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Stand Out From The Crowd Best Practices for Cover Letters, Résumés and More by Wenda Reed

As we go into the New Year, Washington State’s unemployment rate is finally dipping below 9 percent. Still, there are close to 300,000 people competing for jobs in the state (about 120,000 of them in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That can mean dozens, if not hundreds, of people vying for the same position. To be successful, you first need focus, organization and a defined strategy for the full-time job of looking for work. Beyond that, it’s the little things – the zippiness of your cover letter, the crisp appeal of your résumé, the careful attention to follow-up and online etiquette – that can make your job application stand out and keep your hopes, dreams and skills out of the round file.

When I worked for a résumé-writing company in the BC era – Before Personal Computers – there were several guidelines we followed:

• List the qualifications in bulleted points at the top of the résumé, using strong verbs.
• Follow up with areas of experience, followed by education and work history and volunteer experiences, putting the most pertinent and recent first.
• Be specific; use numbers, percentages, dollars and quantifiable measures, rather than general statements.
• Use one to two pages – never more.
• Utilize plenty of white space. Line everything up so that it is easy to read and not too text-heavy.
• Check, recheck and triple-check your spelling and grammar.
• Never, ever, use colored or decorated paper, unusual fonts or a cutesy presentation.

That model is still current, according to Carmen D’Arcangelo, senior consultant with HR Strategies International in Seattle, and Kristen Davey, program supervisor of the Career Services Center at Seattle Central Community College. The post-computer/e-mail/online/social media era, however, has brought new dimensions to the job search. D’Arcangelo and Davey share best practices for presenting yourself in today’s crowded digital job market.

Rethink your cover letter. Use this short introduction (no more than three paragraphs) to tell the recruiter or HR screener exactly how your skills match the job, so that it is clear that you have researched the company and the position. Pull a couple of the top skills listed in your résumé into the cover letter, giving more detail in the résumé. But don’t simply summarize what’s in the résumé; the reviewer wants to learn something new that makes you stand out from the crowd of applicants. It’s OK to use bulleted lists or tables in the cover letter, as long as you keep it short.

Tailor your résumé. Prepare two or three distinctly different versions of your résumé for specific genres of jobs — e.g., nonprofit, medical or business. These can be tweaked for individual positions.

Make sure each résumé “tells the story” about you in a cohesive, interesting way. Take out anything that might be distracting or doesn’t pertain to the job you are seeking. The choice of which information to list most prominently is not set in stone.

If you are a career changer, your new educational qualifications could be most important. If it matches the job, definitely include volunteer experiences.

Don’t lie on your résumé or fudge your qualifications. This should be obvious, but about 50 percent of job applicants falsify something, according to surveys D’Arcangelo has read. In today’s interconnected world, you’ll likely be caught.

Use keywords. Large and midsize companies and institutions (e.g., Boeing and the University of Washington) use scanning software to narrow down the volume of résumés. This means that you should use the same buzzwords used in the job listing in your cover letter and throughout your résumé, especially in the bulleted summary at the top. If you use a job title in your cover letter or top of your résumé, make sure it matches an actual job title.

Send your documents in a user-friendly format. Most recruiters and résumé screeners prefer the cover letter to be embedded in the e-mail so they don’t have to click to open it. Attach the résumé, either as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF. The advantage of a PDF is that it can be opened on any computer without any changes in formatting. Avoid templates because the formatting can be troublesome, and they are very difficult to alter.

Take time for online applications. Many companies, outside of non-chain retail and hospitality, have moved their job applications online. Set aside plenty of time to fill these out, as they often include unique or unexpected portions. They may require registration or other lengthy processes at the end of the application. Have everything together before you begin, including past employment, references, driver’s license number, and a copy of your résumé with education and job information. Again, try to match your keywords to the job description. Be aware that many online applications require a Social Security number.

Prepare for interviews. Know the company you are interviewing with and their needs and think of specific ways you can help them. Anticipate the types of questions you may be asked. Write out your answers in a script, with specific examples of how you’ve resolved conflicts or saved money or managed people. It’s OK to bring notes with you so that you don’t get tongue-tied or forget to make important points.

Follow up. After three to five days, send a short e-mail or call to make sure your résumé or application has been received, to say that you are excited about the opportunity to apply, and to ask when interviews will be scheduled. Your résumé may have been lost in spam mail. It will make you stand out and show that you’re taking an extra measure of care. (Out of 200 applications D’Arcangelo received for a recent Chief Operating Officer job opening, only 10 people followed up). Send a thank you letter after an interview.

Watch your online image. Before you ever get a chance to make an in-person impression, your online presence will speak for you. Set up a professional e-mail account just for job applications (no addresses like “talkoftown” or “kittylovesme”). If you are looking for professional jobs, start using LinkedIn, the social media site for business networking. For your profile, use a professional headshot and a snappy headline, include detailed employment and education history, and a list of groups you have joined.

Update your profile weekly and link it to your e-mail. Leave out all personal and family information. In this social media age and very conservative economy, employers are looking for ways to eliminate candidates and they will Google your name. Your Facebook page and other social media links need to be absolutely “squeaky-clean.” Make sure your privacy settings are up-to-date on Facebook, for example, limiting access to your wall and personal information to “Friends” so that potential employers won’t have access to your posts and photos.

Wenda Reed is a frequent contributor to Seattle Woman.

CAREER RESOURCES

RECOMMENDED READING

The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention: Essential Skills for Any Economy by Pamela Mitchell
(Prentice Hall Press, 2011)

Land the Job You Love! 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50 by Mary Eileen Williams
(CreateSpace, 2010)

Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra
(Harvard Business Review Press, 2004)

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Returners and Over-50: What’s Next?
Jan. 30 and Feb. 4
Offered by Elizabeth Atcheson, Blue Bridge Career Coaching
206-660-4441
www.bluebridgecoaching.com
This workshop is designed to give you the tools you need to return to the workplace after a divorce and/or raising children or to make a career transition. It will also help you figure out how to turn a “revenue stream” into a river and whether you should conduct a job search or start your own business. E-mail info@bluebridgecoaching.com for details.

Dependable Strengths
Feb. 10 and 13
Offered by Janet Boguch, Wide Angle Coaching and Non-Profit Works
206-323-3449
www.janetboguch.com
Based on the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process (DSAP), a peer-assisted group process developed by Bernard Haldane in 1945. The heart of the Dependable Strengths workshop will be on storytelling. Participants will reflect on their experiences in life, identify their patterns of strengths, and learn how to talk about their Dependable Strengths in ways that demonstrate their value to an organization or community.

RESOURCE CENTERS

WorkSource
Free resources, training and job listings online and at seven area locations. The program is a partnership between Washington State’s Employment Security Department and local business and labor groups, community and technical colleges, and other government offices. Visit www.go2worksource.com or one of these local WorkSource affiliates:

Bellevue Community College
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue
425-564-1000
www.bellevuecollege.edu/we/wrp/

South Seattle Community College
6000-16th Avenue SW
Seattle
206-934-5304
www. southseattle.edu

Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway
Seattle
206-934-3800
www.seattlecentral.edu/careercenter

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