What Your Resume Should Look Like in 2017 | Money. Cover Letter Specifically Tailored To Company Even Sadder Than Generic Ones. BEDMINSTER, NJ—Wincing noticeably as they read the applicant’s claim that he has “always wanted to work for the leading midsize pharmaceutical advertising and brand strategy group in the tri-state area,” sources at Percepta Healthcare Communications confirmed Tuesday that a cover letter specifically tailored to their company was much sadder than any of the generic ones they had received for a recently posted job opening. “Oh God, listen to this: ‘The company’s mission of optimizing multi-platform engagement through strategic and creative brand-centric marketing solutions really resonates with me’—boy, this poor guy really did some research,” said senior account executive Melanie Bittle while shaking her head in pity for the job candidate, whose proclaimed admiration for the firm’s 2014 Med Ad News Agency Of The Year award made his application significantly more depressing than any of the vaguely worded and nondescript ones that were submitted for the entry-level copywriter position.
Job Hunting in the Digital Age. Photo Like many recent college graduates, Ben Kim felt he was casting his résumé into an abyss when he clicked “apply online” for the hundredth or so time. “The most common response was nothing,” he said. That may be because, before capturing an employer’s eye, job hunters in the digital age often have to get past a round of robots scanning their résumé for keywords. Although the business of hiring is still largely a manual process, employers are experimenting with increasingly sophisticated technology.
Some companies are setting loose automated recruiters that crawl the web for the perfect hire, based on an algorithm. Use Keywords Many recruiters use tracking systems to sift through virtual piles of résumés searching for specific qualifications — say, software developers fluent in a programming language — or previous jobs that illustrate leadership qualities. For tech jobs, be sure to list what computer hardware and software you know so it’s picked up in keyword searches. Stay Current Mr. 6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter. Ask The Headhunter: How (not) to use a resume | Making Sen$e. Don’t apply for a job by submitting your resume. But if you must send one, here’s how to do it right. Image by Flickr user Olivier Charavel. Nick Corcodilos started headhunting in Silicon Valley in 1979, and has answered over 30,000 questions from the Ask The Headhunter community over the past decade.
In this special Making Sense edition of Ask The Headhunter, Nick shares insider advice and contrarian methods about winning and keeping the right job, on one condition: that you, dear Making Sense reader, send Nick your questions about your personal challenges with job hunting, interviewing, networking, resumes, job boards, or salary negotiations. No guarantees — just a promise to do his best to offer useful advice. Question: I need a template for a two-page resume that will help me get in the door at a company I want to approach. Can you help? Nick Corcodilos: Resumes are a weak, passive way to get in the door (or to represent yourself). (Have I talked you out of it yet? How to Write a Cover Letter - Amy Gallo. No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online jobs boards, spiffing up your résumé, prepping for grueling interviews — none of it’s fun. But perhaps the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter.
There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Indeed, in an age of digital communication, many might question whether you even need a cover letter anymore. What the Experts SayThe answer is yes. “Not sending a cover letter is a sign of laziness. Do your research firstBefore you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Open strong“People typically write themselves into the letter with ‘I’m applying for X job that I saw in Y place.’ If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, also mention it in the first sentence or two. Emphasize your personal valueHiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems.
Principles to Remember Do: Don’t: Cover letter writing advice: How to write a cover letter for an entry-level media job. Photo by Thinkstock Over the last five years, I’ve read something like 500 applications for entry-level media jobs. Over time, I’ve spotted many talented people, including a number of recent college graduates who are now valued Slate employees. Slate is a small company, so when it’s time to make a hire, a list of three great HR-approved candidates does not magically appear on my desk. I write the ads (like this one) and read all of the responses myself—and after scaling mountains of cover letters I’ve developed some opinions I can no longer hold back. The most important one is this: Many young people seem to have no idea how to apply for a job. Focus on the cover letter. Keep it short. Avoid awkward phrasing and attempts to be overly formal. You are your best advocate. Show me that you read my site. Explain how selecting you will benefit me.
I’m not interested in anything you did before college. I’m not interested in your life journeys. When I read “senior thesis” my eyes glaze over. The Resume Glance. Stop Using These 16 Terms to Describe Yourself.