In today's unsteady world of employment, the first step in obtaining a job is to write a resume and then send it to a prospective employer. There are certain qualities a resume should have to make it appealing to a management recruiter (headhunter) or a hiring manager. At the same time, there are certain qualities a resume must have in order to make it through the résumé scanning software that larger enterprises utilize. The following are a few tips and tricks to help the prospective job hunter in his quest to land a job.
Research the Employer
Before applying for a position, the job seeker must identify the likely person to whom he or she may be writing. A "Dear Sirs" letter will have minimal success. Whether a position is identified on a web site or in a newspaper, the job seeker must do research on the employer and figure who (the hiring manager), what (the specific type of position) and where (if possible what department in the company) he may be sending his resume and cover letter to.
Even if a resume is submitted on a web site, an additional copy should be sent out to the actual hiring manager, if he or she can be identified. The internet is an excellent research tool that often identifies people in companies by name and title, particularly on new product announcements or at trade show announcements. Also, the company’s web site often can be used as a primary research tool before applying and interviewing.
Writing a Resume, a E-Mailing Resume or Mailing a Resume
Often it is an easy task to blast out an enormous number of resumes to job opening that are readily found on the various job boards. These are forwarded onto the prospective employers and hopefully a hiring manager or executive recruiter takes notice of your submission and contacts you immediately for an interview. As easy as it is to e-mail a resume, it is just as easy for the employer to discard it or load it into some unnamed electronic corporate "resume bank" for future reference. As most know, the likelihood of being contacted back on that basis is as likely as Antarctica having a balmy 90 degree day during the winter. Nevertheless, there is always a chance that a candidate is a perfect fit for a particular job opportunity and a phone call will soon be forthcoming.
Sometimes however, a job seeker may fare better by sending a resume and cover letter to a company of interest directly, without checking to see if a vacancy exists. It has been said that the vast majority of openings are never even advertised. Therefore, if this true, then sending a well crafted cover letter and resume to the company in question is often the best way to locate some of these hidden employment opportunities. There is one caveat to this approach: only send it to a real hiring manager, not the personnel department. If the hiring manager receives such a letter and has an opening, he'll probably read it or at least glance at it before sending it onto the company human resource department. If he has an interest, he may contact the candidate immediately.
Crafting a resume and Cover Letter
If a prospective job candidate identifies a job listing and wishes to apply for that position, it is important to craft the letter and do the resume writing specifically for that position. In this case, his cover letter and resume should mirror, to some extent, the job requirements of the employer. One should use similar, but not the same wording to that which appears in the job opening description. Once the letter is written and the resume is customized for that position, either mail or e-mail it out. If one isn't sure about the style of the resume, he or she can use the internet for resume examples. Sometimes resume software can be a real time saver. One must make sure that one's experience is quantifiable. In other words, wherever possible, quantify experience and anything related to what one has done in the past.
With a well crafted letter and resume, follow up should be made by phone within a week. This is particularly true if a job seeker is sending it out for a specific opening. Obviously, someone seeking a job shouldn't appear too eager or obsessive about the status of his resume. If there is immediate interest, the employer will often contact a potential employee through the HR department and then the next phase is actually going to an interview.
Nick Schklair - Nick Schklair, author, writer and business consultant has published a work on business startups in today's economy.
