Why You Need To Use A Resume Instead Of A Job Application by Ann Baehr

A resume is needed over the job application is because it is a presentation of who you are. In short, it is an advertisement. You are the product.

It includes achievements instead of just "duties" and provides a lot more room for your information compared to the small section found on a job application form.

A job application includes information that would not be appropriate to list on a resume such as references, reasons for leaving a job, salary information and mailing addresses for each employer, to name a few.

Resumes have been in existence for several decades, probably right after WWII, and were certainly a lot less complicated than they are these days. They were not as much of a critical part of the job search process as they are now.

Many jobs, such as blue-collar trades, nurses, and hairstylists required a brief conversation with a supervisor or to complete a job application at the business location in response to a simple job ad or a walk-in-off-the-street effort to explore job opportunities.

The fact that people went directly to the company to complete the application meant minimal competition unless the country was going through a recession and the lines for even the lowest paying jobs wrapped around the block.

The 1980's changed all of that. Companies felt the financial pressures of the economy and emerging competition, both in the U.S. and globally reaching. To survive, major companies merged with other companies or were acquired in leverage buy-outs.

When two companies merge it creates duplicate positions down the line. It usually takes about a year for the newly formed company or acquiring company to figure out who is staying and who is going.

When the dust settles, there ends up being a rise in unemployment and fewer job openings. Since the reason companies underwent a merger or acquisition is financial, restructuring their company and its workforce was necessary and keep costs down.

To achieve that goal, companies began hiring candidates who were well rounded and could perform more than one job function. That way the company could increase productivity and reduce payroll expenses. The proverbial dedicated employee who stayed in the same job for thirty years and retired with a gold watch became a thing of the past and more of a risk to companies looking for candidates who could multitask.

This put a lot of pressure on job seekers to develop resumes that highlighted how well rounded they were. The chronological resumes weren't really working well to achieve that goal, so the functional resume was designed to showcase a job seeker's functional skills rather than their chronology.

The functional format seemed like a great idea at first, but hiring companies disliked it because it allowed job seekers to hide gaps in employment and it made it difficult to understand a job seeker's career path.

The solution was the combination format, which combines the elements of the chronological and functional formats to achieve flexibility and focus. In short, it satisfied the needs of both parties. To this day, the chronological resume is the most preferred because it is straightforward. The trick is to have it mostly chronological with elements of the combination format to break things up and add interest. Just make sure it is well organized.

During the 1980's, the World Wide Web as we know it today began to take hold and exploded by the 1990's making it very easy for job seekers and hiring companies to communicate. This meant exponentially more job seekers applying to job ads online than ever before. No longer could companies pick up the phone or read an email to qualify a potential candidate.

Companies do not have the resources to read a general letter or email covering the basics of a job seeker's employment history. They need to see a resume because a resume, although creatively written and designed, is still a technical presentation of a candidate's background, breaking it down into universally recognized sections that we all have grown to know and expect.

These all-familiar categories include Objective (or Title Statement / Heading), Summary of Qualifications (or Profile), Professional Experience (or Work History), Education and Computer Skills. Other categories include Community Involvement, Military Background, Internship Experience, etc., depending on the job seeker's unique background.

This makes it a lot easier for companies to scan through hard copies of resumes coming in over the fax or in the mail. In fact, so many resumes are sent to companies on a daily basis in response to job ads (print and online) or exploring opportunities that companies have implemented the use of resume scanning technology. The software uses Optical Character Recognition to convert hard copy to text and stores it in a database. Then when the company has a vacancy, they go to their resume database and search for possible candidates.

Embrace the resume. It is an effective way for you to showcase your skills and achievements in a way that an email or letter could not. That said, you need a cover letter to because a cover letter is not technical and will allow you to establish a rapport with a hiring manager in a way that you could not with just a resume.

About the Author

Ann Baehr is a CPRW and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her former role as Second Vice President of NRWA and contribution to 25+ resume and cover letter sample books. To learn more visit http://www.e-bestresumes.com or http://www.annbaehr.com

FOR RESUME TEMPLATES VISIT ...........http://www.easyjob.net/

Tips For Writing An Effective Cover Letter by Jason Kay

Your cover letter is the first thing a prospective employer sees, so it's crucial that it grab his or her attention and never let go.

There are two schools of thought on a cover letter's opening remark: one being that you should ask a rhetorical question or make a funny remark as an attention grabber. This isn't a good idea for most people, however, because it can come off wrong. Only consider this approach if you're applying for a very creative position. Otherwise, stick with the obvious. Describe what job you're applying for and where you saw it advertised, if applicable. That way, there's no guessing game for the person reading your letter.

In the next couple of paragraphs, highlight the points that make you perfect for this job. That could be your job history, your degrees or certifications, your skills, or a combination of those things. But if you're applying for a teaching position, for example, the cover letter isn't the place to note that you're a certified welder--unless you'll be teaching welding.

Your closing should make it clear that you are very interested in talking with the prospective employee further about how you can help his or her company. One mistake many job seekers make is forgetting the purpose of a cover letter and resume. It isn't to secure the job; rather, its purpose is to secure an interview. So be sure to ask for an interview!

Other tips that will rev up your cover letter:

Address it to a specific person. If possible, research who is reviewing the resumes and making the hiring decision for the job you want. Sometimes that information will be in the ad, but if not, don't be afraid to do a little detective work. It's often as easy as calling the company and simply asking!

Don't print off a one-size-fits-all cover letter. You must personalize your letter completely for the company and the job you're seeking.

Focus on them. It's tempting to describe in your cover letter what you want out of the job or the company: to advance your career, to enhance your skill set, or to secure a better title. But companies want to know what you can do for them. Structure your letter so that it lists the talents and experience that you bring to the table. There will be time later to talk about what you'll be getting out of the deal.

Let them know you've done your homework. Weave in at least one fact about the company somewhere in your letter. For example: "Though Company X had an impressive $5 million in sales during the last quarter, I believe my marketing skills could help Company X achieve even better results in the next quarter."

Limit your words. Very few cover letters should run more than one page. Prospective employers are just like everybody else: they're more likely to read a concise four-paragraph letter than a daunting eight-paragraph letter.

Don't rehash the contents of your resume. Assuming your cover letter is put together well, the potential employer or hiring manager will get to your resume. At most, highlight the two or three most impressive aspects of your resume to give the employer a taste of what's to come.

Aesthetics are important. Print off your cover letter on high-quality paper in white or off-white (make sure it matches your resume), and don't staple or fold it.

Proof and proof again. Nothing turns off a potential employer or hiring manager like a cover letter with spelling or grammatical errors. You might think you're in the clear if you use your computer's spell check, but that doesn't save you from mistakes such as confusing "affect" and "effect," for example. After you've proofed your letter twice, ask a grammar geek friend to look it over too.

Don't make them guess. At the bottom of your letter, include the number(s) where you can be reached if they need more information--or if they want to (hopefully!) schedule an interview. You'll undoubtedly include your phone number on your resume, but you want to make it as easy as possible for the company to reach you.

About the Author

Jason Kay is a professional resume writer who contributes to career related magazines and websites such as JobGoRound.com, which provides resume writing service reviews and cover letter writing tips.

Resume Tips by Tony Jacowski

More often than not, people feel overconfident and treat the approach a bit too casually. However, you should make sure that both the cover letter and the resume are well drafted, so that they make a lasting impression on the reader. They should be planned to stand out in content as well as presentation.

The Importance Of A Good First Impression

The First Impression is usually the Last Impression. In today's highly competitive world, creating a good first impression is extremely important. This is where the resume plays a very important role in contributing towards success in landing a job. A resume is the most effective tool that can help you win a coveted interview opportunity. How To Create A Good First Impression

Writing an impressive resume is an important part of your job search preparation. Keep in mind that your resume is indeed a catalog of your abilities. Here are a few steps on how to write a resume that will leave a lasting impression:

- It is very important to create your resume in a professional and appropriate format. There are two basic formats that are used - Functional and Chronological. - When creating your resume, you can use the free resume forms that are posted on the Internet. However, be careful that your resume doesn't end up looking like a cookie-cutter template. - The two most important factors to keep in mind while creating your resume are correct grammar and proper punctuation. Using proper punctuation marks is vital for conveying clear and precise business messages. A resume that contains plenty of grammatical errors creates a bad impression. If you are unable to proofread your own resume, get another professional or a friend to do it for you. - Make use of industry-oriented words that help you to come across as a highly knowledgeable and professional person. - Most people think that a comprehensive resume that describes all their past and present achievements is the best way to showcase their skills and expertise. However, this is not true. As a rule, you only need to go back about 5-6 years. Unless you are a recent grad, that job you had in high school is probably irrelevant.

Whether or not you have a professional degree from a coveted institute and are on the lookout for an entry-level position, it is important to market yourself efficiently. Your main aim should be to display your abilities, skill, work experience, educational qualifications, projects, achievements and anything that might work to your advantage.

About the Author

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.