Like the unicorn of mythology, the perfect resume represents an ideal.  Much like that horned stallion (or would that be a mare?), it stands as a proud testimony to itself, marrying quiet confidence with strength, and manifesting promises of great things yet to come.  And, like the wondrous, legendary beast, the perfect resume exists but within our imagination.

As a job applicant’s primary tool for securing interviews, a resume can be perfect in that it accurately reflects the job seekers’ background, including employment and academic history.  It can be perfect in terms of appropriateness and drama of keywords and/or key phrases used, as well as accomplishments highlighted so as to be easily digestible by prospective employers.  It can be perfect in terms of syntax, punctuation, spelling, and layout.  However, there are times when perfect is just not perfect enough for some job hunters.

Desperate for immediate job placement and reading their resumes ad infinitum, some applicants make the erroneous assumption that the modification of a single word, the repositioning of a comma, or the deletion of a small phrase can be the “make or break” factor in landing their next job.  Once these infinitesimal changes have been effected, the employee-hopeful then uses the resume, gets the interview, and waits to hear the hiring manager’s decision.  Learning that the position was not to be his, the job seeker then returns to his resume, demanding further changes that, given the big picture, are microscopic. He has convinced himself that changing, for example, the word “dynamic” to “proactive” will be the employer’s deciding factor in offering him the job resulting from his next interview.  And he will repeat this process of teensy weensy changes, again and again, until he has deluded himself that his perfectly good resume, in fact his most excellent resume, is worthless!  The job seeker is doing the equivalent of hunting down the mythological unicorn: wasting his time, energy, and at least part of his sanity in hot pursuit of that which does not exist.

There comes a time in every job seeker’s life — and pray it comes sooner than later! — when he must step back and see his resume for what it is, and what it is intended to do.  If the resume meets all of the criteria defined in the second paragraph of this article, it is indeed an effective resume.  Instead of scrutinizing the resume with a fine toothed comb, the applicant would serve himself far better with the institution and follow-up of a focused job search, beginning with targeted research and ending with a list of potential employers whose openings fit his specific skill sets and achievements.  For those hopefuls seeking to transition into new industries, they should ensure that their general competencies are marketable within the new environment, and should bridge any gaps with well-crafted cover letters.

Thus armed, they will find that perfection is at hand!  Knowing this, they can be more confident and focused in their search: attributes that will weigh a lot more heavily in terms of job offers than the myopic nit-picking of one’s resume. 

If  you’ve answered “No” to these questions, understand that employers are saying “No” to your resume and cover letter, and that it is time for you to consider an extreme makeover.  Despite our immersion in a most challenging economic upheaval, job openings are still appearing on electronic job boards and company Websites, and your competition is capturing those jobs!  These individuals are not necessarily more qualified or more fortunate than you.  However, they are savvier, in that they have optimized their potential for gainful employment via high-impact resumes and cover letters.

Much like ordinary-looking people reinventing themselves via cosmetic surgery, flattering new hairstyles, and updated wardrobes, an extreme makeover for a resume does not tinker with the essence of an individual, or rather, an individual’s career.  It does, however, highlight one’s background and accomplishments to the fullest, thereby maximizing opportunities for interviews.  In addition to employment and educational histories, a retooled resume contains an eye-catching Summary or Professional Profile, well-written descriptions of duties, explanations of several (not all) achievements, and a liberal dose of keywords relevant to the position and/or industry.  If it warrants a two-page format, a refurbished resume receives it; it does not cram too little
information onto a single page in 9-point type size.  If a reverse chronological resume has not produced interviews because it is repetitious and/or lengthier than a two-page format, it is time to prepare a functional, or skills-based resume, or perhaps even a hybrid style of resume.

An extreme makeover for a cover letter is no less critical, as the letter must not merely introduce you, it must entice the employer to review your resume and consider you as a serious candidate.   Exceedingly succinct cover letters do nothing more than fill the most basic requirement for a letter of introduction, and in this employment environment, “basic” is not good enough.  Therefore, the cover letter need not be very lengthy, but it must do the job of marketing you properly.

If you plan to submit hard copies to some potential employers, an extreme makeover does not include the use of stationery of garishly colored or illustrated borders.  And a beautiful typeface, while advantageous, means nothing if the content of your documents is not substantial and indicative of your own unique story.

Think of your career package as a contestant in a beauty pageant:  the winner must not only present the best qualifications but must also represent and enhance the organization that crowns her.  Apply the same guiding principles in creating a makeover for your resume and cover letter.  Showcase your experience, and do so in a way that not only speaks of your past accomplishments but infers your potential contributions as viable, new talent on the employer’s team.

Watching a child about to embark upon a career search can be as proud and frightening a moment as when that child first wobbled off on a shiny new two-wheeler:  both experiences can be bumpy rides.  Responsible parents dart forward to protect their children from mishaps and, with the proper guidance, send them off again on the right path.  But for a child soon to graduate high school, technical school, college, graduate school, or professional school, the road meandering through a shaky economy can be precarious and circuitous.  Investing aspirations and finances in their children’s college educations, parents justifiably expect to realize returns on their investments, and not solely for purposes of remitting the considerable debt incurred with student loans.  Every loving parent desires his or her child to experience security and stability through a focused career path, and yet, our economy has proven that job security has become, if not an obsolete term, then a misnomer.  Yet, in crafting high school student resumes, technical school student resumes, college student resumes, graduate school student resumes, and professional school student resumes, there do exist viable strategies and tools upon which parents can capitalize to safeguard their children from the worst potholes scarring the road of the post-graduation employment search.  The best of these tactics revolves around crucial internship positions.

On student resumes, internship experience on has, time and again, paved the way for meaningful interviews leading to permanent placement and career advancement.  Employers place significant emphasis upon internships, for they serve as testing grounds for previously untested candidates viewed as potential risks among a more-seasoned workforce.  Managers often base their decisions to hire, or not to hire, upon the skills and knowledge that students have acquired through internship positions.  Although an internship may have been truly valuable, an applicant is often unable to articulate its worth via his or her student resume and cover letter: the very documents that must initiate face-to-face dialogues with employers!  Some internships, unfortunately, prove irrelevant to a student’s future career goals; the job responsibilities may, in the grand scheme of the company’s operations, have been inconsequential.  Or, first-time exposure to a specific industry or job function may have taught the student that that industry or position was not, in actuality, what he or she wished to pursue on a serious career path.  In either scenario, it is imperative to present the internship experience as positive and educational.  Conscientious parents, therefore, will want to give serious consideration to contracting the services of a professional resume writing service, in order to fully showcase their children’s internship experience.

Skilled in the development of student resumes, a resume writing service of quality and longevity will discuss with students, in detail, the functions of the internships.  Services of this nature ask the right questions that elicit the responses, to be configured in writing, that prove most pertinent to hiring managers facing a plethora of job candidates from the college and university pools.  With knowledge of a broad range of industries and job titles, the resume service will not only understand the intern’s role within the department in which he or she has served; the writers will see the much larger picture of the employer’s mission and how the student supported, even at the internship level, the realization of those objectives.  The flavor of the internship, then, will be one of a symbiotic experience that enabled the student to develop a strong foundation of viable skills even as he/she made contributions to the employer.

Equally critical, to strengthen the internship experience that spanned but several months, the resume writer will highlight part-time experience, school-related activities, and/or community service to their fullest advantage, and will create an articulate, accompanying cover letter.  Together, these documents will paint an accurate portrait of the recent graduate as a well rounded, industrious, and energetic team player:  in other words, a good employment risk.

The surfeit of job applicants flooding the market has forced employers to accelerate and refine the process of digesting cover letters and resumes.  In such a market, job-hunting is akin to competing as one of the “Final 12″ in the popular reality TV program, American Idol.  Constrained to perform against eleven other contestants in a rigidly timed format, each singer is given but 90 seconds each week to squeeze the essence from songs that are, in their entirety, an average of three and four times as long; 90 seconds in which to wow the judges, garner the support of millions of voters, and continue to compete for that coveted recording contract.  The need for creating cover letters for resumes casts job seekers into roles similar to those of American Idol contestants.  Candidates must condense their professional backgrounds into tightly written documents, providing the judging panel and voting audience (the employers) opportunities to gain a rapid and accurate sense of their individual talents and propel them into the next phase of the competition (the interview).

Therefore, the second step in cover letter writing is to quickly and clearly define one’s purpose.  If you are a job hopeful interested in a specific position, state the position early in your cover letter, referring if appropriate, to a job posting number.  Should you wish to explore broader opportunities within the company and not a particular position, communicate your specific skill sets rather than your attributes in the cover letter’s opening paragraph.  Words such a “strong sales support, account management, and customer relations skills” will create opportunities for you to explore several potential positions.

Crystallizing your message is the third step in creating cover letters for resumes.  Bearing in mind the myriad of applicants against whom you are competing, keep your message succinct and meaningful.  Highlight one of your major achievements, use it to underscore your strengths, and integrate that with the job description or initiative with which the open position is linked.  For example, “Having engineered the grand openings of two locations last year, on time and under budget, I am confident that I can meet your expectations in launching your new, planned unit.”

In creating cover letters for resumes, your final goal is to maximize your message and impact in order to reach the largest number of employers.  Facing closed doors, many job seekers are attempting to open others in new industries.  If your objective is to transition into another field, configure your cover letter to encompass the elements highlighted above, slanting the content so that it will be attractive to hiring managers in different markets.  Explain why the skills, knowledge, and work ethic that you already possess will enable you to contribute something of value to the new employer.  Adherence to these guidelines for effective cover letter writing will assist you in crafting documents that will facilitate management’s decision to delve further into your background and potential contributions via a personal interview.

In declaring your interest in a resume cover letter, you must reference the particular position or job function for which you would like to apply; these are usually described in the employer’s job posting.  If you wish to cast a broader net, you should state your general areas of competency in the cover letter for resume. 

If you think of your resume cover letter as the opening act in a musical performance and the resume itself the headliner, you will have a better sense of the importance of the cover letter for resume as well as its relationship to the actual resume.  The resume cover letter must pave the way for the resume itself.  Therefore, although the cover letter for resume must not be as detailed as the main attraction, it must hint at what is to follow.  The resume cover letter must entice the audience (the potential employer) to stick around for the headliner.

Given the significance of the cover letter for resume, it makes sense not to leave its writing to chance.  As a professional service with a thirty-year history of success, Objective: Resumes has been preparing resume cover letters, both general and targeted, that have assisted applicants in securing interviews leading to more fulfilling careers.

Much like packaging on a product, a thoughtfully prepared, properly formatted resume attracts attention and generates a positive image of its subject.  In today’s dynamic employment marketplace, the resume is the first and, in many cases, the only means through which the applicant can gain the attention of the prospective employer and distinguish him/herself from other highly qualified applicants.  For this reason, it must accentuate the positive aspects of one’s background, tell the candidate’s unique story, and eliminate or camouflage potential liabilities.  The resume format will determine how this is accomplished.

Proper Format of a Resume

The proper format of a resume can vary.  Among the most common resume formats are the chronological or historical resume, functional or skills-oriented resume, curriculum vitae, and narrative profile or biography.

The chronological – or more precisely, reverse chronological resume is the most common resume format.  At its heart are the listing and description of positions and their accompanying responsibilities and accomplishments.  This approach is best employed by an individual whose career is characterized by a well-defined career path including frequent promotions to positions of increased responsibility.

The functional or skills-oriented resume is a document that focuses on job functions, skills, and accomplishments.  This resume format enables the writer to more broadly articulate background and skills within a structure that is a significant departure from that employed by most applicants.  For this reason, the skills-oriented resume format has become a popular option for those changing careers, students, and others seeking to gain an edge on their competition.

The curriculum vitae, or CV, is the resume format option of choice for physicians, attorneys, scientists, academicians, and other professionals whose credentials provide clear evidence of their respective qualifications.  CV’s usually include complete listings of publications, appointments, research projects, and professional licenses, certifications, and affiliations.

By contrast, the narrative profile or biography, while not technically a resume format, is a promotional piece written in third-person that is often used as a brief introduction to a job candidate with a more detailed resume to follow.  Profiles or biographies are also used in conjunction with formal business proposals, marketing or public relations materials, and online networking sites.

Proper Format of a Resume – Content

While the proper format of a resume may vary, all resume formats will contain information in some or all categories including “Name,” “Contact Information,” “Objective,” “Profile” or “Summary of Qualifications,” “Core Competencies” or “Skills,” “Selected Accomplishments,” “Experience,” “Education,” “Professional Development,” “Licenses,” “Certifications,” “Publications,” “Affiliations,” and “References.”  While many of these categories are self-explanatory and either necessary or superfluous dependent upon the background and qualifications of their subject, some are worthy of elaboration.

“Contact Information” should be complete and include residential address, landline telephone and mobile phone if both are applicable, and email address.  Residential addresses should include number, street, and apartment or unit if applicable.  Avoid using P.O. box addresses if possible, as these addresses often indicate transience on the part of their holders.  Similarly, always include a personal email address with an appropriate user name, even if you must establish one for the sole purpose of inclusion on your resume.  Absence of an email address on your resume format conveys a lack of computer literacy that will, in most cases, be detrimental to your employment search.

While a well-written resume should convey a sense of purpose, inclusion of a statement of “Objective” is dependent upon the subject’s job-hunting focus.  Once a staple in resumes, the statement of objective has become less popular among those seeking opportunities within a broad array of careers and industries.  If specific, a statement of objective illuminates the reader regarding the background and aspirations of the candidate for employment.  If general, the objective is a largely meaningless assertion adding nothing of substance to the resume.  Given the changing nature of employment in today’s economy, a statement of objective at the outset of a resume is too restrictive for most job seekers and can be replaced by a “Profile” or “Summary of Qualifications” detailing the nature of the applicant’s background and scope of experience.  The applicant may then use his/her cover letter to express job focus and aspirations.

Given the fact that many companies use talent acquisition management (TAM) applications like Taleo, Kenexa Brass Ring, and PeopleSoft that automate and manage their initial resume review process, all resume content areas including “Profile” or “Summary,” “Core Competencies” or “Skills,” “Selected Accomplishments,” and “Experience” should be developed using a keyword approach.  Incorporating all of the appropriate keywords for your desired position into your resume will optimize it for automated review and, thereby, enhance your opportunities to secure interviews.

Perhaps most importantly, any and all “Accomplishments” incorporated into your resume should detail the situation, issue, or challenge faced, the strategies and actions you instituted, and their quantifiable results.  Uncovering and articulating these “Accomplishments” tells the prospective employer your story and demonstrates your value to any hiring organization.

Your Key to Success

Will prospective employers readily perceive the full value of what you have to offer?  They will only if you create a persuasive, distinctive resume capturing the optimal expression of you and your potential contributions to their organizations.  The proper format of a resume, combined with compelling content, is the most significant tool enabling you to secure employment or advance your career.

The English poet John Donne expressed this sentiment almost four hundred years ago.  Yet, it seems particularly appropriate today.  Bad economic news abounds across the globe.  And, since domestic business in every nation is dependent upon global markets for significant portions of their revenues, the American sub-prime mortgage crisis has spawned a worldwide economic meltdown of epic proportions.

Recently, in the U.S., CitiBank announced plans to lay off more than 50,000 employees nationwide while senior executives of the three major domestic automobile manufacturers pleaded their cases before Federal legislators, desperate to obtain funding that would enable their corporations to stay afloat.  Added to the unprecedented federal bailouts of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, and AIG, these more recent developments indicate that as the “bell tolls” signaling layoffs and unemployment for millions of Americans, it also “tolls” an alarm for the rest of us who are still employed.

As the value of stocks plummet and consumers curtail all but the most vital spending, the axe continues to fall on the American workforce.  How solid is the company in which you are employed?   How safe is your job?

Like the early bird that catches the worm, the proactive job seeker stands a greater chance of securing employment than those who adopt a “wait and see” approach.   Armed for a targeted job search, a current resume and persuasive cover letter will enable you to get a head start on your competition.

As the economy spirals downward, don’t despair, act!  Develop a resume and cover letter that will maximize your strengths and entice potential employers to grant you interviews.  In that way, if the “bell tolls” for you, you will be prepared.

A thoughtfully prepared cover letter, in fact, is often the “make or break” factor in securing the interview.  For example, we once had a client who, having completed approximately one year of relevant course work, was eager to break into the field of film production, an industry historically difficult for a novice to enter.  Compounding our client’s lack of experience was the worst possible timing: she sought our services the week after 9/11/2001.  In the weeks following this unforeseeable tragedy, our nation was reeling emotionally and financially; stock markets plunged, and hiring came to a near-halt.  Because our client was determined to forge ahead in her job search under these circumstances, we urged her to consider a cover letter in order to strengthen the resume.  Upon her agreement, we prepared a letter that marketed her general, transferable skills, accentuated her strengths and demonstrated her genuine enthusiasm.

Approximately five weeks later, we received a call from the same client, weeping so that it was difficult at first to understand her.  When she composed herself, we discovered that those were tears of joy.  She had received and accepted an offer of employment from one of the directors of HBO programming, who confided that her cover letter had “sealed the deal” in calling her in for the interview, which yielded the job.

Although most candidates have no way of discerning the preferences of the hiring managers who receive their material, they are assured of one certainty, and that is that the inclusion of an introductory letter prepares them for any eventuality.  It may even pave the way for the first step upon a new and exciting career path, as it did for our fledging production assistant.