1. Send your resumes to as many places as possible to increase your chances of getting hired.  They do no good stuck in your computer or stacked on your desk.  It’s a matter of odds.  The more resumes you distribute, the more potential employers have it and the better your chances of setting up an interview that can lead to a position.

2. Don’t send the same generic resume to every employer.  Do your homework and understand what each company you are applying to is actually looking for in an employee, then adjust your resume to fit that description as much as possible.  Remove any extraneous information and include targeted details that make you appear to be just the employee they need.

3. Don’t forget the cover letter.  A resume without a cover letter is like a book without a binding.  A cover letter persuades a potential employer to actually read your resume.  Find out exactly who is in charge of hiring so your resume is directed to the proper person.  A cover letter is your introduction and your first impression.  Make sure it is a good one and above all, let your resume speak for itself. Don’t include the details in the cover letter.

4.  Be sure to follow up your submission with a phone call.  Going that extra mile can make all the difference in your success. Find out the name of the person in charge of hiring and the phone number.  If a few days pass without hearing from an employer, take the initiative and call him.  You might be able to arrange an interview when you do.

5. Double up your chances.  If you are sending your resume by email, then mail or drop off a hard copy of it as well.  If you are mailing or dropping off your resume, then send it by email as well.  This way it is twice as likely that a potential employer will review your resume and doubles your chances of receiving that all important call to arrange an interview.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 3:42 am and is filed under Resume Help. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.