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Focus on Resumes and Cover Letters

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JobMonkey.com
Volume VIII, Issue #20
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Last week we got back to job-hunting basics and discussed resume writing. This week we are following up on the resume-writing topic with an in-depth Spotlight on the three most common types of resumes and advice on choosing the right format for you. Once you finish your resume, it's time to write a cover letter... and we've got you covered there, too. Check out Around the Monkey for a recent post from our blog about how to write a boilerplate cover letter. And don't forget to scan down to our listing of hot new job openings from the JobMonkey Job Center. Have a great week!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Career Advisor: Resumes - Objective or Profile?
2) Spotlight: Write the Right Resume
2) Around the Monkey: Cover Letter Templates
3) New Jobs @ JobMonkey Job Center

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CAREER ADVISOR: Resumes - Objective or Profile?
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by Amy Lindgren

Here's one of those resume problems that can keep you up at night: Which should you use to start your resume: an Objective or a Profile? Or should you summarize your main sales points in a bold headline?

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Maybe these tips will help.

1. Headline. Use this when you want to position your "brand" immediately in the reader's mind. For example, "Innovative marketing professional skilled in public relations."

2. Objective. Use this only if you actually have an objective, such as "Entry-level advocacy role in a nonprofit organization serving youth." Never, ever, bog down this section by stating the obvious. Example: "Seeking an interesting position in a forward-thinking agency where I can use my talents." Huh?

Here's a good rule to follow throughout your resume: Any time you could say the opposite and sound truly ridiculous, the sentence has to go. Here's the opposite of the above example: "Dull position in a backward agency where my talents will be completely wasted." Yep – that sounds ridiculous. That's how you know the first objective was stating the obvious.

3. Profile. Use a Profile (also called a Summary or Narrative) to introduce yourself and highlight key points found later in the resume: "Recent college graduate with three years' progressive experience in retail management and a degree in business. Background also includes volunteer coaching, tutoring, and work with youth groups."

Whatever you decide, be sure to use at least one of these options. To jump from your contact information directly to work experience or education feels abrupt. Worse, it robs you of the chance to introduce yourself and the rest of the information on the page.

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SPOTLIGHT: Write the Right Resume for You
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The purpose of a resume is to compellingly present your relevant education, experience and special skills to potential employees. But how you choose to present that information can vary widely depending on your years of experience and career goals, among other factors. How do you know which format is right for you? Here's a review of the three most common resume formats and some advice on picking the right one to write!

1) The Chronological Resume

What is it?
The chronological resume focuses on job experience, listing your job titles and responsibilities with the most recent position first.

What do employers think?
As a rule, potential employers prefer the chronological resume because it is:

• Easy to skim
• Fact-based
• Focused on experienced

Who does this format work best for?
The chronological resume is best suited for job seekers with a solid history of relevant, logical job experience. Career changers and new graduates will have the most difficulty writing a fully fleshed out chronological resume.

What does a chronological resume look like?

• Sample chronological resume
• Chronological resume worksheet

2) The Functional Resume

What is it?
The functional resume focuses on relevant skills and accomplishments, rather than your chronological work experience.

What do employers think?
Some employers dislike functional resumes because they can be too vague. Avoid this objection by including a mini-version of the chronological resume under each highlighted skill or accomplishment. If you are talking about budget management, for example, list the two or three jobs -- in chronological order -- in which you had the opportunity to hone that skill.

Who does this format work best for?
The functional resume is best suited for job changers looking to break into a new career field. The functional format allows them to emphasize transferable skills. Likewise, the functional resume format works for recent college grads, who need to spotlight relevant skills while deemphasizing their lack of on-the-job experience.

What does a functional resume look like?

• Sample functional resume
• Functional resume worksheet

3) The Combination Resume

What is it?
The combination resume lists skills and accomplishments first, chronological employment history second.

What do employers think?
A combination resume avoids the pitfalls of a straight functional resume, but some employers still don't like it. They find the format redundant.

Who does this format work best for?
The combination resume is ideal for a late career changers seeking a mid to senior level position. This format allows them to both emphasize relevant transferable skills and to indicate their depth of managerial and/or supervisory experience.

What does a combination resume look like?

• Sample combination resume
• Combination resume worksheet

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AROUND THE MONKEY: How to Write a Boilerplate Cover Letter
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Once you finish your resume, it's time to start applying for jobs ... which means, you will need a cover letter, as well. Writing a cover letter is a real art form, but you don't need to reinvent the wheel with each new job application. The JobMonkey blog just answered a reader question about how to create a boilerplate cover letter for quick and easy personalizing. Take a read and let us know what you think.

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JOB OPENINGS: Summer Jobs
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Now that your resume and cover letters are perfect, it's time to start pounding the pavement. Gone are the days of pounding actual pavement, of course. Now you can sit back and search the virtual job streets. The best place to start your search is at the JobMonkey Job Center. Our center has hundreds of job listings from around the country and the world, updated daily. The best part is that our job center is free for job seekers!

Find current jobs in the Job Center.

 

 

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