Your Cover Letter Should Answer These 3 Questions
Writing a compelling cover letter can tell your story in a powerful way and add important context not included on your résumé. It provides you the opportunity to illustrate your personality and show, not tell, why you'd be a great fit for the team. Because you don't want your cover letter to simply summarize your résumé, answer these three questions within the body of your cover letter to capture the reader's attention.
1. What Are You Good At?
Provide detail about your top 3 competencies that tells the reader the value you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does. For example, if you're applying for a project manager job that requires being super detailed oriented and you created a color-coded project plan with tasks, and due dates for your latest pantry renovation, most hiring managers what to know that because they can clearly see the attention to detail you'll bring to the work.
Or maybe you have a natural ability to...
What is An Applicant Tracking System?
If you've ever applied for a job online, or used an online form to apply for a job, you more than likely used an applicant tracking system. Understanding what an applicant tracking system is, what it does, and how to find what system an employer uses, can help increase your chances of getting an invitation to interview.
WHAT IS AN APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM (ATS)?
An applicant tracking system is the software that recruiters use to organize the amount of résumés they receive for a particular job posting. You can work with the ATS by creating a keyword-rich, format friendly, and targeted résumé.
WHAT DOES AN APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM DO?
1. Ranks and Scores Résumés
Based off of the criteria that the recruiting is looking for from the job description, the ATS will gives résumés a score that will make it easier for recruiters to filter by low or high scores.
2. Searches for Matching Résumés
With the keyword...
How to Write a Basic Resume (in its simplest form)
Crafting a resume that passes both the applicant tracking system (ATS) and recruiter test doesn't have to be hard. With a few basic elements, you can create a resume that is straight to the point, makes it past the recruiting robots, and is impressive to the recruiter.
1. Contact Information
Your contact information should include your name, location, email address (a professional one), phone number, and link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio.
2. Professional Headline + Summary
Your professional summary should provide the recruiter with a quick summary of what they can expect should they continue scanning your resume and what you can do for the organization. What are a few positive adjectives that describes...
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