Your Job Search: Preparing Your Resume and Cover
Letter
by: AARP Org Source: AARP Org October 20, 2008
Regardless of your occupation, work history, or objective, you need a résumé in order to get a
job.
The handwritten application, in which you had to
squeeze the required information into very small boxes,
is largely out of use. Applying for a job today means
submitting an electronic résumé via the Internet or
completing an application form via a company’s Web
site or at a kiosk in the employer’s offices.
A résumé is mandatory if part of your job-search plan is
to place your application on file at an employer’s career
site or a job-posting board. Think of your résumé as a personal advertisement and request for
an interview.
General Portrayal of Age
Write your résumé to reflect a strongly positive and proud portrayal of your depth of capabilities
and talents. Make no attempt to mislead or misinform the reader about your age. Most résumés
require no more than 10 to 20 years of recent and relevant work history. Include earlier
positions if they show qualifications for the position of interest. Generally avoid or minimize use
of the word, "experience." Instead, emphasize capabilities, qualifications, and achievements—
not previous titles, duties, and length of service.
General Format and Appearance
Résumés should not exceed two pages for most occupations, though educators and some
professionals may require longer curricula vitae. Prepare your résumé in a standard word-
processing application, such as Microsoft Word, using a traditional, easily read font, such as
Arial or Times New Roman. Keep the text in a uniform font size of 10 or 11. Your name, section
headings, and employers’ names can be in a bold and in a somewhat larger font, perhaps 12 or
13. Avoid multiple fonts and excessive bolding, italics, and underlining.
The preferred résumé style for age-50+ workers combines a functional, qualification-based
format and a traditional, chronological work history.
Keywords
It is common for employers to scan résumés electronically to locate "keywords" that are specific
to the job in question. While a single, standard résumé is better than none, you should be
prepared to revise yours to the specific job of interest. Insert keywords taken from the employer’
s job ad or position description, including job titles, qualifications, knowledge, and skills.
Language
Choose language and words that convey activity, energy, and achievement. This is critical for
age-50+ job seekers. Active verbs and a clear depiction of contributions and achievements will
bring vitality and strength to your résumé. Use contemporary expressions and technical
wording, particularly language related to computer skills and knowledge.
OK, let’s construct a résumé…
Heading and Contact Information
Place your full name at the top center of the first page in a somewhat larger, bold font. Contact
information should include your residential address (city and state at a minimum); preferred
phone number (a mobile phone is strongly advised, so that you can respond immediately to
inquiries); and an e-mail address (select an e-mail address that sounds businesslike—your full
name or a variation on it would be best). If your résumé has multiple pages, put your name and
the page number at the top of each page.
Separate the heading section and all subsequent sections with a page-width horizontal line to
aid the reader.
Occupational or Career Objective
The first section of the résumé is a statement of occupational or career objectives, specifying
the industrial sector, profession, or occupation, and the level of responsibility (individual
contributor or supervisory/managerial). You can begin this section with a general title of your
occupation written in bold font, such as "Senior Computer Support Specialist," "Pharmacist,"
"Grocery Produce Department Manager" or "General Accountant." If you are pursuing an
occupational or professional change, or if you’re returning to the workforce following an
absence, explicitly state that fact in the objectives section.
Skills, Capabilities, and Qualifications
Present your critical or (especially for career changers) transferable skills, capabilities, and
qualifications in a bulleted format, limited to the 10 to 12 most important factors. You can tailor
these factors to the position sought. Cite specific knowledge, certifications, and credentials
(degrees, workshops, or seminars), technical capabilities (for example, computer skills),
personal attributes (leadership, organization, and interpersonal skills, an orientation toward
results, or the like), and industry-specific items. For example:
Staff Supervision – Effectively supervised groups of five to 15 employees in varied environments
This specific example of work history is vital to the person scanning your résumé. You can
briefly expand on each qualification or simply list the bulleted items.
Work History
In reverse-chronological order, list each employer (accounting for the most recent 10 to 20
years) including the employer’s name, a description of the enterprise, the city and state where
you had the job, calendar years of employment (you don’t need to include months), the most
senior job title achieved, accountabilities, primary activities, and achievements or notable
results. You can place the achievements and notable results in a bulleted list, but limit the
bulleted items to two or three.
You can consolidate other previous experience into a brief, general paragraph, such as
“Previous positions in (insert your occupation and industry).
Education, Training and Affiliations
Enter formal education, including the name of your school, its location, and your course of
study. You don’t need to put a graduation date unless it has been within the past 20 years. If
you did not complete a degree program from the school, note either "attended" or "completed
coursework." Formal education is often checked during background inquiries, and any
misrepresentation is likely to be discovered.
List any meaningful training in a bulleted list. This includes recognized, rigorous, and relevant
programs with a direct bearing on your occupational objective and qualifications. For example, if
you completed a bookkeeping course from an accredited institution, such as a community
college, or if you took a Microsoft Office certification classes. Don’t use this space for webinars
or seminars.
Finally, list certifications and occupational affiliations in a bulleted list. List memberships in any
associations relevant to your employment. These include, but are not limited to, organizations
like the Society of Human Resources Management, American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, and Society of Professional Journalists.
What Not to Put In
Do not include personal or family information. Include social and recreational activities only if
they have a bearing on the position of interest (for instance, a leadership position if you are
seeking a supervisory role, or if you have a hobby like camping, which would help you sell
outdoor gear). Do not include references or even mention their availability; that step comes
much later in the process. Do not include photos, colors, or insert graphic art.
Submitting Your Résumé
In general, you can submit your résumé by placing it on the prospective employer’s career Web
page. It may be necessary to cut and paste it to match their format. It may be necessary to
convert your Word-format document into plain-text format. Plain text is often required when
pasting résumé content into online forms and databases. Just copy the text from the Word
document and paste it into the notepad feature on your computer. Save the document as a ".
txt," or "text," file.
Cover Letters
Cover letters are often overdone. Their primary purpose is to provide a sample of your best
business writing skills and not to summarize your work history. Make every effort to address
your cover letter to an actual person. Try to get the correct name and title of the employer’s
contact. Your cover letter should not be longer one-half of one typed page.
If you were referred to the employer, be certain to mention the name of the person referring
you. This could be a current employee or a person the recruiter may know. Even if it is only
word of mouth, most recruiters will be favorably impressed to know you were inquiring about the
organization and that it enjoys a positive reputation.
A bad cover letter, one that is too lengthy, too boastful, or too desperate, will hurt you every
time.
Your cover letter should briefly but firmly state your interest in the employer and the position.
Highlight two or three items from your background that may catch the recruiter’s eye. Keep it
short and to the point. Don’t be reluctant to sell yourself. Show your enthusiasm for the job
while maintaining a businesslike tone in the cover letter. Display confidence in your capabilities
and in your belief that you are an ideal candidate for the position. The cover letter is an ideal
way to begin displaying your self-confidence.
When submitting online, make sure you upload or attach your résumé and cover letter as one
file. You can easily do this by pasting your résumé below your brief cover letter. Most
application-tracking systems only allow for a single document per applicant.
Before submitting or sending any material, proofread your résumé and cover letter several
times. Ask a friend or colleague to double-check them. Even one or two errors or typos can
derail your application.
If you still feel hesitant to attempt a cover letter, don’t worry. If you write a strong objective at the
top of your résumé, that should stand on its own merit. Most recruiters tell me they would rather
prefer a thoughtful, put-together résumé to an overdone cover letter.
http://www.aarp.org/money/work/articles/preparing_resume_cover_letter.html
Letter
by: AARP Org Source: AARP Org October 20, 2008
Regardless of your occupation, work history, or objective, you need a résumé in order to get a
job.
The handwritten application, in which you had to
squeeze the required information into very small boxes,
is largely out of use. Applying for a job today means
submitting an electronic résumé via the Internet or
completing an application form via a company’s Web
site or at a kiosk in the employer’s offices.
A résumé is mandatory if part of your job-search plan is
to place your application on file at an employer’s career
site or a job-posting board. Think of your résumé as a personal advertisement and request for
an interview.
General Portrayal of Age
Write your résumé to reflect a strongly positive and proud portrayal of your depth of capabilities
and talents. Make no attempt to mislead or misinform the reader about your age. Most résumés
require no more than 10 to 20 years of recent and relevant work history. Include earlier
positions if they show qualifications for the position of interest. Generally avoid or minimize use
of the word, "experience." Instead, emphasize capabilities, qualifications, and achievements—
not previous titles, duties, and length of service.
General Format and Appearance
Résumés should not exceed two pages for most occupations, though educators and some
professionals may require longer curricula vitae. Prepare your résumé in a standard word-
processing application, such as Microsoft Word, using a traditional, easily read font, such as
Arial or Times New Roman. Keep the text in a uniform font size of 10 or 11. Your name, section
headings, and employers’ names can be in a bold and in a somewhat larger font, perhaps 12 or
13. Avoid multiple fonts and excessive bolding, italics, and underlining.
The preferred résumé style for age-50+ workers combines a functional, qualification-based
format and a traditional, chronological work history.
Keywords
It is common for employers to scan résumés electronically to locate "keywords" that are specific
to the job in question. While a single, standard résumé is better than none, you should be
prepared to revise yours to the specific job of interest. Insert keywords taken from the employer’
s job ad or position description, including job titles, qualifications, knowledge, and skills.
Language
Choose language and words that convey activity, energy, and achievement. This is critical for
age-50+ job seekers. Active verbs and a clear depiction of contributions and achievements will
bring vitality and strength to your résumé. Use contemporary expressions and technical
wording, particularly language related to computer skills and knowledge.
OK, let’s construct a résumé…
Heading and Contact Information
Place your full name at the top center of the first page in a somewhat larger, bold font. Contact
information should include your residential address (city and state at a minimum); preferred
phone number (a mobile phone is strongly advised, so that you can respond immediately to
inquiries); and an e-mail address (select an e-mail address that sounds businesslike—your full
name or a variation on it would be best). If your résumé has multiple pages, put your name and
the page number at the top of each page.
Separate the heading section and all subsequent sections with a page-width horizontal line to
aid the reader.
Occupational or Career Objective
The first section of the résumé is a statement of occupational or career objectives, specifying
the industrial sector, profession, or occupation, and the level of responsibility (individual
contributor or supervisory/managerial). You can begin this section with a general title of your
occupation written in bold font, such as "Senior Computer Support Specialist," "Pharmacist,"
"Grocery Produce Department Manager" or "General Accountant." If you are pursuing an
occupational or professional change, or if you’re returning to the workforce following an
absence, explicitly state that fact in the objectives section.
Skills, Capabilities, and Qualifications
Present your critical or (especially for career changers) transferable skills, capabilities, and
qualifications in a bulleted format, limited to the 10 to 12 most important factors. You can tailor
these factors to the position sought. Cite specific knowledge, certifications, and credentials
(degrees, workshops, or seminars), technical capabilities (for example, computer skills),
personal attributes (leadership, organization, and interpersonal skills, an orientation toward
results, or the like), and industry-specific items. For example:
Staff Supervision – Effectively supervised groups of five to 15 employees in varied environments
This specific example of work history is vital to the person scanning your résumé. You can
briefly expand on each qualification or simply list the bulleted items.
Work History
In reverse-chronological order, list each employer (accounting for the most recent 10 to 20
years) including the employer’s name, a description of the enterprise, the city and state where
you had the job, calendar years of employment (you don’t need to include months), the most
senior job title achieved, accountabilities, primary activities, and achievements or notable
results. You can place the achievements and notable results in a bulleted list, but limit the
bulleted items to two or three.
You can consolidate other previous experience into a brief, general paragraph, such as
“Previous positions in (insert your occupation and industry).
Education, Training and Affiliations
Enter formal education, including the name of your school, its location, and your course of
study. You don’t need to put a graduation date unless it has been within the past 20 years. If
you did not complete a degree program from the school, note either "attended" or "completed
coursework." Formal education is often checked during background inquiries, and any
misrepresentation is likely to be discovered.
List any meaningful training in a bulleted list. This includes recognized, rigorous, and relevant
programs with a direct bearing on your occupational objective and qualifications. For example, if
you completed a bookkeeping course from an accredited institution, such as a community
college, or if you took a Microsoft Office certification classes. Don’t use this space for webinars
or seminars.
Finally, list certifications and occupational affiliations in a bulleted list. List memberships in any
associations relevant to your employment. These include, but are not limited to, organizations
like the Society of Human Resources Management, American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, and Society of Professional Journalists.
What Not to Put In
Do not include personal or family information. Include social and recreational activities only if
they have a bearing on the position of interest (for instance, a leadership position if you are
seeking a supervisory role, or if you have a hobby like camping, which would help you sell
outdoor gear). Do not include references or even mention their availability; that step comes
much later in the process. Do not include photos, colors, or insert graphic art.
Submitting Your Résumé
In general, you can submit your résumé by placing it on the prospective employer’s career Web
page. It may be necessary to cut and paste it to match their format. It may be necessary to
convert your Word-format document into plain-text format. Plain text is often required when
pasting résumé content into online forms and databases. Just copy the text from the Word
document and paste it into the notepad feature on your computer. Save the document as a ".
txt," or "text," file.
Cover Letters
Cover letters are often overdone. Their primary purpose is to provide a sample of your best
business writing skills and not to summarize your work history. Make every effort to address
your cover letter to an actual person. Try to get the correct name and title of the employer’s
contact. Your cover letter should not be longer one-half of one typed page.
If you were referred to the employer, be certain to mention the name of the person referring
you. This could be a current employee or a person the recruiter may know. Even if it is only
word of mouth, most recruiters will be favorably impressed to know you were inquiring about the
organization and that it enjoys a positive reputation.
A bad cover letter, one that is too lengthy, too boastful, or too desperate, will hurt you every
time.
Your cover letter should briefly but firmly state your interest in the employer and the position.
Highlight two or three items from your background that may catch the recruiter’s eye. Keep it
short and to the point. Don’t be reluctant to sell yourself. Show your enthusiasm for the job
while maintaining a businesslike tone in the cover letter. Display confidence in your capabilities
and in your belief that you are an ideal candidate for the position. The cover letter is an ideal
way to begin displaying your self-confidence.
When submitting online, make sure you upload or attach your résumé and cover letter as one
file. You can easily do this by pasting your résumé below your brief cover letter. Most
application-tracking systems only allow for a single document per applicant.
Before submitting or sending any material, proofread your résumé and cover letter several
times. Ask a friend or colleague to double-check them. Even one or two errors or typos can
derail your application.
If you still feel hesitant to attempt a cover letter, don’t worry. If you write a strong objective at the
top of your résumé, that should stand on its own merit. Most recruiters tell me they would rather
prefer a thoughtful, put-together résumé to an overdone cover letter.
http://www.aarp.org/money/work/articles/preparing_resume_cover_letter.html
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