PRDV102: Resume Writing

When I Lecture on How to Write a Resume, I Often Tell My Audience

There are two rules about writing resumes. The first is that there are NO rules…only guidelines, recommendations, and suggestions. The second rule is…when in doubt, see rule one.

The important point I try to get across is that, much like anything you do in life, there are many ways to do things properly and effectively without being bound to a tight set of rules.

The same holds true for cover letters. There are no rules. Where there are a lot of standards and normal conventions for resumes, there are very few for cover letters. In this post, I will try to cover the guidelines and give you some suggestions but do not misinterpret them as rules.

Tell Me Who and What You Are (1 sentence)

A clear introduction frames the resume

The biggest hurdle for most cover letters is getting past the fluffy writing and really focusing on putting yourself in a box. Recruiters and managers like to be able to visualize you quickly. The cover letter has to tell me first who you are (Susan Smith) and second what you are (Registered Nurse) before you are past the first sentence. There has to be NO question about your role. So avoid vague job descriptions and company titles (Associate) that are meaningless or unimportant. If a friend has referred you, it might be appropriate to refer to that person early in the cover letter. Oh…be brief! Just a sentence (or two) here, or it might just be a one-line header under your Contact Info.

Tell Me about a Relevant Skill or Talent (paragraph 1)

You need to provide a brief background and then identify a key skill, attribute, or experience that would be of interest to me (not to you) relevant to the job posting you are applying for. Tell me how this talent benefited a prior client or was important in your professional development. Use a STAR statement or two if you can. This is a modest-sized paragraph, but make sure you give the best, the strongest, the most compelling info in the first sentence of this first paragraph.

Tell Me about Me and My Situation (paragraph 2)

This is a time to expound on your knowledge of my firm and the challenges/successes that are relevant to the job or business opportunity. You need to be specific and in-depth. Do not just pull info off of my website or write about the latest news-worthy chatter from the nightly news, but show a clear and knowledgeable grasp of my business needs.

Tell Me How You Can Apply Your Skill to My Situation (paragraph 3)

This is the connect-the-dots section. Expand on how step two applies to step three…expand on the benefits of your talents in my organization. If I cannot see a fit between your skills and my needs, I might not keep reading. This first sentence in this last paragraph must entice me! I must be honestly intrigued to find out more about you.

Tell Me How You Will Reach Out (1 sentence)

Sometimes this is the ask-for-a-meeting part of the cover letter. Tell me when you will contact me and how. Or ask me to initiate the communication. The point is…ask or tell! Do not just let the cover letter end without reaching out.

Closing Details

Wrap it up with a "Sincerely" or "Thank You" followed by your signature (if a paper copy is used) and your name/contact info if it was not already provided on the top.

So, what does this all look like? Is there a standard template or layout? The format of a cover letter is as varied as the format of resumes, so no. 

Source: C.J. Trayser
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