Cover Letter – Page 6 – TP Javeton WebNet

A resume depiction

From an individual’s education, summer internships and publications to his/her technical skills, it is extremely important that a resume prepared (self-prepared or otherwise) for that individual includes anything that would help him/her get the job in which s/he is interested.

Let’s remember that when you prepare a resume you are actually compiling the experiences, acquired skills and relationships formed during your professional life, but somehow many professionals make the mistake of focusing only on experience and education; and as a result, they disregard any additional information that would enhance their ability to stand out from other candidates.

Any professional certifications and licenses that impact your career and the ability to do a job satisfactorily, or even exemplary, should be listed on your resume. This concept is especially relevant for those professionals who cannot actually perform their jobs without having a license to do so; jobs for teachers, real estate agents, medical professionals, and other such licensees.

The professional credentials section

So if you are in a profession that requires a special kind of certification and/or license, your resume should contain a section specific to this type of information. The heading of such a resume section should be “Professional Certifications” or “Professional Licenses” and you should list, in reverse chronological order, any certifications and licenses you have acquired throughout your professional experience.

That having been said, it is a lot harder to consider this information and include it on your resume if your professional field does not require any certifications or licenses. For example, having a certificate from a seminar on managing multiple projects may not be required in order for you to do your job effectively.

However, such a certificate can be very helpful in virtually any field and, if included on your resume, it can help you stand out from the crowd of other professional candidates and catch the employer’s attention; and while it is important to consider any courses or training seminars you attended in your professional career, you need not forget to include the courses you may have taken as part of the training at a current or previous job.

Highlighting your strengths

One example is if you have completed a course on using Microsoft Access Database as part of the training on your current job, and you know that you will be required to work with this program in a new position you are seeking. Simply treat the list of licenses and certifications as you do your professional experience; and make a list, in reverse chronological order, while paying special attention to which of those listed items are most relevant to your professional goals and objective.

Your resume should have no more than five most recent certifications and licenses with the date you obtained the certificate or license listed appropriately. If you took a course over time, for example, indicate the completion date in form of month and year only; and the exact title of the certificate or license should also be listed, along with the issuing organization.

No additional information is necessary for this area of your resume, but make sure to highlight any certification and licenses in the cover letter if they promote your qualifications for the job you are seeking; and if the listing of licenses or certifications is lengthy you can include the related information on a separate sheet of paper.

Important use of your cover letter

However, make sure to always list a few of the most recent items; and if the listing exceeds five items let the potential employer know that additional information is available upon request. Your resume or cover letter can refer to this information, as well as highlight those elements – and only those elements – that promote you as the candidate best suited for that job.

Importance of the cover letter

Most of us, when preparing a resume, devote a lot of time to making that resume the very best because of its significance to, and representative of us as individuals and potential employees of the company to which the resume is sent. What some job seekers fail to do however, is to send a cover letter along with their resumes; and while the reasons for excluding a cover letter may vary, such exclusion often reduces the chances that your well-formatted, well-written resume will ever get reviewed.

We must understand the importance of having a cover letter for the simple reason that without one, we defeat the purpose of preparing and sending out the resume in the first place. It is a known fact that job seekers who omit a cover letter from their job applications appear unprofessional to potential employers; but those who include a well-written, personalized cover letter allow potential employers to get an insight into who they are, how they communicate and how they present themselves as professionals.

Buttressing your resume

If you are in search of a particular job or position and sending your resume via email, the cover letter can be included in the body of the email or sent in an attachment, if the employer accepts such attached documents (most employers prefer not to receive attached documents), but the important thing to do is make sure a cover letter is sent along with your resume; and even if you are faxing or sending your resume by regular USPS mail, make sure that the cover letter serves as an introduction to the resume.

While cover letters can take various forms, there are a few basic guidelines that should be adhered to when preparing one for yourself. Please continue.

Knowing the goal of your cover letter

Know what the goal of your cover letter is, and express it clearly and concisely. Sell yourself in the best possible light; make sure also, that you sound confident and professional in your cover letter. Concentrate on the positives while highlighting those qualifications that make you a perfect candidate for the job; and even if you feel insecure about your qualifications, or think that you may be slightly under-qualified for the job, use your best interpretation of the qualifications.

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Addressing and customizing the cover letter

Address your cover letter to the appropriate person. The biggest mistake some professionals make is not taking the time to address their cover letter to the appropriate person, such as the recruiter or the hiring manager. Take the time to address your cover letter to the appropriate person; if the job description does not include a person as a contact, take queue from the text and address the letter to the team listed as the contact. Using generic lines, such as “To whom it may concern,” is not acceptable on a cover letter.

Customize your cover letter to the position you are applying for. It is very important that your cover letter address why you are the best person for the job you are seeking. This includes indicating the job title in your cover letter. Generic statements, or statements indicating that you are interested in any open position with the company, make you appear unprofessional and unprepared.

A strong close to your cover letter

Answer these two questions: why do you want this particular job? And, what can you do for the company? These two questions must be addressed in the cover letter in order to let your employer know that you are serious about your interests, and that you have considered the opportunity, how it fits with your professional goals, and what you are willing to bring to the table in order to benefit the organization you want to work for.

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Proof your cover letter. Errors and misspellings leave a poor impression on any employer.

Close the cover letter by indicating to your potential employer when you intend to follow up on your application. Do not end the letter with a statement that leaves it up to the employer to call you at their convenience. Let the employer know that you want to follow up, when you will follow up, and how you will do so. This confirms your interest in the position, and your professional etiquette. Note, you must follow up when and how you indicate on the cover letter.

Category: Cover Letter

Listing Certifications and Licenses in a Resume