Resume Tips

First - A Well Written Cover Letter Draws Attention

"Employers know that many hands have touched a resume. The cover letter is more likely to express the candidate's personality, maturity, language skills and self-assessment."

A well written cover letter will assure that your resume gets read. Cover letters provide a 10-15 second advertisement of your highest attributes and qualities that make you the right candidate for the job. Some employers won't even look at a resume without a cover letter. These are the guidelines to a well written cover letter.

• Keep it short and simple.
  Tell who you are and what your specialty is. Describe your skills, tell why you'd be successful and make sure to ask for the interview.
• Avoid sweeping statements.
  Avoid writing such statements as, "I am a hard worker", or "I have good communication skills." These statements are common and altogether overused. Instead, note examples of those traits.
• Don't make demands.
  Avoid boring demands such as, "I am seeking a position." This is the time to sell yourself. Instead of telling the company what you're looking for tell them what you can do.
• Keep the tone of the letter professional.
  Don't recount your place of birth or marital status. It is best to try and combine personal traits with career objectives. For example, an outgoing candidate applying for a sales position may emphasize friendly, yet aggressive customer service.
• Make it look professional.
  White, beige or cream colored paper is used most for cover letters. Light gray or light blue also looks good and may stand out more. It is a good idea to match the paper stock, color and typography with your resume
• Check your spelling.. . . Oops!
  If you have a mistake, your cover letter and resume may be rejected. About 25% of the cover letters reviewed by staffing consultants have spelling errors. The interviewer may assume that you lack thoroughness when you don't bother to proof your cover letter and resume. Most computers today have a spell check which makes errors even more inexcusable.

  Remember, 60 percent of employers in a survey said the cover letter is just as important as the resume, so take considerable time to make it presentable and accurate. Some employers won't even look at a resume without a cover letter.

Now, on to the Resume Tips

Today, many employers are "scanning" resumes into computer databases, enabling them to better match a potential employee's skills and experience with their open jobs. To facilitate this, follow these tips:

• Keep your resume up to date and active!
• State your objective in your cover letter instead of on your resume.
• Use plain white printer paper or letter stock.
• Do not use graphics or background images.
• Use a 12 point size font (Times New Roman or Arial are recommended.)
• Use consistent type styles. Avoid italics, bold, underlining, and mixing fonts.
• Place your name, address and phone number on the first three lines of the first page.
• Don't exceed 3 pages. Employers are most interested in your recent experience.
• Gender, age, religious preferences, marital status, family status, and hobbies are not hiring criteria and are best left off of your resume.
• Send high quality, "1st Run" prints. No copies of copies.

It is the content of your resume that is important. Your resume must quickly convey your knowledge and capabilities. It should include the following information in a logical order:

• Name, address and phone number(s).
• Current title or position.
• Summary of experience, include years of experience.
• Education, degrees, GPA, year of graduation.
• Employment history with brief description of work performed.
• Training, any special skills and abilities, and job related expertise. (Example: computer, tools, etc.)
• Industry and professional association memberships and professional registration(s).

Call us today at (281) 584-9596 or use our toll free number at                    1-888-737-2525 and experience the difference SWDS can make for you or your business.