Writing Effective Resumes and Cover Letters.

     The resume and cover letter is not just a formality that prospective employers want you to have. They serve as your marketing tools. Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing these items for your job search

     First, scope out actual places where you would like to apply. Don't worry about whether they are hiring or not. This is to help give you a clear idea of who would be reading your resume and cover letter. Even if these places are not hiring at the moment, they can always keep your information on file.

      Start your writing process by listing out all the ways that your skills can best match the needs of the company. Once this is done, craft your resume and cover letter. Do a google search on sample resume formats. You can describe your work history chronologically. You can also choose to structure your resume by job skills. For example, your resume can have sections, such as Marketing Experience, Customer Management etc.

    There are a few things to really keep in mind during the writing process.  First, keep your language short and simple. Some people are so eager to make a good first impression that they get very wordy and very verbose. Clear, concise and straight to the point presentations make the best impression. No one likes to read a length body of text. The more you can convey your message in a bullet pointed series of items, as opposed to long drawn out paragraphs, the better. 

    The second point to keep in mind is to write in layers. Don't agonize over every word. This takes too long. Just write. No matter how imperfect the language and organization is, just get your ideas down on paper in its crudest form as the very first step. Take a break and come back to what you have written. You will notice how things could be worded better. You will notice how to improve the flow of your communication. Keep writing and trying to cover as much ground with each revision. Keep taking breaks (try an hour break, or a break of a day or two) and coming back to what you have written. 

    Taking a step further, check out sites that offer advice from live experts. These often have a career or creative writing experts, who can give you input on your writing. Sometimes you have to pay. One example is Kasamba.com (Soon to be called www.liveperson.com). The rates are usually  about $30 an hour, more or less. This is pretty reasonable for a consultation that can really make a difference with your job search.

    As an option, create a general resume/cover letter and a more tailored version of these two. Send out the general version to companies that meet your basic criteria for job requirements. Send them out to agencies who specialize in finding candidates for job openings. Tweak your resume and cover letter up a few notches for specific companies that you consider to be ideal. Really think about and convey why you would be a great match for them. List out specific points so that it is clear to them that you have really put in a lot of consideration in writing to them.

    Everyone is different. So really keep in mind who you are writing to and what their business needs are. At the same time, keep in mind who you are as well. What are your key strengths? What qualities make you stand out from other candidates?

    Brian Tracy, who is a well known motivational speaker, tells his students to think of themselves as the president of their own company, who is providing an exceptional service to their employer. You are not working for someone, you are always working for yourself.

    Even after you land a job, keep networking and keep finding other companies you consider to be compatible with your interests and job skills! Check out sites like LinkedIn.com, a social network for business contacts. As mentioned before, not all your contacts will be hiring at this very moment, but  when they are, they will at least have your information on hand. 

    With these practices, you will have access to a constant flow of new opportunities always at hand!