Incorporate quotes into your resume and cover letter to really make your documents stand out. When an employer writes an annual review, develops a letter of recommendation for you, or even sends a nice compliment on your work, make sure you file it away for future use.
These comments can be powerful tools to help you stand out amongst other candidates. You will be able to extract quotes and testimonials and incorporate them into your resume and cover letter. When a person in charge of hiring reads these quotes, it shows that your skills are concrete and you have, in fact, been an asset to past companies or organizations.
Where to Place Quotes
The best spots to place these quotes in a resume are either after your areas of expertise or at the end of the document. You can also put them in other areas of the resume to fill up extra space. Just make sure that you use them sparingly (perhaps one or two per document) and that they do not look awkward or out of place.
The testimonial from a past employer or co-worker should be put in quotation marks and italicized, followed by a dash, the person’s name, rank, and place of work (all in regular lettering). To make the lines stand out even further, use light background shading. You don’t want the testimonials to detract from your solid credentials and experience but serve as a nice complement to your resume.
Make certain the quotes you use are fairly up-to-date. It’s better to use something from the past few years as opposed to 20 years ago. Also, if you have many different quotes to choose from, find one or two that are the most relevant to the position you’re applying for.
For example, if you’ve recently switched careers, going from sales representative to finance, find a testimonial that portrays your leadership, analysis, and customer service skills.
Which Quotes to Choose
Finally, if more than one individual has provided you with the material you can reference, it’s better to choose a quote from a person who has a higher position within the organization or directly supervised you. For example, it’s more fitting that you use a testimonial from a manager directly above you or a supervisor instead of a co-worker who works in the same position you do.
A quotation or testimonial can be highly effective in selling your skills and experience to employers. This is because normally, in a resume and cover letter, you are the one speaking on your own behalf.
If you incorporate a testimonial from a past supervisor, you have someone else speaking on your behalf that is an authority figure—which speaks much louder than your own words. This makes having quotes and testimonials extremely effective.
Need additional help? Reach out to Candace to learn more!
