Standing Out From the Crowd: The Cover Letter & Resume

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First impressions are always important, especially when communicating with potential employers. And in today’s crowded job market, many job seekers may only have the one chance to be noticed--their resume and cover letter.
 
But at a time when the national unemployment rate is just under 10 percent, how can a young professional job hunter stand out in a sea of qualified applicants with only two pages?
 
Taking a little extra time and effort towards customization and attention to detail may help a cover letter and resume rise to the top of the pile, experts told YPNation.
 
Greg Arendt is the director of global talent acquisition for Kelly Services, Inc., a global staffing and consulting firm based in Troy, Mich. Arendt’s diverse experience in the recruiting industry ranges from hiring entry-level workers to CEOs.
 
In Arendt’s experience, the most common mistake job seekers of all ages make with cover letters and resumes is keeping them “very generic and not specific to the role.” In these situations, it is clear the candidates did not take the time or make the effort to edit the documents, Arendt said. Instead, cover letters and resumes should highlight skills tied into the particular job for which the person is applying.
 
Moreover, because many large organizations have aggressively scaled back corporate recruiting departments during the recession, recruiters have less time to review candidates’ applications, Arendt pointed out. A cover letter and resume have to be “specific and tailored to that position” to motivate a recruiter to contact a candidate and move him or her forward in the process, he said.
 
“Your resume has to speak for you in your absence loudly and clearly,” Arendt said.
 
When first applying for a position, a candidate should stick to the company's recommendations, Mary Harris, a Princeton, N.J.-based etiquette consultant, said. If the company is only accepting cover letters and resumes via e-mail, don’t fax or mail another copy.
 
If the documents are sent via e-mail, they should be sent as one attachment or the cover letter should be pasted into the body of the e-mail. The fewer the steps, the better, Harris said.
 
Technology has dramatically changed the job search process--beyond just being able to e-mail your pitch for employment. Many companies now use an online applicant tracking system. Recruiters use these to search keywords in applicant documents. While these systems and online applications may have diminished the impact of traditional cover letters, Arendt still believes they have a role.
 
Hallie Crawford, a career coach based in Atlanta, Ga., agreed. “[Cover letters] are still very important because they can highlight how you communicate and that you have effective communication skills,” Crawford said in an e-mail to YPNation.
 
A cover letter should never be longer than one page and it should briefly highlight information from one’s resume--bullet points are generally acceptable, as the letter can then be easily reviewed, Crawford said.
 
Recruiters’ preferences vary, of course, but the three things Arendt looks for in a resume are: what you did, who you did it for and how well you did it.
 
Arendt also prefers a chronological form resume to a functional form resume. A functional resume, which focuses on skills rather than chronological work history, “really doesn’t help you stand out as much as the chronological [resume],” he said. A job seeker should also separate his or her accomplishments from job responsibilities to avoid any confusion between the two and to underscore what you have achieved, Arendt said.
 
Crawford also emphasized the importance of accentuating one’s accomplishments on a resume.
 
“Make sure your bullet points underneath each job describe the impact you had or results you achieved at previous jobs, not just your duties,” Crawford said. “There’s a big difference — you need to show them why their hiring you would be a good decision.”
 
And if a young professional just starting out is lacking an extensive work history to detail on a resume, don't overlook extracurricular activities and educational background. These experiences have provided valuable skills, too. Taking the time to assess these and calling out those skills may separate a YP from other candidates that don’t take the time to do so, Arendt said.
 
Read more from YPNation on how to follow-up after your interview.
 
(Photo credit: woodleywonderworks; C.C. 2.0)