Tailor Your Resume And Optimize For Applicant Tracking Systems
Its very easy these days to fire off your resume to dozens of jobs, but if youve tried this method, you may have been disappointed by your success rate. Thats because you didnt take the time to customize your resume for each individual roleand recruiters can tell.
The most impactful thing you can do to improve your chances of getting interviews is tailor your resume to each and every job. Customized resumes that align with job requirements and include keywords from the job description will stand out to recruiters who often receive hundreds of resumes for each role.
When you tailor your resume to the job, youre also optimizing for applicant tracking systems., because many ATS allow recruiters to filter and search by keyword. Want to see if your resume is well-tailored? Use Jobscan to see your match score and discover missing keywords.
Can A Resume Be 2 Pages
A two page resume is OK if you can’t cut it shorter without hurting the message. Professionals with lots of experience in technical professions often need a two page resume.;
Write a 2-page resume if:
Expert Hint: Can you guarantee that anywhere they look, youll blow their minds? Then write a two-page resume.
Heres how to write a 2-page resume that works:
Craft A Killer Opening Line
No need to lead with your namethe hiring manager can see it already on your resume. Its good to mention the job youre applying for , and yes, you could go with something simple like, I am excited to apply for with . But consider introducing yourself with a snappy first sentence that highlights your excitement about the company youre applying to, your passion for the work you do, or your past accomplishments.
Need inspiration? Check out these examples of how to start your cover letter in an engaging, attention-grabbing way, or these eight examples of awesome cover letters that actually worked.
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How To Write A Cover Letter
Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, thats still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesnt allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format youre given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.
No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé, prepping for grueling interviews;;none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. Theres so much conflicting advice out there, its hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if youre applying through an online system?
Writing A Cover Letter
Many hiring managers view cover letters as the key to gauging an applicant’s potential. Writing an effective cover letter can convey your attributes in an attractive way. In this article, we will discuss how to create a cover letter and provide you with tips and samples that you can use when writing your own.
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How To Create A Cover Letter
Here are the steps you can follow to write your cover letter:
Requirements For A Resume Cover Page
Before you start writing, spend some time;. A close examination of the ad will reveal what’s important to hiring managers. For instance, if the posting mentions the need for organization and time management skills, mention in your cover letter that you’re deadline-driven. If the position calls for leadership competencies, mention teams or projects that you’ve overseen.;
The format of a resume cover page varies slightly depending on whether you’re emailing your resume as an attachment or sending it in the body of an email. Here’s the standard format for an attachment.;
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Top 5 Good Cover Letter Templates
Focus It On The Future
While your;résumé is meant to be a lookback at your experience and where youve been, the cover letter should focus on the future and what you want to do, says Glickman. It can be helpful to think of it as the bridge between the past and the future that explains what you hope to do next and why. Because of the pandemic there is less of an expectation that youll be applying for a job that youve done before. There are millions of people who are making career changes voluntarily or involuntarily and need to pivot and rethink how their skillset relates to a different role or industry, says Glickman. You can use your cover letter to explain the shift youre making, perhaps from hospitality to marketing, for example. Think of it as an opportunity to sell your transferrable skills.
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Throw In A Few Numbers
Hiring managers love to see statsthey show youve had a measurable impact on an organization or company youve worked for. That doesnt mean you have to have doubled revenue at your last job. Did you bring in more clients than any of your peers? Put together an impressive number of events? Made a process at work 30% more efficient? Those numbers speak volumes about what you could bring to your next position, and make your cover letter stand out.
You dont even have to have worked with numbers at all! Check out a few more tips for adding stats to those resume bullets, even if your previous jobs involved dealing with people, not figures.
How To Write A Cover Letter In 2021
After weeks of heavy job search, youre almost there!
Youve perfected your resume.;
Youve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.
Youve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.
But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.
Now youre stuck wondering how to write a cover letter…
Dont panic! Weve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think.;
In this guide, were going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.
We’ll cover:
So, lets get started with the basics!
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Highlight Library Page Skills
Because your main tasks as a library page revolve around performing administrative tasks and collaborating with library staff and patrons, several hard and soft skills are essential to this entry-level role.
Here are some soft skills you should include on your cover letter:
Additionally, heres a list of hard skills and related software for a library page:
- Administrative assistant skills: Managing files and records and handling clerical procedures, transcription, and terminology
- and Microsoft Office
- Data entry: categorizing, verifying, and transcribing written and electronic information
- Knowledge of library software: cataloging software, ResourceMate Plus, Online Computer Library Center , and automated circulation systems
- Information retrieval process, query software, and database user interfaces
Link your skills to your past achievements; to give employers a better sense of what you can contribute to their facility. Adding numbers helps them understand how much you achieved.
For instance, you can talk about how you organized 12 information sessions on research methods each year for incoming students.
List Relevant Skills And Keywords
Resume keywords are important terms of interest that recruiters look for whether skimming a resume or searching within an applicant tracking system . The more role-specific keywordsoften hard skillsyour resume contains, the better optimized your resume is.
99 percent of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems to sort, filter, and search applicants. Some ATS, like Taleo, can automatically rank your resumes content against the job description, allowing recruiters to focus only on the best applicants. Recruiters often also search their applicant pool for important resume keywords, like customer service, accounts receivable, or Adobe Photoshop.
Where on your resume should you include important skills?
Its crucial to incorporate important skills throughout your entire resume, beginning with your headline which should, when possible, include the most relevant keyword: the job title. You can also list skills in a dedicated skills section of your resume if using the hybrid resume format.
How do you find keywords to include in your resume?
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Have Someone Gut Check It
Have a friend take a look at your cover letter, and ask him or her two questions: Does this sell me as the best person for the job? and Does it get you excited? If the answer to either is no, or even slight hesitation, go back for another pass.
Finally, read this if youre looking to write a letter of intent instead of a cover letteryes, theres a difference.
What Is A Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application .;
Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background.;On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long.
A good cover letter can spark the HR managers interest and get them to read your resume.;
A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesnt happen, its essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.
How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, heres an example:
Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you dont just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.
If youre writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, youre probably not a professional writer.
The thing is, though, you dont need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:
- Header – Input contact information
- Opening paragraph – Grab the readers attention with 2-3 of your top achievements
- Second paragraph – Explain why youre the perfect candidate for the job
- Third paragraph – Explain why youre a good match for the company
- Formal closing
Or, heres what this looks like in practice:
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Creative Cover Letter Templates
There are certain positions in which creativity is not just recommended, its expected. For those situations, we’ve developed a line of creative cover letter templates perfect for expressing your passion and eye for good design. These templates offer just the right balance of text and visual elements to make your cover letter stand out from the crowd.
Ideal for applicants in fields like fashion, media, photography, film, art and design, these templates are for those unafraid of bold colors and page elements that make a statement. With our free creative cover letter templates, you can rest assured that your cover letter is just as unique as you are.
Create A Cv And Cover Letter From Our Templates And Save Them
Use our templates to create your CV and cover letter. You’ll need to save them to your computer.
- Save your CV as both a Word document and a PDF. An employer may need either one of these file formats.
- Label your CV files with your name, the application date, and the job you’re applying for.
- If you update your Word document, remember to also create a new PDF.
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Simple Cover Letter Templates
Sometimes, less is more. Our collection of straightforward designs are not only easy-to-use, their sleek and basic appeal can be a real advantage in fields where hard skills are most important. Combine your simple job application letter with our simple cover letter examples, and youve got a job-winning combination.
Include An Education Section
An education section will be especially valuable if you have limited work experience or if you are transferring to a new industry. You can include information such as:
- Relevant coursework
- Grade point average
- Participation in clubs or organizations
- Leadership positions held
- Awards, achievements or certifications
When writing your education section, you should include the name of the institution, dates of attendance and your degree or area of study. If you are applying to mid or higher-level positions, you might remove all but the name of your school and dates of attendance to make room for more relevant professional experience on your resume.
If you have certifications or licenses that are relevant to the job description, you can include them in this section as well. To save space, you can leave off any credentials that are not directly related to the requirements of this job.
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Be Open To Other Formats
If youre applying to a more traditional company, then the tried-and-true three-to-five-paragraph format probably makes sense. However, if youre gunning for a more creative or startup jobor need to explain to the hiring manager, say, how your career has taken you from teaching to business developmenta different approach could be appropriate.
Here at The Muse, weve seen cover letters use bullet points, tell stories, or showcase videos to get their point across. One woman wrote a cover letter from her dogs perspective. This professional even turned hers into a BuzzFeed-style list!
List Your Professional History With Keywords
Write your professional history section in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent job and provide a short description including the company name, time period in which you were employed, your job title and a few key achievements during your time at the company. You might also include relevant learnings or growth opportunities you experienced while employed there.
When listing your professional history, you should keep a few best practices in mind:
- Use numbers to measure your impact, when possible. Including specific numerical achievements can help employers understand your direct potential value to their company.
Example: Developed new process for requesting supplies, reducing fulfillment time by 10%.
- Use keywords from the job description. Similar to your skills section, you should also include information from the job description in your job history bullets. For example, if the job description mentions the importance of meeting sales quotas, you could include information about how youve met or exceeded quotas in past roles.
Example: Achieved goal of reaching 250% annual sales quota, winning sales MVP two quarters in a row.
Follow the same process for other work experiences. If you do not have extensive professional history, you should also include internships and volunteer opportunities following the same format.
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