Another Great Beginning

In the last post we spoke of a great new idea from The Write Place - the
'LETTER' RESUME

Here's another great beginning for your 'letter' resume:

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Alpha Engineering has been at the top of my list of places I'd like to work, so I was excited to learn about the IT Analyst opening. With 12 years of experience as a IT Specialist within an engineering environment, my background and education seem a perfect fit for this position.

Much more to come.

Let's Go!

You've had all summer to relax, plan, make lists - now it's time to get that new job!

Is your resume all polished? Cover letter spell-checked? Both printed on a 20 lb white or blue, beige, pastel paper (for resumes you will be sending by snail mail). Check resumes and cover letters you will be sending to employer websites by emailing a copy to yourself. Make sure the cover letter goes first. Address the cover letter to whomever the website states.

For presentations you will be emailing / sending to websites, the Write Place has developed a 'LETTER' RESUME.

Begin 'LETTER' RESUME:
Dear Employer:

I am responding to your need for an Accounting Professional at your Tampa office. Following is a brief summary of my astute analytical skills and educational background. ...........

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More to come. The Write Place feels that a 'LETTER' resume may be best, first, as human resource personnel don't spend much time, initially, 10-30 seconds, deciding if you are right for an interview, or a second look. A 'LETTER' resume takes about 30 seconds to read and puts all of your cards on the table in that time.

You should also make it clear that you have a conventional resume if they wish to see it. In any case, take a good copy or two of your conventional resume to the interview.

More tips on 'LETTER' resume to follow.

A Deliberate Calm

Personally, I think that's what we all need ... 'a deliberate calm," time to catch our breath, time to read a good book, time to research possible employers.

Summertime isn't the best time to apply for a job ... but it is the best time to PLAN. This is a good time to make a list of possible employers, investigate their company and it's goals. Make two or three different drafts of your resume and compose a matching cover letter for each. Have your spouse or a friend read over your resume(s) and cover letter(s) and see what they think. Does it sound like you? Have you given yourself enough credit?

Search through the 35 entries here in the Write Place's blog for great ideas and encouragement. Get ready.

I'll be back on August 3rd with lots of new ideas and strategies. Enjoy July because in August and especially in September you will want to restart your job search in ernest.

Stay cool!

Humor

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother, Joel, were sitting together in church. Mom was in the choir.

Joel giggled, sang, and talked outloud. Finally, his big sister had had enough.

"You're not supposed to talk outloud in church."

"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.

Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."

Quickie #3

Quickie #3 - Some phraseology for your resume. These are effective combinations of words often used by employers and they are space-savers on your resume where being brief and concise are important:

• accounts payable / receivable...
• administration / staff support ...
• budget control / monitoring ...
• compliance with policy / procedure ...
• design / development / implementation ...
• detail / result-oriented ...
• install / maintain / repair ...
• labor / employee relations ...
• inventory / stock control ...
• quality assurance ...
• self-motivated ...

The newspaper uses a lot of others - check it out!