Hiring managers and HR managers get bombarded with resumes once a job vacancy is advertised so applying in the correct way is imperative if you want your application to stand out from the rest.  In a previous post we looked at how to get your resume noticed which is worth reading.  Today we look at 5 things you could do in order to champion your cause for the job when applying by email.

                                                                                                                                                    1. Find out the name of the person who is recruiting for the role.

As with any job application you should try to find out who is the person that is hiring for the job.  It could be the HR manager or a different hiring manager but either way make the effort to find out.  A good way to find out the person’s name is to call reception and explain that “as a matter of professional courtesy I want to address the person correctly rather than sending a bland, to whom it may concern email”, or words to that effect.

                                                                                                                                                   2. Use the body of the email to briefly explain your credentials for the role.

The body of your email should take the role of a short cover letter.  This should be no longer than 2 paragraphs and include the key factors that make you a strong candidate for the job.

                                                                                                                                                   3. Ensure the subject line of the email is correct.

To grab the attention of whoever is hiring for the job make sure you take the opportunity to use the subject line of the email to your advantage.  If you are applying for a role as a senior engineer and have 8 years experience for example, and you are available immediately then your subject line should be something like : “Engineer with 8 years experience, available immediately for senior engineer vacancy.”

                                                                                                                                                   4. Provide clear contact information.

While contact information will be on your resume, make sure to use your email to notify him/her what number to be used when contacting you during business hours. It can also pay dividends to make the HR manager /hiring manager aware of your availability for interview in your email.

                                                                                                                                                   5. Send yourself a test email to check formatting.

If you have another email account or access to an email account of a family member send a test email to see how it comes across, in terms of formatting and style.

                                                                                                                                                    If your resume is being sent as an attachment make sure it is saved with the appropriate name such as “John Smith Resume for senior engineer role with Sample Company Ltd” or similar and if you haven’t already read the post how to write cover letters that grab the recruiters attention then take a minute to read it.

In a corporate environment a company’s business plan is the most important document to help the company achieve their goals, it is their blueprint to success, likewise for job applicants a resume holds the same position of importance so taking the time to improve your resume whenever possible will be to your advantage.

The tips I outline in this post are to ensure your resume gets noticed favorably, if your resume is littered with resume mistakes then your resume will get noticed, but for all the wrong reasons unfortunately.

1) Personalize your resume for the role.

It is very important for job applicants to personalize their resume for the exact role they are applying for, this opportunity should not be missed.  While some job seekers may think it a time consuming task it is one that will bring a better chance of getting interviewed as opposed to sending out resumes with a “one size fits all” approach.  If you are applying for a job where sales experience is emphasized in the job description then you should tailor your resume accordingly focusing on your experience in sales.

Demonstrate achievements you reached such as ” top sales consultant 2 out of 3 years“, or “over-achieved on my sales target 3 out of my 4 years” and similar statements, that will catch the hiring manager’s eye.  Of course it is vital that you only include accurate statements in your resume.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2) Perfect the language and tone in your resume and cover letter.

Powerful action statements work well in resumes so rather than using bland statements in your resume have them littered with action verbs to catch the attention of the hiring manager.  If you are applying for a role as a team leader for example you could use a line like, “I addressed the issue of absenteeism by formulating a training program to ensure that staff members were appropriately trained to work with the new technology that was being introduced, since then  absenteeism has improved by 75%.” 

Be vivid in your descriptions, without using in-house jargon, and provide examples to back your statements up.

3) Keywords are king.

In modern times computers can sometimes be used to filter through appropriate resumes and inappropriate resumes, so ensure your resume is rich on keywords that are relevant to the job without going overboard with them. 

If keywords are used too often the computer may consider the resume to be spam rather than a genuine application.

4) Brevity is best.

Keep your resume to between 1 and 2 pages, you want your resume to catch the attention of the hiring manager so keep your resume brief and avoid gimmicky resumes, resumes on plain white paper with regular font will have a far better chance of being read.

5) Ensure your cover letter addresses the hiring manager by name.

Generic “to whom it concerns” applications don’t carry the same weight as a tailored cover letter such as “Dear Mr Jones” or “Dear Dave”, traditionally you would address the hiring manager by last name but it is becoming far more acceptable to address him by first name nowadays, the choice is yours. 

If you are unsure of who the hiring manager is then simply call the company and enquire as to who he/she is, if they ask you why you need this information, be honest and tell them that you are sending a resume in and out of courtesy would like to address him/her by his/her name.

Taking the time to do an overview of your resume before sending it to employers will be time well spent, one simple error in your resume may be enough for the hiring manager to ignore your application so keep the tips provided in this post in mind as you prepare your resume for each position, and don’t be surprised if your interview ratio begins to increase.

Cover letters play an important role in trying to secure a new job. Your resume will showcase your experience but your cover letter will provide you with an opportunity to impress upon the hiring manager the reasons why you want the job along with your suitability for the position. Your cover letter should not be a complete sales pitch as you run the risk of sounding desperate but it should leave the hiring manager with enough information to make him/her very interested in your resume itself.

As with any document you will send to prospective employers you need to ensure that your cover letter is error free, the right length and does not include any inappropriate remarks, the following outline will give you an overview of what information you should include in it.

1) Specify the job title that you are applying for.

The hiring manager could have a number of vacancies that he/she is looking to fill so leave him/her in no doubt by including the job title in your opening remarks.

2) Briefly outline your experience in relation to the role.

Be wary not to make this too long but do add a line or two that demonstrates to the hiring manager that you have the required experience for the job.

3) Make mention of any awards or formal qualifications that might enhance your application.

If the job specification mentions that a degree or some form of higher education would be beneficial then use your cover letter to verify that you have this qualification, similarly if you any industry-related awards then refer to them in your cover letter.

4) Clarify your contact details.

Though your contact information will be on your resume it is no harm to specify on your cover letter how you wished to be contact so include something along the lines of “to contact me during business hours please call my cell phone, in the evening I can be contacted either on my home phone or my cell phone”.

5) Refer to the reasons why the job is of interest to you.

As you come to the end of your cover letter grab the chance to explain (in a quick sentence) the reason why this role appeals to you.

6) Thank the hiring manager.

End your cover letter with a courteous appreciation to the hiring manager for taking the time to review your application and encourage him/her to contact you if he/she has any questions about your application.

Your cover letter should indicate to the hiring manager that you are an enthusiastic, professional candidate, with strong communication skills and provide a favorable first impression on your behalf. if you haven’t already done so then it is worth your while reading a previous post how to write cover letters that grab the recruiters attention.

10 Common Spelling Errors Found On Resumes

Considering the importance the role of a resume takes in attempting to gain an interview there is nothing as infuriating for recruiters than when they receive resumes and cover letters that contain spelling errors.

Spelling mistakes display a lack of preparation, poor attention to detail and can dissuade employers from even wanting to interview you. This list of 10 of the most common spelling errors will hopefully assist you in creating a compelling cover-letter and an error-free resume.

Correct Spelling        Incorrect Spelling

Indispensable            My sales skills have been “indespensable” …

 
Correspondence        I include my business card for future “corresspondance”…

 
Accommodate            I will be happy to “accommadate” any queries…

 
Management              I seek a ”managment” role to continue my career growth… 

 
Separate                     My references are attached as a “seperate” document…

 
February                     Commenced employment in “Febuary”…

 
Occasion                     There was an “ocassion” when…

 
Necessary                    Should more information be “necessery”… 

 
Correspondence         For future “corraspondence”… 

The time you take checking and ensuring that your resume is free of spelling mistakes may prove to be time well spent indeed, so double-check everything before you send your application forward.

Cover letters are a vitally important part of the job application process, and all too often job-hunters spend so much time worrying about their resume that they overlook their cover letter which is, in essence, another page of their resume.

Cover letters should always be tailored to the position you are applying for, they should not mimic what you have in your resume instead provide a short outline of why you want the job and what makes you the ideal candidate for the job.

You should begin your letter with a warm introduction announcing how you came across the posting and how it interests you. You should declare why you think you are a suitable applicant, and explain the reasons why you want the job. Explaining why you want the job is very important as it provides an opportunity for you to personalize your application.

Cover letters should be short, certainly never exceed one page. The best way for you to display why you are a suitable candidate for the job is to list the main requirements from the job specification and then highlight your experience in relation to them, see below for example:

The candidate must have excellent presentation skills.

I am a vastly experienced sales presenter who is regularly called upon to provide advice in Sales Monthly, the industry-leading magazine.

The candidate must have 5 years sales management experience.

I have been Team-Leader in our sales division for the last 6 years,over that period I have expanded the sales team from 11 to 26 employees and successfully led the sales team to achieve their annual sales-targets for the last 5 years.

A good cover letter should be short enough for the recruiter to easily digest, yet show enough information to make your resume become of extreme interest, so focus on your cover letter and get a head-start over other applicants.