The Perfect Professional Pair: Résumés and Cover Letters
Posted May 9th, 2013
In these days of online job applications and résumé e-mailing, some IT job seekers think the cover letter is dead, or at the very least, unnecessary. But nothing could be further from the truth, says David Noble, Ph.D., author of Gallery of Best Cover Letters. In his professional view, “Your résumé and cover letter should work together in presenting you effectively to a prospective employer. The cover letter should draw attention to the most important information in the résumé—the information you want the reader to be certain to see.” Strategies to improve the synergy between your cover letter and résumé include:
Being Consistent – For a polished presentation, make sure your résumé and cover letter have an identical look and feel. Use the same paper, the same font, the same phrasing and a similar layout for headers or bullet points on each document. This approach, advise the career experts at Dice.com, will “give reviewers a coordinated package [that] helps you convey the sense of a uniform message”.
Name-Dropping – Admittedly, name-dropping is generally frowned upon. But if the recipient of your package asked you to send it, or you have recently spoken with them, be sure to mention that fact up front to jog their memory. The same is true if someone else in the company – or a mutual acquaintance – suggested you send in your résumé. Many times, it is indeed who you know that gets your résumé past the screening process.
Customizing – Figure out what your angle with this job and company are, and then be sure to weave that story throughout your cover letter and your résumé’s objective section. Yes, it takes additional work to customize your materials, but if the job opportunity is worth it to you, then put forth the extra effort.
Cross-Referencing – You want your cover letter to persuade the recipient to read your résumé, so offer them a taste of the good stuff up front by referring readers to the most important part of your résumé. You can also use the cover letter to include expanded, intriguing details about specific skills or jobs, when there is no room for it on your résumé.
The bottom line, according to Noble? “Résumés should show that you CAN do the work required, while your cover letter should show that you WANT to do the work required,” he says. So yes, IT job seekers, you really do need to submit both.
For more great tips on improving your résumé and cover letter – or other job search strategies – turn to the specialized staffing experts at Bayside Solutions. If you are in Northern California and looking for a job in IT, Bayside Solutions can match you with the area’s top employers and opportunities. Search our available jobs, or contact us today to
