Resumes and/or Cover Letters
February 10, 2010
Certainly we’re all aware of the value of cover letters to introduce ourselves and highlight contributions we could make when we can’t just hand the resume to the person we’d like to give it to. Richard Bolles, in What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010, Chapter 5, Resumes and Contacts, writes that not only he but many other experts and employers, too, suggest sending a cover letter instead of a longer resume. He recommends looking for “Susan Ireland’s free Cover Letter Guide” online. Check it out!
Resumes, and Alternatives!
February 1, 2010
When we’re faced with a job search–by our own dissatisfaction or by our employer’s decision to let us go–one of the first concerns is our resume. Know that it’s a piece of the “How do I get a Job?” puzzle, but is often given more credit than it deserves. To save yourself time and money, check out the book, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. This comprehensive book, revised annually, is written by Richard Bolles.
In Parachute, see Chapter 5, Resumes and Contacts. Here he talks about the limitations and values of a resume, and recommends cover letters and job-portfolios as alternatives. There’s also a great section on how to jog your memory to come up with achievements (for resumes and interviews), and how to network with your contacts for help. More soon about these topics.
For an easier, more effective job search campaign, I highly recommend, especially in light of today’s economy, a current edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? as a reference book throughout the process. I trust and recommend all that Bolles writes; it’s well researched, clear, helpful. Actually, the beginning of my career counseling work, even before I started working on my master’s degree, was reading this book (earlier edition!) years ago, and sharing what I was learning and using myself, with returning adult students looking for new careers.