According to Chapter 15 – Starting Your Career in TCT, job applications that are adapted to specific jobs or companies can be much more effective in securing employment than generic materials. It is also important to consider all of the people that will be reading your documents throughout the review process. With regard to work experience, the text recommends that writers avoid any exaggerations or embellished titles. These are the types of things that human resources (HR) will surely notice, and it’s possible that these practices can hurt one’s chances of being hired. As a co-op, I’ve reviewed the resumes of friends and other students, and I’ve definitely seen this happen. It’s almost painful to read something like “Irrigation Efficiency Analyst” for that summer somebody worked on their uncle’s farm.
The resume, however, is usually just a brief record of your education and experience. By using a cover letter, you can compliment the resume by adding a little personality to your job application documents. The chapter recommends using this letter to address the needs of the company. It is also the best chance for an applicant to explain how their skills fit these needs. I’ve only used generic cover letters in my past experiences, but they definitely seem like a good tool to use more strategically in the future, especially as I look for a job this year.
It’s also important to consider the audience(s) when preparing job application materials, as with any other technical writing. The primary reader will probably appreciate details about prior work experience and skill sets. If the applicant has too many to list on a single sheet of paper, then it would be a good idea to only list the information that is most pertinent to the job at hand. The primary reader may not care for your hobby of skateboarding as much as they would your experience as a machinist’s assistant if you’re applying for a job in the field of mechanical technology. HR, on the other hand, is usually concerned with checking the accuracy of your documents. If you list incorrect employment dates, made-up community service, or a false GPA, then your resume will probably be trashed because the company will question your integrity as an individual.
To me, the most important things to remember when drafting job applications are to customize them based on the particular job, show a genuine interest in the company through the cover letter, demonstrate your compatibility with the needs of that company, and be honest in all statements and claims.
I think that's a good way to
I think that's a good way to eliminate exaggerations in your resume: have someone else read it. That way they can give you a reality check if needed. "Dude, Professional Couch Tester is not a job." While I don't believe most people intently exaggerate on their resume it can be a easy thing to do, especially when you are trying to stand out from the rest of the applicants.
I also liked the point you made about using a cover letter to add personality to your resume. A resume, like you said, is just a record of what you've done. A cover letter however is a way of saying, "Here's what I've done and I did it really well."
Andy
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I completely agree with almost everything you said. I think it is very important to have someone proof read your resume. Not only to call you on out on any ridiculous exaggerations but to help check for stupid small errors. I know that whenever I write pretty much anything I end up with a crap load of stupid little typos and spelling mistakes. In this post alone I have already made five or six. I know it would be just my luck to not have someone read over my resume and get rejected for some stupid error that I didn’t catch.