Topic ID #5 - posted 2/10/2007 3:53 PM
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
responding to job ads... a few hints...
Jennifer Palmer
Webmaster
Apr 9th, 2002, 11:07am With a little digging, I was able to salvage this message thread from OLD forums. I thought it was important enough to re-post. As someone who was formerly in a position of reviewing resumes as they came in through the door (or via e-mail) to a CRM firm, I wholeheartedly agree with everything this individual has written...
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From: info@phasearchaeology.com
Date: 3/29/2002
Time: 11:01:08 AM
Remote Name: 68.40.43.78
Comments
Based on recent experience, I would like to offer the following advice to those who are applying for jobs via e-mail.
1) Be professional
Treat an e-mailed job application the same as you would treat a postal mail application.
a) use complete sentences
b) use professional language
c) format your message
d) spell check it
e) sign your name by listing it at the bottom
2) Pay attention to what the job add is asking for
a) if no phone number or postal address is supplied, do not respond with a request for this information
b) if a cover letter is asked for, write one
c) follow the file format requests
d) if references are asked for, do not send a resume which lists "references available upon request"
3) Personalize your cover letter
A cover letter should say more than "I saw your job post, here's my resume". This is your preliminary interview. A cover letter discusses your qualifications in reference to the job posting. It includes why you are interested, why you are qualified (and possibly more qualified than others), and when you are available. A great cover letter shows that you have career direction and goals. Don't go overboard, keep it to the equivalent of 1-page.
4) If your background is diverse, modify your resume to the job ad
a) use sub headings to increase organization
b) include detail for previous experience that is relevant to the job ad, don't include volumes on experience that is irrelevant to the job ad
5) Remember that your e-mail will probably be printed out and circulated. Make sure it looks good on paper.
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I'd like to add some additional pointers to keep in mind when submitting a resume to a potential employer, whether it is via e-mail or snail mail.
- Don't exaggerate. Having used a GPS or transit once or twice on a project doesn't make you an expert. Be careful what you write - you might just get called on it! Be honest about your level of experience or expertise. Otherwise this bit of stretching the truth may come back to haunt you. Trust me... I've seen this happen more than once! One individual who was hired by a former employer was constantly being "exposed" for stretching the truth on her resume. It really comprimised her overall credibility.
- Check your references. That's right, I said check *your own* references. Is someone still at the same phone number, address and/or e-mail address that they were when you dealt with them initially? It might not be a bad idea to touch base once in awhile... Have you asked to use them as a reference? And most importantly, will they give you a positive reference if they are called? We had one prospective applicant for a job receive horrible feedback when we actually called his references! This is probably rare but, still, it's good to know what people are going to say about you...
- Have your resume reviewed by others. One company that I worked for would immediately throw away any resumes that had blatant spelling or grammatical errors. Some of the most egregious violations would be misspelling the name of the firm you are applying to work for, the name of your alma mater (especially if it is well-known), or the name of the individual your resume is being sent to. This might sound silly, but you would be surprised at how often it happens. Spend some time with your resume or cv beforehand. Show it to others, including individuals who are also in the field if possible (they may help to spot misspelling of words relating to the profession that others may miss). Get feedback. Attention to detail is very important. Often your resume and cover letter are going to be your prospective employer's first impression of you. Make it a positive one!
A hint about applying to work for a firm that is out of state:
Quite often people are interested in archaeology jobs advertised out-of-state or in a different part of the country altogether. For example, in the dead of winter, a field tech job is advertised in Florida. An announcement on the web may bring in dozens of resumes from individuals across the country who'd love to winter in the South... How does an employer decide who to look at first (beyond the locals already located in Florida)? Your cover letter should specify your intent of the very real possibility of taking this job. Are you really willing to pack up everything and drive cross-country to take a 4-week Phase I project in the sunshine state? Say so! Be specific. "If hired, I can be in the Orlando area on March 18th". This type of statement, in my opinion, has made some cover letters and resumes stand out from the rest of the stack. You may be seen as someone who is more serious (and more likely to actually come to Florida for the job, if offered). In reality, an employer doesn't want to waste their time calling a list of people who may or may not actually take the job they've applied for.
Just a few hints! If anyone has additional information to share, by all means, please do so. What has worked for you in getting a job may possible help someone else...
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Re: responding to job ads... a few hints...
Reply #2 - Apr 11th, 2002, 12:12pm Thanks for re-posting my original message on responding to job adds.
As an add-on I would like to suggest that people who post resumes here also make a point of posting a mini-cover letter. As a potential employer I cannot tell if a person is right for a job, especially a temporary one, from a resume alone.
Consider adding a few sentences that explicitly state
1) Where you are now and where you are willing to work.
2) When you are available (or how much advance notice you need).
3) What your specializations or skills are (it's hard to pull this information out of a resume that includes numerous projects).
4) What position you want (field, lab, supervisory).
5) What your career goals and interests are.
I would also suggest using the reply feature to post updates to your resume, especially if you will be unavailable for a period of time due to a work assignment, school, or an extended vacation.
Happy hunting.
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Lab_Goddess
Re: responding to job ads... a few hints...
Reply #3 - Nov 24th, 2004, 4:28pm Great advice Jennifer! (but obviously more people need to READ this page)
I would add one more bit of advice though, regarding file names of resumes/CVs. Employment seekers should make sure to label all their files (resume, cover letter, etc.) with their name - e.g., "JDoe_CV04.wpd" rather than "resume.doc"...so employers know whose is whose, which is kind of hard to do if everyone uses the same generic file name!
Using a header that includes at least your name (and page #?) could be useful also, for those with multiple pages...if the pages get separated at the printer, etc.
And make sure to use a format of document that can be opened by ALL types of computers. Hint: MS Works files (.wps) are not compatible with many/some.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: info@phasearchaeology.com
Date: 3/29/2002
Time: 11:01:08 AM
Remote Name: 68.40.43.78
Comments
Based on recent experience, I would like to offer the following advice to those who are applying for jobs via e-mail.
1) Be professional
Treat an e-mailed job application the same as you would treat a postal mail application.
a) use complete sentences
b) use professional language
c) format your message
d) spell check it
e) sign your name by listing it at the bottom
2) Pay attention to what the job add is asking for
a) if no phone number or postal address is supplied, do not respond with a request for this information
b) if a cover letter is asked for, write one
c) follow the file format requests
d) if references are asked for, do not send a resume which lists "references available upon request"
3) Personalize your cover letter
A cover letter should say more than "I saw your job post, here's my resume". This is your preliminary interview. A cover letter discusses your qualifications in reference to the job posting. It includes why you are interested, why you are qualified (and possibly more qualified than others), and when you are available. A great cover letter shows that you have career direction and goals. Don't go overboard, keep it to the equivalent of 1-page.
4) If your background is diverse, modify your resume to the job ad
a) use sub headings to increase organization
b) include detail for previous experience that is relevant to the job ad, don't include volumes on experience that is irrelevant to the job ad
5) Remember that your e-mail will probably be printed out and circulated. Make sure it looks good on paper.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to add some additional pointers to keep in mind when submitting a resume to a potential employer, whether it is via e-mail or snail mail.
- Don't exaggerate. Having used a GPS or transit once or twice on a project doesn't make you an expert. Be careful what you write - you might just get called on it! Be honest about your level of experience or expertise. Otherwise this bit of stretching the truth may come back to haunt you. Trust me... I've seen this happen more than once! One individual who was hired by a former employer was constantly being "exposed" for stretching the truth on her resume. It really comprimised her overall credibility.
- Check your references. That's right, I said check *your own* references. Is someone still at the same phone number, address and/or e-mail address that they were when you dealt with them initially? It might not be a bad idea to touch base once in awhile... Have you asked to use them as a reference? And most importantly, will they give you a positive reference if they are called? We had one prospective applicant for a job receive horrible feedback when we actually called his references! This is probably rare but, still, it's good to know what people are going to say about you...
- Have your resume reviewed by others. One company that I worked for would immediately throw away any resumes that had blatant spelling or grammatical errors. Some of the most egregious violations would be misspelling the name of the firm you are applying to work for, the name of your alma mater (especially if it is well-known), or the name of the individual your resume is being sent to. This might sound silly, but you would be surprised at how often it happens. Spend some time with your resume or cv beforehand. Show it to others, including individuals who are also in the field if possible (they may help to spot misspelling of words relating to the profession that others may miss). Get feedback. Attention to detail is very important. Often your resume and cover letter are going to be your prospective employer's first impression of you. Make it a positive one!
A hint about applying to work for a firm that is out of state:
Quite often people are interested in archaeology jobs advertised out-of-state or in a different part of the country altogether. For example, in the dead of winter, a field tech job is advertised in Florida. An announcement on the web may bring in dozens of resumes from individuals across the country who'd love to winter in the South... How does an employer decide who to look at first (beyond the locals already located in Florida)? Your cover letter should specify your intent of the very real possibility of taking this job. Are you really willing to pack up everything and drive cross-country to take a 4-week Phase I project in the sunshine state? Say so! Be specific. "If hired, I can be in the Orlando area on March 18th". This type of statement, in my opinion, has made some cover letters and resumes stand out from the rest of the stack. You may be seen as someone who is more serious (and more likely to actually come to Florida for the job, if offered). In reality, an employer doesn't want to waste their time calling a list of people who may or may not actually take the job they've applied for.
Just a few hints! If anyone has additional information to share, by all means, please do so. What has worked for you in getting a job may possible help someone else...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: responding to job ads... a few hints...
Reply #2 - Apr 11th, 2002, 12:12pm Thanks for re-posting my original message on responding to job adds.
As an add-on I would like to suggest that people who post resumes here also make a point of posting a mini-cover letter. As a potential employer I cannot tell if a person is right for a job, especially a temporary one, from a resume alone.
Consider adding a few sentences that explicitly state
1) Where you are now and where you are willing to work.
2) When you are available (or how much advance notice you need).
3) What your specializations or skills are (it's hard to pull this information out of a resume that includes numerous projects).
4) What position you want (field, lab, supervisory).
5) What your career goals and interests are.
I would also suggest using the reply feature to post updates to your resume, especially if you will be unavailable for a period of time due to a work assignment, school, or an extended vacation.
Happy hunting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lab_Goddess
Re: responding to job ads... a few hints...
Reply #3 - Nov 24th, 2004, 4:28pm Great advice Jennifer! (but obviously more people need to READ this page)
I would add one more bit of advice though, regarding file names of resumes/CVs. Employment seekers should make sure to label all their files (resume, cover letter, etc.) with their name - e.g., "JDoe_CV04.wpd" rather than "resume.doc"...so employers know whose is whose, which is kind of hard to do if everyone uses the same generic file name!
Using a header that includes at least your name (and page #?) could be useful also, for those with multiple pages...if the pages get separated at the printer, etc.
And make sure to use a format of document that can be opened by ALL types of computers. Hint: MS Works files (.wps) are not compatible with many/some.