March 18th– The #LetteroftheDay is “B” as in Balance
Striking the right balance between content and presentation when preparing an effective résumé is critical. Often those in creative fields (Marketing, Graphic Design, Advertising, etc.) have a difficult time conveying their value through their résumé. There is often too much glitz and not enough substance.
As an employer, creativity is important, but I still want to see on your résumé what you have accomplished. Additionally, infographic résumés do not perform well in ATS systems.
Bottomline: don’t get so caught up in the design that you lose sight of what is truly important – content.
March 19th– The #LetteroftheDay is “C” as in Cover Letter
Cover letters over the years have gotten a bad rap. While it is true that cover letters are often not read, you need to have a personalized cover letter for each and every application.
Even if your cover letter is tossed aside like leftovers from lunch 75% of the time, that still means that your cover letter gets read 1 out of every 4 applications. Not preparing a cover letter paints you as lazy and uninterested in the position.
When you consider how business gets done today, keep you cover letter succinct. There is no need to ramble on for two pages. Give the reader a reason to want to read your résumé…showcase the value you can bring to the employer in a very clear and direct way.
March 20th– The #LetteroftheDay is “D” as is Delivered
According to TalentWorks, The Science of the Job Search, beginning each bullet point on your résumé with an active verb (like delivered) increases your hireability by 140%!
When describing your accomplishments, make sure you use different action verbs within the same section.
Some of my favorite action verbs are Championed, Masterminded, Conceptualized, Fostered, Changed, Optimized, Cultivated, Streamlined, Captured, and Selected.
What are some of your favorite active verbs?
March 21st– The #LetteroftheDay is “E” as in Earnings
While your earnings matter, today I want to talk about corporate earnings. In particular, educating yourself on the potential company’s earnings as you prepare for an interview.
Most people know to learn about the company they are interviewing with prior to an interview, however most applicants only learn the basics about a company. I would encourage you to dive further into learning about the company, including their earnings.
Employers want to see your passion, drive, and desire to work for their organization. One way to prove that is to show the hiring manager that you know more about the company than the basic end product or service they provide.
An applicant who can speak to the latest earning reports, recent press releases, the competitive landscape, and the direction the group is heading speaks volumes about their desire to join the team.
March 22nd– The #LetteroftheDay is “F” as in Facebook
According to a recent JobVite survey, more than 65% of employers use Facebook in their recruiting, making Facebook the second most popular social network for hiring.
Keep in mind that employers often use Facebook as a tool to screen applicants – over 90% of employers and recruiters use Facebook to gather additional information about you, and over 70% have rejected job seekers based on inappropriate photos, comments, or content.
Make sure you sanitize your content for anything that may be deemed inappropriate and tighten up your privacy settings.
