don’t start your cover letter with “my name is” and other rules by Alison Green on May 29, 2014 Some random thoughts from hiring work recently, in no particular order: * Do not start your cover letter with “My name is…” unless you are under the age of 10. This does not make you sound like a grown-up. * When a job posting asks for something like 2-3 years experience and you have 10+ […] Read the full article →
how to create a resume from scratch by Alison Green on May 14, 2014 Wondering how to write a great resume that will show off your skills and experience and get you interviews? Here’s a beginner’s guide to how to craft a resume that will catch a hiring manager’s eyes. Your resume should be composed of the following sections: Contact info. This is pretty straightforward – this is the […] Read the full article →
stop telling me that you work well independently and in groups by Alison Green on March 21, 2014 This was originally published on June 4, 2012. If you’re a recent grad, there’s a 50% chance that your resume or cover letter includes a mention that you “work well both independently and in groups.” Announcing this is like announcing that you show up for work on time. It’s expected that you’ll do it; it’s […] Read the full article →
can you leave your home address off your resume? by Alison Green on February 27, 2014 A reader writes: I was wondering if you agree with the advice to keep your home address off if your resume? I do look at addresses on resumes, to see if it’s realistic for someone to get to the job or assess whether they will be needing a relocation package. In general, I think job […] Read the full article →
how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties by Alison Green on February 5, 2014 If you’re like most people, your resume lists what you were responsible for at each job you held, but doesn’t explain what you actually achieved there. Rewriting it to focus on accomplishments will make it way more effective (i.e., “increased email subscribers by 20% in six months” instead of “managed email list”), because that explains […] Read the full article →
6 small resume changes that will have a big impact by Alison Green on February 3, 2014 If you’re sending out resumes and not getting many calls to interview, there’s a good chance that your resume is the problem. If you’re like most people, your resume could use some work – and like most people, you’re probably not sure where to start. But you probably don’t need to start from scratch. You […] Read the full article →
do you need multiple versions of your resume? by Alison Green on January 29, 2014 A reader writes: I’ve had a few people ask me if I have more than one version of my resume. I have tried to draft completely different versions, but have found it daunting and so have stuck with the same version, save for minor tweaks to the wording of the brief objective statement. I have […] Read the full article →
check the name of your resume file by Alison Green on January 24, 2014 This is a small thing, but if you’re sending out a resume with a date like “resume2013,” please go update it right now. Otherwise, fairly soon you’ll start looking like your job search has been a lengthy one (which, rightly or wrongly, can turn some employers off) — and like you’re not paying attention to […] Read the full article →
resume paper is obsolete by Alison Green on November 27, 2013 A reader writes: What are your thoughts on “resume paper”? Considering how many retailers stock it (and have stocked it for decades), I imagine many people use it. Is there any value to it? What do hiring managers think of it, if they even notice? I am going to hereby free you from any reason […] Read the full article →
this is a resume and cover letter that work by Alison Green on November 14, 2013 A reader recently shared with me the resume and cover letter she used to get a new job, and I liked them so much that I got her to agree to let me share them here. Note: Do not steal these and make them your own. The reason they work is because they’ve so customized […] Read the full article →