Resume/Cover Letter Advice; HELP!!?

Question

My resume starts off with my objective. “To obtain a challenging position where I can benefit the company by professionally handling all assigned duties and grow in responsibilities as needed." After that I feel that it falls short of what I am trying to convey, I list my skills and education, and then finally my brief relevant work history... I read somewhere that an interviewer or someone who is hiring someone- only takes 15 seconds or less to review a resume and if they don’t see anything that catches their attention- it gets trashed... WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY RESUME EYE-CATCHING? How do I reinstate everything in my resume for an effective and good cover letter that will get me an interview...

Answer 1

Ok, the way that you make your resume "eye-catching" is to read the ad and use the same terminology in your resume.

The first thing you need to remember is that your resume is generally read by the least qualified employee in that organization. I have seen companies that use receptionists to evaluate resumes. They don't understand the job that needs filled, and they sure as heck don't understand how you do your job. You have to spell it out for them. If the ad requests IBM PC experience, you better have IBM PC listed on your resume. The ad says WAN experience, they better see WAN experience on the resume.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that the person evaluating your resume understands it, a lot of times they don't.

Don't use fancy fonts, graphics, paper or borders. Most resumes are scanned these days and those "eye-catching" extras only make it more difficult for screening software to read your resume.

Your objective is way too long, and way too vague. Also, you need to mention the EXACT title of the job applying for in your objective. From reading yours I have no idea what you are qualified to do, none. Are you a janitor? Or an Executive? I don't know from your objective. Here is an example of an excellent Objective: "To obtain a rewarding Executive Assistant position with a large company that will offer me the opportunity to utilize my existing professional skills, while learning the Construction industry."

Try to keep it short, dialed in and to the point, those are the resumes recruiters & managers respond to.

***edit***

As to cover letters, yes they are very important, but they are never read first! The more resumes a position receives, the lower the odds that your cover letter will be read first. The first step in reading resumes is too quickly (and I mean quickly) scan for "keywords". These are the terms, skills, equipment experience that is listed in the job ad. If you have the experience and don't specifically list it on the resume, they will never read your cover. But do send one, a well-crafted, non "templatey" cover letter will only help you. And in some companies, no cover, or a poorly written, generic cover will get your resume tossed in a second.

Answer 2

Cover letter should have a little punch as this is what they will see first. You want them curious and interested in reading your resume.

Example:
Are you looking for a dynamic, motivated self starter with a professional attitude and great customer relation skills? Then look know further....

Also spruce up your resume a bit - Use resume builder software. You might have one installed on your computer already.
Change from the traditional font or add a mild thin border etc. and please use a spellchecker too It is very important when trying to impress some one you have never met

Answer 3

K>I>S>S (keep it simple stupid) sorry for the translation but in short there are 2 things to remember, appearance and sell.

You want you resume to come across as clean and straight to the point but you also want to sell yourself well.

I see hundreds of resumes all different styles and such, those that get me frosted are spelling errors( that's why we have spell check) in proper use of indentations and bolts (* >) and lack of relevant details(what you can do for me, and gaps in employment history. I once interview a Mom that had be at home for several years raising her family on her resume for those years she listed her job duties... cook, councillor, financial supervisor and so much more! Now I don't advise you go that far but It made me laugh and she got an interview.

Answer 4

Leave your objective to the last paragraph, start with your details, name address, contact details NO PHOTOGRAPH, this often gives the whole department a laugh.

Next, qualifications & experience

Then objective, hobbies, something that shows what kind of a person you are, a bookworm, exercise nut, etc.

Keep it short and sweet, definately no longer than 2 A4 pages at the most.