Now that you have your outline from Writing Your Resume, Part 1,
you are ready to organize the information and format it in a way that will catch a potential employer’s attention-in a good way. No, I don’t recommend using neon colored paper or stationary that rocks. Stick with a basic, neutral color and use resume paper from an office supply store if delivering a printed version. Crazy script font that is not easily readable is a no-go and will not present your professional side. So stick with a standard font (Times, Times New Roman, Arial, etc) that is readable and professional.

When organizing your resume, keep the following
in mind:

1. At the top of the resume should be the header with your name, address, phone number, email and website (if applicable). Also feel free to add the URL’s to any social media profile. Note: This exact header should be used on all correspondence going to the potential employer, including the cover letter and reference sheet.

2. Next down should be your objective, should you choose to include one.

3. After that you should provide a list of skills. This is where you use the “power verbs” that you hear so much about. In other words, don’t list “Office Filing” as a skill-list “Handled office filing”. Here are some other examples:

“Patient Services” could be “Accessed and Delivered Patient Needs”

“Supervised” could be “Hired, Trained and Evaluated Employees”

“Medical Charting” could be “Maintained Client Charts”

4. Then comes work history and I’ve seen two effective formats for this. One is listing the work history in chronological order, with your current job first. The other is to make two headings, one that says “Related Work History” where you list all the jobs that are similar (or have a similar skill set) to the one that you are applying for and the other heading that says “Additional Work History” where you list the rest of your employment. There are pros and cons to both. Chronological order may not bring out the jobs that you really want the potential employer to see and the other system may give the impression that you have gaps in your work history, even if you don’t.

5. Include at least the position you held, the employer name, city/state of employer, dates worked there and duties in each listings. For example:

Lead Nurse, Willowback Medical Care Center, Chicago, IL. June 2009-March 2011.

6. After work history should be education, publication credits and volunteer work in a similar format to the one you used for work history. For example:

EDUCATION

BS in Nursing, Nursing College, Seattle, WA. 1993

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Boy Scout Leader, Boy Scouts of America, Chicago, IL May 1995-present

PUBLICATION CREDITS

“The History of Medical Staffing”, Medical Times, May 2005.

I see very few resumes with references listed on them. Instead make another sheet (with the same heading that is on your resume) and list them there. If the employer doesn’t ask for them initially, it makes a great impression to bring them with you when an interview is scheduled.

What do you think makes a great resume? Let us know in the comments section.

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by Liat Nachman

When you are seeking employment with a new company, you should always include a resume cover letter with your resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce your resume to the employer and to declare your interest in a position with the company. It is the first thing that a prospective employer looks at when evaluating you for a position with the company.
As such it is as important, if not more important than your resume and the interview itself. This is because if your cover letter isn’t good, the employer will never see your resume and you will never get an interview.

The following is what you should include in your cover letter:
1. Elaborate on your employment objective – In your resume, there is a section at the beginning where you put what your employment objective is. In your resume cover letter this is where you have the opportunity to elaborate more on your employment objective. The objective should be clear and concise and should make a prospective employer interested in bringing you in for an interview.
2. How you found the job and what you know about the company – When beginning your resume cover letter, you should talk about how you found the job. If you found it on a web site, list the name and the URL of the web site. If you really want to impress a prospective employer list some information about the company that attracts you to the company. This will show the prospective employer that you did your homework and you really want to work there, which is always a good thing.
3. Be concise and to the point – The cover letter is not the time to write your life story. Make sure you avoid rambling and keep your letter clear and to the point. Generally speaking, if your cover letter is more than a page long, it is way too long. Your goal is to get them just enough information so that they will want to call you in for an interview. They will find out everything they need to know to make a hiring decision at the interview, not just from reading the cover letter.
4. Include your qualifications – The resume cover letter should expand on your qualifications. It should highlight the key points of the resume that makes you uniquely qualified for the position. This is why you should always use a specific cover letter for a specific position. One of the worst things you can do is have a standard cover letter that you use for each and every position you apply for. Employers will pick up on this and you won’t get called in for an interview.
5. Finally, you won’t believe how many people forget this in their resume cover letter. You need to include several ways to contact you. You should include your phone number, your email address and your address. With your email address, you should have a professional email address. If your only email address is youngthughustler@yahoo.com, sign up for another free email address that is more professional.

These guidelines will help you get more interviews.

About the Author

For more information and tips on writing resume cover letters effectively, visit ProResumeSecrets.

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by John Chase

Gone are the days of simply mailing your resume, receiving a call, shaking hands at the interview, and agreeing on a start date for that new job. The Internet has taken over the recruiting landscape, and everyone is required to submit a resume online. While that brings greater efficiency to the process for employers, it can be awfully maddening for job seekers.

But it doesn’t have to be that way if you know how to navigate the system. (And by all means, if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment).

Consider these tips before pressing “submit” to send your resume:

• Search job boards and the websites of employers that appeal to you.
• Print out the job postings that you’re interested in pursuing before you apply.
• Use a highlighter to mark the keywords and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities.
• Compare those words and phrases to the language that appears in your current resume.
• Figure out how and where to add the most relevant keywords to your resume, assuming you have the specific knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Applicant tracking systems will search for keyword matches — the more matches, the better, which often determines if a recruiter opts to view your resume.
• Once you’re confident that your resume reflects a strong match, go ahead and submit that targeted resume online.
• If the system requests a cover letter, write a short one that expresses why you’re a strong match and why you’d like to join the organization. This is a chance to tout your research on the role.
• Never submit a generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter. If you really want the position, you’ll customize all documents for each job.

Once you apply, get to work to find an internal referral to make a personal introduction. Here’s how:

• Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.
• Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn or Facebook, which boast a combined 60 million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection.
• Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.-
• Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.
• Follow up with a call or email to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, “Did you get my resume?” Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You’ll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the email.
• Don’t know the name of the right person? Cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn’t work, do a Web search on the term “recruiter” or “HR director” along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you’re trying to find. LinkedIn is another resource to find the correct name.
• Stay top of mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you’re welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who’ll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you’re politely persistent without crossing over to a pest.
• Ask them directly for advice on how and when to follow up. A simple question, “What’s the best way to keep in touch?” will give you the details you need to stay ahead of the pack.

These resume tips should help you in your job search. And if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment.

About the Author

John is a DJ and radio producer by trade who has performed in the U.S., Russia, Germany, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and India. Through a strange twist of fate he found himself working in the debt consolidation and debt settlement field in Chicago. John has a great interest in charity work as well.

His other interests include fitness, science & technology, modern medicine, politics, world events and pop culture.

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