Resume and Cover Letter Assistance
Have a solid resume. That's often the first thing you hear when asking about entering the workforce for the first time. Even though most employers only ask for a resume, there are some that request a cover letter as well.
Writing up a resume was the only thing I could do well as cover letters weren't necessarily at the top of the list for teaching; yet alone learning. Yes, it was touched on a few times during my schooling and the textbook for writing them did very little to help. This post will focus on some helpful resources for grasping the basics of proper if not decent resume and cover letter writing.
For me, resumes are easier to compile when compared to cover letters. That said, it's easy to lose focus in the writing process when you have no idea what to include. Even more so when it comes to leaving things out.
Everyone has their take on resume basics, but the 'Objective' section gets the most grief. Some say include it, others say leave it out. Regardless of the source, there are almost always these main parts:
In this case, your potential employer. Not every job asks for them but there are those that make it mandatory to have both a resume and cover letter. I've referenced The Balance Careers site prior for resumes and they're also a good source for information for this as well.
Hope you found this tidbit useful and will check-in with you next time.
Writing up a resume was the only thing I could do well as cover letters weren't necessarily at the top of the list for teaching; yet alone learning. Yes, it was touched on a few times during my schooling and the textbook for writing them did very little to help. This post will focus on some helpful resources for grasping the basics of proper if not decent resume and cover letter writing.
Resume Basics
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| Check and check again to make sure all essential information is provided in your resume. |
Everyone has their take on resume basics, but the 'Objective' section gets the most grief. Some say include it, others say leave it out. Regardless of the source, there are almost always these main parts:
- Your Contact Information
- Objective
- Education
- Work History
- Skills
Some Good References
Books are always a good starting point learning the basics, but not all are easy to grasp. Resume 101: How To Write An Effective Resume, LinkedIn Profile and Cover Letter by Steven Mostyn is a recent read that is breaking down the writing process into manageable portions along with providing examples of resume layouts. The Balance Careers is another source that's in use, which further explains each section along with the reasoning behind why some sections are optional.Cover Letters (Briefly) Explained
Cover letters are meant to showcase what you're bringing to the table for a potential employer. It's not for telling your life's story. Like the aforementioned objective, your cover letter must be written for the target audience.In this case, your potential employer. Not every job asks for them but there are those that make it mandatory to have both a resume and cover letter. I've referenced The Balance Careers site prior for resumes and they're also a good source for information for this as well.
In Closing
Not much of a post but I wanted to keep it short. That said, the information provided is like a starting point of sorts for hitting the ground running. In addition to providing some useful tips on resumes and cover letters, The Balance Careers also houses a wealth of information on other important topics within the job search arena.Hope you found this tidbit useful and will check-in with you next time.
