A follow on to what Alan briefly mentioned:
Cover letter. This is absolutely important. This is what gets you the
interview. The resume will be glanced at, and checked to make sure you have
the experience to back up your application. The cover letter will get you the
interview (and sometimes the job).
Back in March, I needed a new gig, and was searching far and wide for
something. I came across an ad (an ad! in the internet! that NEVER works!),
for what sounded like a kick ass position that was just perfect for me. Not
in Phoenix tho but it was telecommute (even better).
I spent 2 days trying to track down info company and its founders, asked
everyone I knew if they knew anyone with contacts there. No dice. So I sat
down, and wrote a cover letter. I spent a few hours on it, then had a friend
look over it, and help me correct it so that it said what I wanted it to say
(instead of what I thought it said). Once it said what I wanted, I had my
wife rip it to shreds (shes doing the PhD thing, she is a scary editor).
Another hour or two and it was ready to send.
I emailed it, with an attached resume on a thursday. Over the weekend I went
to Las Vegas for a friend's wedding. On monday morning I had a response,
wednesday I had an interview (phone - I prefer face), and by the following
Friday I had an offer (contract). And started working Monday morning.
I really feel like if I hadn't taken the time to research the company as much
as possible, and write a cover letter that absolutely fit, that my email would
have been glanced at, and ignored.
If all you have are job postings, then you really need to work to make
yourself stand out.
Also, I recommend you read a book called "What Color is Your Parachute?" The
libraries should have it if funds are tight. Lots of very good advice, not
just for getting the interview, but the interview itself, salary negotiation, etc.
Alan Dayley spoke forth with the blessed manuscript:
> Joseph said many things that I wanted to say on this topic. Let me add
> another voice to his.
>
> Joseph Sinclair said:
> > I have a few general comments on the topic.
> > 1) A lot of entry-level people list too many skills. Some experienced
> > people do the same thing. List your top 4-10 skills very simply. Try to
> > make sure the skills you do list match the job you're applying for. That
> > means you'll generally customize the resume to each position, rather than
> > sending out the same generic resume every time. Since you're customizing
> > the resume for each application, make sure it's clear you aren't faking
> > things. Make sure your job history is essentially identical, with only
> > skills listed and similar minor items changing.
>
> I agree but even would go further. Every resume you send must be tailored
> to match the job you are applying for. Every one. The only time they
> will exactly match for two different positions is if the job description
> is exactly the same.
>
> How can you do this and why? Before you send the resume and cover letter
> you should have already researched the company. Everything you can know
> about their products, their market, there strengths and weaknesses.
> Everything you know about the position. All of this knowledge shows that
> you really want the job and that you are willing to work to get it. And
> that knowledge needs to show in the cover letter and the tailored resume
> to that company and that position.
>
> Yes, you should have more "general" resumes to give out when you don't
> know what the distination company or position is. Like to give to friends
> to hand out. But, if you know the company and the position, change the
> resume to highlight the experiences, training, whatever that matches that
> company and that position. It's work. Do it.
>
> > 2) This is more for experienced people, but it might apply. Some people
> > have a gap in employment, it's a good idea to address this directly,
> > either by listing what happened during that time as a "position" (i.e. a
> > sabbatical, independent work, etc...) or by listing it as a time spent on
> > personal growth or family support, if applicable. Basically, don't just
> > leave an unexplained gap, if you can explain it without revealing anything
> > too personal. Try to make your explanation fit within an overall career
> > plan.
>
> Good advice.
>
> > 3) Don't be afraid to pursue the offbeat opportunities. There's a good
> > Blog at (http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/index.rdf) called "Notes
> > From The Toolshed" by Matthew Moran, where you can find more on this
> > topic. He also has a good book out, "The IT Career Builder's Toolkit:
> > Your Complete Guide To Building Your Technology Career In Any Economy",
> > that you may find very enlightening.
>
> I'll have to look into that book, thanks.
>
> > 4) Don't be afraid to really pursue opportunities you do find. If you
> > think there's a good fit between a company's need and your skill, then go
> > after it. It's very hard to do this, I know, but you'd be surprised how
> > much it can improve your success rate if you do the really hard things
> > that others are unwilling to do.
>
> Exactly. As I said in point 1: Do your homework. What if, in your cover
> letter, you described a hypothetical problem that that company and that
> position would have to solve. And hinted at a good solution. And then
> asked to get an interview to discuss this solution?
> - You just showed you know the things the company does.
> - You just showed you can imagine the problems that must be solved.
> - You just showed you can create problems and sell the solution.
> - You just showed you did your homework and you want the job.
>
> Most people do not make this extra effort. It will help you stand out.
>
> > 5) Don't expect to get a position by sending in a resume for an ad, you're
> > more likely to find work through a personal contact than through an ad.
>
> You must network. No, not string CAT 5 cable around. Network with
> people, on the phone, everywhere you can. Don't ask for jobs, ask if they
> know of a job.
>
> "The opposite of networking is not working."
>
> Every good job that I was happy to do came from knowing someone who knew
> of the job. That is all but one position in my career.
>
> > 6) Everyone has trouble getting a resume that companies respond to. A lot
> > of this is because companies are really ineffective at hiring technology
> > professionals; mostly, I think, because the hiring process is geared to
> > business types (aggressive, managerial or sales background,
> > people-oriented, etc...), and technologists rarely fit that mold.
>
> HR looks for buzz words. Use them. But ONLY use them if you can back it
> up with actual knowledge and experience. HR may not know what Java or
> cron means but if the hiring manager said he needs that and your resume
> doesn't say that, you will not make it to the interview.
>
> > 7) Keep trying. It is hard work, and it may take a long time, but you'll
> > never get that dream job if you give up.
>
> Take the "OK" job to earn money while you keep looking for the dream job.
> I did that for a while once. It's better than wondering how to buy
> groceries.
>
> > 8) Kudos for asking this question. I've seen a lot of people go for years
> > with a resume that wouldn't land a job at a cannery, all because they
> > weren't willing to ask for review and advice. The most effective job
> > seekers I've met have everyone they can review their resume. They get
> > more feedback, which helps improve the document, and on rare occasions the
> > person looking it over might know of an opportunity for which you're a
> > perfect fit.
>
> A really agree with this but also caution to be careful. My father was a
> certified resume writer (http://www.nrwa.com/index.htm) before he retired.
> Resume formatting and wording standards change regularly. Find someone
> like an HR person or a certified resume writer to tell you about format,
> wording and such technical details. Take all the other people's input
> about content, ease of reading, look, first impressions and that kind of
> stuff.
>
> One final resume tip from my tired brain: Use action verbs. Always. Your
> resume should never have "is" or "was" or "worked on" or "did." It should
> have "created" and "solved" and "designed" and "planned" and "deployed."
> Action and energy should explode off the page. It also shows involvement
> and that you care about what you have accomplished.
>
> Hope that helps a bit too.
>
> Alan
>
>
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