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Tips on Crafting that Online Resume

The difference between the electronic resume and the printed version is who -- or what -- gets to
see it first. The job hunter wanting to post online must first understand this difference before he
can prepare a resume suited for an electronic medium.
Without question, the Internet has revolutionized all aspects of modern living -- business
operations, information gathering, the communication process, even how we pay our bills. Now,
the Internet is even reshaping the hiring landscape.

Just as you can now conveniently use the computer to shop or pay online, so can you use it to
send your resume to potential employers.

The electronic resume does not differ from the traditional printed version in purpose: Both are
powerful selling tools that outline your work skills and experience so an employer can see, at a
glance, how you can contribute to the company's growth.

A marked difference
There is, however, a marked difference in who -- or what -- gets to see it first: While the old-
fashioned resume is written for quick skimming by the human eye, the Web -- or scannable --
resume is written to be searched by the digital eye. The job hunter wanting to post online must
first understand this difference before he can craft a resume suited for an electronic environment.

You may well ask: Is there really a need to prepare an electronic resume? With almost everything
now being done via the Net, it would be foolish not to do so.

An electronic resume is vital in today's times because an increasing number of businesses have
started using the Internet for hiring purposes. In fact, about 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies
reportedly already have a Web hiring presence, and the US-based research firm Internet Business
Network estimates there are about 100,000 job-related sites online.

And online recruitment isn't likely to fade away anytime soon either. For hiring managers, it
represents convenience, efficiency and 24-hour connection to the job market.

“With automated resume submission, we are sure that we get the maximum number of applicants.
We can reach out to as many prospective applicants as possible,” stresses Dona Yap, the
personnel head of a computer firm.

With an electronic resume, therefore, you are well poised to take advantage of this boom in
Internet hiring and send your e-resume instantaneously to any potential employer in any part of
the world.

That is exactly what Singapore-bound freelance writer Vernie Reyes, who has been accepted as
editor of a technical magazine there, did. “The Internet is truly amazing. I just filled in my resume
details and applied online. To my surprise, they contacted me, and eventually hired me for the
job,” she narrates.

Still need convincing? Jobstreet.com, the leading e-recruitment site in the Asia-Pacific region,
receives many success testimonials from jobseekers, saying they were able to land a job after
registering their resumes with the website.

Making a Web-compatible resume

Okay, you're finally sold to the idea. Your next question: How do I make a Web-compatible resume
that will impress the digital recruiter?

Reyes, a veteran at online job application, says there are two ways of submitting your electronic
resume: by direct e-mail to a hiring firm or by filling an electronic form and entering it in an online
resume bank.

Most companies rely on Internet career sites to help them make jobseeker matches. What's
important to remember is that well-established websites usually have automated recruitment-
management software that winnows the resumes against predetermined employment standards.
 At JobStreet.com, for instance, SiVA does automated searches and segregates resumes based on
keywords that indicate the candidate's skill, education, knowledge levels and other specific
standards set by the hiring employer. This enables the employer to save a sizable amount of time
traditionally spent going through each resume and separating the qualified from the unqualified.

Focus on nouns
Programmer Ruby Alcala says that knowing this, you must remember to focus on nouns, not
verbs. “Computers do searches by scanning your resume for keywords and phrases describing
skills and work experience needed for the job -- and most of these are nouns,” Alcala says.

But while buzzwords are important don't forget the human aspect of your resume as well.
“Buzzwords help a lot in the initial scanning stage, but make sure you balance this with a
description of your personality and attitude intended for human eyes,” says recruitment officer
Tristan Ocampo.

This is because after the computer has done an initial search and drawn up the shortlist of
qualified applicants, an HR officer will be the next to handle your resume. So be sure to include in
it as well your competitive human qualities such as dependability, responsibility and initiative.

“If you wish to increase your selection chances, highlight relevant and related accomplishments,”
Ocampo says. Avoid potential screen-out elements such as unrelated work experiences or a list of
brief jobs giving the impression you're a job hopper.

Save as plain text

On the file format, job seekers are enjoined to send their Web resumes in plain ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Exchange) text format to ensure all operating systems can read
your resumé.

Some job seekers also develop resumes in HTML format so they can exist as a web page, and
rather than submit an online resume, the applicant can just direct the employer to its URL address.

When you are asked to submit by e-mail, always paste your resume into the body of an e-mail
message. Attachments are not recommended, not only because the recipient's operating system
may not be able to read it, but also because most employers are wary of them for fear of
contracting viruses.

Protecting your privacy

Now you know what it takes to tailor-fit a resume for the electronic medium. But one last thing
before you hit that send button: Be warned that once released on the Web, your resume is fair
game for browsing by anyone. So if you feel the need to protect your privacy, career counselor
Pinky Madrigal suggests indicating only your e-mail address, withholding your personal address
and phone number.

“Remember that once posted, your resume becomes a public document whose readership is
beyond your control,” Madrigal says.

Or, you can choose a career resource website that asks your permission first before your resume is
released for viewing. JobStreet.com, for instance, has the Truste seal which guarantees privacy
and confidentiality for registered resumes. In essence, the jobseeker has the final say on who to
send the resume to or who shall have access to its contents.

With that in mind, start posting those online resumes!

If your resume is in need of a makeover, the first step to take is to organize information under specific headings
such as education, work experience, honors, skills and activities. When you have it all on paper, decide on the
proper resume format to play up outstanding qualities that make a perfect fit for the job opening. Take a look at
the different kinds of resumes below and choose the one that suits your particular job-hunter profile:
This format is the most conventional and puts emphasis on an itemized employment history. A job seeker’s career
milestones are presented in reverse chronological order, starting with the current or last position held. Each
position should contain a description of responsibilities and a few bullet points of accomplishments.

This resume type is best for candidates with solid experience and progressive job history in a field or industry. It
lends itself well to those with accumulated work experience relevant to the job offered and who want to continue
along a similar career path.

Below is the suggested format, but be sure to customize it according to the job’s requirements:
1. Objective
2. Summary
3. Employment History
4. Education
5. Professional affiliations
6. Community Affiliations
Resume authorities agree that most employers prefer this resume style because it is based on facts and is easily
digestible. It clearly demonstrates at a glance your career movements and progress over the years.

The functional resume is one that organizes work history into sections that highlight areas of skill and
accomplishment. This resume variety allows candidates to give prominence to the set of skills and experiences they
deem most relevant to the position. It may be a good choice for job hoppers, career changers and fresh graduates.

Job hoppers can use it to help make sense of seemingly disconnected experiences and show correlation between
skills and accomplishments not made obvious in a traditional chronological format.

On the other hand, career shifters and recent graduates can utilize this resume type to display transferable skills
and related achievements to convince employers of their suitability for the post.

This resume type often takes this format:

1. Objective
2. Summary
3. Skill Areas
4. Employment History
5. Education
6. Professional Affiliations
7. Community Affiliations
Be warned, however, that a functional resume could raise concerns that it hides information gaps and covers up
spotty employment records. Employers might also encounter difficulties matching skills and accomplishments with
actual job titles, dates and responsibilities. To avoid this, include the company name in the bulleted description of
your accomplishments. Moreover, don’t omit at least a brief chronological listing of your work experience in your
functional resume.

As the term implies, the combination resume tries to merge the best features of both chronological and functional
types -- incorporating both a chronological work history and a skills and achievements section.

In this format, skills and accomplishments get top billing followed by employment history.

However, experts caution that the combination resume may not sit well with some employers, who may find these
longer resumes particularly repetitious and confusing. This format can be a good tool, however, for someone who
possesses strong editing skills.

Curriculum vitae
The curriculum vitae is sometimes used interchangeably with resume. But by formal definition, curriculum vitae
refers to a detailed, lengthy and structured outline of educational background, publications, projects, awards and
work history. It could run up to 20 pages and is usually suitable for educators and scientists boasting extensive
academic and professional credentials and seeking positions in education or research.

Here is the recommended format for the curriculum vitae:

1. Education
2. Publications
3. Projects
4. Awards
5. Employment History
Electronic resume
Simply put, the electronic resume is one that can be sent by e-mail or on the Internet, and is specially formatted
for scanning and searching by optical scanning systems. This format is the one frequently used when sending
resumes through electronic resume banks and job sites like JobStreet.com.

The electronic resume can come in different file formats, but experts recommend the use of ASCII (or American
Standard Code for Information Interchange) file formats as they are universally recognized by PC, Macintosh, UNIX
workstations and mainframe terminals. The three most common ASCII (pronounced ASK-ee) file formats are plain
text, rich text and hypertext.

Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages. Plain text is the most popularly used format for resume
transfers across computer systems and is identified by the .txt file extension. Its main drawback is, of course, its
no-frills, plain-look format, which can be remedied with the use of asterisks and other special characters to achieve
a bulleted effect.

Rich text, identified by the .rtf file extension, provides more formatting options and is gaining grounds for its
compatibility across word processors. Rich text is very convenient to use for existing resumes that are in word
document or are sent as an email attachment. However, some destination computers may have email browsers
that do not recognize this file format. If you are unsure about the read capability of a recipient’s e-mail system,
you would do better applying plain text formatting.

Hypertext, also known as a web page, is identified through the file extension .htm or .html. This file format
requires a web browser (like Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) to view your resume. A major setback to
hypertext resume is that it relies on self-promotion rather than on the support of a large recruitment site.

Want To Survive A Bad Reference?

by Koon Mei Ching
"You can't… always get …what you wa-ant" goes that familiar melodious refrain. And when the sun doesn't shine on
your job search references, the chill of your search mission can be veritably frosty.

But, let me start at a more logical beginning. Your references function as an objective third-party opinion of you. It
is meant to be a way for interviewers to have a good view of your "employability". If you're sniffing out your next
job, you know that references are vital to your resume. If you left your previous job under less than wonderful
circumstances between you and your boss or had a bad academic report, it is important to know how a bad
reference (written or verbal) can affect your job application process and how to manage this potentially sticky
situation.

The Professional Reference

If you have a previous employer that might give you a bad reference, you probably know who it is. The good thing
about the scenario is that you should be able to make a good guess at what he/she might say - whether you were
fired or quit because of various reasons. Knowing where your problem areas were (if they are reflected in your
resume and references) is the first step in responding to them.

For example, if you quit or were fired from your last job in your current field due to a personality
conflict with your employer/supervisor, approach it from a neutral and positive angle. You can explain in
your first interview (if they bring it up) that the problem wasn't one of your competency but working style. You can
say that despite your best attempts to make things work, sometimes certain people are just unable to work
effectively together. There are many different styles of doing things that are not always compatible.

Luckily most Employers and HR Managers will generally only answer factual reference questions that refer to data
like date of hire/title/Job duties/date of termination. Most employers would not bother with opening up a can of
worms to undo the reputation of a previous employee. Furthermore, your prospective employer knows you are
switching jobs, so, logically, the previous job could not have been the best fit.

So just be positive and focus on the tasks you have accomplished and the valuable experience gained at your
previous job, while pointing to the competencies you developed at other jobs where you have more positive
references.

Reference Ala' Academia

In the academic arena on the other hand, if you did not manage to produce very good results in your
academic exams, explain to the interviewer what other positive circumstances might have influenced
the result. For example, at an interview after graduating, the interviewer peered over at me to ask why my final
year results were not in Grade 1 as in my previous two years. I told him frankly that I spent a lot of time diving
into many extra-curricular activities that helped me develop valuable leadership and management skills. This
meant that I had less time to spend on studying, but I had obtained skills in many other areas, not only
academically. (I swear though, it's true!) They thought this made me a stronger candidate, and I got the job!

If, of course, you did not do well but it was due to too much partying, do not lie. Interviewers have an uncanny
ability to figure this out sooner or later. Instead, try to review the skills you can bring to the job and concentrate
on how you would be able to contribute even with less than sterling qualifications. In the end, all interviewers want
to know how you will perform in your new job and if you can convince them of that, you have a good chance.

Prepping Your Referees

Finally, always remember to inform your referees of the fact that they might be required to produce references to
your interviewers at least 1-2 weeks in advance to prepare. Don't forget to send them copies of your most recent
resume as well, so that they are able to remember the details of who you were, what you did and have the time to
write up/prepare a good reference for you.

Preparation, preparation and more preparation is the way to go to ensure that your referees are able to
present a good view of you, you are able to anticipate the possible reference-related questions being
asked (especially bad ones ) and ultimately, that your value to the hiring party is enhanced!.

Of course, if you think that your past will seriously mess up your current job hunt, you might find it amusing to
know that in the USA, a site called Myreferences.com helps people prepare themselves for the effects of bad
references by calling up past employers and checking out what they say about you, both the good, bad, and the
stuff in between! What will they think of next?

How much should you inflate your CV?

by Koon Mei Ching
The past few weeks since I came back into the recruitment scene, I have noticed quite a few complaints from HR
managers about inflated CVs. I thought it interesting to find out what they were concerned about.

Fair enough, you read all about the right way to write a resume, what you should focus on, what you should
enhance and how you should say the things you want to say. What you get in the end should be a well-crafted
piece to market your skills and experience in your chosen field.

What actually happens? It seems that many of you may be better students than we thought! The latest concern
among time-pressed recruiters is that the CVs submitted do not truly represent the candidate invited for interview.
If you state that you were able to manage an extensive project from resource-allocation to budgeting, you have
better make sure you can back that up in the interview.

I remember running screening interviews for a large multinational a year ago. The initial screeners would whittle
down the field of candidates by reviewing their CVs by looking at their skills, educational backgrounds and extra-
curricular activities. I was actually really amazed at the number of super-candidates emerging from that process. I
was regularly slotted to interview students and experienced hires with quite the impressive list of achievements!

However, during the interview, I was often sorely disappointed. For example, there was a student who was
President of many societies and organisations at his university. When I probed him further on his role and
achievements within these positions, he told me that there were five members in total, and that he had organised
two picnics to local parks. Even though I wanted to find some nugget of brilliance in this candidate by giving him
the benefit of the doubt, I emerged from the session disappointed and rather annoyed that he had tried to cheat
me as an interviewer.
Guan, the Chief Structural Engineer at a global luxury car manufacturer in the USA, was telling me about his own
experience hiring yesterday. He was looking for senior designers who could hit the ground running, and he invited
a candidate who seemed to glow in his resume. What the candidate did not know was that he was going to be
tested in his skills. Despite an elaborate enhancement of his design experiences in his CV, when he was put to the
test, he could not even get past the first half. When asked why he could not do as his resume dictated, he said: "I
could do it, if you gave me instructions on what to do."

Needless to say, neither my university graduate nor Guan's experienced candidate got called back for a second
interview.

It is important to learn the difference between writing a good honest CV and inflating it. If you do a good job of the
former, you will get through based upon your own merits if you are right for the job. If you manage the latter -
inflation - you may get your foot in the door for the first round of interviews, but your cover will be quickly blown,
and it will leave a very bad taste in the interviewer's mouth. That will most definitely kill your chances of
progressing any further, and even ruin the potential to keep a relationship going with the recruiter for future
opportunities.

So be wise and honest when writing your CV. It is not fictional storytelling; it is an autobiography that should know
the difference between who you are, and who you wish you could be. The reader will find out by the first chapter.

How to Write a Career Objective

by Adora C. Balmes

If you must include an objective in your resume, make sure it’s not an afterthought-or a mere garnishing that does
nothing to increase your chances of landing that job.
"Shoot for the moon, and maybe land among the stars." This is the way most career objectives sound in the
resume of inexperienced job seekers. Vague. Uncertain. Aiming for everything and nothing. That is why, some
experts warn, "If you cannot say it clearly, don't say anything at all." Why is this problem so common?

For most of us, a career objective is something thrown in-almost as an afterthought-when cooking up a resume.
Something like a garnishing. An extra ingredient to spice things up. We think of it simply as an optional blank field
we may choose to fill up with standard words in a standard format. Or, worse, with copied words from someone
else's resume.

But if a career objective is just garnishing, as some people think it is, then why is it always placed on the crucial
first line of the resume? This is the first statement the recruiter reads, after your name and contact numbers. Is
that strategic placement just an accident? On the other hand, if this line is so important, then why the cavalier
treatment?

The One True Objective

This attitude-and the resulting vagueness-seems to come from the fact that most of us don't really know what we
mean by career objective. Reading between the lines of expert opinions, we begin to see that they may really be
talking about two different kinds of objectives:
1. A career objective for your life; and
2. A career objective for your resume
Come again? Focus those glazing eyes, and let's take a closer look.

The dictionary defines "career" as "a person's advancement through life, especially in a profession." Job-hunting
guru Richard Nelson Bolles is probably one of the staunchest proponents of the idea that we should aim for our
one, true desire in life-and state that as our career objective. No two minds about it. For him, that objective is the
whole point of the job hunt.

"Forget what is available out there. Go after what you really want," he advises boldly in the best-selling, annually
updated book, What Color is your Parachute?

Does he differentiate between one's objective in life and the objective stated in the resume? Since Bolles is one
career expert who does not think that a resume is a necessity, a statement of career objective specifically for a
resume is not even a relevant issue to him.

In effect, he is saying that a resume is just an optional tool that a job seeker may choose not to use in the hunting
process. It seems that if he has his way, he will do away with it completely. Go, figure. Still, he maintains that
should a job hunter use one, he must make sure that he, the job seeker, "shines through" all the words he puts in
his resume.

In short, the resume should be tailored around the job hunter's career objective-his life objective-not the other
way around. "Don't be a job-beggar," he says. "Be a resource person." Developing one's career objective in this
vein is a hunter-driven process, which begins and ends with what the hunter is truly seeking.

Tailor-Fit Your Objective to Your Resume

On the other hand, other experts take off on the common and very practical perception that we have to work with
"what is available out there." What are the jobs on the market that a job hunter can apply for? Which jobs can fit,
more or less, with his general direction in life? Which jobs can help him, in a step-by-step way, move toward his
life objective.

For these experts, having several versions of a resume with several versions of a career objective is a real job-
hunting necessity. Make sure that your career objectives will match the particular needs of the target employer,
they advise. Makes a lot of sense, right? You do want a job, pay those bills.

Hence, it is important to clearly identify the parameters that the job seeker can work around-certain combinations
of the following key elements, depending on what he wants to stress:

* The position (accounting, nursing)

* The field (publishing, computer technology)
* The hunter's marketable skills (human relations, mathematical abilities)

So as not to turn off those recruiters, heed these general guidelines for writing career objectives:

* Be concise (but not so specific that you limit yourself too much).
* Use verb phrases rather than sentences (Example: Seeking . . . rather than I seek).
* Be sure the objective is compatible with the resume.
* Demonstrate your value as a candidate and as an asset, not what you will get.

In short, it is a market-driven process of developing objectives. The main aim is to make a hit with at least one of
the available positions, in one of the open fields, with some of the hunters' marketable sets of skills. The lay of the
land is defined by what the employers offer and the hunter must fit his objective(s) within this topography.

Assess Yourself
The trouble with most career objectives we read is that they wobble between these two kinds of objectives,
undecided. It is probably better for a job seeker to approach the job hunt one way or the other, but not somewhere
in between. That is the surest path to vagueness and awkwardness.

In any case, though the experts differ on many things, they seem to agree on one thing. Always start with a
comprehensive self-assessment. They are one in saying: Clarify your career objectives (whichever kind they mean)
by clarifying who you are.

So, let’s get to the crux of the matter. After you’ve carefully assessed yourself, specifically your strengths and
abilities, along with the tasks you have performed in previous jobs and how you intend to use them in the next
one, what do you do next?

The next logical step, of course, is to labor at phrasing your objective well, making sure it does not sound “I-
centered.” Consider this example: “A position as a sales engineer requiring superior skills in managing and
monitoring sales and promotions of equipment to clients.” Now, contrast this with: “A position as a sales engineer,
where I can enhance my skills in managing and monitoring sales and promotions of equipment to clients and
eventually advance to higher positions.” The difference between the two is obvious: the first is targeted at meeting
the prospective employer’s needs; the second emphasizes what the job seeker hopes to gain from, not contribute
to, the prospective employer.

Keep in mind that similar positions could vary from one company to another. Therefore, you would do well to
refrain from using job titles in career objectives. That way you don’t limit your chances of being considered for the
job that you want. This is not to say that very specific objectives have no use. If you really want a job that requires
very specific skills, then, by all means, make your objective specific-but not limiting. This means your objective can
apply to other jobs even if you must specify the skills that you think make you the perfect fit for the job you’re
applying for.

In the end, it is the job hunter's call what to aim for and how to state his or her career objective. Helpful resources
are everywhere, specifically on the Internet. And the market is out there for the hunting.
Get yourself covered
by Romelda C. Ascutia
In some ways, job-hunting is like walking a tightrope-a wrong step and you could fall flat on your face. But while
most job searchers take careful steps in making their resume, they often become footloose in drafting the cover
letter.

But a cover letter is just as vital. Think of it as giving a girl you admire a box of her favorite chocolate. Sure, you
don’t have to, but it’s bound to earn you pogi points with her.

Specifically, a cover letter is your vehicle to:

• Disclose info that may not fit in your resume (like a large employment gap, why you’re changing careers,
etc.).
• Make a personal marketing pitch (highlight relevant skills, talents and experience that may get buried in
your resume).
• Give a sneak preview of your desirable traits (“sounds like someone I’d like to interview”).
Dos and don’ts of cover letter writing:
The long and short of it.
Cover letters are like TV commercials: They’ve got to grab attention, sell the product (you) and linger on in
memory-and they have to do these in just 30 seconds. So keep it between three and five paragraphs, no more
than three sentences each. On paper, keep it under one page. For emailed versions, don’t exceed one screen.

Hello, stranger!
How would you feel if you were addressed as “Dear Sir/Madam,” or “To Whom It May Concern”? Warm up to your
reader by making discreet inquiries about the recruiting person’s complete name and title (usually a Human
Resources officer). For blind or “we’ll-call-you” ads, use “Dear Hiring Manager” instead.

Customize, customize, customize.

What’s worse than omitting a cover letter? Sending a “free size” one to every company you apply with. Would you
wear a large dress if you were petite? Or squeeze into an XS if you’re medium size? Make sure your cover letter fits
you perfectly. Find out your particular strengths and accentuate them. Replace generic sentences with “branding”
statements. Ensure every word stays true to your goal-convincing the recruiter that he should hire only you.

Write it right.
Unlike the telegraphic style of a resume, the cover letter is written in prose-which will either display your command
of English and your writing skills, or lack of them. Use the computer’s spell-check function to weed out
misspellings. Proofread your work again and again. Then ask someone competent to edit your work, especially for
common Pinoy grammatical pitfalls such as subject-verb agreement and tense usage.

Say it right.
It’s a tricky balancing act: How to lend a personal touch without becoming too familiar? How to catch attention
without making a fool of yourself? How to promote yourself without boasting? The secret of a commanding cover
letter is keeping to the three S’s-simple, straightforward, and sincere. Write in a professional but conversational
manner, with none of the “as per your recent advertisement” stuff. Don’t resort to flattery or clichés. Avoid self-
aggrandizement by citing specific incidents and numbers.

So how do you know if your cover letter has accomplished its goal? It’s when it succeeds in impressing others, not
you.
The 3-step cover letter: How to write the letter of application to go with your resume.
by Regina Gozar-Posadas
What do you do when you see or hear that your ideal job is up for grabs? What you don’t do is just drop in
unannounced, leave your curriculum vitae with the company or demand to meet the person in charge. The proper
thing to do is to write an application letter first to introduce yourself to a likely employer. This way, you can
highlight your qualifications, arrange for an interview and convince the reader to hire you.

The letter should be simple and easy to read, reflecting the professionalism of the sender-you! To write clearly and
state your business in the fewest possible words, follow this three-step outline:

Introduction
Begin by announcing your intention to apply for the position. State where or how you learned of the opening.

Body
Document your qualifications and skills. Enumerate accomplishments, significant work and educational experience
in logical order.

Conclusion
Affirm your willingness to be interviewed. Thank the reader for considering your application and ask him to look at
your résumé (which should be submitted with the letter) and other valid documents.

You may follow up an application if your initial letter has not been acknowledged or if you do not receive feedback
after an interview. An inquiry would remind the reader of your recent communication, reiterate your interest in the
available position and keep your identity alive in the employer’s mind.

In your subsequent letter, mention the date and nature of the previous exchange or meeting. Point out your
suitability for the job and talk about your continued interest in the position. End your note by requesting
permission to keep in touch and express hope of a response. Offer your contact information (address, telephone
numbers and email address) again lest your documents be misplaced and so that company representatives can
easily reach you.

How to Write Thank You Letters

by Sacha DeVoretz, Americajobnet.com
You’re planning to work in the United States. You’ve got a great American-style resume, and you feel you are the
perfect candidate for a job that has just been advertised. But how do you advertise yourself? American employers
demand a Cover Letter.

What exactly IS a cover letter? If you can think of your job search resume as the “dinner” of the job search meal,
then your Cover Letter is your resume’s “appetizer.” A cover letter’s primary purpose is to act as an employer’s
introduction to your resume. Put simply, it is a brief outline of your career objectives, a summary of your previous
work experience, and a list of some notable career highlights. This letter is all about who you are and what you do.
The idea is to make this introductory topsheet interesting and so well written that, after reading it, the employer’s
interest will be piqued enough to go on to read your resume.

The first step to your dream job in the USA is to have the best possible cover letter and resume - first impressions,
to an American employer, count the most. Having a perfect cover letter with your resume can mean the difference
between being asked for an interview and your document being thrown in the trash. Here are some helpful Do’s to
keep in mind when you are crafting your great new cover letter:
• DO - keep your cover letter to one page. Any longer, and it may end up inspiring the employer to stop
reading – and even to skip reading the attached resume all together.
• DO - include career successes. Examples make your experience stand out.

• DO - address the cover letter to the Human Resources Manager by name if possible. The more
the letter seems “personalized” and less like a mass mail-out, the better chance it will have to be read by
the right person.
• DO - include the company's name and address in the cover letter if possible. If you are doing a
“mass mail-out” (sending the same copy of cover letter and resume to many employers), then you can
exclude the name and address of the companies being applied to. Remember, if applying for a specific job
with one company, try to include the company name and address in the letter and try to include the
name of the hiring person. Remember – first impressions count!
• DO - try to imagine what the employer would like to hear about how you can contribute to the
company right away and help the company realize its goals.
• DO - provide a sampling of your greatest workplace accomplishments. Try to include statistics and
measurable results to document your successes.
• DO - If you are in a technical industry, list a few of the technical programs that you specialize in.
This helps the employer understand your strengths as a potential employee.
And now, some Don’ts. Avoid making these costly mistakes in your cover letter and resume:
• DO NOT include any personal information such as photographs, your health status, marital
status, religion or your birth date. This is not necessary in America, and in some US States such
information opens your potential employer to possible discrimination lawsuits.
• DO NOT state that you would like to immigrate, come to the USA on a work permit (if this is
applicable), or that you are a new immigrant. This is personal information that will NOT secure you a
job. You want your resume and cover letter to be judged on your employment merits only.
 • DO NOT state salary expectations or your previous salaries. This delicate issue can and will be
discussed at a job interview later on.
• DO NOT state what you expect from the company and the position. You are first trying to impress
the employer with your skill set and gain their interest. Your “demands” can be addressed in formed
“questions” to the employer later in the job interview process.
• DO NOT use the same information in your cover letter as your resume. This is tricky, but worth the
effort. This will ensure that you keep the reader's interest. No one wants to read the same information
twice. Try to re-phrase or sum up the work experiences you have had using different terms or
descriptions.
• DO NOT include personality profiles or overviews. The employer will learn about your personal traits
during the interview.
One of the most important details of a cover letter is that it use correct American English and is free of mistakes.
Nothing says, “I’m not good enough for the job” like grammatical and spelling errors. If English is a second
language for you, it is a good idea to ask someone who is very practiced at reading and writing American English to
review your cover letter and resume. They can edit the cover letter and resume and make sure that the spelling
and grammar are perfect. If you’re writing on your own, you should also use a US-style “spell check” program in
your word processor or computer.

Remember, if the employers don't find your cover letter to be in a very professional format or if it is marred by
spelling errors or is just not compelling enough, they may not bother to go on to read the rest of your resume. The
American job will always go to a person with a great cover letter and resume. Always.

If you would like more information about current USA job news and more effective insider tips for landing a job in
the USA, please visit www.americajobnet.com.

This article © 2004 Sacha DeVoretz and Americajobnet.com.

All Worldwide Rights Reserved.

Cover letters make a great first impression

One of the most underutilized job-hunting tools, the thank you letter when properly wielded packs a mean wallop.
So you thought you’ve done all you can, after going through the interview, and all you can do now is sit and wait.

Not so. You still have one potent weapon in your marketing arsenal to help tilt the odds in your favor: The thank
you letter. According to the experts, less than 10 percent of interviewees bother to send one after the interview,
not knowing what a great sales opportunity they’ve missed.

The thank you letter serves an array of purposes, all intending to make you look good. Among these are:
• To portray you as courteous and professional.
• To help you stand above the crowd.
• To give you an opportunity to restate your good points.
• To allow you to state important facts not said during the interview.
Points to Remember
So if you haven’t moved beyond first base in the interview process, the thank you letter may just be the missing
key. In writing the letter, it is best to keep these guidelines in mind:
• Send your letter promptly-preferably within the first couple of days and no later than a week after the
interview.
• Address it to a specific person, and make sure you got the name right.
• Keep it brief: A short page of two or three paragraphs will do.
• Preferably, type your letter, following the standard business letter format.
• Use the letter to reiterate your interest in the job and give a summary of your related skills and
qualifications.
• Leverage this opportunity to mention important information left out during the interview. This is your
chance to make up if you flubbed your answers.
 • Customize your letter. You don’t need to draft a different letter for each company, but do tailor the
content to the interviewer’s particular interests and concerns.
• Proofread for misspellings, typos and grammatical boo-boos.
Parts of a Thank You Letter
A thank you letter should contain the following:

First paragraph. Convey how much you enjoyed and appreciated the meeting, and make some positive remarks
about the company.

Second paragraph. Let the interviewer know you’re still keen on getting the position. Reiterate your strengths and
mention pertinent or new information that you failed to bring up during the interview.

Closing paragraph. Inform the interviewer that you would appreciate hearing from him or her again, and indicate
your willingness to come in for a second interview.

Thank You by E-mail

Ideally, thank you letters should be typewritten on clean, high-quality bond paper and delivered by post or courier.
But most experts agree that e-mailed thank you letters are now also acceptable. E-mail enables you to send your
message instantaneously, which could play a big role if the employer needs to make a quick hiring decision. If
possible, follow up your e-mail with a hard copy.

Just like the printed letter, the e-mail version should be short and to the point -- ideally one screen length. It
should also adhere to professional business letter standards. In particular, steer clear of informal language devices
such as:
• Emoticons (smiling faces, sad faces)
• Lower-case first-person pronouns (i, i’ve, i’ll)
• Lower-case first letter of a sentence
• Shorthand and telegraphic sentences (Sending you more details...)
• Acronyms (BTW for by the way, ASAP for as soon as possible, TIA for thanks in advance)

Techniques of Letter Writing

by Ngeow Yeok Meng
In job search, cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae are the messengers you send to future employers to create
good impressions of yourself. Job seekers who take pains to write impressive letters will find it is worth all the time
and effort when they succeed in getting a good job.

Do put your professionalism, competence and personality in letter writing to increase chances of being taken
seriously for a prospectiveinterview. Take note of major and minor matters before sending your messengers.
• Have a clear purpose before writing a letter
• Plan and organize each section
• Convey the most important ideas first
• Consider the needs of the organization
• Opening sentence should be concise and clear
• Communicate purpose in the opening paragraph
• Keep paragraph short and sentences simple
• Write letter that can convince the reader to take action
• Good grammar, correct spelling and punctuation
• Use more "you" than "I" or "we"
• Use assertion rather than negation "not"
• Use active voice in sentence construction
• Use personal rather than formal language
• Cheerful and creative in tone and style
• Courteous and considerate in approach
 • Double check mistakes carefully
The Magic of Cover Letters
by Ngeow Yeok Meng
Cover letter is a letter accompanying your resume in job application. It is a tool to project a professional image
about yourself before the employer decides to see you face-to-face in an interview.

Sending a resume without a cover letter is like going to a job interview barefoot. It gives an impression that you
don't take the employment opportunity seriously and you really don't care about anything concerning the job you
apply for.

In real life experience, employers and HR personnel do judge a resume by its cover. A well constructed cover letter
can impress the employer to take action on your resume. In other words, the piece of paper covering your resume
actually generates prospective interview and increase the chances of you being employed.

A cover letter should be typed and confined to one page to catch the reader's attention.
• You should convince the employer about your strengths, and support your strengths with evidence.
• You should address to a specific person by name and position, and not "ToWhom It May Concern".
• Your cover letter should reflect your personality and style – qualities that are important in the hiring
decision.
• Your tone should be professional, personal, positive, upbeat and value neutral throughout the letter.
• You should be career-centered or employer-oriented by indicating your wish to progress with the
organization, to be educated and trained on the job etc.
• Avoid using self-centered statements about yourself, or flattering the organization you intend to join.
Wondering what to include in a cover letter?
• Where and when you learned about the position. Employers like to know where candidates learn about the
vacancy in order to determine the effectiveness of their advertising strategies.
• What are your special skills and experience directly related to the employer's needs. This will save the
employer's time to search for these important elements in your resume.
• Why you're interested in this position and/or the organization. Find out more about the organization so
that you can state your objectives in line with the organization's goals.
• Address your gratitude followed by your signature using good quality pen.
That's all.

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