A resume is a compilation of our education and training, work history, talents and skills, and postive attributes. In essence, the resume is a written portrait of our accumulated work life experiences to date; illustrating our worthiness as a potential candidate for hire.
Our work history and skills can improve, and attributes can increase over time and so the resume is a fluid document, subject to additions as warranted. We start out with a basic resume and as our job experience and knowledge accumulate, we might want to revise our original resume to reflect the changes.
No matter how many job markets we are targeting at one time in our quest for new employment, the current version of our resume will be basically the same. It is the cover letter accompanying the resume that will change to accomodate the requirements of each specific job.
In the cover letters, we can emphasize components of our resume that are applicable to the individual jobs for which we are applying and tailor our comments to perfectly suit each job target.
If a resume is comprehensive and well written to begin with, it will not be a challenge to add and extract specific information.
Here are examples of the components of a good resume:
* Personal information
At the top of the page, list name, address, and contact information, i.e., home telephone, cell phone, fax number and e-mail address. This information should be updated whenever necessary because of a move or change of service provider.
* Objective
The first paragraph of the resume is a couple of sentences listing the type of position being sought and why we believe we are eligible for consideration. Our objective might be reworded if we are changing careers or going into an entirely different field of interest.
* Education
This portion of the resume will remain the same unless further education is obtained. Any specialized training, seminars and classes can be good additions.
* Experience
Past employment experiences, beginning with most recent are listed here. It is advisable to go back at least 10 years and leave no blanks in the time sequence. If unemployment for a period of time is an issue, that must be listed. Reasons can be explained in detail during an interview.
* Special skills and attributes
All skills will be listed and not changed, but possibly will be added to, depending on experiences. Attributes will not change. If one is honest, hardworking, self-motivated and detail-oriented, that will continue to be true no matter how many jobs are held and in what fields.
* References
The names of personal and professional references may be changed to match up with the target job. If we know a doctor and the field we are pursuing is medical, then that would be a good reference to use. If we want to illustrate stability and have references from individuals we have known 20+ years, it would be appropriate to use those recommendations.
- The Cover Letter -
Any changes to a resume will be minor, or for the purpose of update, as illustrated above. It is the all important cover letter that will change to address each individual job target.
The cover letter will include:
* Salutation
Always research the name of the person in charge of hiring and address the cover letter directly to that individual. Insure the person's name is correctly spelled and their title is also correct.
* Introductory paragraph
State how you heard of the job opening and why you believe you are a viable candidate for consideration.
* Explanatory paragraphs
Extract skills and attributes from the resume that align with the job requirements. This is where it is appropriate to customize information for different job targets. Any previous experiences that strengthen eligibility for the position can be mentioned here.
* Closing paragraph
Recap the letter in a concise sentence. State your anticipation of meeting with the prospective employer and having the opportunity to discuss how your qualifications suit his needs. Add a sentence of appreciation.
Below the signature, indicate that a resume is attached, and repeat contact information.
The same resume can be sent to numerous potential employers in a variety of fields with an individualized cover letter on each one emphasizing the areas of the resume that pertain to that specific job description.
Before beginning any job search, insure that the resume is updated, typed on good bond paper, free of grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors, and is accompanied by a cover letter of the same quality.
Keep a log of the cover letters and resumes submitted, date sent, and any other pertinent information for follow up. A column for replies and dates of upcoming interviews is also a good idea. When targeting several job markets, it would be easy to become disorganized without a detailed system of tracking your efforts.
Even if you are not targeting different job fields, in today's competitive employment market
it is a good idea when seeking new employment to keep sending resumes to openings in your field of choice and continue a steady pursuit until efforts culminate in success.
Happy, and successful, job hunting!