Discussion:
Cover Letter and Resume
You want to apply for the position of Human Resources Director with a Fortune 1000 company in the field of retailing. The company "would prefer" applicants with at least four years of experience, though others can also apply. You are six months short on the preferred experience. Though, you are absolutely confident of yourself and want to convince the recruiter about the same.
Keeping in mind the above scenario, in a 2- to 3-page Microsoft Word document, create a cover letter that convinces the recruiter about your competency for this job and a resume. Your cover letter and resume should incorporates the following:
• The cover letter should be concise and to the point, following the 3-paragraph structure.
• The resume should be no more than two pages long, in an appropriate format and following all the standards associated with that format.
• The resume should have an impressive, original objective statement and a summary of qualifications.
• The resume should include your capabilities and special skills, preferably using action verbs.
Support your responses with examples.
You must Cite any sources in APA format.
Notes from class
Resume Writing
A resume includes your experience, educational qualification, and details regarding your key skills. It forms a mandatory part of your job application.
There are various types of resume formats:
• Chronological or reverse chronological resume
• Functional resume
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Internet ready resume or keyword resume
A chronological resume stresses on your professional experience and education. It contains these details, arranged by date and year, in the order of oldest to the most recent one. Whereas, a reverse chronological resume lists all this information beginning with the most recent and going backwards chronologically.
In a functional resume, you begin by providing information about your skills and talents, followed by your experience and education. This kind of resume is mainly used while applying for job in a completely different industry than your previous one.
A CV is used while applying for advanced technical positions, such as those related to academics and science. An applicant can use it to stress on his research work and various analytical skills required for the job.
An Internet ready resume or keyword resume requires minimal formatting, but it should contain the keywords related to the profession.
These keywords are scanned by the computer while reviewing the resume. You need to include these words at all the right places to make an impact.
Tips for Effective Resume Writing
Certain tips which will help you write an effective resume are:
• Turn a task or a skill into a direct benefit for the company. Whichever skill you mention, it should have some degree of significance to the work at hand. This will strengthen your application.
• Include details of your past experience that depicts your leadership skills and your ability to handle diverse roles.
• Do not make it too long; bound by a busy schedule, recruiters can hardly spend over a minute to review a resume. Keep it crisp and to the point.
• Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. The format should be even, and the content should exhibit uniformity.
• Be creative and original. Using a simple language is very effective and guarantees impact.
Cover Letters
A cover letter is a formal persuasive letter that briefly states the important content of the resume. While drafting it, follow these guidelines:
• It should consist of three paragraphs. In the first paragraph, mention at least two of your most important professional achievements to grab the reader's attention.
• In the second paragraph, include a brief summary of the most important points from your resume.
• In the third paragraph, mention how you can use your skills to benefit the company.
Here are some tips for writing cover letters. A cover letter should:
• Not exceed the length of one page; be concise and persuasive
• Be addressed to the appropriate person; ensure that you spell the names correctly
• Include skills related to the organization's requirements
• Be structured and formatted appropriately
• Include a follow up action, for example, the specific date you will be calling for follow up purposes