Cover Letters: Get their attention!

Creating a strong and accomplished resume is crucial in order for your job application to be successful.  However, many job seekers underestimate the importance of a well accompanied cover letter. Employers receive large numbers of applicant resumes and each are scanned through in a matter of seconds. In all cases they are swiftly examining whether your experience and skills match what they have outlined as requirements in the position description.

In order to maximise potential success it may be useful to consider these rudimentary yet often unheeded guidelines.

Customise and stylise

Your cover letter should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for rather than a generic recycled template. Explain why you are interested in that company and how your skills are applicable and relevant. If possible find a specific contact to address it to so you can avoid standard greetings such as “To whom it may concern.”

Mention referrals

If you were connected or introduced to the company through an employee at the company or mutual contact you should include this in your cover letter. Make sure, however, that you seek permission from that person before name dropping.

Don’t repeat your resume

While you should be referencing and highlighting applicable strengths on your resume it should not be a direct copy. Instead expand and discuss your experience to tie-in with what you believe to be the vision, strategy and operation needs of the organisation. 

 

Address potential weaknesses

Address any items on your resume that may be considered ‘red flags’ and give explanations to avoid any issues that may give potential employers pause in considering your application. For example, gaps in employment due to maternity leave.

 

Keep it brief & proof read

Employers  and professional recruiters are busy and often have many applications to filter through. Having a concise and succinct cover letter will increase the likelihood of it being read. As a general rule, keep cover letters to one A4 page.

It goes without saying that proof reading is essential, as poor spelling and grammar will deter any employer, no matter how skilled you might be. It demonstrates carelessness in that you didn’t proof-read the letter, nor do you know how to use Spellcheck. Beware of misspellings that will not be picked up by Spellcheck, such as “Exiting New Development." Take the time to read through your cover letter, edit as necessary and maybe ask a friend to review it before submitting!

Starting a career blog – to blog or not to blog?

‘To blog or not to blog, that is the question!’

Blogging is rapidly emerging as a great new way to advance your career. Blogs have become a ritual reading, an indication of a person’s professional reliability and at the very least an opportunity to have your name on the internet other than on a Facebook account. As the saying goes ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. With the added bonus of introducing you to a whole new circle, establishing a strong base of professionals who read your articles frequently and can be beneficial to you, and your career.

When’s a good time to start blogging?

There is no time like the present!

• You will be giving the readers a chance to read about your journey and connect with you throughout your career- if you keep them interested that is.
• Taking this initiative looks great on a resume!

Whether you’re a freshly graduated professional or have been employed for a while, everyone has experienced situations similar to yours and there is always going to be someone else who is experiencing what you’re going through. Blogging will become a source of comfort for your readers, although be sure to follow our guidelines to prevent anything career damaging from ending up on the internet!

Establish Yourself

Showing readers that you’re a reliable source is how you strengthen the degree of respect that’s associated with your name, and subsequently this could open up avenues for media sources to contact you- a little publicity never hurt anyone. For example, if you’re an early career Allied Health Professional, writing material relating to current issues in the field is one way of establishing yourself and giving yourself some credibility when you walk into your next interview.

Passion

Be passionate about the topics you blog. The more engaged you are with the content, the more engaged the reader will be.

A blog is not the same thing as a personal diary:

• If you are relaying personal experiences, make sure it still has something of value. Ask yourself, how would my readers benefit from reading this?
• Though you are dealing with social media, try to make sure your spelling, grammar and general flow of text allow readers to take you seriously.
• If you’re not the most creative and influential writer (you don’t have to be!) be sure to share your work with friends or colleagues before going live. This is especially helpful in identifying passages that don’t make sense to others, but that may seem perfectly normal to you.
• Be careful not to reveal any confidential information or inadvertently expose people.

Happy blogging!

10 Things Employers Never Read in a Resume

The average employer spends around six seconds reading over your resume before they make the decision whether to read on, or to throw it out. Even after they decide to read further through your resume, there are some sections that are unnecessary and won’t be read over. Here are the ten things an employer won’t read in your resume, and why keeping your resume short is better.   

1. A lengthy promotional paragraph

This will not attract an employer to read further as this will take much longer than six seconds. Instead, aim this section at the specific job you are hiring for.  For example, include the name of the company that was listed on the job description, how you would fit into that company, and what benefits you would bring them.

2. An ‘objective’ section

Employers generally aren't interest in reading what you want to do or where you want to go, but they want to know how you will fit into the job role and what relevant skills you can bring. If you do include this section, ensure that it is tailored correctly to the job you are applying for. 

3. Irrelevant experience/skills

An extremely detailed and extensive work experience or skills list might look amazing, but an employer will not commit the time to carefully examine this. Aim to only include those skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for to attract the employer’s attention. As an example, four years of labouring work experience will not help if you’re applying to become a podiatrist.

4. Unrelated and detailed responsibilities

Try to keep your responsibilities at previous jobs to a minimum (four dot points max per role) so you don’t discourage the employer from reading on. In addition, don’t include any responsibilities that are not related to the current job you are applying for.

5. Paragraphs

Although you may find it easier to express yourself in paragraph form and demonstrate your vocabulary skills, avoid using them. Dot points will attract interest to your resume as it is easier to read and the relevant information they are looking for is clearer. 

6. Extensive past work experience

An extensive work history looks fantastic if you’ve worked in a number of industries over a long period of time. However, unconnected past experience (especially those over ten years ago) do not need to be on a resume. This just adds more bulk and creates a less appealing read for an employer.

7. Chronological work experience

As a potential employer will only glance briefly at your resume, don’t put your previous work experience in chronological order. They have no interest in what you did over ten years ago and will not read this. Instead, present your work history in reverse chronological order showing your most recent role on the front page. 

8. An over share of personal information

It is always nice to include a small section at the end of a resume detailing your interests so that potential employers have a brief personal touch, but too much information is not wanted. As a rule, keep this information to no more than four hobbies. Sharing on a resume your favourite TV show or your passion for yoga will not help you get the job. 

9. Long cover letters

Some employers don’t even read cover letters, but it can be a worthwhile addition alongside your resume. Like your resume, short and simple is better. As a guide, aim for a cover letter no longer than one A4 page. A long cover letter is unlikely to get a second glance from an employer, so keep it concise and make sure it contains information that is specific to the job you are applying for. 

10. High school information

For anyone who has graduated from high school, this is unnecessary information. An employer doesn’t care what high school you attended, or how talented you were there. Avoiding this section will save space and make your resume smaller.

Writing a resume can be daunting, but following these ten tips will help to make it clear and concise. Keeping your resume short means an employer is more likely to read through it, and increases your chance of earning the role you are applying for. If you would like further information and advice on resume writing, please see our Resume Tips.

Standing Out in Competitive Applications

The entry level and graduate job markets are increasingly competitive with many graduates without work after university. As much as this is a daunting thought, there are ways of dealing with the extremely competitive environment. When it comes to filling a position, employers are looking for a range of skills and direct interest in addition to the qualification. Over the past couple of years companies have commented on poor job applications and the lack of employability skills among possible recruits: how they flunk at job interviews, lack the ability to take part in team work and have questionable communication skills. These are skills absent from many curriculum activities requiring graduates and others chasing competitive roles to show initiative in gaining additional skills to have their true talents noticed. Here are some tips to stand out from the crowd:

      Diversify your experiences

      Your qualification may not be enough to make your application stand out; but internships, volunteer work and work experience will expand and develop professional skills that are not typically taught at school. Employers see these points as an extra step you have taken to kick start your career in an area you are highly interested in.

      Tailor your resume and cover letter 

      Employers know when you are sending out a generic application. But applications that are specific to the job demonstrate your knowledge about the position and your initiative in researching more about the company.

    

      Research the company 

      Think of questions to ask your interviewer. Researching the company allows you answer questions in a way that relates to the company’s goals. In regards to asking them questions, there is nothing worse than saying “no” if they ask you whether there is anything you want to know about the interviewer or the company.  Saying “no” means you have missed the opportunity to make a positive impression on the employer by using the information you have obtained to summarise why you are the best candidate for the job and showing interest in the organisation.

        Make Networking your Hobby 

      It is important to build your professional community and connect with people within your industry. This includes past classmates, co-workers, association committees, university lecturers and tutors.  Networking will strengthen relationships, provide you with fresh ideas and expand your opportunities. Don’t forget to make clear what you are looking for and what you want to achieve, you never know when a like-minded professional has golden advice or a contact for you.