Construct best cover letter, too.
Need some one-to-one help getting started with a resume or cover letter? Not sure how to best highlight your skills, and match them to a specific job or career? Northampton's Forbes Library is offering workshops for resume and cover letter help every Tuesday through Dec. 17.
The workshops run from 3 to 4 p.m., and there is no cost to attend. All are welcome to drop-in for tips, suggestions and feedback to develop a successful resume or cover letter by Lucy Greenburg, long-time career counselor and former assistant director at Smith College's Career Development Office.
"I think people don't always realize that they need to be as kind to employers as possible. I am a big advocate of the 'employer-friendly' resume," said Greenburg.
"Every job seeker needs to assume that the hiring manager reading their resume may feel harried by the pressure to find the right person for the job as soon as possible, and that they have very little time to sort through resumes."
Job seekers should make sure that resumes are clear, concise and well organized. The person reading a resume should be able to identify within moments what an applicant has to offer and why he or she would be a great match for the job.
A hiring manager faced with a deadline and a pile of unread resumes is more likely to pay less attention to resumes that are unclear or disorganized. This goes the same for resumes not targeting to a specific career or job.
"Having a tailored resume is so crucial because landing an interview or a job is all about the match. Someone can be very talented and a high achiever, but unless they can show the employer why they are highly suited to that particular job and to that particular organization, chances are the employer won't be interested," Greenburg said.
It is up to job seekers to make that link between who they are and what they have to offer with that the employer is seeking, not the hiring manager.
A quick way to create a targeted resume is to have a general resume reference document that lists everything a job seeker has done in terms of work and education. When a particular opening of interest comes up, the job seeker can then select from this general resume the experiences that are most relevant to the position.
Even if someone has been away from a certain field for a while, showing how an attempt has been made to keep current in the field, like attending courses, conferences or having professional association memberships, is key.
"Career changers should focus on the skills they have attained in their current field or job that also apply to the new field or job they'd like to move into. For example, someone who is a teacher, and wants to move into sales, would highlight her expertise in skills that are important in both professions, such as the ability to persuade, motivate, and convince," Greenburg said.
Career changers are best to use a functional or chronological/functional resume because the format helps highlight skills that can transfer successfully from the field they are currently in to their new field of interest.
Be sure to highlight on-the-job accomplishments. Achievements are concrete illustrations of strengths as an employee. Brief descriptions of them will let employers know what you are capable of and what you can contribute to the work place.
"Your achievements are individual and will distinguish you from other candidates. If you're not sure what to include, ask yourself what you're most proud of having done at a particular job or jobs," said Greenburg.
Cover letters are no easy task, but are the most important piece of your marketing materials since this aspect contributes to whether or not you actually will get a job interview.
Like a resume, a cover letter needs to be targeted to a particular field, job or organization. A cover letter should spell out in a few paragraphs what job you are applying for, why you want to work at this specific organization or specific job and what makes you a great candidate for the position.
"Like Cliff Notes, it boils down all the most important points of a much more detailed story into a fast, concise and easy-to-read format. The best way to get ideas for a cover letter is to look at some sample cover letters that can be found on the Internet or in books about job search," Greenburg said.
Also of note is to consider the format of the resume. A traditional resume that is well-formatted and easy read is crucial. However, applicants for jobs in design or graphic arts can create a resume to illustrate their artistic style, and an online resume could emphasize strengths for a person with web and technology skills.
"As an employer, I need an applicant's resume to show me that they have the particular know-how, expertise and skills that will make them successful in the job to which they're applying," said Greenburg, emphasizing that clean and simple is usually the best way to go.
If you have a friend who works in your field of interest or has a job like the one you are applying for, it can be very helpful to have them look at your resume. If not, seeking the help of a career counselor can be very worthwhile.
"Every career field has its own 'language'. A friend who works in your field of interest can help make sure that you are using the right buzz words and technical terms," Greenburg said.
"At the same time, a career counselor knows about the overall job search process, including how job seekers can best communicate to employers why they would make great employees. Career counselors are trained in helping job seekers market themselves and increase the effectiveness of resumes and cover letters."
For more information about the resume and cover letter help workshops, contact Lisa Downing at (413) 587-1017 or via email ldowning@forbeslibrary.org.
Greenburg will work for up to 15 minutes with people on first-come, first-served one-on-one basis. Attendees should bring a draft or current resume or cover letter. Beginning jobseekers with no resume will get tips and techniques to get started.
"We have been holding a weekly job seekers support group on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3 p.m. that serves as a sounding board and a source of community for those in the job market," said Downing, assistant director and patron services librarian at Forbes.
"Lucy's idea of one-on-one assistance helping people with resumes and cover letters is a helpful and great complement to the group. Her extensive experience in career counseling and background working with a variety of people made her a perfect fit the services we provide for career professionals to take it to the next level. I hope many people are able to benefit from them."
For further information on the support group as well as on the workshops and other events, visit www.forbeslibrary.org/