Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing - Part One

To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge learned about the "rules" of resume and cover letter writing. People commonly become stuck in "bad" writing habits from a time gone by.

It is almost a certainty that since you last wrote your resume, much has been learned and even more has been changed. This is as it should be, for everyday, very creative people are adding to the resume and cover letter writing arsenal.

The Basics

For years, we have been told that to be most effective, a resume should be only one page. This just does not apply any longer! Today's resume is creative and unique.

Aside from the most essential and key elements, a resume should reflect the personality and need of the job seeker and not be some cookie cutter rendition of what is "acceptable and expected."

Standards in resumes and cover letters have changed dramatically, but, only so far as the job seeker has the creative expression and know-how to pull it off! Therein lies the difference. Everyday, employers read all of the standard resumes. They are required to go through each and every one! But, which one will catch their eye?

Formatting in resumes and cover letters has expanded, too. When you consider that your resume will be your own, personalized form of marketing yourself -- this lends itself to all manner of unique communication and expression.

Again, so long as the essential elements are included in each resume and cover letter, you are at complete liberty to make certain that your resume will impress and with a bang!

Just how, exactly, does one do this?

First of all, learn about the most basic principles involved in writing a highly effective resume and cover letter. Once you have this down, the creative expression can begin!

Your most basic purpose in writing your resume and cover letter will be to be noticed among the many. You want to stand out as not just a good candidate but as "the" candidate just fitting for the job you want.

When you consider that next to your well written resume, not even one hundred other resumes will be written as well as yours, you can see the odds will be in your favor. Your salvation here is in writing a resume that will compel a perspective employer to notice your credentials. If you can master this technique, the rest will be pure gravy.

Nell Taliercio is the publisher of a weekly telecommuting newsletter that helps moms and dads work at home. Read more about the newsletter and get your free listing of job links at http://www.telecommutinganswerlady.com - and for more telecommuting and home based business information head over to http://www.mommysplace.net

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Gen-Y-Holiday-Jobs-Nearly/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B8503523E-6D70-4670-BCF2-B10C52126A9C%257Dcid=1272277986ei=FJMlSdahIo3W6gOPwcirAwusg=AFQjCNHBxS99Ih5LjZQfQH8wv158i7BEFQGen Y and Holiday Jobs: Nearly 80% Seeking bEmployment/b During b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrNov 19, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Gen Y job seekers anticipate finding bemployment/b through their university bcareer/b centers (22 percent), word-of-mouth (23 percent) and online job boards (21 b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081120.CFLMAIN20/TPStory/Sportscid=1272495569ei=FJMlSdahIo3W6gOPwcirAwusg=AFQjCNH2LeO2iWfGcLaKtb0IYzWl2-dDkgCoaches#39; bcareers/b bounce toward common goal/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGlobe and Mail,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1But without a higher profile and a friendlier bemployment/b environment, there#39;s no telling when they might arrive. quot;We will always have a great football b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/26649cid=0ei=FJMlSdahIo3W6gOPwcirAwusg=AFQjCNGcLYmwES_MUWS3OgbiIVHq6RuetAFor musicians, job market hits sour note/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fYale Daily News,nbsp;CTnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b stressing persistence, networking, marketing and diversifying bemployment/b options. Students stressed the importance of having a back-up bcareer/b plan since b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.talentmgt.com/industry_news/2008/November/3814/index.phpcid=1271681646ei=FJMlSdahIo3W6gOPwcirAwusg=AFQjCNE46Us6Tjp7AT95Oyyw35WDNLV83AKelley School Study Finds Early Exit Yields Better Odds of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTalent Management,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 17, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b and are in a good position to plan a departure that will benefit their bcareers/b.” For the study, Semadeni examined the bemployment/b situations of 1155 b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
careers employment - Google News


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