So you’ve decided to leave your job and search for new opportunities. Congrats! You’re one step closer to realizing your full potential, becoming a contributing member of the workforce, and creating a better life for yourself and your family. How could you not feel motivated after deciding something so pivotal in your life?
One of the first things you’ll need to do if you want to secure a job is to write an effective business plan. We’re not talking about a plan to build a widget factory or to develope an app — we’re referring to the written plan you’ll need to complete to convince a potential employer that you’re the right person for the job. This plan should outline the following main things:
- The problem you’re aiming to solve
- Your proposed approach to solving the problem
- The size of the market for your product or service
- How you’ll measure the success of your proposal
- Your proposed budget for this endeavor
- Your proposed team (if any)
- Your proposed timeline for implementing your proposal
Now, you might be tempted to just throw something together in Microsoft Word and call it a day. But hear us out: Unless you’re an experienced corporate writer, you’ll most likely commit many costly errors along the way. So rather than wasting your valuable time and energy, why not hire someone who knows what they’re doing?
To that end, we’re going to walk you through the entire hiring process step by step, so you can successfully navigate the hiring process and land yourself a well-paying job that you deserve.
First Impressions Are Everything
“First impressions are everything.” So goes the famous saying. And it’s so true. People judge you on the first impression you make and the last impression you give — not on your actual qualifications. As the famous saying implies, you never get a second chance at a first impression. This is especially crucial if you want to secure a job, as you won’t be able to change your resume’s format for the sake of the employer.
Your objective is to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. To do that, you have to make a good impression from the get-go. And to ensure that your resume cuts it, you have to format and present it in a way that makes the most seasoned professional hire you. While we can’t train you to write a perfect resume, we can help you present it in the best light. So continue reading.
The Resume: Everything You Must Include & Must Not Forget
Having a professionally designed resume is essential for getting ahead in today’s competitive job market. A lot of candidates ignore this step and simply throw together a resume in Microsoft Word or another word processing program. While it is completely acceptable to use these types of programs to create your resume, you should never, ever use a free program to do it. There is always something called a template, but you’ll seldom find something that fits your specific job profile.
A resume is a professional document used to present your work history to potential employers. As such, it will serve as your first appeal to potential employers. Remember: they’ll only see you as they’ve never seen you before. The last thing you want to do is botch the appeal process by submitting a poor-quality or unprofessional resume. A well-written and polished resume is your golden ticket to a successful job search.
Keep in mind the following important things when drafting your resume:
- The objective of the resume is to secure a job;
- The resume should present you in the best possible light;
- The resume does not need to cover every detail of your work history;
- A detailed and well-written resume is easier to understand;
- Thought leadership and being able to articulate your creative thinking are crucial for your career growth;
- Make sure to structure your resume with the latest and most preferred format (e.g., CV vs. resume);
- Don’t forget to include contact information (e.g., email, phone number, etc.)
When it comes to the formatting of your resume, you have two options: you can either go traditional and use conventional formatting marks such as commas, periods, and question marks to separate chunks of information, or you can go the extra mile and use special formatting marks to highlight specific sections of your resume. The choice is up to you.
The Cover Letter: An Essential Piece of Paper
While a resume is a crucial document in your career, your cover letter is your chance to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. A cover letter serves as your second attempt to sway the employer in your favor. After your resume, your cover letter is the most important document for securing a job. This is because a cover letter allows you to briefly summarize your career experience in a way that makes the most seasoned professional hire you. In fact, a cover letter can be your very first appeal to a potential employer.
Writing a strong cover letter is much easier than you think. All you need is a strong, concise, and well-written message that draws the attention of the employer. To help you craft the perfect cover letter, we’ve laid out some proven tips on writing a cover letter that will land you a job.
Follow The Dos & Don’ts
Make sure to familiarize yourself with some of the dos and don’ts of using a cover letter. For instance, you should never, ever use a casual or automated cover letter generator. While these types of tools can be very convenient, they don’t necessarily represent you as a professional. In addition, you should avoid using words such as “resume” or “CV” unless you’re applying for a specific position that requires you to use these words.
As for the format of the cover letter, you have two options: you can either go traditional and use conventional formatting marks such as commas, periods, and question marks to separate chunks of information, or you can go the extra mile and use special formatting marks to highlight specific sections of your cover letter. The choice is up to you.
The Summary
Your summary is a short but essential segment of your cover letter. The summary should be no more than two or three sentences long. It’s a great place to let the employer know who you are, what you’re doing, and why they should hire you.
Your summary should match your resume’s summary, but it should go beyond that. When writing your summary, it’s important to remain logical and to the point. The employer will most likely scan your summary and get the main idea of what you’re doing – and that’s what they’ll remember. So make sure to focus on highlighting your unique selling point (USP). Your USP is what makes you special and why the employer should hire you. It can be your strongest selling point.
As for the format of the summary, you have two options: you can either go traditional and use conventional formatting marks such as commas, periods, and question marks to separate chunks of information, or you can go the extra mile and use special formatting marks to highlight specific sections of your summary.
Professionalism Is Key
Speaking of which, being professional is crucial. Even though you’re applying for a job in your area of expertise, you have to act and dress like a professional. This means that you should always ensure that your dress and grooming are appropriate for the job you’re applying for, and you should avoid careless mistakes or bad language.
What you wear on your resume and in your cover letter is directly connected to how you’re perceived by the employer. As you’re applying for a job in a creative or marketing field, you should wear your best suit or skirt – something that makes you feel confident and like a million bucks. Your favorite designer suit will certainly be an excellent choice. But if your wardrobe is more suitable for a scientist or engineer, you should select a more professional look, such as a lab coat or a plain white tee shirt and jeans.