Best Practices For Resume and Cover Letter Writing

Best Practices For Resume and Cover Letter WritingThe best practices for resume and cover letter writing are key to creating a strong letter. These are simple elements that can help you land the job you want. In this article, we'll discuss the best practices for writing a cover letter and resume.Cover letters should begin with a positive statement about yourself. This statement should include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and personal background. Here's how to make this statement:Writing a cover letter is easier than most people think. You don't have to be an attorney to know how to write one, because nearly all attorneys use them when they send out resumes. The only real downside to writing a cover letter is that it's hard to write it if you're under time pressure.One tip for writing a cover letter is to keep it brief and to the point. Don't go overboard on the fluff. Your cover letter should focus on what you are really looking for in a new job. For example, if you're applying for a seasonal job at a camp, don't talk about how much you love camping as much as how great you are at your job.Another tip for writing a cover letter is to avoid the canned letter. Many applicants use this technique when they send out resume and cover letters. They avoid writing something completely original and instead choose something basic like, 'I'm looking for a job, or I'm willing to start looking now.' Don't do this.If you don't know how to write a letter, it doesn't matter how much you know about the job you're applying for. In order to win a job interview, you need to be able to stand out. When writing a letter, use words that create a positive first impression. Keep it short and punchy and provide an accurate description of your skills and work history. It's crucial that you come across as a confident and professional candidate.Don't wait until your application has gone live to begin writing a letter. Start writing a cover letter immediately after you ha ve received an interview invitation. You can also use a cover letter to simply introduce yourself to someone who is reading your resume. There's no reason not to write one as soon as you're sure you have the right job.

How to Find a Job in Another State 5 Essential Tips Tricks - ZipJob

How to Find a Job in Another State 5 Essential Tips Tricks Spread the loveJob hunting is hard enough in your local market. When it comes to finding a job in another state, however, the task is even more daunting. There are a number of reasons why relocating professionally is so difficult. In this post, we are going to go through a bunch of tips and tricks to show you exactly how to find a job in another state.Should you Include an  Address on a Resume?Actually, you should never put your full address on your resume, only your city/state and zip-code. Many are given bad advice of leaving their address off all together. Your resume always needs a city, state and zip as removing it will raise suspicions. It may also be rejected by applicant tracking systems that most employers use to screen resumes.Heres where it gets a bit tricky. Its a bit of a grey area but If youre absolutely certain that youre moving to that city, or you secured a place already, you can include the city/state and zip.If you’re not certain about moving, or it depends on wh ether or not you land the job, you’ll need to put your current city/state and zip. In this case, you need to mention on your resume â€" “willing to relocate”. You can explain it further by stating it in the cover letter as well.Remember that since you’re relocating, you need to capture the hiring manager’s attention. They usually have to go out of their way to deal with someone who’s relocating so let them know you’re worth the time.We wrote a good post covering relocation on a resume and cover letter here.  Be honest and straight-forward  about your plansYou dont  want your relocation plans to be the absolute first thing a potential employer sees. But, that does not mean you should be hiding it.Like every other aspect of your career, honesty is important and hugely appreciated. If the hiring manager is interested, they’ll probably be researching you anyway. A quick Google search is usually enough to oust anyone’s location. You absolutely do not want to be caught t wisting the truth.If a hiring manager asks you about your location, dont  lie. Tell them your plans and be prepared to give a concrete moving date.This also means that you may want to even include your plans on a cover letter. Wait until the way end of your cover letter and drop it in there. Be specific about exactly where you will be moving and exactly when you will be moving.Think about it. If you were going to be disqualified because you are relocating, you may as well get to that point earlier so you don’t waste your time.Be ready to explain why youre movingThe truth is, as long as you’re not running from the law, they probably don’t care exactly why you’re moving. They just want to see that you have a real, legitimate reason for moving. Mainly that you’re serious about moving and are a legitimate candidate moving forward. They also want to see if you’re confident in your decision making.Having an inspiring  or cool story to tell can help to put a great spin on your reason for relocation. Be prepared to emphasize passion and seriousness.You should also be ready to answer any questions on relocation in an interview whether its in person or over the phone.Maintain flexibility and understand the challengeThe hardest part about finding a job in another state is competing with local applicants. Why?Because local applicants can come in for an interview at short notice. They can come in multiple times on different dates with short notice. In short, their closer proximity allows them to be more flexible in visiting the office.Dont  worry! You can negate this advantage by remaining super flexible yourself. Of course, its going to be a lot tougher for you. But its something you will probably need to do if you want to find a job in another state.Being flexible in your interstate job search means being ready on a few fronts:Be willing to take a flight on short noticeMaster the online video chat interviewPerfect your phone interview skillsDont expect any po tential employer to treat you special just  because youre relocating. Its only an issue if you make it an issue for them. Keep in mind the above points and make sure youre open to the hassle of remaining flexible.It’s also important to note that, while flexibility is important, you shouldn’t need to go over the top. For example, if you’re flying across the country for an interview, make sure it’s the final round.NetworkEffective networking is the main factor in nearly every major career advance. The importance of networking is exponential when relocating. Especially if youre going to a place where you dont know anybody.Fortunately, people like helping each other. As the great Steve Jobs said, “I’ve never found anybody that didn’t want to help me if I asked them for help”.There are so many effective ways to build your network. Here are a few of the best:Join an organization and attend networking eventsI cant think of a better way to meet people with shared interests. Organizations always have stated goals. Often, their entire reason for existing is to bring together like-minded individuals. Take advantage of these awesome opportunities!Same goes for networking events. While its not as easy to build solid relationships, it can still get you some great introductions that you can build on later.LinkedInYes, LinkedIn is a great way to network. It should come as no surprise given its extreme popularity in the professional world. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is perfect and start reaching out.Its important to craft a well-written message that wont get ignored. Check out this blog post by The Muse that goes through how to write killer LinkedIn messages.Ask friends, family, and colleagues for referralsYou never know whos going to know who. Let your network know that youre planning on making a move. Theres a good chance youll be able to secure an introduction before your move.Once you have that first connection, expanding from there is easy. Especially if youre well connected in the industry youd like to work with in your new city.Final Thoughts SummaryMoving is hard and finding a job is even harder. By sticking to your guns and following our simple steps, you should have no problem at all making that tough transition.To sum it all up, here are the key points to successfully finding a job in a new state:Utilize the address tips we discussed aboveBe honest and straight-forward about your plansAlways be ready to explain why you are movingMaintain flexibility and understand the extra challengeNetworkPractice and follow our advice and youll land your dream job in the perfect location in no time!Good luck with your job search!Also, if youre just not sure if youre resume is good enough, get the resume reviewed for free!