No Mistakes Resumes

You can go to my website: http://nomistakes.org
Or follow this link: http://eepurl.com/kS-IX

Assure is used for people. (You can make an “ass” of yourself if you promise your boss something and don’t deliver.)
Ensure is used for things.
Insure deals with money/insurance.

The verbs to look for usually refer to action items, so words like direct, manage, launch, build, and develop are all focus points. The words you can usually ignore are ones such as monitor, evaluate, assist, and coordinate.

Dear Gatekeeper:
I noticed you are looking for a vice president of sales and marketing, with an emphasis on increasing sales in the international market. (Please note that job titles are not capitalized.) That piqued my curiosity. I have a successful track record as a director in sales and marketing for Fortune 500 companies as well as mid-sized enterprises and start-ups.
Regarding international sales, I am not only fluent in Russian, but I implemented a Russian Culture Awareness program for new sales reps, which more than tripled our share of the market in less than two years. The program was so successful, it now forms the basis of training for all new foreign markets.
I noticed in the job description you asked for “a good understanding of global business development and a technical

understanding of molecular diagnostics.”
I have found that global business development is done best by those who understand the culture of the countries they are dealing with. I have lived in thirteen countries in Europe and Asia, and have demonstrated a keen understanding of their cultures. While I do not have a strong technical grasp of molecular diagnostics, that has never been an issue in the past.
One thing not mentioned on the resume was a co-promotion partnership I initiated with a major pharmaceutical company in Germany which resulted in a 50% increase in recommendations for our products by doctors, increasing sales by 29% in the first year. In addition, I have switched segments of the industry three times and have been successful in each of them. I am confident I can do the same for you.
As far as location, Philadelphia presents no problem.
I am eager to speak with you about this opportunity and to demonstrate how I can help XYZ Company achieve its goals.
Sincerely,
Me

The cover letter needs to be professionally written and addressed. Below is a standard format.
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email
Date
Name
Title
Company/Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

grammar.quickanddirtytips.com

SUMMARY:) Not necessary. Yes, you heard me. Not necessary.
(PERSONAL:) All the personal information you need to include should be at the top of the page. You do not need anything else.
SKILLS: This section is usually unnecessary. For some occupations it might be appropriate.
EDUCATION:Always include this, even if you don’t have a degree. It’s like ID at the airport. You absolutely have to have it or you will not get on the plane.
EXPERIENCE: The meat!
Companies worked for.
Titles of jobs held.
Dates of employment, and dates you held each position.
A brief description (a sentence or two) about each company. This is especially important if you aren’t applying to a direct competitor. You can use this space to show that your experience is applicable. (More on this later.)
(HOBBIES:)Never include.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES: Include if relevant.
PUBLICATIONS and PATENTS: I prefer to say “publications available upon request.” If they are requested, that provides a chance for you to point out the relevant ones. For example:

A Great Resume
Below is what many of the resumes I receive look like, as far as structure.
Name
Address
Phone number
Email address
Your name, address, phone number and email should be at the top, centered on the page. This is how it should be. Formatting will be discussed more later.

that your name be in a 14-point bold font, and that the rest of the information be in 9-point. You can use 12-point for your name—even 16-point—but don’t go bigger than that.