Resume and Cover Letter Checklist

9/27/2019

Resume and Cover Letter Checklist

Resume Writing Ideas September 27, 2019

Resume and Cover Letter Instructions

Sending a resume that gives a clear outline of your competencies, is not cluttered, is aesthetically pleasing, and easy to speedread, and will impress any potential employer. The same is true of a well-written and interesting cover letter. Go over this checklist before sending your resume and cover letter:

✔	Start your resume with a Summary. Take the time to think of a concise and original way to summarize your career in no more than three or four lines. Click here for more details on What a Summary is vs What a Summary is not.
✔	Provide the potential employer with several ways of contacting you. Create a professional email address and change your voicemail if it is not a professional message. Make sure you place your contact information at the top of your resume; do not place your contact information at the end and not on the sidelines.
✔	The way you talk about your accomplishments is important. On your resume, use concise bulleted points to emphasize the challenges you overcame. In your cover letter, avoid using sentences that begin with “I.” It's not easy to fully avoid starting sentences with "I". If you can't fully avoid it, try to do it as few times as possible.
✔	Less is more when it comes to your resume. If an accomplishment or position isn’t relevant to the job you’re applying for, consider removing it. This is especially true of hobbies, student jobs, or volunteering.
✔	Bring new information into your cover letter. Rather than merely repeating information from your resume, explain how you heard about the position, why you want this job, and why you’re the best fit. Focus on what you can bring to the company.
✔	Use bullet points and bold fonts to make the most important information stand out. Most recruiters will not take the time to read your entire resume.
✔	Use action verbs. Instead of describing yourself as a dynamic person, make this strength come through in the way you talk about your accomplishments. Instead of listing your duties, or starting a bullet point with "Duties included....." talk about how you “Managed” or “Oversaw” a project.
✔	Make your resume look professional. Choose a professional font, such as Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, Garamond, or Arial. Print your resume on high quality paper. Use a cream-colored or off-white paper to stand out. Hire a professional Resume Writer if you can.
✔	Follow standard formatting on your cover letter. Include your contact information in the top left corner, the employer’s information aligned right underneath it, the date, a formal greeting and a formal salutation and signature at the bottom.
✔	Proofread, proofread, proofread. Step away from the documents and review them again a full day after you were certain the project was complete and proofread it one more time. You will be surprised at the changes you may make a day after you thought you were done.