| Fewer jobs and increased competition means simply | | | | flawless and every word used correctly. Be positive |
| emailing a standard resume probably won't get you a | | | | and personalized, and make sure it shows your style. |
| job interview. | | | | Include information to show that you know something |
| What gives your resume an edge is style and | | | | about the company. The more you know about what |
| personality. All things considered, soft skills are as | | | | a company does, the more you can personalize the |
| important as your degree, experience, and skill set. | | | | letter and sell yourself. Your cover letter should tell a |
| You're more likely to get job interviews when people | | | | very short story which makes the data and |
| think they can work with you and you fit in with the | | | | information on the resume come to life. |
| company. | | | | And always state why you'd be a great addition to the |
| Strategies To Get Your Resume Read: | | | | company. |
| 1. Make Your Job Search Personal | | | | Leave detailed experience, history, details, and data to |
| Decide what kind of job you want, desired salary, | | | | your attached resume. |
| distance you'll commute, and if you'll move. | | | | Don't take the risk that your resume won't be seen, |
| Use the internet, trade papers, newspapers, job bulletin | | | | spam blockers are used by many to block scattershot |
| boards, relatives, friends, and past co-workers to help | | | | job hunters and unwanted and impersonal junk emails. |
| you find companies and organizations you're interested | | | | Job communications should be both electronic and |
| in. | | | | followed up with a paper resume and cover letter. |
| But don't just shoot off your resume to them. Find the | | | | Be sure you're relevant and easy to identify but don't |
| names and addresses of individual department heads | | | | be afraid to be different. Have fun, and show your |
| and HR directors and send them your information. | | | | personality to get people interested in you and what |
| 2. Create a Personalized Cover Letter | | | | you can do for them. |
| Think of your cover letter as a sales and marketing | | | | Happy job hunting! |
| tool. Don't view it as an after-thought to your resume; it | | | | Copyright 2009 Brian J. Bieler - Reprints welcome so |
| may be the difference between getting an interview or | | | | long as byline and article are published intact and all |
| landing on the bottom of the stack. | | | | links made live. |
| Make your cover letter short (one or two paragraphs) | | | | |