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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017 3 C Résumé tips Craft an effective cover letter A strong cover letter may An important not guarantee you land a aspect of a good job, but a poor cover job search is letter may guarantee you updating and won’t. On its own, an effec- polishing tive cover letter can catch your resume the eye of hiring managers and online tasked with finding worthy presence. candidates among stacks of applications, while a poor final para- cover letter may ensure hiring graph managers never even glance at instead of an applicant’s resume. the first. An effective cover letter • Explain should be concise, conveying an applicant’s work history and why you are a qualified goals in a few paragraphs or candidate. less. The following are some While it’s additional ways to craft effec- good to note tive cover letters. your work • Address a specific person history, your when possible. When respond- resume will ing to a job posting that listed a specific contact, address your do the bulk of that legwork. A cover letter cover letter to that person is your opportunity to show rather than beginning the letter how your work history makes with, “Dear Sir or Madam” or you a qualified candidate for a “To Whom It May Concern.” specific position. Remember to Personalize each cover letter be concise but relate a specific you write so the hiring manag- example that illustrates how er does not get the feeling that your work history would help you are sending out cover let- you thrive in the position for ters en masse. Make sure names are spelled correctly and which you’re applying. • Exhibit some knowledge job titles are accurate. about the company to which • State your purpose early you’re applying. An effective on. The purpose of your letter, which is to state the job you’re cover letter should help you stand out among your fellow seeking, should be made clear applicants, and expressing early on. Hiring managers some knowledge about the often handle the vetting organization can do just that. process for a host of positions at their companies, so the earli- The goal here is to illustrate how you and the organization er the hiring manager knows which position you’re applying are a good fit, so you don’t need to go overboard or be too for the better. Hiring managers specific. But hiring managers may become frustrated when are likely to be more impressed applicants don’t make their by applicants who do their intentions clear or do so in the COURTESY PHOTOS No matter your chosen field, a strong resume and effective cover letter help you appear at your best. Ways to update a résumé COURTESY PHOTO homework and show a knowl- edge of the company than applicants who submit a form cover letter where the company is scarcely mentioned. • Be cordial in your closing. A cover letter should close with a cordial request for an interview or a friendly way of indicating you look forward to a company’s response to your application. In addition, thank the reader for his or her time and mention you would be delighted to answer any ques- tions he or she may have. An effective cover letter can go a long way toward making a strong first impression on a prospective employer. Men and women should look at their cover letters as their first opportunities to connect with a company and write their letters accordingly. — Metro The job market can be competitive, as new gradu- ates flood the field each and every year. But graduation season is not the only time of year when the competition to find work gets heated. Many job seekers may benefit from revamping their résumés before beginning their search. It’s not uncom- mon for recruiters to receive thousands of résumés for each job opening they post, and the sheer volume of applicants can make it diffi- cult for job seekers to get their résumés seen. In such instances, job seekers must take steps to tip the odds in their favor. Many a night’s sleep has been lost worrying about applying to jobs. Questions can make for a restless night’s sleep on the eve before a job interview. Writing a résumé is another aspect of the job hunt that can stoke your nerves. Men and women may pour over job timelines and skill summaries for hours in an effort to ensure they have included the right mix of information to get noticed. Though résumé writing has changed considerably over the years, some conventional wisdom about résumés still prevails, and how closely potential applicants adhere to these rules goes a long way toward determining if they earn a chance at an interview. By following these guide- lines, job seekers may have a better chance of getting their résumés into the right hands. • Put a professional pur- pose. Modern standards may suggest that listing a career “objective” is old fashioned. However, it is helpful to cus- tomize your résumé so that it is geared toward the position for which you are applying. A career objective may reflect how you are a strong candidate for each specific job you apply for. Use some specifics that tie into to the particular job or company and you may catch the hiring manager’s attention in the process. • Embrace keywords. Many employers now use application tracking software to sift through the scores of résumés that are submitted for each opening they post. Keywords make it easy for employers to sort through thousands of résumés. The right keywords will flag your résumé and increase your “relevancy score” in the main HR/recruiting software pro- grams available. Adapt your résumé for each application you submit. Use some of the words listed in the initial job posting and description. In addition, look at similar job postings and incorporate some keywords listed in those ads so that you have all the bases covered. • Trim the fat. Less is often more regarding résumés. List all of the pertinent informa- tion, then go over the résumé again and again and cut out Majors that might help you get hired As the cost of college tuition continues to rise and the job market grows increas- ingly competitive, college stu- dents are giving greater con- sideration to their prospects of being hired before choosing a major. A 2015 study commis- sioned by the National Association of Colleges and Employers asked 201 employ- ers which degrees are most in demand. The following are the results of that study. Most in demand bachelor’s degrees: 1. Accounting 2. Computer Science 3. Finance 4. Business Administration/ Management 5. Mechanical Engineering Most in demand master’s degrees: 1. Computer Science 2. Electrical Engineering 3. Mechanical Engineering 4. Information Sciences & Systems 5. Business Administration Most in demand doctorate degrees: 1. Electrical Engineering 2. Computer Science 3. Software Engineering 4. Computer Engineering 5. Mechanical Engineering — Metro We’re Powered By Great People Doing Great Th ings! Come Be Great With Us! Join our team of Direct Care Support Professionals. Requirements: 1. Valid Oregon Driver’s license and acceptable driving record 2. All off ers of employment are contingent upon a drug screen and criminal background check. 3. Must be at least 18 years of age 4. High School/GED preferred but not required Apply online at www.shangrilaoregon.org Shangri-La is an Equal Opportunity Employer any irrelevant information to remove clutter. Only include information that is relevant to your career goals. Don’t be afraid of job gaps, either. Many of today’s recruiters understand that the changing economy can make it chal- lenging to maintain steady employment. In addition, one page is best. However, if your expe- rience is extensive or one page cannot contain a long job history, don’t be afraid to submit a two-page résumé. • Highlight what you have done. Rather than listing every job responsibility and position in chronological order, use a résumé to high- light specific career accom- plishments. This is a time to be your biggest fan and tell the world all of the great things you have accom- plished. Remember to include evidence to back up the claims. According to a 2015 survey by CareerBuilder, employers say that résumés that include links to a candidate’s portfo- lio, website or blog garner more attention than résumés without such links. That being said, do not embellish your skills. Always be open and honest on your résumé. You may be asked to prove you can perform cer- tain tasks, and if you cannot back up what is included on a résumé, you will have wasted your time and that of the interviewer. • Include relevant outside history, such as volunteering, internships and school histo- ry. A mix of information on the résumé that will reflect your versatility. • Put your own voice in the résumé. Rather than using standard verbiage on your résumé, personalize what you want to say. Hiring managers want to hire a human, not a machine. When speaking about yourself, be sure to use strong action words that define your skills even fur- ther. HR professionals cite terms like “managed,” “achieved” and “improved” as examples of positive, assertive words. The résumé should show- case your professional accom- plishments and how your skills relate to the job you’re applying for. This way the company understands you have researched the position and are in tune with what they’re looking for in an applicant. • Check for imperfections. A résumé is a reflection of you, so one with typographical errors or a poor layout is never acceptable. Ensure your résumé is as professional and error-free as possible. Have a friend or a proofreader look it over before distributing. Updating a résumé with the goal of standing out among a crowded pool of applicants is a great way for job seekers to land a new job. — Metro The Siuslaw News is getting a new website! Check www.TheSiuslawNews.com on April 15 for the big reveal and new features.
