Most job seekers know that current trends demand that CVs be straight to the point and, preferably, all-encompassing. Regardless of these conditions, your cover letter should almost never be more than a page long and your resumé should probably not exceed two pages. Neither your cover letter nor your resumé is an academic essay and even academic essays seem to be getting revolutionized in format length -- or at least there's some suggestion that they should.

I've read and marked a fair share of student essays and was always surprised at how unnecessarily complicated and long some of the papers seemed to be. But I knew where that was coming from -- academia's insistence on and tradition of long-form papers to explain sometimes short and sometimes fairly simple concepts. Hey, it wasn't that long ago that I used to write essays myself which seemed to require bibliographies of bibliographies and at least six dictionaries. Maybe it was my failing as a writer to write in such a complicated and lengthy way but it was how I was taught and trained.

In his great opinion piece Teaching to the Text Message, Andy Selsberg of The New York Times writes about the need to shorten not only academic papers but (any) message in general. Be it the influence of Twitter or texting, it's pretty obvious that we're getting more used to wording that is precise and concise. As Selsberg writes in his piece, there's just nowhere to hide with shorter, plainer sentences. Keep applying these principles to your cover letter, keep it short, and even if you're not as qualified as the guy or gal who brought a novella to the interview, your letter will probably have more chances of being read and noticed anyway.

Jowita

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While technology makes things easier, it also makes things harder, especially for those who try to get an edge over their competitors. Listen, it's tough to make it out there no matter what you try to promote and we all do promote something, even if we don't think that we do. Sending out your resumé is exactly that -- self-promotion. In the article New Decade Means a New Day for Job Hunters, Drew Hinshaw writes that the old-fashioned paper resumé may just be a thing of the past. It's the Flash and Twitter of what you put out there that makes employers check you out and consider you worthy of hiring. Supposedly, overtired recruiters have an easier time clicking on something than going through a pile of paper. Not only that, as Louise Fletcher of Blue Sky Résumés, quoted in the article, says: "People can choose to click on the link or not," which makes these choices even faster to make.

This makes me anxious for many reasons. Not only because it makes me feel suddenly old. (My last resumé was definitely a paper resumé, formatted -- oh heavens! -- in Microsoft Word.) (That's like using a typewriter or something.) Also, because it makes me feel tired (therefore old?). Tired of having to keep up-to-date and having to suddenly worry about making my web presence more of a presence and possibly forgoing everything that I've been trying to keep in mind until now about how to conduct and maintain a job search. I know that the future, where the use of creative technology will be de rigueur, is not that far away, but it suddenly seems to me that ignorant, technology-free bumming somewhere on a beach in Goa is a much better life goal than a cubicle. Having said that, I remind myself to keep calm and carry on.

Jowita

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Among the 85 million LinkedIn subscribers they are now known as the most overused words. In the recently released list of 10 they are the following offenders: innovative, problem solver, results-oriented, proven track record, fast-paced, entrepreneurial, motivated, dynamic, extensive experience and team player.

I can admit to using at least five of these words and I'm supposed to be a bit of a wordsmith. But give me "dynamic" and I'm practically panting with joy because it's an easy, smart word that just seems perfectly descriptive of what it is that I think I am.

But I'm not really panting. And I'm not really that dynamic, either. I'm actually quite lazy when I use one of those overused gems and, sadly, it shows. According to the Los Angeles Times article Overused Words on LinkedIn Include "Motivated," "Team Player" and "Problem Solver," employment experts say that "clichéd words seem empty to recruiters and hiring managers, who instead look for hard numbers and specific anecdotes to illustrate a potential worker's prowess."

Naturally, it's hard to avoid using some of those words in a job profile. But LinkedIn reps say that a better way to catch employer's attention is by spicing up the profile with extras such as listing past positions or even putting up a photograph, rather than by using fancy words.

Results-oriented Jowita

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Seven years ago I heard about an opening for a writer for a new, cool TV show. I had no experience writing for TV but someone recommended me to the development producer, so I went and met with her to talk. She explained what the show was going to be about and said they were still working on episode ideas. I went home and spent the next 12 hours (I worked all night) writing out potential ideas. I came up with 96 and emailed them to the producer. Unfortunately, the show was pulled before it even launched (hopefully, not due to some of my suggestions). I'm still recovering from that night -- I think I might've fried my brain.

This is probably the most extreme I've ever gone to get a job but there are some people out there who will go to any lengths. A CareerBuilder.com survey found that people have done things like bringing a video recommendation from a former boss, designing the prospective employer's entire portfolio and, in one case, a woman dealt cards and pretended to interact with clients -- this in order to get hired as a blackjack dealer. Not to forget the man who sang his resumé.

Of course, like with everything, trying to impress the future boss should probably be done within reason. CareerBuilder.com lists some hilarious (and scary) things that were actually said in job interviews. One candidate being asked why he wanted to work for the person interviewing him responded: "My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!"

Jowita

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It seems that every time the topic of job searching has come up lately, the question has been raised, should one "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God?"

I recently attended a session on how to complete an online application. Many large employers are using this method for screening potential candidates and I was interested in understanding the ins and outs of the process. The instructor stressed the importance of checking all the boxes that match the requirements listed in the job posting. If you don't, you're out of the game. In fact, there's no point applying at all. When you have the choice between lying about your skills and forgetting about the posting, lying becomes an attractive proposition, especially when you know that you can do the job and easily acquire the missing skill. Why should you exclude yourself from the competition because of an unbending and unthinking automated system? "The important thing is to get that interview," the instructor insisted.

My son, who has been trying to find a summer job for the last few weeks, was advised by his friends to beef up his resumé a little and come up with fake references. They even offered their phone numbers as reference contacts. That's handy!

A co-worker, who was unemployed last year, told me that she started leaving her M.A. out of her resumé from fear of being seen as overqualified and quickly disqualified. Can you blame people for omitting information that limits their chances of getting a job?

Whether it's omitting to mention important facts or manipulating the truth to make it look better (such as only including the year worked in your employment history even if it was a four-month stint or a part-time job), it appears that "that the current economic climate and the resulting competition for jobs could push candidates to bend the facts in their favour," research carried out in the UK deduced.

But, how much are you willing to bend the truth? Does it depend on how bent you are? There's a big difference between a little white lie that presents the facts in an advantageous light and a bold lie. Or, does it depend on how desperate you are and the implications of your lie. Saying that you know CPR for a lifeguard position is different than making up a reference to get a dishwashing job.

The hiring process is frustrating for job seekers. It is very competitive, often complicated and has become very impersonal. No wonder people feel obliged to play around with facts or to simply lie. Only your conscience can guide you.

Josée

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In our current employment market, which continues to be quite competitive, being a creative and cutting-edge job seeker can set you apart from the masses. But how do you know whether you're crossing the line from innovative to over-the-top? I ask myself that question every time I come across what appears to be an emerging trend -- the video resumé.

Nowadays, job hunting is often equated with "branding" and "selling" yourself. Video resumés are consequently seen as a way for candidates to "market their personal brand." With the emergence of companies like The Original VideoBIO Inc. and CVTV, which offer to shoot and produce your video, what's stopping you from tossing your paper resumé into the recycling heap and jumping onto the video resumé bandwagon?

Although paper resumés can be staid and boring at times, I'm still unsure that video resumés are the way of the future. They don't provide an opportunity to demonstrate written communication skills and can be time-consuming and costly to produce. And, sure, a video message can be a great way to show off your charm, vibrancy and verbal communication skills to a potential employer. But what about those of us who aren't exactly the Grace Kelly or Clark Gable type? Will we end up selling ourselves short?

More importantly, I worry that video resumés open the door to potential discrimination. While it may be common in some European countries to include personal information like age, sex, marital status and a photo on a resumé, these details are never provided in Ontario because the Ontario Human Rights Code forbids employers from requesting them.

Perhaps videos could play a limited role in the job hunt: they could be used in addition to traditional resumés or in competitions for broadcasters, facilitators, or conference speakers, for example. Overall, however, I'm not convinced that the hiring world should adopt this questionable practice. So if you were getting excited about starring in your very own autobiographical production, you might just have to save your pearly whites for interview day.

Veronica

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Once I wrote a fantastic customized resumé and equally fabulous cover letter, not realizing until it was almost too late that they were due the next day. Sending my application by email was not an option. Not trusting the mail, I decided to drop my resumé and cover letter off in person.

When I got to the company, the place was locked down tighter than a drum, and I felt kind of creepy trying to open the doors. The end result was that I didn’t get the application in on time, and, of course, I didn’t get the job. Who knows? If I had paid attention to the details of the posting, I might have landed a new job.

It’s common for job postings to contain specific application instructions. Sometimes employers ask job seekers to fax their resumé, some ask them to mail it, and yet others want an email. Also look for details as to whether you should send the resumé in the body of the email or in an MS Word (or rich text) attachment. Often ads will stipulate: “No telephone calls, please.” Needless to say, making a phone call could ruin your chances.

As well, don’t forget to put the job call number or job title in the subject line of your email or cover letter if the posting asks for that. I have even heard of companies who ask job hunters to include the name of their favourite cartoon character in the subject line. You can bet that they don’t really care whether you prefer Bugs Bunny over Porky Pig. It’s just a way to weed out applicants who can’t follow instructions.

Finally, you can never be too careful about tiny details like the following:

• Having the correct email address (for email applications)
• Sending snail mail packages to the correct address
• Putting enough postage on the envelope

And, unlike me, make sure that you send your application before the closing date!

Susan Stone

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I do realize that the present job market is very competitive. I was still surprised to recently see a job opening for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) posted for only 24 hours. Is it a reflection on the state of the labour market? Or, was it because it was a full-time permanent job -- a rare bird especially in the cultural field? It may be a little of both.

I remember being equally astonished that the main recommendation put forth at a workshop I attended on how to apply for the federal government -- a fairly complicated process with very precise guidelines -- was to search through the available positions daily. Some positions, particularly entry-level ones, attract so many candidates that they are only posted for 24 hours or even less. And, we're not talking about the 24 hours in the life of TV character Jack Bauer, which stretches on for weeks, months and even years.

Today's work climate gives a whole new definition to the saying "looking for work is a full-time job;" nowadays it requires a little overtime. Competition is fierce and being ready requires special training. From producing impeccable personalized resumés to acing behavioural interviews, there's a long way to go. Do not hesitate to seek professional help from a career centre. Take each job application that you sent as training and each interview that you get as practice. The important thing is not to get discouraged and to persevere. The more you do it, the better you'll get at it.

The race to employment doesn't start the day the job is posted but months before. The more time you put in getting ready, the more you increase your chances of success. The better prepared you are, the more stellar your performance will be. As a sportscaster recently commented on Olympic athletes, "What makes them so special is that they can perform under pressure." I would add to that, what allows them to perform under pressure and deliver is the intense preparation.

Watching the Olympics the last couple of weeks I found myself feeling sorry for the athletes who put in so much effort but ended up coming fourth, fifth or even twentieth. But if everybody who enters a race wins, it wouldn't be a competition. Not everybody has a hand at the gold metal or at the one specific job posting, but there's always tomorrow's competition.

Josée

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Are your resumés and cover letters as lifeless as a mouse that's been mangled one too many times by the neighbourhood cat? If so, read on. There are some ways you can breathe life into your resumés and cover letters so that they stand out from the pack.

According to blogger Liz Ryan, resumés that use a human voice pack power. (Mind you, this goes against the common wisdom that exhorts job seekers to never use "I" in their resumé.) Here's one line from an example Ryan uses to show a job seeker speaking directly to the reader: "I've loved untangling thorny people problems and helping groups move past differences to beat their goals."

Untangling is a strong and unusual verb for a resumé. I can actually visualize an image of a person separating the spiky limbs of entwined colleagues.

For another example, take a look at Harry Joiner's blog post where he dissects a cover letter line by line. "I love it when people take chances with their communication," he says, referring to the letter writer's use of the term: "I'm champing at the bit to join an organization and prove my mettle." Again, this is another visual sentence with a strong verb.

In Ryan's post her "typical" example of a resumé summary is much less colourful: "Results-oriented HR professional with a bottom-line orientation and strong attention to detail. Team player with excellent communication and organizational skills and experience leading cross-functional teams." This jargony and cliché-filled example (results-oriented, team player) could have been written by anybody.

WetFeet's article on the use of language says "avoid bloated language at all costs. Don't try to impress recruiters with two-bit words and trendy business jargon."

If you're still feeling a little shaky about your writing, check out this writers resources website. There you can find some more tools to help you perform surgery on your resumé.

For More Information:

• Take An Axe to Buzzwords

kathyo

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I squirmed when I read the Squawkfox article Six Words That Make Your Resumé Suck. It talks about six commonly found phrases that "litter the average resume with buzzword badness." Gulp, I've used no less than three of these bad buzzwords on my resumés, a 50 per cent successlessness rate.

Buzzword Failure No. 1 -- My first mistake, I learned, is using "was responsible for." I should know better than to draw on this easy-to-use but empty figure of speech. As I'm reminded: "Of course you're responsible for something. But how many? How long? Who? What? When?" I feel admonished. But beneath the embarrassment I must concede this guy? gal? makes some sense.

Blunder No. 2 -- My next faux pas is trumpeting "my excellent written communication skills." Much to my astonishment I find that I'm not really standing out when I use this phrase, one the writer seriously dislikes. "This phrase must die," he/she writes. I feel appropriately mortified. A better way, according to my mystery writer, is to specifically spell out what you write and how you communicate. "However you wrap your words, be sure to give the details."

And, speaking of details ...

Misstep No. 3 -- My subsequent resumé pitfall is letting the world know I'm detail oriented. Of course I'm detail oriented -- I'm a Virgo for God's sake. But this writer doesn't care about my astrological tendencies and instead orders me to, once again, be specific, this time about the details I'm "oriented" to. "Give the facts, the numbers, the time lines, the dollar figure, the quantitative data that sells your skills and disorients the competition," this resumé pro barks. Tail between my legs, I listen to this well-grounded advice.

At least I'm not experienced, successful or a team player.

kathyo

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"See you tonite!" reads your latest text to a friend. So you've spelled the last word wrong -- who cares? Think of all the time you’ve saved leaving out the "g" and the "h" (er, never mind about adding the "e") -- time is money!

Fine. While the word-nerd in me may cringe, I get it -- a text is a text, and in the realm of instant messaging and emails, spelling mistakes are not only acceptable, they're downright common.

But grammar-negligent typing should have no place in your job search. If you're sending out tons of resumés and cover letters, chances are you've committed a few grammatical transgressions. And that -- particularly in this economy -- almost certainly guarantees one thing: no matter how qualified you may be for the position, you can say sayonara to your chances for an interview.

A recent study shows that when encountering a spelling error, one in four executives will immediately send the mistake-maker's resumé into the "no" pile. With mass layoffs this year, the number of applicants you're competing with has likely increased quite a bit; as potential applicant piles grow tall, the last thing you want to do is give a hiring manager an instant reason to dismiss your application.

For tips on proofreading, such as reading your resumé backwards or getting a fresh pair of eyes to look over your work, check out this article on ten proofreading tips.

If you find yourself in a crunch, with little time for a thorough proofreading, at least do a quick scan for some of the most common typos:

• "Your" when you really mean "you're"
• "They're" vs. "their" vs. "there"
• "Write" vs. "right"
• "Then" vs. "than"
• "Its" vs. "it's"

It may seem time-consuming to go over your work, especially if you like to churn out lots of applications. But as your resumé is the first piece a hiring manager sees, it's probably worthwhile to give it one more glance. You could even ask your friend to look it over tonite tonight.

SKY

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An acquaintance recently asked me to look at her resumé. "Sure," I said, thinking that it just required a bit of rewording here or there. Wrong -- her resumé required a major overhaul. It was such a smorgasbord of everything she had done in her entire career that I couldn't figure out what she was even applying for.

Years ago as a welfare worker I would ask what type of jobs my clients were focusing on. "Oh, I’m looking for anything," they would invariably say (and show up the next month still without a job.) Perhaps they wanted to impress upon me that they were so eager to work that they would take any old job. Well, this type of strategy failed to impress me.

"You need to focus your job search," I wanted to scream. (Of course, good girl that I am, the only screaming was inside my head.)

Focus was basically the advice I gave my friend. If your resumés (notice I use the plural here) are tailored to specific jobs or fields you stand a much greater chance of getting an interview than if they are all over the place.

If you need some help with tailoring your resumé take a look at the Workopolis article Resumes: One Size Doesn't Fit All. It suggests setting up a resumé information bank with specific files listing your qualifications, skills, education, work history and so on. "Once collected and saved, information of this kind can be used time and again to customize and target your resumes and cover letters."

The Tailoring Your Resume ... Cover Letter ... Interview! article also gives a great example of how to customize your resumé based on a sample job ad.

And I would probably be remiss if I didn't mention our own resumé toolkit.

kathyo

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Being a writer and all, I have written some pretty good cover letters and resumés in my time -- only to wipe out during the interview. As the cliché says; a resumé only gets you in the door. If you flub your answers or don't connect with your interviewers, there's a good chance that your finely crafted resumé and cover letter will be tossed into the "sorry" pile. At least that's the way I see it after a week of helping interview people for a vacant position.

Another cliché job hunters should pay attention to: be enthusiastic. During the interviews, the top choice candidate was so positive and enthusiastic that it affected my serotonin levels. I couldn't wait to work with her. Conversely, another candidate seemed so bored, I felt deflated afterwards. She wanted a job, any job, not particularly one with our organization, and it showed.

This last choice candidate (with scads more experience than the front-runner) also implied that one of our competitors was more sophisticated and had higher standards than us. It's perfectly fine to mention a few ways you think a company could improve but you're not going to win points by comparing an organization unfavourably to a competitor or emphatically stating how a company should change.

If you ever get the chance to sit on a hiring committee, take it. It gives you the chance to be on the "other side" and see what works and what does not when it comes to interviews, resumés and cover letters.

kathyo

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When I was younger I thought that writing a resumé meant that you had to come up with the most complicated way of saying the simplest things. So instead of simply saying: "Made sandwiches during busy periods," I could dress it up as: "Successfully completed production of edible materials for demanding clientele."

In fact, writing resumés means that sometimes you have to do the opposite -- use simple words or examples instead of meaningless empty phrases. So, for example, instead of writing something like: "Experienced working in fast-paced environment," you could use a much simpler language and illustrate this example with an actual story: "Regularly met shortened production deadlines to deliver the product on time." In the article 25 Words That Hurt Your Resumé, a number of "bad" words are mentioned that include some surprises (at least to me) such as: creative, detail-oriented, flexible and hard-working. It's not that these words are necessarily wrong to use in a resumé but it is better to use examples to illustrate them.

I know that I've been guilty of using all kinds of "bad" words in my resumé. In fact, after reading this article, I want to go back and see if I can make some small changes that would give my resumé an even clearer picture of my work history and experience.

ttyl

Jowita

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When I got laid off, right away I decided to do something else besides searching for a job. I thought about it for some time and it became obvious to me that one thing I could do was to start a magazine. I had the background and I definitely had the extra time, plus I wouldn't have to leave my house.

When I started my online magazine I sent out calls for submissions to writers and illustrators. For my first issue I had two writers, for the last one (the magazine folded after I started working full-time) I had six writers, two photographers and an illustrator.

I utilized my time off to actually learn something that would be useful later in my career. Just making sure that everything was submitted on time and negotiating word counts and spaces was a great experience. I also learned how to build websites and do layout and I started to learn how to promote my own product, too. The main point to all of this is that when I applied for jobs, I could put down all of that experience on my resumé.

The article Explaining Resumé Gaps, says that it's a good idea to be optimistic (but truthful) when explaining the missing periods in your career history. "Recruiters stress that if you must address your resume gaps in a job search, focus on presenting the time off from work as a positive, learning experience. Some gaps, such as taking time to care for a sick relative or to go back to school, explain themselves."

ttyl

Jowita

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When I was younger I thought it was hilarious to make jokes on my resumé. I thought that including weird hobbies -- “riding my stationary bike while watching bad TV” -- showed that I was kind of clever when, in fact, I was clearly delusional.

These kinds of intentional blunders are occasionally welcomed -- especially if the job ad you’re applying for challenges you to do something truly original.

I found the following intentional blunders on the web page 150 Funniest Resumé Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever, so I don’t think they worked out for the applicants, but, still, they’re quite funny:

• ”Hobbies: “mushroom hunting”
• “Marital status: often Children: various.”
• “Able to say the ABCs backward in under five seconds.”
• “I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.”

Then, there are some truly unintentional oopsies:

• “My duties included cleaning the restrooms and seating the customers.”
• “I am great with the pubic.”
• “Seeking a party-time position with potential for advancement.”
• Languages: “Speak English and Spinach.”
• Job Duties: “Answer phones, file papers, respond to customer emails, take odors.”
• Candidate explained an arrest by stating, “We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig.”

ttyl

Jowita

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I’ve always been baffled by the Objective section on a resumé. I had used it in the past (I’d seen my friends do that and when I was younger I was a huge copycat so I did it too). I would just stick it right there, at the top of the page, in shouty CAPS as if I were actually announcing something worthy of attention. But all that it would say would be something like: OBJECTIVE: TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT USING MY EXPERIENCE AND PEOPLE SKILLS.

Clever, eh?

Not really. First of all, what am I really saying there? Obviously that is my objective -- after all, I am applying to restaurants with that particular resumé -- what else could my objective? I just never really got the point of it. So I started putting Highlights in the Objectives space instead -- you know, listing all those things that will make me stand out (bilingual, 5+ years of experience, etc.).

Today, I came across the Recruiter Roundtable: Objectives on Resumés article on the Yahoo hot jobs site. Yes, I thought, the Objectives mystery will be revealed!

Well, almost. In the article, some recruiters say it’s a waste of space, some find it helpful if it’s written as a kind of a summary. I liked this reasoning: "Including an objective targeted to a specific position can be helpful since it quickly tells an employer why the job candidate is interested in the opportunity and is the right fit for it." (DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International)

ttyl

Jowita

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