If you are an entry level candidate it can be very frustrating to find a job.  I was recently talking to a new grad that said she was having a horrible time finding a job.  It seemed to her that every position she found posted in the paper or on the internet was requiring 1-2 years of experience.  However, after talking to her a bit more, I found that she was really selling her self short.  She had a ton of hands on experience from her training at school and great volunteer experience.  My suggestion to her was to highlight all of these transferable experiences and skills on her cover letter and resume.  She was employed within a few weeks.

You may not be aware, but there is a recession going on out there.  This makes me wonder why I am still hearing stories every day about people showing up to job interviews in a sweatshirt or a baseball cap, or as I wrote about earlier in the week, texting at work.  To survive in this job market whether you have a job, or you are out looking for one, you have to be at the top of your game.  In an employer’s market stepping even one toe out of line can cost you your job or getting hired because there is a line of people just waiting to take your place.  Today I am going to start a series on being at the top of your game in a recession.  Let’s start by taking a look at your Cover Letter and Resumes.  For better or worse, your Cover Letter and Resume are your first impression.  It is imperative that these items be impeccable.

Your Cover Letter should be personalized to each position you apply for and comprised of four basic sections:

1. The first section should state why you are sending in your resume and/or what position you are applying for.
2. Section two should cover why you would be a good fit for the company.  You should cover all of the skills and abilities that you bring to the table that would make you a good hire.
3. The third section should contain your call to action when and how you will follow up on you submission.  Expert tip: If you say you are going to call on Thursday, do it!  It is too early in the game to look unreliable.
4. The last section is your closing.  Make sure you keep it professional.

Once you have perfected your cover letter, it is time to take another look at your resume.  Unfortunately, there is no black or white way to do a resume, but here are a few tips that may be of help:

1. Ditch that old Objective: I am not a big fan or resume Objectives; instead I love to see a Skill Summary or Professional Summary.  It is a great way to focus on what you have to offer.
2. Keep your resume accomplishment driven.  Employers love to see what you have accomplished in your previous positions because this is a good indicator of what you will be able to achieve for them.
3. Watch out for grammatical and spelling errors.  Nothing can get your resume thrown out quicker than having a ton on mistakes on your resume.  Have two or three people check your resume read it over before sending it out.

Follow these steps and you will on your way to having a great Cover Letter and Resume!