In the world of job hunting, your first line of defense is your cover letter and resume. If you want to be part of a competitive sector, you must have the most comprehensive resume to get the competitive edge. But how can you do it if you do not have enough professional experience in your credentials? The solution is to include your volunteer work in your resume and cover letter. Here’s how…
An increasing number of professionals today are trying to change careers or have found themselves let go later on in their careers. With the budgets being cut everywhere, and competition fierce due to the ongoing recession, companies can no longer support their staff. There are several negative factors that continue to add unnecessary stress to the already difficult jobs that professionals perform. When job searching in your industry after 50, things may be a little difficult but with a little planning and research, it is possible to get your career in the right direction.
Given below are the top 10 job search tips for professionals over 50:
1. Cast a Wide Net – Evaluate your skills and your experience to reinvent yourself and redirect your skills to the appropriate industry. Don’t limit yourself to the tried and tested fields when there are so many alternative career choices available for professionals today. 2. Focus on Smaller Companies
When you begin searching for a new job, many of those around you will be quick to tell you that one of the most important aspects of landing a job is your resume. They will give you advice on how your resume should be current, captivating, honest and unique. Although they will tell you these things, people often forget to tell you what you should avoid when writing your resume.
In our struggling economy, the competition for getting a job is usually fierce. To maximize your chances at getting the job you desire, you have to possess an outstanding resume. Nothing mediocre will work effectively. Uniqueness is the key in creating an exceptional resume
Presentation: The first thing someone will notice about your cover letter before they even read the content is how it looks. Your letter should be typed and use a standard font size and style. Although you may want to show your expertise with writing, getting overly extravagant is not professional. Print the letter off on resume bond paper that matches your resume. Make sure you have a matching envelope. Attention to detail is important. Keep a copy on your computer so you can adjust it to each position you apply for. Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation
When applying for a job, many people wonder whether a cover letter is really necessary. A cover letter is your first form of introduction, and provides an introduction for your resume as well. A cover letter is, therefore, essential when applying for any job. People often ask the questions “why can’t I just post or email my resume or application form and let it speak for itself?” “Is it really necessary to include a cover letter?” The answer to this last question is “yes”. You really do need a cover letter.
Those in the know say a first impression of someone is formed within 4-8 seconds. Even more scary is the prospect that once that first impression is formed, it’s very unlikely to change. If the chair of the selection committee opens your resume and discovers that you haven’t bothered to include a cover letter, it’s very possible that your application will end up in the recycling bin. Here are some helpful tips
Although most resumes today are sent via electronic mail or done in Microsoft Word or PDF, using written and printed resumes is still important particularly when attending job fairs, performing walk – in applications, bringing them to your scheduled job interview, or simply when distributing it within your network of contacts. Just like with your digital resume, it is important for your paper resume to make use of the design elements in a very effective manner to make it more visually appealing. With a more well designed resume, you can increase your chance of it being read and eventually getting the chance for an interview where you can personally sell or promote yourself to the company you are interested in working. Here are some basic tips on how you can use effective design elements to make your resume more visually appealing. Above all else, you need to consider…





