Scannable Resumes
Formatting your resume to be electronically scannable is more important now than ever before. Increasingly, employers are scanning resumes into databases. These electronic databases will allow them to target potential employees by matching the employer's needs with keywords found on the resume.To insure that your skills can easily be picked out, you must format your resume accordingly. For example, your resume should be printed on 8 1/2 inch (U.S.) by 11 inch (U.S.) white or very light paper. Do not use underlined or italicized text. Always send an original copy. Clearly list your skills.
Resumes for Creative Jobs
A resume that breaks from the traditional formats should be used only in very specific situations and only if the job hunter feels very comfortable with it.You might consider using a creative resume if you are pursuing a job in graphic arts, the creative end of advertising, the computer game industry, or fields such as these. If that's the case, you may design a resume to look like an advertisement, a Web Site, or anything that expresses your individuality and artistic skills. Keep in mind, though, that the resume will not be scannable. You may even want to include a machine-readable resume if you suspect that the employer may want to scan your resume into a database.
Cover Letters
A good cover letter is as important as a solid resume. This is especially true if you are not writing a targeted resume for each company to which you apply. Some argue that the cover letter just gets clipped behind the resume, while the employer peruses the resume first. That may be true. However, why take the chance? The cover letter can address some issues not included in the resume. In the cover letter you can specifically state how your skills answer the needs of the employer. Let's not forget that is what you are trying to do — show employers how you can fill their needs.Always use good business form when writing a cover letter. If you don't know what the format of a business letter should be, take a look at some of the samples listed in the Letters section of this site. Always (and I can't stress this enough) write your letter to a specific person. If you don't know who a letter should be addressed to, call the company. Only if you are answering a blind ad, should you not address your letter to a particular person. Also, please make sure you spell the person's name correctly.
