List your qualifications in order of relevance, from most relevant to least. Only list your degree and educational qualifications first if they are truly relevant to the job for which you are applying. If you’ve already done what you want to do in a new job, by all means, list it first, even if it wasn’t your most recent job. There is no law that items must appear in chronological order and if you’re most recent job isn’t relevant listing it first may lead to the person discarding your resume before reaching your relevant experience.

Your technical abilities must stand out as they qualify you for further examination. When searching through resumes often before your resume gets to a person with expertise in the area you’re applying to it’s reviewed by an administrative clerk or even a computer. These are both looking for specific keywords which let them know you have the core 1 or 2 skills they know someone needs to qualify for the job their looking to fill. Once they find these keywords they pass the resume on to someone more qualified to assess if you’re right for a job. Here are some tips to make sure your resume makes it through the first step:

1. List your skills at the top of the resume – try to mention these details early, don’t relegate them to a skills box at the very end of your resume
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1. The Cover Letter is Not an Autobiography

A strong cover letter is brief and to the point. The purpose of the cover letter (and resume) is to demonstrate that you meet or exceed the requirements listed in the job description.

It should also express your interest in the position and that you’re available to accept the position if offered. Additional information beyond this can be counterproductive as it dilutes the message of the cover letter. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s imperative for the serious job hunter to learn how to write a strong cover letter . The cover letter is your first point of contact, setting the tone for what employers should expect from you.

1. Edit the Cover Letter to the Job Specifications

Try not to send the same cover letter every time you apply for a job. Generic cover letters are boring and they do not show exactly why you are a good candidate for the post. Your cover letter should always focus on the professional skills and qualities that are applicable, and put aside everything that is not. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no secret that much of business is about who you know. Writing a resume is no different. If you worked with the president of a corporation at your last job, list that on your resume. If you reported directly to a powerful person, add that into your qualifications. This will show potential employers that you have the ability to work with best and brightest minds in the industry. It also shows that someone of great importance put their trust in you for an extended amount of time.

Bulleted sentences help the flow of your resume and they also add emphasis to your points. No one wants to read a long paragraph that seems to go on and on. With bulleted points and short, emphasized points, you can highlight certain characteristics to your potential employer. That person will be much more likely to take in the information in small amounts than if you leave them with a giant block of text. Remember that a lot of managers scan over resumes before they actually give the resume a good analysis, so you want to catch their eye the first time.