Most professionals working today grew up composing typewritten resumes. Even now, some younger people who are perfectly adept on the computer keyboard unconsciously make errors and use habits learned from a manual or electric typewriter use in the past. This leftover skill set can be harmful to your employment success.

When you compose a resume, usually you are making simple statements, maybe not even full sentences. Usually they are one line long, or part of a line in length. Almost everyone will hit the enter key at the end of these lines. Some people have their word processor set to space two or even three lines down after an enter command. This is left over from the typewriter era and is not necessary in the word processing era. Let the machine word wrap at the edge of the document so you don’t have a page full of spaces.

Look at each line. Does it make sense? Is it in sentence form, with a subject, verb, etc.? Does it convey something important or is it repetitive? Is it based on feeling that you need to compose snippets of material to save time in typing and fixing errors? With the computer, you can compose all day long and not worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar, type face and spacing. The machine will point out all the errors and fix them instantly. It’s not about white-out and correction tape anymore.

It’s 2007. People are not printing out their resumes to read them. I think that is a mistake. When you read a resume online, in a message, or attachment, or in a file, it’s not the same as printing it in black and white and putting the entirety in your mind. Take your resume and pin it on the wall and step back 10 feet and look at it in the whole. What does it look like? Are there lots of white spaces? Do you find that half the resume text is on one side of the paper? Is there one last page with two lines on it? These are defects that are leftovers from the typewriter age when you had to retype the whole thing to fix the last line and had to set the tabs to get correct line width.

We have tabs in MSWord too. Learn how to use them. Learn about type faces. When you bought a new typewriter years ago it came with a little type wheel with Courier New on it because that was the standard type face. Don’t pick some obscure type face on your computer. Use the standard from years ago because that’s what people still expect. In the case of type faces, older is better because most of your high level readers will be older themselves and used to them.

If you learned to type a resume on a typewriter then you are used to putting in simple punctuation and maybe adding only one special character such as an asterisk. All of a sudden you can add bullets, arrows, squares, stars and so on easily. Don’t do it. The reason why is because these special characters cause problems in resumes sent by email or as attachments. Special characters are not always going to show up on the screen as what you desired. Frequently they will show up as %20 or #,. I have seen resumes with long lists of accomplishments highlighted by bullets that were all turned into %20’s. Not a pretty sight.

I often read resumes that seem to me to have been updated numerous times over the years and never started from scratch since the first year of employment of the candidate. These resumes have a sort of feel of scrolling through the history of different cultural eras in the employment arena. Some read like the 80’s or 90’s, other parts are more recent. We do use different words and phrases in 2007 than we used in 1987. This partial updating practice is left over from typewriting resumes on a manual typewriter. All of us just took the last resume, cut it apart, typed a few new lines and copied it and mailed it out. Where do you think “cut and paste” came from?

Your “typewriter” resumes need to be trashed and started over completely on the computer screen in MS Word using the guidelines in this article. Why use MS Word? Because it is the defacto standard word processing software in use in the business world. It’s like the modern day version of Courier New and will still be readable many years from now.

Most professionals working today grew up composing typewritten resumes. Even now, some younger people who are perfectly adept on the computer keyboard unconsciously make errors and use habits learned from a manual or electric typewriter use in the past. This leftover skill set can be harmful to your employment success.

When you compose a resume, usually you are making simple statements, maybe not even full sentences. Usually they are one line long, or part of a line in length. Almost everyone will hit the enter key at the end of these lines. Some people have their word processor set to space two or even three lines down after an enter command. This is left over from the typewriter era and is not necessary in the word processing era. Let the machine word wrap at the edge of the document so you don’t have a page full of spaces.

Look at each line. Does it make sense? Is it in sentence form, with a subject, verb, etc.? Does it convey something important or is it repetitive? Is it based on feeling that you need to compose snippets of material to save time in typing and fixing errors? With the computer, you can compose all day long and not worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar, type face and spacing. The machine will point out all the errors and fix them instantly. It’s not about white-out and correction tape anymore.

It’s 2007. People are not printing out their resumes to read them. I think that is a mistake. When you read a resume online, in a message, or attachment, or in a file, it’s not the same as printing it in black and white and putting the entirety in your mind. Take your resume and pin it on the wall and step back 10 feet and look at it in the whole. What does it look like? Are there lots of white spaces? Do you find that half the resume text is on one side of the paper? Is there one last page with two lines on it? These are defects that are leftovers from the typewriter age when you had to retype the whole thing to fix the last line and had to set the tabs to get correct line width.

We have tabs in MSWord too. Learn how to use them. Learn about type faces. When you bought a new typewriter years ago it came with a little type wheel with Courier New on it because that was the standard type face. Don’t pick some obscure type face on your computer. Use the standard from years ago because that’s what people still expect. In the case of type faces, older is better because most of your high level readers will be older themselves and used to them.

If you learned to type a resume on a typewriter then you are used to putting in simple punctuation and maybe adding only one special character such as an asterisk. All of a sudden you can add bullets, arrows, squares, stars and so on easily. Don’t do it. The reason why is because these special characters cause problems in resumes sent by email or as attachments. Special characters are not always going to show up on the screen as what you desired. Frequently they will show up as %20 or #,. I have seen resumes with long lists of accomplishments highlighted by bullets that were all turned into %20’s. Not a pretty sight.

I often read resumes that seem to me to have been updated numerous times over the years and never started from scratch since the first year of employment of the candidate. These resumes have a sort of feel of scrolling through the history of different cultural eras in the employment arena. Some read like the 80’s or 90’s, other parts are more recent. We do use different words and phrases in 2007 than we used in 1987. This partial updating practice is left over from typewriting resumes on a manual typewriter. All of us just took the last resume, cut it apart, typed a few new lines and copied it and mailed it out. Where do you think “cut and paste” came from?

Your “typewriter” resumes need to be trashed and started over completely on the computer screen in MS Word using the guidelines in this article. Why use MS Word? Because it is the defacto standard word processing software in use in the business world. It’s like the modern day version of Courier New and will still be readable many years from now.

You’ve been home raising a family, or maybe you have been retired? But lately you have had thoughts of breaking back into the workforce. It’s been a while since you have been in a paying job, and you may be worried that you might no longer be marketable, or don’t feel as confident with the thought of interviews, as you use to be. Don’t fear! This article will boost your confidence and get you ready to have the business opportunities come to you!

Many jobs today require computer skills, so you may want to brush up on rusty skills or look into taking a computer course.

Start listing all the skills you have acquired over your life- time. Many life skills give you quality skills to use in the work force – like time management, typing, financial skills, etc … Think about the type of work you would like to do and compare them with your experiences. There will probably be gaps, don’t fret – now is the time to fill in those gaps. You will be surprised at how many things you can self-learn on the computer.

If you’re a professional who has kept abreast of developments in your field, you’re ahead of the game. If not, find out what refresher courses are offered by professional organizations, local colleges and adult education programs. Brushing up takes time, so it helps to start thinking about your return to the workforce well in advance.

Talk to an instructor or school advisor about the best way to get your skills up to speed quickly. If you need immediate work, you may have to take another type of job while you’re attending classes. If you are retired and considering going back to work, remember any earnings may reduce your benefits, so you may want to contact the Social Security office before hand.

Your resume needs to make a good first impression. Make sure it’s organized. Here are the basic elements of a good resume:

A Header- Include a name, address, and phone number.

An Objective- Describe the type of job you are seeking.

Abilities and Accomplishments- By highlighting functions you have performed ahead of a time line of your employment history, you can emphasize your abilities and non-work experience, rather than the time between your last job and the present.

Work Experience- List employers, job titles, the dates worked, and a description of what you did, including significant accomplishments. Include volunteer work as if it were a regular job.

Education- List the most recent diploma or degree you have earned or are working toward, the date of graduation, your field of study. Include continuing education or refresher courses.

Skills- List computer and language skills or other skills that may be relevant to the job for which you are applying.

Honor and Activities- List awards you have received, clubs or organizations you belong to and activities you participate in. But don’t get carried away. It’s more important to have a small amount of strong information well presented, then a long list of irrelevant activities.

This is an example of a 'Marketing' cover letter to an employer who has advertised the job of Marketing Manager. Note how this covering letter is not the standard "I wish to apply..." letter.

It's true that some jobs demand a more flamboyant approach than others and every cover letter needs to be interesting; however 'Marketing' by its nature can be illustrated most effectively when you adopt a 'marketing' style for your job application cover.

As a marketing cover letter it should pique the reader's sense of interest, illustrate the way the applicant understands the advertiser's need and create the desire to find out more. How do they find out more? By inviting you to an interview of course.

"Dear Mr. Pleasant

MARKETING MANAGER - DAILY PLANET 8TH JANUARY 2007

Being a keen and regular theatre and concert-goer, I have often visited Brindleton City Arts & Conference Centre and was therefore most interested and excited by your advertisement for a Marketing Manager. I should like to throw my hat into the ring by enclosing my CV for your attention.

The advertisement conveys a great sense of energy and pride in your organisation - this is exactly the type of environment to which I have contributed in the past.

As requested, I have set out below a list of achievements but would emphasise that some of these would not have been possible but for the strong team spirit which has been a feature in most of my roles. I have always encouraged corporate effort and prefer to think of myself as a member of the orchestra rather than a one man band!

Over the last five years I have:

* Created a modern and European marketing plan for one of the UK’s leading ballet companies, leading to a profitable tour of N America.

* Held budgetary responsibility for £350,000

* Acted as Marketing Manager for one of London’s best known theatre groups, where I won sponsorship from Midshire Bank Scottish Airways, National Railtech, Power Generators plc and many smaller companies.

* Also worked for a year as a self-employed consultant in Germany devising marketing strategies for Government funded cultural activities.

I am confident that I have established my ability to succeed in a tough and financially pressured environment. Since I would anticipate that sponsorship will continue to be essential to the success of any arts related activity I am sure my track record of developing and maintaining business contacts should serve us well. My extensive network will be a useful starting point for Brindleton. I also believe that a positive European outlook will be essential and my experiences of working overseas, together with good spoken French and German, would allow me to market your conference facilities sensitively and efficiently.

The way to write a better resume is to stop thinking how you can parade all that wonderful experience that you gained over the years and start thinking "What do they NEED to know".

The only thing that any hiring manager wants to decide is: should I interview this candidate?

So to write a better resume is to make it easy for them to conclude that they want to interview you. This is what better resume writing is all about.

First aim to get your information in the right order, then be sure to keep it brief and relevant. If you provide too much information, it can disguise what they really need to see.

• The top of the first page is the most important area of your resume. Can they see immediately who you are, what you have to offer and where they can contact you?

• Clearly identify your level of expertise and competence by a section which highlights them.

• Showcase your specific skills on your resume.

• Identify what level of job role you are seeking.

• Start with the most recent job - employers take most notice of current skills and experience.

Within each employment section you should include the company name, the dates, your job title and two or three lines which describes the purpose of your job.

Follow this by detailing simple bullet points of information that show how you have met that purpose, including achievements and outputs quantified wherever possible. Try not to make the list too long however - you can have only done so much!

Go backwards through your career history but don't bother too much with what happened more than 10 years ago; with the pace of change much of it may not be too relevant anymore.

Conclude with a section that shows professional memberships or specialist qualifications, you may also add external activities but only where you derive useful additional skills from.

The point when you come to write your resignation letter can represent a difficult period of time. Writing a resignation letter isn't always easy - you need to handle it professionally or it could have a serious impact on your career in the future.

Resist any temptation to sound off about any grievances you held or where they can stick their job, the short-lived satisfaction really is not worth the possible consequences.

* Address the Resignation Letter to your boss by name.

* Try something courteous and professional which doesn't 'beat about the bush', but gets to the point and notes positive reasons for accepting the new job, NOT negative reasons for leaving this one. Make sure you have tied up the loose ends as far as possible.

* If you have work that someone will need to take over, write a separate note to go with your resignation later which lists important things like urgent work or passwords.

* State your contractual notice period, but you might offer to stay a reasonable amount of time. More often than not, it won't be taken up, but it is a good parting gesture to make. You could offer some time to train up a replacement which is a good way for your employer to remember you (instead of just walking out).

Try this for an example:

“Mr Bill Gateson

Departmental Manager

Beesons Domestic Products Inc.

Dear Bill

Letter of Resignation

As you know I’ve been keen to develop my career in B2B sales and have been offered a superb opportunity with Johnson Industrial, which will give me a small team to manage plus a couple of Key Accounts. I am therefore giving you the required one calendar month's notice of resignation and will leave the company on 31st October 2006.

I will of course ensure that all my work is up to date and do all I can to help a smooth handover before I leave. If you need assistance with training a replacement I will be pleased to assist you during my remaining time.

Writing an air force resume can be difficult for those individuals that have been in the military for any extended length of time. The military experience is rewarding and these individuals have the opportunity to learn many skills, but they are also out of the civilian job market for quite some time. The key is selling yourself and marketing yourself so that your military experience will help you land a position in the civilian world.

When you are writing your air force resume, you will want to focus on the future. Try not to rehash the past, but to show what your skills will do for a potential employer in the future. You should be able to clearly define your objectives and identify the skills that are necessary for the position you desire. Position yourself as someone who is a qualified professional and emphasize any people skills that you have learned while in the military. IF you have held presentations, negotiations, closings and other military related activities, you should show how these benefit you in the position you desire as well as how these positions will benefit your future employer.

When writing your resume you will want to focus on the skills that you will most likely use. If you have been an Air Force mechanic you may have a head full of knowledge about airplanes and other vehicles as well as information of how to train people to work on those vehicles. If you are seeking a position where you may be training individuals, then you will want to focus on the training skills that you learned while you were a military mechanic, not necessarily all of the information you know about military vehicles. This requires “re-weighting” your skills in order to put emphasis on the skills that you will use in your prospective job positions.

Eliminate all of the military jargon that you might be tempted to use when writing your Air Force resume. The military has devised a communication system that may work well for them, but it does not necessarily work well for individuals that are trying to find a place in the civilian job market. Every time you use an acronym, you are confusing the prospective employer. You will either want to explain what the acronym means or leave it out completely. Instead of using a catch all phrase, break down the job duties that you had in every position so that they employer will understand it. A great way to break these job duties up is through the use of bullets so that the key duties are able to stick out more and catch the employer’s eye. Using a lot of jargon makes it very easy for the potential employer to skip you and go to the next resume in the pile.

A good resume will sell the skills that you learned while you were in the Air Force. If you were responsible for multi-million aircraft, sell this fact by using detail and actual numbers. If you just simply state that you were “responsible for aircraft,” the employer will not know if you mean little airplanes or jet airplanes. The use of numbers and dollar amounts really drives home what you are trying to say. In this example, you would sell you self by stating, “Managed a fleet of military aircraft that valued in excess of $400 million and achieved 100% operational excellence.” This will sell your self rather than telling the employer.

Many people find themselves wondering, how long should a resume be? At some point in time, the rumor that resumes should be one page spread across the nation. Nobody seems to know where this unspoken rule originated, but this is not necessarily true. Short resumes are no longer acceptable in today's competitive job market. The length of your resume truly depends on the situation.

For example, graduates and entry-level individuals generally have a one-page resume, due to their lack of experience in the working society. It is important not to stretch a resume just for link purposes. Many college career-counseling offices also inform students that their resume should not be longer than one page. If you have been in the job market while attending college, there is no reason you should not include any of those relevant experiences. If you are tempted to go for more than one page on your resume, be sure you have enough relevant information to have a just cause for the second page. This is especially true for individuals who have not been in the job market.

Individuals with over 10 years in the job market will find it virtually impossible to be restricted to a one-page resume. In this case, the more information given the better. According to Susan Whitcomb’s book Resume Magic, a survey taken in the top 100 companies to work for in the United States shows just 12% of participants believe a resume should be only one page. A higher 67% felt that resumes should be kept in two pages. 21% felt that the applicant should use as many pages as he or she deems necessary to display all qualifications for the position available.

For individuals seeking an executive position your resume should exceed two pages. There is an extreme amount of information that an employer needs in the decision-making process of an upper level position. Intangibles such as leadership, motivational skills, loyalty, vision, integrity, and the ability to keep up with the ever-changing market are important assets to an employer. The chief executive’s resume could go to as many as four or five pages. In today's cutthroat society it is just too risky to make a mistake in hiring a higher ranked employee, so make sure they know as much about you as possible. There is no room for error, so make sure you take your time on your resume. In this situation, a resume cannot be too long. An executive who restricts their resume to one or two pages is the first sign that they have been looking for work for quite some time.

If you have a one-page resume or a five-page resume, the importance of drawing the attention on the first page is a necessity. The fact is employers generally spend 2 1/2 to 20 seconds on each resume. So it is important to catch the employer’s eye as soon as possible. When ending a resume it is important for text to fill up at least a third of the page. If you must condense parts of your resume to avoid a short last page make sure you do not add filler to fill up the last page of your resume, as this will just dilute the importance of your information.

Whatever you do, don't make the employer need a magnifying glass to read your resume. I suggest no smaller than an 11-point font with spacey margins. Make sure you put spaces between your lines to make it easier to read and kind on the eyes. Companies at one point, wanted one-page resumes, but now prefer a clearly written and spacious resume. If your resume is two pages or more, make sure to use headers, page numbers and footers. This will allow employers to find what they are looking for at a glance with a well-organized resume. If you put your name close to the page numbers, it eliminates your resume being mixed up in the shuffle of several resumes. Do not repeat the same letterhead from page 1 on page 2 and 3, etc. Your name and page number is all that is needed, and it simplifies things for the employer.

There is one golden rule in resume writing- never include information such as hobbies, race, marital status and political information on a resume. In the 1960s it used to be very popular to include a lot of personal information on your resume. That was an era when the employer wanted to know a lot about your personal life because they would use that information in the decision making process. That was also an era when there were not as many discrimination laws and employers were able to hire and fire on a variety of different reasons. Times have definitely changed and most employers have decided that they don’t need to know that information. Choosing individuals to interview and hire has become a lot more objective and they would prefer that they only know your work history rather than you personal history. Despite all of this, there are still those individuals that decide to include that information either as filler to make their resume longer or because they simply don’t know any better.

You are only setting yourself up for disappointment by including personal information on your resume. The number one item that is included on resumes, that shouldn’t be, is marital status. Potential employees should never know whether or not you are married, single or have children. This suggests that you will be preoccupied with sick children, trips to the doctor, teacher conferences, school events, etc. These things will get your potential employer preoccupied with thoughts of you missing work. Employers should also not know if you are single. This may make them think thoughts like, “Great, we’ll get him or her to work long hours or weekends!” If you are married, they might think that your spouse won’t want you to work late.

Your height and weight should also not be included in your resume. This does not really matter to your position and it is definitely too personal, but people still include this on their resumes. Also, nobody cares whether or not you like to bowl, golf, surf the Internet, take long walks on the beach and play with your puppy. These are just not necessary for a resume and your hobbies are not selling you on the position.

Other aspects that should not be included on your resume include religious and political affiliations. These open you up to personal preferences and prejudices. Potential employers may be very tempted to use this type of information against you.

Another popular feature that was included on resumes “back in the days,” was personal photographs. This is not a portfolio or an actor’s promotion pack. You are not trying to land a part, but a career. Your picture shows people what you look like and this may make them disregard the important information on you resume. This also allows them to make assumptions about you and you shouldn’t give people that opportunity. A picture will also open you up to prejudices and may keep you from getting interviews.

If you have not been in the job market for quite some time, it is time to make your resume comply with today’s guidelines. Too many individuals fail to update their resumes on a regular basis when you should be doing this regardless of whether or not you plan on leaving your current job. It is better to be prepared and always have a resume ready than to have to update one that is twenty years old.

Many students are led astray by word processing programs that suggest you had areas such as hobbies and interests. These areas are not essential and they should not be used. These areas simply add filler and nonsense to a functional resume. You are also tempted to leave personal comments that you will not want included in your resume. If you are unsure about certain areas of your resume, have friends, family, colleagues and career-counselors examine your resume and give you suggestions. Many career-counseling offices at colleges offer free resume counseling services.

What to include in a cover letter is one of the most important parts of your resume. The sole purpose of a cover letter is to strike enough interest to draw an interview, not to tell a meaningless story. The goal of your cover letter is to display your qualifications and attract interest from employers. Your cover letter will determine whether or not the employer even looks at your resume beneath it. This is the first step in making a good impression.

There are two types of cover letters, specific and general. The specific cover letter is detailed for an individual person, an individual position, and an individual company. The specific cover letter will also send a very strong message to the employer that you took the time to individualize your cover letter.

A general cover letter is often addressed in general. The purpose of a general cover letter is to leave options open for general openings, although it states your qualifications and your skills. A general cover letter at times can be an advantage, because it shows flexibility in general job openings. The general cover letter may hurt you if you are applying for a specific position and you are not specifically addressing the individual that you are wishing to get an interview with.

I have 12 years, driving over the road, reaching as many as 32 different states. I have received several above and beyond awards due to my high performance in customer service. I truly believe customer service is the key to success in any business. I have also never been in any form of incident or accident in my 12-year career. I have received safety awards every year for safe driving. I truly believe I would be an asset to your company.

Writing a Navy resume is very similar to writing a resume for any other military branch. In most cases, the individual has just been discharged from the Navy and they are looking for a job in the civilian sector. These individuals must remember that it is important to market themselves for their specific civilian job position. This starts with an effective resume that a civilian employer will be able to understand.

The first step is to write an effective decision for your prospective civilian job position. You must clearly define your goal and it is not uncommon to write your resume for a specific type of job position. This will help you to focus in on your goal and what you hope to convey to your future employer. Research the occupation that you are interested in and develop your resume accordingly.

Once you have been able to define your objective, you will begin to write your resume. A great way to begin writing you resume is to look at your prospective job position and see what how your skills you have learned while in the Navy will help you. Be sure to employ those skills that pertain to the job. For example, if you are interested in an engineering position, look at your skills and define the skills that you believe will help you land the job. Leave out any information that doesn’t pertain to the position. If you received awards that do pertain to the position, feel free to include those as well.

Explain your accomplishments so that the employer easily understands them. Explain the accomplishments in civilian terms rather than military jargon. This means leaving out any acronyms or abbreviations that may be commonly used by the military, but not by the regular civilian employer. You are better off assuming that the employer has absolutely no knowledge of the military to ensure that you are clear and precise in your resume.

If you have learned a foreign language while you were in the Navy, you should stress this fact. As a foreign language linguist, you may have learned many of the same skills that you may require to be a marketing communications professional. You will want to state your qualification so that they are less military and show how they would help you in a civilian marketing position, for example. Another example of how to transform your military skills into civilian skills is if you were a military mechanic. Use these skills and information to show that you also have the skills that are necessary to be an auto mechanic in a civilian workshop. Speak of your skills in a more civilian manner, leaving out the military jargon that the employer will not be able to understand.

Don’t be afraid of having a resume that is longer than one page. You may need more space in your resume to lie out all of the skills that you have learned in the military into a civilian format. The military has devised a form of communication that allows a person to explain their numerous duties in one phrase, while in the civilian realm; you will have to use many terms and explanations. You do not want your resume to be five pages long, but rather focused on a specific job and use as many pages as necessary to be effective.

Your one resume may not cover all the bases for different positions that you may be qualified for. Don’t be afraid to have several different types of resumes that are focused on different positions that you are interested in. Navy individuals are very diverse people and they often have numerous skills sets, use these to your advantage when writing your resume and do your best to sell yourself for the future. Don’t dwell on your Navy past, but focus on how you can help the employer with the skills you have learned in the future.

This article is part three on how to leverage the power of a blog to advance your career. In the two previous articles, we’ve addressed how a blog devoted to a single topic can quickly establish you as an expert in that field and allow you to leap over a lot of the normally required “years of experience” of actually working in that field.

For example, suppose you are a software engineer now and have spent a lot of your own time studying a certain technology that is outside your direct area of experience. Even though you are now knowledgeable about this new technology, you cannot get a job in that field because your “on-the-job experience” is not directly related to that technology.

The solution is to start a blog devoted to this new technology. Subscribe to daily Google NewsAlerts so that you will have a constant stream of new information to write about. Keep studying on your own, but apply that new knowledge to your blog postings and write no less than five new articles a week.

Now the next step is to network using your blog. There are two types of networking that apply here: online and offline networking.

Online networking means you start posting thoughtful, informative comments on other blogs related to your field. Do not look at other bloggers as your competition. That is old school thinking that defeats the very purpose of blogging. Blogs gain their power by creating a community of thinkers on a certain subject.

The next step is to use trackbacks. This means you link to another blogger’s article and write an article on your own blog that develops that same subject further. In a sense this is like carrying on a conversation between two bloggers about the same topic. The other blogger may in turn pick up your thread and carry the conversation one step further, with readers of both blogs posting their comments.

With trackbacks, you are not only networking with the writer of the other blog, but also with the readers of that other blog.

Then there is offline networking. After your blog is established as a source of regular, quality information (and this could take as little as three months if you post new articles five times a week), seek interviews with offline experts.

Going back to the software engineer example, if you can locate several people who work in the field you are targeting, send them snail mail letters describing your blog and ask if you can interview them for an article.

This is taking the concept of “informational interviewing” one step further. Your blog gives you much more credibility than some college student calling with the same request. Additionally, your blog gives the expert a possible way to get additional exposure.

If possible, conduct the interview in person, but you can also do this by telephone or even email. Ask thoughtful questions that allow both you and the interviewee to be seen in a positive light. This is not the place for those tough, hard-nosed investigative journalistic questions. You want to make a contact as well as get information for your blog.

Of course you should always ask for other references and referrals with the “who else should I be talking to about this subject,” question.

The resume is the applicant’s life on paper. This is the first step anyone has to take when looking for a job regardless if the person is fresh from college or has been in the industry for quite awhile.

Writing a resume is not that hard. The applicant should just make it clear and concise so that a potential recruiter will be able to get to know the person. There are many ways to get the resume into the hands of various companies looking for new employees.

The conventional way of doing it will be for the applicant to send this out using snail mail, by fax or the internet.

The best way to get a lot of coverage is called a blast resume, which is like firing a shotgun, and making the pellets hit different targets all at once.

The applicant can open an account in one website and then have the resume sent to thousands of inboxes of various companies and recruitment firms.

The service will not edit the document but simply transmit it. This means the applicant will have to do the dirty work of reviewing it carefully. It will be a good idea to attach a cover letter to the resume.

A general one that basically introduces the person is best given that it will be hard to write more than a thousands personal ones.

Some of these sites require applicants to follow a standard font. The person should follow these rules so that the recruiter will not have hard time opening the attachment.

The person has to choose a reputable blast service. This is because the recruiter will be hesitant in opening the email given that there are a lot of spams and viruses that hit the web.

It is a good thing that most of these recruiters have made such arrangements with certain sites. The individual should just check these out in the web to find out which ones are legitimate.

Some even advertise the names of some companies who are affiliated with the service, which really helps a lot in getting more people to avail of this kind of service.

One way to get better results is to send this out to a targeted audience. It won’t do any good sending this to the pharmaceutical industry given that the person has worked in engineering for many years.

Will blast resumes guarantee the applicant a job? The answer is no. The best thing it can do is make people more aware that there is someone with certain qualifications up for grabs in the job market.

While waiting for that phone call, the applicant must use all the resources available be it that these focus on something or are more general because any one of these methods can help the person land a job.

The applicant will probably have to wait a few weeks or even months before a call for an interview will come in. This is because there are also other people out there looking for a job and possible vying for the same position.

The blast resume service is simply a means to an end. When that call comes, the applicant should come on time for an interview then hope that everything works out with a handshake sealing the deal.

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing the business needs of their customers (small to large businesses) and coming up with solutions to business problems. Despite the job being highly skilled, time and time again, the question; how do I write a Business Analyst resume? Comes up. It is time to answer this question once and for all, by giving helpful hints and tips on addressing the question “How do I write a Business Analyst resume?”

Firstly, you must outline the skills and knowledge required of the job, show that you possess these skills and knowledge and link it to experience and/or education. So lets look at each of these in turn.

You must have knowledge of the subject of the business; there is no point in asking “how do I write a business analyst resume?” if you don’t even had the skills or experience to list on your resume. Whilst complexity varies, this is relatively important to include on your business analyst resume.

Secondly, you must have the skills of Business Processes, this is instrumental in business process re-engineering. There are a number of tools used for this, make sure you include your knowledge and experience in your resume. Furthermore, you need IT capabilities, Feasibility, and Relevance knowledge. These need to be addressed in turn on your resume or included in your experience. Hopefully by this stage you should be getting a better idea of how do I write a business analyst resume.

Finally, make sure you list any certifications, and if your experience is in a different field, make sure you link the prerequisites of analytical skills, and technical/business background.

No matter how well somebody can produce their resume, the question that comes up time and time again is how do I write a cover sheet for a resume? Many job seekers are now including a cover sheet for a resume, yet the inclusion of a cover sheet is forgotten by many, for the simple reason they have never actually completed one before. To make sure you have the greatest prospects in securing that new job, read this guide on how do I write a cover sheet for a resume?

A resume cover sheet has become important in the last few years through increasing complexity of the job market. Cover sheets have even became vital to apply for a number of jobs, with employers requiring the presence of a cover sheet in order to even consider your resume. The number one reason people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume is because this requirement is relatively new, and essential in securing that job you have worked so hard towards.

A cover sheet has to include several parts of information. Firstly, it should have your name. Secondly, it should detail the position number, and any position code that is linked with the position name. This information can be found by viewing the job posting or advertisement. The position you are applying for should also be listed. The date you are available to begin employment, and often your signature of acknowledgement.

When people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume I have to stress to them how important these are becoming today. Many employers won’t even consider resumes without cover sheets.

Despite the large number of guides on the internet which address how to write a resume, many don’t address the crucial question of “how do I write a Reference Page for a resume?” A reference page is a crucial aspect of writing for your resume. A reference page has been found to be a lot more effective than listing references on your resume. Today’s job market has made it standard to not include references on your resume, but rather create a separate references page on your resume. So, let’s address the question of how do I write a reference page for a resume?

Firstly, you should create a separate sheet that lists your references. Typically, it is a good idea to list 3 professional references and three personal ones, although some jobs may have lesser requirements.

For your professional references include the referees name, job titles, company, address, phone number and email address. These are all essential in creating a professional reference page. When people ask me how do I write a reference page for a resume, this is the number one tip I give them; make sure you have complete and detailed information for your professional referees. Listing people in your chosen field is important, as is, listing their position within the organization.

Personal references are slightly less important, although it is a good idea to list a few to reinforce the professional references you have listed. If people want to know how do I write a reference page for a resume, personal references should be included with their business address (preferable).

Finally, to answer the question of “How do I write a reference page for a resume?” we cannot leave out the last fundamental point: make sure you contact the referees before hand to let them know they may receive contact from potential employers. This ensure they have time to think about what to say, it also gives the opportunity to gauge if they will give you a good reference.

This article is part three on how to leverage the power of a blog to advance your career. In the two previous articles, we’ve addressed how a blog devoted to a single topic can quickly establish you as an expert in that field and allow you to leap over a lot of the normally required “years of experience” of actually working in that field.

For example, suppose you are a software engineer now and have spent a lot of your own time studying a certain technology that is outside your direct area of experience. Even though you are now knowledgeable about this new technology, you cannot get a job in that field because your “on-the-job experience” is not directly related to that technology.

The solution is to start a blog devoted to this new technology. Subscribe to daily Google NewsAlerts so that you will have a constant stream of new information to write about. Keep studying on your own, but apply that new knowledge to your blog postings and write no less than five new articles a week.

Now the next step is to network using your blog. There are two types of networking that apply here: online and offline networking.

Online networking means you start posting thoughtful, informative comments on other blogs related to your field. Do not look at other bloggers as your competition. That is old school thinking that defeats the very purpose of blogging. Blogs gain their power by creating a community of thinkers on a certain subject.

The next step is to use trackbacks. This means you link to another blogger’s article and write an article on your own blog that develops that same subject further. In a sense this is like carrying on a conversation between two bloggers about the same topic. The other blogger may in turn pick up your thread and carry the conversation one step further, with readers of both blogs posting their comments.

With trackbacks, you are not only networking with the writer of the other blog, but also with the readers of that other blog.

Then there is offline networking. After your blog is established as a source of regular, quality information (and this could take as little as three months if you post new articles five times a week), seek interviews with offline experts.

Going back to the software engineer example, if you can locate several people who work in the field you are targeting, send them snail mail letters describing your blog and ask if you can interview them for an article.

This is taking the concept of “informational interviewing” one step further. Your blog gives you much more credibility than some college student calling with the same request. Additionally, your blog gives the expert a possible way to get additional exposure.

If possible, conduct the interview in person, but you can also do this by telephone or even email. Ask thoughtful questions that allow both you and the interviewee to be seen in a positive light. This is not the place for those tough, hard-nosed investigative journalistic questions. You want to make a contact as well as get information for your blog.

Of course you should always ask for other references and referrals with the “who else should I be talking to about this subject,” question.

Follow up with a handwritten thank you card and email the link to your blog article(s) containing your interview with this person.

When the almost inevitable question about who you are and what you do for a living comes up, just say that you are exploring your career options in this field. In other words say just enough to make it clear that you are looking, but do not ask for a job. Keep it discreet and keep the conversation on the subject of your blog article.

When should you start getting job offers? With old school informational interviews, job seekers often reported getting offers after conducting ten or twenty interviews. But of course this varies with each field and how many openings are available.

What will be certain is that using this method of leveraging yourself with a blog, will leapfrog you to the very top of the list of candidates.

The resume is the applicant’s life on paper. This is the first step anyone has to take when looking for a job regardless if the person is fresh from college or has been in the industry for quite awhile.

Writing a resume is not that hard. The applicant should just make it clear and concise so that a potential recruiter will be able to get to know the person. There are many ways to get the resume into the hands of various companies looking for new employees.

The conventional way of doing it will be for the applicant to send this out using snail mail, by fax or the internet.

The best way to get a lot of coverage is called a blast resume, which is like firing a shotgun, and making the pellets hit different targets all at once.

The applicant can open an account in one website and then have the resume sent to thousands of inboxes of various companies and recruitment firms.

The service will not edit the document but simply transmit it. This means the applicant will have to do the dirty work of reviewing it carefully. It will be a good idea to attach a cover letter to the resume.

A general one that basically introduces the person is best given that it will be hard to write more than a thousands personal ones.

Some of these sites require applicants to follow a standard font. The person should follow these rules so that the recruiter will not have hard time opening the attachment.

The person has to choose a reputable blast service. This is because the recruiter will be hesitant in opening the email given that there are a lot of spams and viruses that hit the web.

It is a good thing that most of these recruiters have made such arrangements with certain sites. The individual should just check these out in the web to find out which ones are legitimate.

Some even advertise the names of some companies who are affiliated with the service, which really helps a lot in getting more people to avail of this kind of service.

One way to get better results is to send this out to a targeted audience. It won’t do any good sending this to the pharmaceutical industry given that the person has worked in engineering for many years.

Will blast resumes guarantee the applicant a job? The answer is no. The best thing it can do is make people more aware that there is someone with certain qualifications up for grabs in the job market.

While waiting for that phone call, the applicant must use all the resources available be it that these focus on something or are more general because any one of these methods can help the person land a job.

The applicant will probably have to wait a few weeks or even months before a call for an interview will come in. This is because there are also other people out there looking for a job and possible vying for the same position.

The blast resume service is simply a means to an end. When that call comes, the applicant should come on time for an interview then hope that everything works out with a handshake sealing the deal.

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing the business needs of their customers (small to large businesses) and coming up with solutions to business problems. Despite the job being highly skilled, time and time again, the question; how do I write a Business Analyst resume? Comes up. It is time to answer this question once and for all, by giving helpful hints and tips on addressing the question “How do I write a Business Analyst resume?”

Firstly, you must outline the skills and knowledge required of the job, show that you possess these skills and knowledge and link it to experience and/or education. So lets look at each of these in turn.

You must have knowledge of the subject of the business; there is no point in asking “how do I write a business analyst resume?” if you don’t even had the skills or experience to list on your resume. Whilst complexity varies, this is relatively important to include on your business analyst resume.

Secondly, you must have the skills of Business Processes, this is instrumental in business process re-engineering. There are a number of tools used for this, make sure you include your knowledge and experience in your resume. Furthermore, you need IT capabilities, Feasibility, and Relevance knowledge. These need to be addressed in turn on your resume or included in your experience. Hopefully by this stage you should be getting a better idea of how do I write a business analyst resume.

Finally, make sure you list any certifications, and if your experience is in a different field, make sure you link the prerequisites of analytical skills, and technical/business background.

No matter how well somebody can produce their resume, the question that comes up time and time again is how do I write a cover sheet for a resume? Many job seekers are now including a cover sheet for a resume, yet the inclusion of a cover sheet is forgotten by many, for the simple reason they have never actually completed one before. To make sure you have the greatest prospects in securing that new job, read this guide on how do I write a cover sheet for a resume?

A resume cover sheet has become important in the last few years through increasing complexity of the job market. Cover sheets have even became vital to apply for a number of jobs, with employers requiring the presence of a cover sheet in order to even consider your resume. The number one reason people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume is because this requirement is relatively new, and essential in securing that job you have worked so hard towards.

A cover sheet has to include several parts of information. Firstly, it should have your name. Secondly, it should detail the position number, and any position code that is linked with the position name. This information can be found by viewing the job posting or advertisement. The position you are applying for should also be listed. The date you are available to begin employment, and often your signature of acknowledgement.

When people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume I have to stress to them how important these are becoming today. Many employers won’t even consider resumes without cover sheets.

Despite the large number of guides on the internet which address how to write a resume, many don’t address the crucial question of “how do I write a Reference Page for a resume?” A reference page is a crucial aspect of writing for your resume. A reference page has been found to be a lot more effective than listing references on your resume. Today’s job market has made it standard to not include references on your resume, but rather create a separate references page on your resume. So, let’s address the question of how do I write a reference page for a resume?

Firstly, you should create a separate sheet that lists your references. Typically, it is a good idea to list 3 professional references and three personal ones, although some jobs may have lesser requirements.

For your professional references include the referees name, job titles, company, address, phone number and email address. These are all essential in creating a professional reference page. When people ask me how do I write a reference page for a resume, this is the number one tip I give them; make sure you have complete and detailed information for your professional referees. Listing people in your chosen field is important, as is, listing their position within the organization.

Personal references are slightly less important, although it is a good idea to list a few to reinforce the professional references you have listed. If people want to know how do I write a reference page for a resume, personal references should be included with their business address (preferable).

Finally, to answer the question of “How do I write a reference page for a resume?” we cannot leave out the last fundamental point: make sure you contact the referees before hand to let them know they may receive contact from potential employers. This ensure they have time to think about what to say, it also gives the opportunity to gauge if they will give you a good reference.

One of the most important parts of writing a resume is making the resume objective. The objective is usually immediately below the top section of a resume . Most often the resume objective contain a few sentences summarizing the position you are applying for and your major qualifications. Since many people ask “how do I write a resume objective?” I have written a short guide to help you with this part of your resume.

Firstly, you can write a resume objective using either sentence structure or in bullet points. Many choose the latter for clarity and to retain a succinct look to your resume, but short, direct sentences can have the same effect. If somebody asks me how do I write a resume objective, the first thing that I make clear is to keep it simple, and remember what it is there for. That is, primarily to; emphasize and summarize your major qualifications, inform the reader of the position you are applying for and your career goals, and to establish your professional identity.

How do I write a resume objective cannot be answered without mention of tailoring what you write to your audience. That means, you may have to actually change your objective depending on who your audience is. To give your resume the competitive edge do some research on the individual corporations/businesses you are applying for. One of the most common problems is that the resume statement is far too general. If you are here you obviously are asking how do I write a resume objective, but you perhaps have failed to ask yourself other essential questions.

These are simple and central to how your objective statement should read; what are your main qualifications? What positions do you seek? What are your professional goals? And what type of organization and/or work setting do you want to work in? For each of these you want to give specifics, not general flourish.

As you sit down to write your cover letter, do you ever stop and think, “Who the heck is going to read this?” You may believe that just because employers get hundreds of resumes per job posting that they tend to skip the cover letter part. That is just not true.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

You’ve written this awesome cover letter and it’s taken you quite a long time to create your masterpiece. You’re tired and spent from all your hard work. When it comes time to get your information together for the next job, you change the “To” section of the cover letter and the job title that you’re applying for. Boom – done!

But hold on a second…

What you just did is a major faux-pas. How is Employer #2 going to feel when it’s obvious you didn’t write your cover letter just for him? What if there was something in there that didn’t relate to that particular job at all?

Before you throw up your hands in frustration, let me clarify: you do not need to completely re-write your entire cover letter for each and every one of the positions for which you apply. You just need to put forth a little extra effort to show the employers that they are not just one of many companies for which you are applying.

Oops! Forgot to Change the Company’s Name?

You’re applying to jobs online and you hit “Send” a split second before you realize you forgot to update the company’s name on your cover letter. It seems like it’s happened to everyone but it is a huge blunder that most likely takes you out of the running for that particular position. Not very encouraging, huh? The good part about it is that you’ll be extra careful applying for jobs from then on.

Is there a way to recover from this error? You could always follow up with a hardcopy of your resume package. By then, the hiring manager probably would have already forgotten about your little mistake. You can also wait a few days and apply on line again. With so many resumes, employers probably aren’t going to remember your original submission.

Not Highlighting Your most Important Achievements?

Many job seekers believe that if they have their achievements on their resume, why should they repeat themselves in their cover letter? Simple – you need to do everything you can to make that employer want to read your resume. If your cover letter doesn’t provide them with enough ‘proof’ that you’re a great candidate for the position, then there is a chance they won’t even make it to your resume.

Now I’m not saying that it’s best to repeat yourself verbatim. Be a little creative and reword those top three or four achievements or important requirements that you know the employer wants to see. These may be different with each job posting so customize appropriately.

There are many ways to make your cover letter grab an employer’s attention. Treat it as being as important as your resume in getting interviews. After all, it’s your cover letter’s job to make the hiring manager want to read your resume. A great resume needs a cover letter to pave the way for the job that you really want.

This is one of those very tricky subjects that can make or break your resume: Should you include a salary range that you're looking for on your resume? Some would argue that if the company isn't interested in paying you what you want, then you're better off not bothering with them. However, the other camp argues that you shouldn't include it, and sell them on you first. The salary negotiations can come during later interviews. So where do I stand? Firmly in the second camp, except when explicitly stated by the job opening. My decision is based on the following reasoning:

1.) Ease of salary negotiation - In my opinion, once you have them "salivating" over your resume, you're in a much better position to negotiate your salary. They want you based on what you can do for them, and they've already started to fit you into their project model. Wavering a few percentage points on the salary will probably be much easier for them to do at this point.

2.) Get yourself in the door - When opening a position, a company has a certain salary in mind. If you specify something out of that range on your resume, they'll probably reject you out of hand. However, if you wait until you get farther in the interview process, they'll be less willing to dismiss you because you want a little more money. This leads into the salary negotiation that was discussed above.

3.) Hidden benefits - While getting your target salary is a great goal, sometimes there are other rewards from a job that can be just as good. Leave time for example, or health benefits. However, if you put a salary on your resume and get rejected out of hand because of it, you'll never know what that company could do for you. Maybe you're willing to make a little less a year to get 25 days of vacation and/or great health benefits. The point is, you won't know unless you talk to somebody first.

Overall, my main point is this: You can negotiate you salary later, worry about getting in the door and selling yourself first. You never know what will come out of these interviews.

After two years of hard work of studying, the only thing the nurse needs to do is to pass the board exam. Some take classes while others review without any help and how effective the individual studied will depend on the final score.

Those who pass the exam can now work on the resume given that recruiters from various hospitals and clinics will look at it before deciding whether to accept the applicant or not. Those who have no idea where to begin can ask help by looking for a sample resume and then work from there.

The common denominator among all types of resumes is it is never more than 2 pages long. Fresh graduates don’t have that much to say unless that person has worked in a previous job so this can even be cut down to just one page.

Those who have never worked before can focus on certain highlights while in school. The graduate can boast about the praise received during the internship. It will also be a good idea to mention if the student graduated with honors since this will surely impress the recruiter.

Not everyone may have graduated with honors. The good news is that everyone is on equal footing when applying for the same job.

The only thing the recruiter will look for is if the individual has what it takes to do the job. The main body of the resume should focus on the training and skills that one possesses.

The interviewer will surely ask the applicant to expound further on certain things. This is the reason that the resume must be simple to read because the use of colorful words will be misinterpreted for something else.

After reading a few, this is the time to start making one. This should be proofread carefully because nobody likes to see typos and wrong spellings. A trusted friend should do a final check since people sometimes forget a few things after looking at it for a long time.

The final draft should be saved then sent via email or courier to the potential workplace. The task of looking for employment will not be that hard given that the country has a shortage so such ads will always be found in the newspaper or online.

It will take some time before the hospital or the clinic will respond so the nurse should continue sending this out to other places until the person has a job.

When the nurse is called for an interview, it pays to dress smart and come on time. It will also be a good idea to bring a printed copy since a lot of things could have transpired which should be added to the resume.

Some people will land a job a few months after graduation. Others will not be that lucky and will just have to patient until an opportunity comes along.

The nurse may transfer to another clinic or hospital after only a few months. At least now, the person can add a little bit of work experience to the resume which will surely be some plus points when there is a vacancy.

Those who want to create a good impression should probably review some samples again and proofread it before sending an attachment to potential employers.

It seems like there are endless “rules” floating around about the right and wrong way to write a professional resume. You probably remember receiving well-meaning advice like this at some point or other in your career:

"Always list your career history in chronological order."

"Make sure you print on cream or grey parchment paper instead of plain white so you'll get noticed in the pile of resumes."

"Don't make even the tiniest mistake or your resume will get thrown into the trash!"

What other resume writing rumors have you been exposed to over the course of your career? Do you feel they're justified, or do you think it is all a bunch of hype?

The fact is, each career opportunity is unique, as is each employer. Something that appeals to one hiring manager may actually be a turnoff to another. You can’t know what those things might be until the day of your interview... so, there’s no sense in worrying about them or in trying to please everyone.

From a career coaching perspective, think about this:

If we're always so consumed with doing the right thing according to others, then we're going to forget to do the things that feel right to us as individuals. But if we're being ourselves, thinking for ourselves and not stressing about process and procedure, that's when we're most likely to attract the attention of employers who want exactly what we have to offer.

So if you're feeling anxious about writing your resume, don't sweat it! Two things that will get you noticed "in the pile" are if you tackle your career effort with confidence, and approach things in your own style. And it's worth pointing out that "in your own style" does not mean unprofessional. It simply means having common sense about the things that any hiring manager would want to read on a resume, while also giving yourself the freedom to be who you are.

Here's a great tip for writing your resume. Put yourself directly into the employer's shoes. If you were running a business or managing a department, what types of qualities would you be interested in seeing in your future employees? Think about the position that needs to be filled. What skills and strengths might a supervisor equate with "the ideal candidate?" Do you possess those qualities? Perfect! Talk about that in your career resume and cover letter. Let them know exactly why you are the best person for the job.

Does it matter if you print your resume in black ink, as opposed to gray or blue? Does every graphic designer's resume need to look like a magazine ad, with graphics and Madison Avenue copy? Will it hurt your chances for employment if you order your resume by professional achievements and skills instead of chronologically?

The answer is no, no, and no. Yes, resumes typically follow a few standard recognizable formats, but you aren't locked into one way of creating yours. Be smart, and include what's expected... but when it comes to the little things, relax and use your best judgment for the particular job and field in question.

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing the business needs of their customers (small to large businesses) and coming up with solutions to business problems. Despite the job being highly skilled, time and time again, the question; how do I write a Business Analyst resume? Comes up. It is time to answer this question once and for all, by giving helpful hints and tips on addressing the question “How do I write a Business Analyst resume?”

Firstly, you must outline the skills and knowledge required of the job, show that you possess these skills and knowledge and link it to experience and/or education. So lets look at each of these in turn.

You must have knowledge of the subject of the business; there is no point in asking “how do I write a business analyst resume?” if you don’t even had the skills or experience to list on your resume. Whilst complexity varies, this is relatively important to include on your business analyst resume.

Secondly, you must have the skills of Business Processes, this is instrumental in business process re-engineering. There are a number of tools used for this, make sure you include your knowledge and experience in your resume. Furthermore, you need IT capabilities, Feasibility, and Relevance knowledge. These need to be addressed in turn on your resume or included in your experience. Hopefully by this stage you should be getting a better idea of how do I write a business analyst resume.

Finally, make sure you list any certifications, and if your experience is in a different field, make sure you link the prerequisites of analytical skills, and technical/business background.

No matter how well somebody can produce their resume, the question that comes up time and time again is how do I write a cover sheet for a resume? Many job seekers are now including a cover sheet for a resume, yet the inclusion of a cover sheet is forgotten by many, for the simple reason they have never actually completed one before. To make sure you have the greatest prospects in securing that new job, read this guide on how do I write a cover sheet for a resume?

A resume cover sheet has become important in the last few years through increasing complexity of the job market. Cover sheets have even became vital to apply for a number of jobs, with employers requiring the presence of a cover sheet in order to even consider your resume. The number one reason people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume is because this requirement is relatively new, and essential in securing that job you have worked so hard towards.

A cover sheet has to include several parts of information. Firstly, it should have your name. Secondly, it should detail the position number, and any position code that is linked with the position name. This information can be found by viewing the job posting or advertisement. The position you are applying for should also be listed. The date you are available to begin employment, and often your signature of acknowledgement.

When people ask how do I write a cover sheet for a resume I have to stress to them how important these are becoming today. Many employers won’t even consider resumes without cover sheets.

Despite the large number of guides on the internet which address how to write a resume, many don’t address the crucial question of “how do I write a Reference Page for a resume?” A reference page is a crucial aspect of writing for your resume. A reference page has been found to be a lot more effective than listing references on your resume. Today’s job market has made it standard to not include references on your resume, but rather create a separate references page on your resume. So, let’s address the question of how do I write a reference page for a resume?

Firstly, you should create a separate sheet that lists your references. Typically, it is a good idea to list 3 professional references and three personal ones, although some jobs may have lesser requirements.

For your professional references include the referees name, job titles, company, address, phone number and email address. These are all essential in creating a professional reference page. When people ask me how do I write a reference page for a resume, this is the number one tip I give them; make sure you have complete and detailed information for your professional referees. Listing people in your chosen field is important, as is, listing their position within the organization.

Personal references are slightly less important, although it is a good idea to list a few to reinforce the professional references you have listed. If people want to know how do I write a reference page for a resume, personal references should be included with their business address (preferable).

Finally, to answer the question of “How do I write a reference page for a resume?” we cannot leave out the last fundamental point: make sure you contact the referees before hand to let them know they may receive contact from potential employers. This ensure they have time to think about what to say, it also gives the opportunity to gauge if they will give you a good reference.

One of the most important parts of writing a resume is making the resume objective. The objective is usually immediately below the top section of a resume . Most often the resume objective contain a few sentences summarizing the position you are applying for and your major qualifications. Since many people ask “how do I write a resume objective?” I have written a short guide to help you with this part of your resume.

Firstly, you can write a resume objective using either sentence structure or in bullet points. Many choose the latter for clarity and to retain a succinct look to your resume, but short, direct sentences can have the same effect. If somebody asks me how do I write a resume objective, the first thing that I make clear is to keep it simple, and remember what it is there for. That is, primarily to; emphasize and summarize your major qualifications, inform the reader of the position you are applying for and your career goals, and to establish your professional identity.

How do I write a resume objective cannot be answered without mention of tailoring what you write to your audience. That means, you may have to actually change your objective depending on who your audience is. To give your resume the competitive edge do some research on the individual corporations/businesses you are applying for. One of the most common problems is that the resume statement is far too general. If you are here you obviously are asking how do I write a resume objective, but you perhaps have failed to ask yourself other essential questions.

These are simple and central to how your objective statement should read; what are your main qualifications? What positions do you seek? What are your professional goals? And what type of organization and/or work setting do you want to work in? For each of these you want to give specifics, not general flourish.

As you sit down to write your cover letter, do you ever stop and think, “Who the heck is going to read this?” You may believe that just because employers get hundreds of resumes per job posting that they tend to skip the cover letter part. That is just not true.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

You’ve written this awesome cover letter and it’s taken you quite a long time to create your masterpiece. You’re tired and spent from all your hard work. When it comes time to get your information together for the next job, you change the “To” section of the cover letter and the job title that you’re applying for. Boom – done!

But hold on a second…

What you just did is a major faux-pas. How is Employer #2 going to feel when it’s obvious you didn’t write your cover letter just for him? What if there was something in there that didn’t relate to that particular job at all?

Before you throw up your hands in frustration, let me clarify: you do not need to completely re-write your entire cover letter for each and every one of the positions for which you apply. You just need to put forth a little extra effort to show the employers that they are not just one of many companies for which you are applying.

Oops! Forgot to Change the Company’s Name?

You’re applying to jobs online and you hit “Send” a split second before you realize you forgot to update the company’s name on your cover letter. It seems like it’s happened to everyone but it is a huge blunder that most likely takes you out of the running for that particular position. Not very encouraging, huh? The good part about it is that you’ll be extra careful applying for jobs from then on.

Is there a way to recover from this error? You could always follow up with a hardcopy of your resume package. By then, the hiring manager probably would have already forgotten about your little mistake. You can also wait a few days and apply on line again. With so many resumes, employers probably aren’t going to remember your original submission.

Not Highlighting Your most Important Achievements?

Many job seekers believe that if they have their achievements on their resume, why should they repeat themselves in their cover letter? Simple – you need to do everything you can to make that employer want to read your resume. If your cover letter doesn’t provide them with enough ‘proof’ that you’re a great candidate for the position, then there is a chance they won’t even make it to your resume.

Now I’m not saying that it’s best to repeat yourself verbatim. Be a little creative and reword those top three or four achievements or important requirements that you know the employer wants to see. These may be different with each job posting so customize appropriately.

There are many ways to make your cover letter grab an employer’s attention. Treat it as being as important as your resume in getting interviews. After all, it’s your cover letter’s job to make the hiring manager want to read your resume. A great resume needs a cover letter to pave the way for the job that you really want.