Friday, May 11, 2007

The Importance of Your Cover Letter

As you begin your job search, you will find that many employers will not only request your resume, but will expect a cover letter as well. Many people overlook the importance of a cover letter, and instead only focus on putting an effort into their resume. However, the cover letter is just as important in getting an employer to call you for an interview. The following article will outline how to write a cover letter with resume.

In considering how to write a cover letter with resume it is appropriate to first consider what must be written into your cover letter. First, your cover letter should state what job you are applying for, as well as, the qualifications you possess to do this job. The cover letter should leave the employer wanting to know more about you, and cause the reviewer to call you for an interview.

Another factor to consider beyond the content of the cover letter is its presentation. When learning how to write a cover letter with resume, the applicant should use quality paper to print the cover letter and resume. It is also a good idea to design a letterhead for you. If you are not creative enough to do this, you can hire someone or use a template from your word processing software.

Not only should the cover letter be printed on quality paper, it should look professional without any creases, stains or smudges. If you are terrible at spelling, it is highly recommended that you run the spell checker on your word processing program, and also get another person to read it over and correct any mistakes for you.

The reason it is important to put as much effort into learning how to write a cover letter with your resume is the fact that the cover letter will speak for you first. Within this letter, you will briefly provide the reasons why the employer should consider hiring you. The cover letter is important in making your resume stand out from the other resumes that the employer will receive.

A well thought out cover letter and resume is the first key to your successful employment campaign. Spend the necessary time on these items and will be well on your way to career success.

About the author:

Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E. Burke Professional Writing Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com for additional information.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Job Seeking Advice for College Graduates

After spending many late nights studying at the college library and hurrying to finish your term papers, you have finally graduated and it is now time to search for full-time employment. However, unless you have special training in a particular field, many college graduates will have to search for entry-level positions. The job search for an entry-level position is often difficult, but having an impressive entry level resume can help.

Beat The Rush

Well before your diploma has been handed to you it is important to send in your entry level resume to as many companies as possible. This would include researching companies that are currently hiring and submitting your resume to the Human Resources department or the person in charge of hiring.

Evaluate The Skills You Possess

As a recent college graduate, you might have few, if any experience in the fields in which you are seeking employment. This might entail you making a list of all the skills you possess along with any training you might have received during your college years. Any skill or experience such as Captain of the debate team, or Vice President of the Student Government Association should be noted on your entry level resume. This can help your to stand out among other entry level applicants.

Check Out Your College's Career Center

Once you have decided which of your skills to emphasize and have listed them within your entry level resume, you can use these skills to narrow down your search for a job. A great place to start your search is at your college's career center. Many career centers will have job listings of companies interested in hiring college graduates, along with resources to help you write your resume and help you land a successful job interview. However, it is recommended that you not only submit your resume to companies that have posted vacancies, but to other companies you are interested in that might be hiring in the future.

Remember, the key ingredient in your job search is you. You must decide what you want and start early to work to achieve this new goal.

About the author:

Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E. Burke Professional Writing Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com for additional information.