If you're like many job seekers, the chore of writing cover letters to accompany your resumé can cause your entire job search to screech to a halt. Yes, each cover letter needs to be custom-crafted, but that doesn't mean you need to start from scratch each time. Using a simple yet highly effective formula, you can produce these letters quickly - without sacrificing quality, and with careful attention to the specific needs of each recipient.

Just follow these easy steps.

A. Address Your Audience. Different audiences dictate different introductions. Consider these guidelines:

Whenever possible, write to an individual by name. This creates a better impression and gives you a better opportunity for follow-up. Don't be afraid to call a company and ask who your letter should go to. (Just be prepared with your professional introduction, in case you get that person on the line!)

When responding to an on line posting or ad, where you are likely one of hundreds if not thousands of applicants, don't worry so much about writing to an individual. In these cases, it's perfectly okay to omit the salutation - especially the outdated openings "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern" - and simply use a subject line ("Re: VP Marketing") as your opening.

B. Be Clear. While most readers enjoy a snappy, interesting opening more than the standard, "I'm writing to inquire about jobs at your company," never sacrifice clarity for cleverness. Be sure that the opening of your letter clearly communicates why you are writing and why the reader should care. For example -

Your need for a VP of Marketing is a close fit for my experience at Megacorp and my proved ability to drive up revenues, successfully launch new products, and steer growth in strategic channels.

C. Communicate Value. The body of your cover letter should tell the reader what they care about - namely, what you can do for them. Your value is best communicated through your specific accomplishments rather than vague statements. A bullet-point format is extremely useful for highlighting three or four relevant points, and this format forces you to keep your letter to a concise, readable length.

This section of your letter is easily tailored to the specific needs of your audience - whether described in a job posting, related to you by a networking source, or learned through research. Use your accomplishments as evidence of your ability to assist them with precisely the challenges they are facing.

For example -

* Revenue Expansion: my tenure as VP Marketing/Sales, we averaged 24% annual revenue growth during a time of industry contraction. Our strong brand and benefit-focused product development were pivotal to our ability to steal market share from competitors.

* Successful Product Launch: Launched the same year as two key competitors, MegaSystem grew to 43% market share within two years; MegaAddon penetrated 78% of existing product users; and the entire MegaMini line was recognized as Product of the Year by the NAITP.

* Strategic Growth: Our MegaMini launches met the corporate goal of successfully penetrating the consumer market, which now represents 27% of company revenues.

D. Don't Overdo It. After delivering your value message, provide just enough information to give your audience a sense for your scope of experience and key selling points. Don't overwhelm readers with too much detail; don't retell your entire career history; don't feel you must respond to every requirement listed in an ad; and don't go overboard relating your personal attributes. In fact, if your letter is too long, your paragraphs too dense and wordy, chances are your audience will give up before finishing. Your goal is simply to entice them to read your resume and want to know more about you, inviting a call for an interview.

Here's an example of a semifinal paragraph:

In brief, I am an accomplished marketing executive with experience developing and executing global marketing strategies for Fortune 500 companies. My deepest expertise is in technology products (business and consumer), and I have a solid background in classical marketing methodologies for the CPG industry. My strengths in vision/strategy/execution are complemented by a talent for building high-performing, highly motivated teams… we work hard, smart, and aggressively to achieve our goals and outdo the competition.

E. Exit Gracefully. You've said your piece, given your readers the initial information they need to evaluate your candidacy. End your letter on a positive note, expressing your interest in a meeting. Again, it's more important to be clear than to be clever, but do try to keep your language fresh by avoiding overused phrases and sentences.

Here's an example of a brief, positive closing paragraph:

May we schedule a time to meet? I'd like to learn more about this interesting opportunity and explore the fit between my background and your needs. I will call within a few days to answer any questions you might have and to discuss the next steps.

Of course, if you are not writing to an individual, you cannot state that you will call to follow up. Otherwise, you should take the initiative to make contact a few days after sending your letter.

There you have it! Each time you write a cover letter, save it to use as a template for the next letter. Soon you'll have a small library of good letters filled with apt phrases, strong accomplishment statements, and graceful opening and closing paragraphs to keep your search moving forward quickly and smoothly.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

Resumé Writing Tips: How to Write a Professional Resumé!

What is the main secret to writing a professional resumé? Writing everything on your resumé to the needs of your future employer! If it is not related or of value to your employer -- don't list it!

You will succeed at creating an excellent resume by fulfilling your prospective employers’ desire to hire the best and by helping them hire a person (you) that will produce the results they seek. This might seem obvious to you right now, but, believe me, there have been plenty of resumés written by people who ignore this point. They list information they have guessed is relevant without performing the research. So, research...please! If you need further assistance, please inquire about hiring our resumé writer.

The following are some of the most basic points you should cover when writing a professional resumé.

1. Choose a Title to Target! Decide on the job title you will be targeting (yes, this does mean that you must have more than one resumé if you are interested in more than one position).

Everything listed on your resume must pertain to, or at least be beneficial to, that particular position. If you don’t target your resume, it’s like trying to sell a hotdog to a vegetarian -- not happening!

2. Find Descriptions. Do you truly know what this job requires? Research job descriptions for your intended title. This will help you fully understand the job and match the requirements to your skill and experience. You can find these job descriptions by referring to the company’s Web site, or you can look up descriptions online at the U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm

You can also visit your local library and request "The Dictionary of Occupational Titles," or "The Occupational Outlook Handbook."

3. Fully Analyze the Job Description. Match your training, skill level, experience to these descriptions.

4. Your Opening Statement. Describe yourself as the ideal candidate (based on your research and your honest qualifications). These sentences will make up your Profile. Profiles are more powerful than Objective statements. Objective statements, unless written very skillfully, are most often catered to the job seeker’s desire. Remember you want to capture your reader’s attention by making your resumé about their needs and not yours.

5. Keywords. Keywords are industry buzzwords used to describe and identify a professional in your industry. In addition, these keywords will help you survive a keyword scan. When you send your resume to large corporations, most of the time (especially via the Internet), your resumé is scanned into a database. If your resumé contains keywords, then someone might actually read your resumé. You didn't expect them to manually select from hundreds of resumés...did you?

6. Computer Skills. You will also list all computer platforms you know and all general computer software. A professional that is computer literate is an advantage in any industry. Whenever possible, list the actual names: Windows XP, Windows 98, Word 2003, Excel, Outlook Express, Power Point, and so on. If you do not posses any computer skills (besides surfing the Web, obviously), I highly recommend you take up a course. This is an incredible advantage that everyone should possess. You can visit your local library; they have free courses you can sign up for. Visit this site to find your local library: http://www.publiclibraries.com/ . You can also visit sites like www.Microsoft.com for tutorials and training.

7. Employment History. Section your work information in chronological order and title it.

This resumé format works best for people who have had a solid work history with very little, or no interruptions. If you have gaps in your work history or are making a career transition that is very different to what you have done previously, then a functional or a combination resumé would be your best format.

8. Supporting Statements. You have listed all this information in chronological order, now go back to your most present employment and describe, in a non-bulleted form, what you were accountable for (not responsible, please do not use this word because it is too mundane and does not describe your willingness). Keep it concise, don’t go on and on, and don’t detail minor information. Give them a general idea. One, two, or three sentences will suffice.

9. Achievements. Go through each one of your listed job titles, and underneath, list accomplishments that will support your candidacy for your new job. Do not list more that 5 to 7 bulleted achievements because this will bore your reader. And, don't repeat the same achievements again and again. Everything must be relevant and follow a direction.

10. Education / Continued Education. This section can be either at the top or (usually) towards the bottom, depending on relevance. Basically, you want to list everything that will influence the reader to call you, because it supports relevant qualifications, first!

11. Extra Information. Extra curricular activities do not belong on your resumé, unless you are a student with very little experience and your extra curricular activity will support your candidacy. Do not list personal information other than your contact information. Organizations are important if they will support your candidacy (if it is relevant)!

12. Making Sense of It All

The bottom line is that resumé writing must advertise and persuade while remaining professional and appealing. It must communicate powerfully and quickly, in a very succinct manner. Resumés have come a long way from the time when it was enough to submit a sheet with your information and the next thing you know... you are hired! It is now a marketing campaign because everyone is looking for the best buy! So, while you are writing your resumé, think benefits, results, relevance, and keep that job title in mind at all times. And then, prove it!

Of course, there is more involved when professional writers prepare your resumé. More professional secrets about hiding your weaknesses, dealing with your particular "problem" areas, design, and copy that demands action (which is honed with experience). In addition, knowing how to select the correct keywords and package your resume with great action verbs.

Still, the above information should assist you in preparing a better resumé. Remember to promote yourself as the valuable candidate you are, and resist the temptation to list information that will not support your candidacy because you are proud of those accomplishments. List those for yourself on another resumé!

TO SEE THE DIFFERENT FORMATS OF RESUMES GO HERE

 

Resumé Builder Software

Here is the resumé builder software for you to download, and the instructions for downloading and opening it up on your computer.

1.) Click the two link below to start download:
                       
Download ZIP File To Extract The Download File
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE

                       
2.) SAVE to your Desktop. (ZIP File; Extract The Resumé Maker 11.0 file to your desktop).                                                                  
3.) Click on downloaded "Resumé Maker 11.0" file on desktop to start installation.                          
4.) Select "PERSONAL" resume NOT Business.                                          
5.) You DO NOT need to register this resumé, builder to use it, click Cancel.     
6.) Create an ICON for Desktop.                                                              
7.) After it is installed you can open the program and start building your resume.