings. The most effective resumes use elements of both formats to make a combination resume that gets results. It should be laid out in a graphically appealing style, with adequate use of white space, bullet points to attract attention to important parts, and conservative fonts used. While you will sometimes bold face or italicize a font to draw attention to a point or break up a large section of type, changing fonts often makes it hard to read, so stick to one basic font. Furthermore never go smaller than ten point type, and if possible stick with twelve or eleven point. Those sizes are easier to read. If your cover letter and resume are in a small type and difficult to read, they simply will not be read, and will not help you.
Many job seekers wonder how they ought to present the resume package to the decision maker. There are many acceptable methods. If mailing it, make use of a large nine by twelve white envelope to avoid folding your materials. The white envelopes look better than the tan manila typically used in business. Also large envelopes are generally the very first thing people open when they get their mail. If not the very first then they may save the big envelope for last. Since people tend to remember the first and the last - the alpha and the omega - while forgetting much of what is in the middle, either first or last is a good thing.
If you are hand delivering your documents, drop by an office supply shop and get a clear plastic folder with a pressure binder spine and place your cover letter and resume in it. It makes a great presentation and will complement it perfectly. Use these tools very well and you're on your way.
With that in mind, let us take a look at what these essential documents should do for you. The first part, the cover letter, is a short one page letter comprising 3 or 4 paragraphs. It functions as an introduction to the resume. It is the part that will always be seen by the gatekeeper.
The second part is the resume itself. Numerous job hunters make the mistake of considering they can simply leave a resume without a cover letter. That is like putting on a suit and tie, but forgetting the shirt or the pants. They're a package and they go together.
The resume itself may be in either functional or chronological format. The functional format focuses on skills. The chronological format focuses on employment listings. The most effective resumes use elements of both formats to make a combination resume that gets results. It should be laid out in a graphically appealing style, with adequate use of white space, bullet points to attract attention to important parts, and conservative fonts used. While you will sometimes bold face or italicize a font to draw attention to a point or break up a large section of type, changing fonts often makes it hard to read, so stick to one basic font. Furthermore never go smaller than ten point type, and if possible stick with twelve or eleven point. Those sizes are easier to read. If your cover letter and resume are in a small type and difficult to read, they simply will not be read, and will not help you.
Many job seekers wonder how they ought to present the resume package to the decision maker. There are many acceptable methods. If mailing it, make use of a large nine by twelve white envelope to avoid folding your materials. The white envelopes look better than the tan manila typically used in business. Also large envelopes are generally the very first thing people open when they get their mail. If not the very first then they may save the big envelope for last. Since people tend to remember the first and the last - the alpha and the omega - while forgetting much of what is in the middle, either first or last is a good thing.
If you are hand delivering your documents, drop by an office supply shop and get a clear plastic folder with a pressure binder spine and place your cover letter and resume in it. It makes a great presentation and will complement it perfectly. Use these tools very well and you're on your way.
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