The Perfect Objective Statement for That Entry-Level Job

Article Title: The Perfect Objective Statement for That Entry-Level Job
Author Byline: Jessica has a true passion for the job seeker, evidenced by her desire to share everything she can with everyone she can about resume writing and interviewing.
Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

This week a recent college graduate sent me her resume, along with this question: “How can I update my objective statement to fit this specific job?” While I appreciated her recognizing the need to customize her resume for each specific application, the best way to update an objective statement is to delete it altogether.

Even if you’re looking for entry-level work, the very fact that you’re applying for a particular job indicates that your objective is to acquire that job. Using your cover letter to explain why you desire this specific job will generally help your case, but adding an objective statement saying that you want the job only wastes space on your resume. Worse still, many hiring managers say one of their pet peeves is receiving resumes with objective statements that have nothing to do with the position for which they’re hiring! For instance, someone submitting a resume for an educational nonprofit that says their objective is to be an optometrist.

If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, your experience will generally make logical sense in connection to the jobs for which you apply. If you’re changing careers or looking for entry-level work, the content of your resume may be less directly relevant. Resist the temptation to tell the employer what you want. Instead, use that valuable space to summarize what you bring to the table as a candidate. Not only is this a much more effective strategy for getting your resume into the coveted interview stack, but it makes the application process much easier for you as a job seeker. Objective statements get people into trouble whenever they don’t match a job description exactly—which requires the job seeker to tweak his or her objective each time they submit a resume. On the other hand, a summary statement capturing your essence as a candidate is something you can carry from resume to resume—as well as onto other media such as your LinkedIn profile or professional blog.

As you may have guessed, my response to the recent college grad was to lose her objective statement and simply sell her relevant skills. This strategy is effective no matter how long you’ve been in the workforce!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Five Things A Cover Letter Can Show That A Resume Can’t

Article Title: Five Things A Cover Letter Can Show That A Resume Can’t
Author Byline: Cathy Eng, CARW, Owner of Resume Rocketeer, Inc.
Author Website: http://www.resumerocketeer.com

These days, the professional cover letter has taken a backseat to its much more popular cousin, the resume. Although it is often seen as stuffy, antiquated, and even frivolous, the cover letter actually has the power to establish the all-important first impression. And what you put in that letter could be the catalyst that sets you apart and gets you an interview.

Though many people underestimate the importance of a cover letter, one reason is because many don’t really know what goes into it. It is actually a great place to catch a hiring manager’s attention and showcase things that just can’t be communicated as well in a resume.

Like a resume, a cover letter can give highlights of your career accomplishments, a brief summary of your career path, and your relevant skills required for the position. But, what can a cover letter make an employer see about you that a resume often can’t?

1. Your ability to sell yourself. Though a resume is where you sell your skills and experiences, a great place to sell yourself as a strong investment is in the cover letter. This is not just for those of you in sales – everyone is expected to sell themselves! Being able to do so shows you are assertive and confident about your abilities. Take the time to create a compelling opening paragraph and hook the hiring manager or recruiter right away!

2. Your reasons for job gaps or choppy work history. You may have taken time off work to go back to school or care for an ill relative, but that isn’t something easily explained (or appropriate to state) in a resume. A short, concise paragraph should provide honest, yet tactful answers into any questions about the chronology of your work history.

3. Your reasons for seeking a new job. Unless you are unemployed, giving a reason why you are looking for a new job can be insightful for an employer. There is no need to go into detail or badmouth your current/past employer, but a simple statement about wanting to grow in your field or change your career path would be sufficient. This statement is especially useful if you have a unique situation driving your job search.

4. Your reasons for changing careers (if applicable). If you have spent 20 years in investment banking are now pursuing a career in teaching, the hiring manager’s first question will be, “Why the change?” Offering some insight will give them perspective about you and where you are career-wise. Not explaining your reasons for changing careers could even make an employer think you are desperate to apply for any old job (even those not in your field), or worse yet, make them think you accidentally applied for the wrong job!

5. Your personality! Unless they are professionally written, most resumes are boring, conventional, and show very little personality. Employers are interested in not just your hard skills, but also your ability to excite, collaborate, motivate, sell, create, lead, and grow. What better way to show you have these abilities than in the language you use in your cover letter? Let your real personality come out in your cover letter and it will complement the skills and experiences you showcase in your resume.

In addition to the above, a cover letter is a great place to present client/colleague testimonials or give background information about a corporate award you earned. These are just some reasons why a cover letter should not be looked at as a less popular cousin to the resume, but rather an equal and complementary partner, helping to establish you as the best candidate for the job!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.