Career Advice: More Resume Help

[Ideal08]

If you already work for an organization, but want to post for another position, do you still need to submit a cover letter with your resume? And if you are meeting with the person to whom the resumes go, can you give it to them in person and tell them what position you are interested in?

[Eclipse]

Many organizations have a specific internal applicant procedure. For instance, in my current organization there is an "Internal Candidate Application" that a person complete and sends to the recruiter with his/her resume. If your organization does not have this kind of process I would do a cover letter just in case. Regarding who you give your resume to...Recuiters can get pretty ticked if they feel you are trying to go around the process and go directly to the hiring official. I would do the standard procedure (what every that is..electronic, in box, etc.) and then give a copy to the hiring official if we were cool with something like "I'm really interested in this postion. I've already applied for the position through HR, but I wanted to give you my resume as well."

[LADY_1908]

Ditto Eclipse on the submission process. Follow established procedures. If you go "outside the process" it could be held against you later.

I would advise including a cover letter. Often, that makes you stand out from other candidates. Also, you can use it as a tool to let the hiring manager know what makes you stand apart from the others.

Good Luck and please let us know what happens.

[btb87]

I agree with what's already been said! I would like to add my .08 worth though. I don't know if your "meeting" is an official interview or you just see the person in passing, but generally, if it is an official interview, chances are they will have already looked at your resume. It couldn't hurt to mention to the resume person (if you see them in passing and you feel that you can talk with them prior to the interview) that you are submitting/have submitted a resume for position A.

But as Lady_1908 and Eclipse have stated, definitely go thru the proper procedures. And I like the cover letter as well - just adds a bit of "umph" to the resume, especially if you can briefly add what you hope to bring to the position

Wish you the best!

[Ideal08]

I'm sitting up here adding a few finishing touches on my resume. I need help wording a sentence. Give me all of your ideas. Here is the deal:

I am currently a Lead Boarding Instructor. I was promoted this summer from being a Boarding Instructor. In my resume, after I list my new duties as LBI, I want to iterate that I still perform the same duties I did as a BI (which are also listed in the resume directly under the LBI position description). Here are a some that I have right now, but I don't like any them:

•Continue to perform previous duties as a Boarding Instructor
•Continue to perform duties as a Boarding Instructor
•Continue to perform other duties as assigned to the position of Boarding Instructor
•Maintain responsibilities as a Boarding Instructor

Y'all, please help me come up with something or tell me if I should keep one of the ones above.

[btb87]

Originally posted by Ideal08
I'm sitting up here adding a few finishing touches on my resume. I need help wording a sentence. Give me all of your ideas.
•Continue to perform other duties as assigned to the position of Boarding Instructor

How 'bout a little twist. . .

Continue to perform other duties as assigned as they pertain to the position of Boarding Instructor

just a thought. . .

[Ideal08]

What color paper is your resume on? I used to have mine on ivory paper. Then I used like a stonish-blue-grayish color. I've even used real light mint green. I want mine to stand out from the stack. And that's IF I mail it. I am the queen of emailing resumes and cover letters.

There's another question: do you email or snail mail your resume and cover letter?

I'm going to mail this next set. Something is telling me to do so, and I don't know why, but I'm going with my gut.

[darling1]

Originally posted by Ideal08
What color paper is your resume on? I used to have mine on ivory paper. Then I used like a stonish-blue-grayish color. I've even used real light mint green. I want mine to stand out from the stack. And that's IF I mail it. I am the queen of emailing resumes and cover letters.

There's another question: do you email or snail mail your resume and cover letter?

I'm going to mail this next set. Something is telling me to do so, and I don't know why, but I'm going with my gut.

Sorry for the late response. Regarding paper, I would go with ivory and the light mint green.

You send your resume according to what your prospective employer wants. If they want e-mail attachments only, that is what you do. If they say you can e-mail, fax or snail mail it. I would e-mail it then send a hard copy. Personally I don't trust faxing because it may not go to the right person. I have only faxed knowing that the person was expecting it.

When you e-mail, you can use an abridged version of your cover letter in the body of the e-mail. That is another way you can wow the organization. By using your full cover letter, you risk having it 2 pages and the reader losing interest. I got that bit from Martin Yale, Cover Letters that Knock 'em Dead.

I hope this helps

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by Ideal08
[BI am currently a Lead Boarding Instructor. I was promoted this summer from being a Boarding Instructor. In my resume, after I list my new duties as LBI, I want to iterate that I still perform the same duties I did as a BI (which are also listed in the resume directly under the LBI position description). [/B]

Another twist is to just list the LBI position with all of the duties and put "Promoted from BI month-year", so that there is a clear indication of progression.

I also would not worry about putting EVERYTHING you do on your resume. If there are some significant tasks from the BI list, include them under LBI, otherwise, you can share that in the interview.

I would just go with ivory paper, but it really depends on how "sophisticated" the prosepective. For instance, at a previous job all mailed resumes were scanned by an entry level person and filed. No one else saw the actual resume, so it really did not matter what kind of paper it was on. Before going with the green I would photocopy a page to see how it copies. Even if the company used resumes, there is a good chance copies will be made for other people and you want to make sure you don't have a lot of black smudges because the paper did not copy well.

[rho4life]

I've always used bond paper, b/c I heard that it makes your resume stand out from people who just use plain paper. However, I don't think weight is as important as it used to be, considering that so many jobs just want electronic versions. one thing to consider [ i learned this the hard way ] is turning you resume into a PDF file, rather than word or wordperfect. This ensures that when you email it and they open it, all your margins and symbols will remain the same. I emailed my resume to a firm that used a different word processing program, and when they opened it, the margins were jacked, and the simple blocks I was using for bullet points turned into freaky characters! I have also turned letters of reccomendation into PDF files so I can email them to prospective employers.

Good Luck with your hunt!!!!!

[Ideal08]

Thanks, everyone, for your advice and ideas!

I emailed one off the other day, but the position was already filled. If it's filled, PLEASE take it off of the website!! I snail-mailed three more today. I have more to get out there. I got copies of my resume and my CV. I also got some envelopes to match my resumes (not the CV because I don't send that out as much; I'll get envelopes as needed). I even broke down and bought a book on cover letters. Normally, I get one from the library or use a friend's, but I figure it's an investment. Needless to say, I spent a grip of money today at Kinko's. Hopefully, it will all pay off.

[darling1]

Originally posted by Ideal08
Thanks, everyone, for your advice and ideas!

I emailed one off the other day, but the position was already filled. If it's filled, PLEASE take it off of the website!! I snail-mailed three more today. I have more to get out there. I got copies of my resume and my CV. I also got some envelopes to match my resumes (not the CV because I don't send that out as much; I'll get envelopes as needed). I even broke down and bought a book on cover letters. Normally, I get one from the library or use a friend's, but I figure it's an investment. Needless to say, I spent a grip of money today at Kinko's. Hopefully, it will all pay off.

girl, it will pay off, keep the faith!!! hope ya got my e-mail..


back to bed

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by darling1
girl, it will pay off, keep the faith!!! hope ya got my e-mail..


back to bed

I did, and I printed out the info!! Thanks!!

[Ideal08]

Ok, so you are reading job postings. You notice that you have some of the qualifications, but not all. What do you do? Do you apply or no?

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by Ideal08
Ok, so you are reading job postings. You notice that you have some of the qualifications, but not all. What do you do? Do you apply or no?

You apply! Its been my experience that they are moreso a "guideline, so to speak".

For example, if they was someone with 10 years exp. and you've only got 7 years, I'd apply.