Effective Cover Letters Tell A Story

We all know a good cover letter can be the difference between one of our clients getting an interview -- or not.

But what IS a good cover letter? I believe a good cover letter tells a story:

"Once upon a time, there was a job searcher named:"

And it goes on from there. How did he find out about this job? What can he bring to it?

My five little nieces love a good story. But so does every HR person faced with a stack of resumes and cover letters. Tell a good story -- and get your client in the door for an interview.

The $45 Resume

I had another call today from someone looking for a "cheap resume."

"I need you to help me with a one page resume," the voice mail message said, "And I just need you to type the information. I listed my jobs as a colorist, beautician's aid, and also my experience in art promotion and music promotion. How much do you charge?"

By the time I called her back, she had arranged for another "service" in town to create the resume, for $45. "Just so I know," she said, "How much do you charge?"

I won't even get into the discussion where I asked her, not in so many words, about "what she wanted to be when she grew up." ("Because you do have a diverse background," I explained, "it's important to target the resume towards the type of position you're seeking.")

"But how much would it cost?" is all she wanted to know. Sigh. That's all right -- I don't want -- or need -- every client who calls. Some of them don't make the correlation between investing in themselves as part of their job search, and the return on investment they'll get from a faster job search and higher starting offer, as a result of demonstrating their value to a prospective employer.

It reminded me of another client, and the e-mail response I sent back after being told, "You charge too much."

Here's what I wrote:
I'm glad you found someone to assist you with your resume update!

As you might imagine, with more than 4,000 resume writers nationwide, fees vary considerably. In fact, I've done quite a bit of research on this topic as the editor of a trade journal for resume writers. While it's true you might find someone competent who will charge very little for their services, the majority of professional resume writers -- that is, individuals who do this for a living -- invest quite a bit of time and money in keeping abreast of the latest trends in resume writing (especially about things like keyword summaries for companies who use applicant tracking systems). The national average for a resume is $279 (and that was from Dec. 2004 research).

You'll also find a wide variety of credentials among professionals. As a member of four national professional resume writing associations, and as a Certified Professional Resume Writer with a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations, I have more than 12 years of experience writing interview-winning resumes. My clients rely on my expertise to get them an interview in a highly competitive job market. I had a client recently who paid around $200 for his new resume and cover letter -- but he landed six interviews from 10 resumes he sent out, and ended up accepting a new position that will pay him $25,000 more than his current position, with the potential for $15,000 more in bonus. In essence, his $200 investment landed him a 30% raise. His situation isn't typical, but many of my clients have landed more modest increases -- along the lines of $8,000-$10,000 -- through development of an accomplishment-focused resume that helps them not only get the interview, but help the interviewer establish the areas of value that he/she can bring to the company -- by saving money, saving time, attracting new clients, etc.

I share this information with you not to impress upon you the results I've achieved with my clients, but to let you know that your investment in your career can make a big difference over time. Finding a job faster (being out of work for a shorter period of time), being able to quantify why you're worth a $3,000 higher salary than initially offered ... these are things that an effective resume can do for you. I hope that you are able to achieve the results that you are seeking from the service provider that you selected.

Good luck in your job search!

Bridget Brooks, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer
Image Building Communications

It probably didn't make a bit of difference to that prospective client (I never heard anything back), but it sure made me feel better.

Advice for Clients: Before the Layoff

With the recent uncertainty in the mortgage industry, you're likely to have some clients -- or prospective clients -- facing layoffs. Here's some tims for your client newsletter or for a news release

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The time to prepare for a layoff is before it happens. It is important to be prepared in case you're laid off. Consider doing the following:

Review Your Severance Package. Make sure you understand if or how long your health insurance will continue if you're laid off. Think about "selling back" any extra vacation or sick days you have to the company in exchange for pay.

Roll Over Your 401k Into an IRA. Unless you have no other option, don't liquidate your retirement account if you're laid off. You'll have to pay taxes on whatever you take out, plus possibly a 10 percent withdrawal penalty fee -- and the lost value of that money can never be replaced.

Raise Your Deductibles On Your Insurance Policies. That way, you can lower premiums. However, even if you're out of work, don't cancel any policy in an attempt to save money.

Keep Your Resume Updated. If you are laid off, you'll have to move fast. Make sure your resume is up to date at all times.

The Best Time to Look For Work is When You Have Job. Don't wait for the ax to fall. Start looking for another job now. A job search takes time, and the earlier you get started (particularly if "the writing is on the wall," so to speak, about your company's future), the better off you'll be.

Consider Temp Work. There is a big market for part-time, temporary and free-lance work in almost every job market. These kinds of assignments will put quick cash in your pockets while you look for something more permanent.

Survey: Biggest Job Search Mistakes

OfficeTeam asked office professionals to share the biggest job search blunders they had heard of or witnessed firsthand.

Survey respondents were asked, "What is the biggest mistake you've heard of someone making during his or her job search?"

Answers included:

• "Someone interviewed for a position and was not given the job. But he showed up anyway, saying, 'Here I am!'"
• "An applicant came in with his recruiter and had the recruiter answer the questions."
• "A job seeker didn't hang up the phone after calling about a job. I overheard everything he said, and it wasn't good."
• "One gentleman submitted a resume that contained misspelled words and an orange juice stain."
• "When asked what he had been doing while unemployed, the applicant said, 'Staying home and watching TV.'"
• "One woman immediately described her faults to the interviewer and mentioned days she would need to take off."
• "During an interview, when asked what his greatest faults were, an applicant gave too many answers. He kept going and going and going."

Poor communication etiquette was a mistake cited often by survey respondents, including applicants following up too frequently, failing to return calls or show interest in the job, and talking too much or too little during the interview.

Behavior that also left a bad impression included job seekers who admitted they were only interested in the money or benefits, failed to research the company, or who were discourteous to employees in the office (for example, the office receptionist).

-- This survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 500 individuals ages 18 or order.