Totally off-topic: I am trying desperately to find a new job, mostly because my commute is a back breaker and winter is a-comin'. The one thing I fucking hate is writing cover letters. Should I be generic? Should I be semi-serious, semi-funny? It seems like no matter what, it ain't what you know, it's who you know. Any advice idiots?
I found one job that's at a huge company that happens to be in my tiny ass town... I really want the job, and want to write a unique letter, but don't want them to go, "Whoa, what the fuck?" I meet every single qualification they have, but I just have to find a way to toe the line in that stupid fucking letter.
Keep in mind, a cover letter is supposed to help explain/mitigate gaps in your resume. How much experience do you have in the career field you're applying in? If you're an established professional, dont bother with the cover letter. If you're brand new or just starting a new path, then you need to use it to brand yourself. Be jovial, but don't make it a joke if you want to be taken seriously. Conversely, don't use cookie cutter bullshit language.
Also got a rep for some tips on professional resumes. So here are some obvious and maybe not-so-obvious thoughts: -Keep it to 1 page. Always a rule of the thumb, but no hiring manager wants to keep track of two pages. 1 page, 1 sided. Short and sweet. -I've said it before, but don't say you're proficient in Word, Excel, etc. Those aren't marketable skills in 2016, they're expected. That's the kind of shit newly minted college grads put on their resumes when they don't have enough accolades. -Order of importance is from top to bottom. If you're an experienced professional, work experience goes above education, which goes above awards, publications, etc. On that topic, don't list jobs that are worthless in relation to the job you're applying for. No one cares if you flipped burgers in college when you're applying to be an accountant. -No stupid fonts or gimmicky bullshit. The resume shouldn't contain Papyrus font and your personal watermark. -Don't list your likes or hobbies unless you did something extraordinary like climbed Mt. Everest or swam the English Channel. No one gives a shit. -For fuck sake, proofread that shit. I immediately throw resumes in the trash if there are spelling or grammar issues.
This. If you don't care enough to get your own resume right, then you aren't going to care about the work product you're doing for me.
The 1-page rule is kind of outdated. Many professionals, in an age where jobs are much more fluid and changing, have work experience that is valid and succinct and still pushes to a second page. 2 pages is okay, just not if you're getting there by including fluff. Relevant, concise work history only.
I disagree - if its longer than 2 pages, it should not be formatted like a resume. Longer than a page should be more like a CV than a resume, unless its a doctoral or C-level position, which is not most professionals. But at most, only the last 2-3 positions are all anyone will care about, unless you launched a start-up or held a high position at a marquee company.