You will be using your resume to answer ads, as a tool to use in talking with friends and relatives about your job search, and, most importantly, in using the "direct approach" described in this article.
When you mail your resume, always send a "cover letter."
A "cover letter," sometimes called a "resume letter," is a letter that accompanies the resume. Never mail or fax your resume introduces your resume. Your cover letter is a way of personalizing the resume by without a cover letter. Sending it to the specific person you think you might want to work for at each company. Your cover letter should contain a few highlights from your resume - just enough to make someone want to meet you. Cover letters should always be type-: or word processed on a computer-never handwritten.
1. Learn the art of answering ads.
There is an "art," part of which can be learned, in using your "best-selling" resume to reply to advertisements.
Sometimes an exciting job lurks behind a boring ad that someone dictated in a hurry, so reply to any ad that interests you. Don't worry that you aren't "25 years old with an MBA" like the ad asks for. Employers will always make compromises in their requirements if they think you're the "best fit" overall.
What about ads that ask for "salary requirements?"
What if the ad you're answering asks for "salary requirements?" The first thing is to avoid committing yourself in writing at that point to a specific salary, you don't want to "lock yourself in."
There are two ways to handle the ad that asks for "salary requirements."
What if the ad asks for your First, you can ignore that part of the ad and accompany your resume with a cover "salary requirements?" letter that focuses on "selling" you, your abilities, and even some of your philosophy about work or your field. You may include a sentence in your cover letter like this: "I can provide excellent personal and professional references at your request, and I would be delighted to share the private details of my salary history with you in person."
Second, if you feel you must give some kind of number, just state a range in your cover letter that includes your medical, dental, other benefits, and expected bonuses. You might state, for example, "My current compensation, including benefits and bonuses, is in the range of $30,000-$40,000."
Analyze the ad and "tailor" yourself to it.
When you're replying to ads, a finely-tailored cover letter is an important too I in getting your resume noticed and read. On the next page is a cover letter which has been "tailored to fit" a specific ad. Analyze the ad's main requirements and then writing the letter so that the person's background, work habits, and interests seem "tailor-made" to the company's needs. Use this cover letter as a model when you prepare your own reply to ads.
2. Talk to Mends and relatives.
Don't be shy about telling your friends and relatives the kind of job you're looking for. Looking for the job you want involves using your network of contacts, so tell people what you're looking for. They may be able to make introductions and help set up interviews.
About 25% of all interviews are set up through those who you know," so don't ignore this approach.
3. Finally, and most importantly, use the "direct approach."
More than 50% of all job interviews are set up by the "direct approach." That means you actually send a resume and a cover letter to a company you think might be interested in employing your skills.
To whom do you write?
In general, you should write directly to the exact name of the person who would be hiring you: say, the vice-president of marketing or data processing. If you're in doubt about to whom to address the letter, address it to the president by name and he or she will make sure it gets forwarded to the right person within the company who has hiring authority in your area.
