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Step 6--Resumes and Cover Letters

Interview was big fun. I really liked the space, the people, the vibe. It's the whole package. I'm afraid to jinx it so no more on that. It's a rainy day in Gotham...and windy. I'm atwitter with excitement to hear...

So, onward to Step 6--Resumes and Cover Letters

May I just say one more thing about this morning's fab fun time? I'm letting go of the result. I did my best (good research, I breathed, I tried to be myself completely, and I had fun: lots of laughter). Now, move on.

I'm no expert on these two documents. You might want to reach out to the endless pointers available online in places like the WSJ Careers section or the New York Times. There are sample resumes and letters which you can review.

Basically though, your resume and cover letter are tools to tell a story. They will often be the way many hiring managers or recruiters will meet you. In writing them, most of us already have one. My two cents is that ,instead of just pulling up the old one and updating it, start a blank piece of paper, a pen/pencil and two things.

1. Your listed passions, stories of things you loved doing, ideal job description
2. Your notes from your informational interviews: e.g. tasks that are done by the function in the industry, buzz words, etc.

Now start sketching out how you've demonstrated behavior that aligns with the core actions that someone in your desired function and industry would do. Jot down points to highlight. Some people bucket their resume by competences they have. If you're doing a chronological resume, highlight the actions you took in each job that showcase that you'd be great in the function/industry.

You should be able to read through your resume and connect dots showing that you'd be a stellar candidate. The cover letter adds the shading and color to bring the resume alive, connects the dots even more obviously especially as it relates to an actual position you know is open. You can start putting paragraphs together now that will get adjusted depending on actual available roles.

NOW, start editing down or just start a new resume from scratch. Starting it over, might be a good way to get language that word for word tells the new story you want to tell about your past work experiences.

Show the resume and cover letter drafts to others until you start feeling sure of yourself. Ask them if the documents tell your story adequately. Ask if it stands out from the many other resumes that they've seen. If you look like just another vanilla version of every other person they've ever met on paper, chances are your document will get recycled or electronically deleted/passed over.

I think the key here is to show it to people in the industry/function as much as you can so that they can give you specific feedback to you. They'll help you decide if you should go over one page, be more or less creative. There are many "rules," though they are breakable under certain conditions and so I'm going to avoid outlining them. In general, less is often more since recruiters and others scan these in 30 seconds or less. Buzz words are crucial since most resumes end up online in a "searchable" database. Errors are generally unforgiveable so proofread, proofread, proofread. And cover letters should show that:

1. You've researched the company
2. Your passion, skills and experience align with what the company needs
3. Offer your contact information, and your summary interest in the organization

Broken record here: doing this alone can cause mental pain. Do it with a friend, trusted mentor, and ask for help with them in informational interviews if you can.

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