In my previous jobs, I placed job ads to hire the best person for the ... job. One time a single ad on a website brought in over 600 resumes in a few days. I quickly learned which ones to disca
In my previous jobs, I placed job ads to hire the best person for the available job. One time a single ad on a website brought in over 600 resumes in a few days. I quickly learned which ones to discard first. Even now when I place ads to hire people, I still notice the same mistakes being made over and over again.
With the economy as bad as it is, it is crucial to do what is necessary to increase your chances of getting an interview and ultimately a job offer.
Below are five things you can do immediately with your cover letter and resume to make a good first impression.
1. Follow the Directions
It should be easy to follow directions, but for many people it is not. If the ad says, “no attachments” don’t send an attachment. Some companies are skittish about viruses so do as instructed and put the resume in the body of the email. Conversely, if the ad requests Word attachments, then do that. Show the potential employer that you are paying attention to the details, that you can follow orders, and take instruction well. If you are asked NOT to send a resume, and instead just a letter of interest, than that is what you should do. The companies know what they want. If writing samples or salary requirements or references are asked for, supply them, and if you don’t want to do these things for whatever reason, then at least address this in the cover letter.
“I know that you asked for salary requirements, but I would prefer to discuss this in person after learning more about the job requirements.”
OR
“I will be more than happy to provide a list of references during our initial meeting.”
Don’t just ignore a request. This makes it appear as though you did not read the job posing clearly or that you didn’t care enough to do as you were asked.
If the company wants you to apply online, then do so, even though some of those forms are annoying. Yes, it is much easier to copy and paste your resume into an email and hit the send button, but sometimes you have to make more of an effort if you want to be seriously considered for the job.
Advice: Read the job description carefully a few times. And read it again just as you are about to send off you resume. Make certain that you did not forget anything. Do a checklist if there is a long list of things to supply for the application process.
Remember that you are in fierce competition with other applicants. To survive the first round of rejections, make you six-seconds of fame count by giving the company want it asks for.
You have everything to gain by following the directions.
Louise Banks is a Resume Specialist, Copywriter and Marketing Consultant. She is writing a series of articles on job hunting strategies. As a resume expert, she is experienced in helping people to find jobs that they love. Please visit the website or subscribe to the newsletter.
