Looking for a new job? You need to grab the attention of the hiring manager, so a top-notch resume and cover letter is a must. Keep in mind the competition is stiff: the average manager reviews dozens of resumes that have already been winnowed down from the hundreds reviewed by the HR Manager. An online job distributions and job board services, have analyzed over three million resumes and cover letters in database. According to their analysis, here’s what you need to know to catch the hiring manager’s eye.
Manners Matter
Believe it or not, including a simple “thank you for your consideration” in the cover letter increases your chances of getting an interview by 29 percent. Hiring managers are looking for job candidates that understand business etiquette, and saying thanks is the bare minimum for them to consider your job application. After all, if you don’t say “thank you” during the application process, how likely are you to be gracious once you’re hired? In all your dealings with potential employers, be sure to exhibit impeccable manners.
Don’t Make It All about You
Cover letters that contained too much “me” focus, using words such as “myself” too often, turned off potential employers. Moreover, cover letters that placed an emphasis on words like “learning” and “develop” created a perception that the candidate was overly focused on career growth. Cover letters that highlighted a candidate’s interest in contributing to the company from day one were rated more highly by managers. As you write your cover letter, focus on the benefits you will bring to the employer.
Keep it Positive and Powerful
Managers who reviewed resumes were drawn to words that evoked an image of a confident and positive job candidate, such as “development,” “experience” and “management.” By contrast, resumes that pointed to challenges in a negative light such as the word “hard” were rated poorly, most likely due to the less-than-positive perception those words create. After you’ve written your resume, give it to the most upbeat person you know and ask them if it creates a positive impression.
Resume Length is Important
While there is no hard-and-fast rule about which resume length is best, there are still general guidelines. The rule of thumb for job seekers is based on tenure: the longer you’ve been in the workforce, the more acceptable it is to have a lengthier resume. For example, one page resumes are suggested for people with less than 10 years of experience. Another helpful benchmark: analysis found that managers tended to most favorably rank resumes with word counts between 600 and 700 words in length. Be sure your resume adequately highlights your experience, but doesn’t overwhelm the reader. Remember, your goal is to secure an interview, at which time you’ll be able to fill in the details of your experience. The best cover letters and resumes paint a positive picture of what you can bring to your potential employer, and do so with courtesy. Use these four tips to help bring your work experience to life and create an “I have to interview this person!” reaction from hiring managers.
Author Bio: Christine Bourne is a professional editor, consultant and author of many posts in custom essay writing service. She has experience with consulting not only students who simply can’t find inspiration and examples to fulfill their task. She also writes for many other publications and has experience in any topics.
