Angela DeFreitas
Contributor

Your resume and cover letter are your first introduction, from the information you provide, and the cover letter which goes with it, a prospective employer will decide whether or not to invite you to an interview.


When creating your resume remember that all your personal and contact information should go at the top. This would include name, address, telephone contacts (include your cell) and e-mail address, age, date of birth, sex etc.

Résumé essentials

1. An objective or summary stating what your objectives are in relation to the specific post for which you are applying. You should re-write your objective to suit every job you apply for.



2. Educational details - Graduates who do not have much work experience should list their educational information first, including the institutions attended in reverse order – i.e. the last one first - and academic qualifications and honours, if any, achieved at each one.



3. Work Experience - Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties and list your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Be sure to include:



• Name of organisation


• Your Title or position and a description of your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements


• Location at which you worked


• Dates of employment



4. Special interests - In this section leadership experience in extra-curricular, community or volunteer organizations can be listed. You can also include participation in sporting activities.



5. References – You may list the name and contact details of two references. Be sure, however, to always ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to potential employers. It is sometimes acceptable to put "References are available on request" if you have not yet checked with your references.

Résumé hardware
The following tips will make your resume easier to read:

• Use white or off-white 8-1/2- x 11 inch paper


• Print on one side of the paper only


• Use a readable font size, 11-12 point, possibly Arial or Times New Roman


• Choose one non-decorative typeface and stick to it


• If you must mail your resume, send it in an 8-1/2- x 11 inch envelope

Cover letter
The cover letter is a vital part of the job application process. Recruiters routinely discard many applications based solely on poorly written cover letters; so one which is well-written will more than double your chances of getting that all important job interview.

A simple, carefully written cover letter can fill your calendar with quality job interviews, more quickly and easily than you can imagine, because a well written cover letter is, in reality, a sales letter.

The goal of your cover letter, therefore, is to both introduce and sell yourself to the company. So let’s review the salient points you need to consider when writing your cover letter.

• Make it short! No more than one page, but half a page is better. Be professional and concise. Never try to be humorous. Keep your tone business-like.


• Never mention any work experience in the cover letter that isn't included on your resume.


• Have someone proof your letter before mailing it to make sure it contains no typos or grammatical errors.


• Know what you are applying for. Be specific. Know the job title.


• State why you want to work for the company and include this information in the first paragraph


• In paragraph two state the contributions you will make to the company based on previous skills and experiences gained elsewhere.


• Always specify a date on which you will follow-up with the company and say how you will do so - whether in person, by phone, e-mail etc.

Using these guidelines will definitely help you to be a step ahead of the pack. Since your goal is to get in the door for an interview, taking the time to create a winning resume and a cover letter is a tactic you really cannot afford to skip. All the best!

Angela deFreitas is general manager, CHOICES Career Advice, and publisher/editor of 'CHOICES Career & Education' magazine www.choicesonlinejm.com. She can be contacted at info@choicesonlinejm.com.