Importance of the Document

In today's dynamic, competitive marketplace, your career search documentation—résumé and cover letter—must showcase who you are and what you offer within seconds! The job hunt is a personal marketing strategy that promotes "Brand YOU!" in a way that differentiates you from the competition.

Power boost your résumé with CARs (challenge– action–result scenarios) that provide proof of transferable skills—skills that drive your performance into competitive advantages leaving no doubt that you are the "perfect match" for the targeted position.

Once you harness the power of words, print your documents on 32 lb. conservative paper—white, ivory, beige, or ecru. This professionalism serves as your first impression and will help to ...

•	Build your personal brand by identifying a value proposition that leverages your unique selling points,
•	Promote and accelerate your competitive advantage in the marketplace, and
•	Position you for career advancement.

Although you may read that it is permissible to fold your résumé, your chances of getting interviews are increased by NOT folding! Hiring managers want résumés that keep the résumé pile neat on their desks and are easy to reproduce. They often discard résumés that are folded! Therefore, it makes sense to invest in 9 x 12 envelopes and an extra few cents of postage to maintain a professionalism that makes a more favorable impression and garners the quality responses you want ... and deserve. Once you've landed that coveted interview it's critical to hold onto that professional image. Arrive prepared with extra copies of your resume safely enclosed in a crisp 9 X 12 folder together with your business card and any other pertinent documents.

Following Up after the Interview

"Remind yourself that you already have the company's interest or you would not have been interviewing." Send a thank–you letter (no later than 24 hours after the interview) as a marketing tool to outline how your qualifications directly relate to previously discussed company needs. Hiring managers often staple thank–you notes to résumés keeping your name fresh in the interviewer's mind. To maintain consistency with personal branding, use the same color for the thank–you as the résumé and cover letter.

Click to discover the latest trends and techniques in creating résumés that rock!