Greg Ryan

4 Reasons You Must Personalize Your Cover Letter

Hi! Welcome to my Blog. I like to use my experience as both a Certified Résumé Writer and administrator in charge of the candidate selection and interview process for my department to share helpful tips that I have picked up along the way. This blog will be updated frequently. I hope you enjoy it! Positive Testimonials and remembering to “Like” my Facebook page are GREATLY appreciated.

4 Reasons You Must Personalize Your Cover Letter

I hear it all the time. I understand it. I get it. But I just don’t agree with it. The “it” is when people tell me that they are too busy to write a different cover letter for each job application. I fully appreciate how busy and hectic life can get. We all have those days where it seems like we don’t even have a second to think, let alone time to sit down to write an entire cover letter. Still, whether you are hiring a Professional to help or writing your own, I believe a cover letter should be personalized for a particular job posting. Here are 4 reasons that you must personalize your cover letter.

Supply vs. Demand. Jobs are in short supply and high demand. Depending on the type of position you are applying for, it’s likely that there are literally hundreds of interested candidates. If you were a hiring manager, would you rather hire someone that clearly has no knowledge about your company and its goal or someone that articulates how they will directly benefit you and your company?
Chance to ease concerns. No matter how experienced you are, there are going to be certain roles that you are better qualified for than others. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to concern on the employer’s end if not properly explained. Résumés do not leave much room explanation. Cover letters are your opportunity to elaborate on why you do meet the specific needs of that company.
It’s obvious. Don’t fool yourself. Employers know when a candidate took the time to research the position and company. That shows an initial investment that is appealing to the person in charge of hiring.
Highlight why they NEED you. Some accomplishments, honors, awards, etc. are more important to certain people than others. A generic cover letter doesn’t allow you to purposefully choose which areas you highlight. This prohibits you from driving home aspects that will truly impress an employer and best fit their needs.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

10 Mistakes to Avoid During Your Job Search

10 Mistakes to Avoid During Your Job Search

The entire process of applying for a job, interviewing for a job and weighing a job offer can certainly be overwhelming to anyone. There are constant hurdles to be cleared throughout the whole ordeal, making it easy to become paranoid that one mistake will hurt your chances. I’m here today to hopefully help everyone relax a little bit by offering the 10 biggest mistakes to avoid during your job search. These include some that might seem surprising but are all too common during an interview process.

Appearing disinterested. If the interviewer feels like they don’t have your full attention or you have other places you’d rather be, they will write you off immediately. Be careful to remain engaged and interested throughout the entire process.
Being unprofessional. This is an issue at all steps of the application and interview process. Make sure you have a professional looking résumé that does not include typos or spacing issues, that you have a professional sounding e-mail address (not Wildman23@…) and always dress professionally. It’s better to over-dress than under-dress.
Speaking negatively about previous employers or co-workers. This gives a bad first impression and can leave employers with a bad vibe about you. They may fear that you are difficult to work with and the same issues will happen at your new job.
Lacking attention to detail. This can occur in a variety of ways: failing to follow application instructions, being late on deadlines, forgetting to include attachments in an e-mail, etc. Candidates always give their best impression during this process, so employers will be wary to give someone a chance whose “best impression” already has obvious flaws.
Forgetting to personalize application materials. This may imply that you are either uninformed about the position & its requirements or simply unable to provide evidence supporting your candidacy.
Your résumé is too long or too short. You want to highlight key information while still being succinct.
Sharing too much personal information. Employers want to know how you will benefit their company, not what you do on the weekends with your friends. Don’t cross that line until you have worked at a company for a while and have learned when it is acceptable.
You can’t provide specific examples. Saying that you are good at this or that is nice, but it quickly loses value if you don’t have any specific examples to back up your claim. Entry levels positions can be more forgiving because you aren’t expected to have much industry experience.
Asking personal questions during interview. This goes along with #7 above but it’s still worth mentioning. When I’m interviewing someone, I find it uncomfortable when a candidate attempts to delve into my personal life. Know your place at the table. It’s to showcase why you are the best candidate, not to make new friends. It’s one thing to be personable, it’s another thing to get personal.
Applying for the wrong jobs. Being extremely under-qualified is obvious why that would be an issue for employers, but being WAY over-qualified can be a concern as well. Employers are hesitant to hire someone that they think will immediately be looking for their next position. With that being said, I do think it’s fine to apply for jobs for which you may be slightly under/over-qualified. Passion, work ethic and desire to learn can make up for that.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

5 Reasons to Use a Functional Résumé

5 Reasons to Use a Functional Résumé

Traditionally, résumés have followed a chronological format that lists your past experience beginning with the most recent and moving back in time. That is still the case today, but there are instances when you might want to consider another résumé format to best meet your needs. One such example of a different way to construct a résumé is to create a Functional Résumé. This type of résumé focuses more on transferrable skills than a traditional résumé. If you are having a tough time putting together a résumé that you are happy with, perhaps a functional résumé is the way to go. Here, I will explain 5 reasons to use a functional résumé.

You are re-entering the workforce. There are plenty of completely valid reasons why someone may have voluntarily decided to take time off from work. The problem is that it can be difficult to communicate those reasons effectively in a résumé. A functional résumé will shift the focus to the skills that you possess that will help a potential employer instead of inadvertently focusing on your time away from work.
You frequently change jobs. Employers may look at this pattern of “job-hopping” and assume that you won’t be staying with their company very long. That means they’ll have to go through the exhausting hiring and training process again in the near future. That can be off-putting for employers. A functional résumé can showcase the wide variety of skills that you have acquired at your various jobs and turn “job hopping” into a strength.
You hope to transition to a new career. It can be difficult to have strong previous experience if you have never worked in a desired field, even though many of your skills may be transferrable. A traditional résumé can unintentionally highlight that lack of experience by focusing on job titles that are not exactly relevant. A functional résumé would focus more on the transferrable skills that are relevant and use your experience as proof that you have a proven track record of success using those skills.
You have multiple gaps in your work history. Multiple gaps in employment can give the impression that there is a reason that you can’t keep a job. These gaps can best be explained in a face-to-face interview and a functional résumé can help get you there.
Your previous jobs all had very similar responsibilities. Generally, it’s a good thing to have worked in your field in a variety of positions. However, it can make a résumé seem long-winded and repetitive if you keep repeating the same responsibilities and skills from one job to the next. A functional résumé will pull those skills out to the forefront and provide space to elaborate on why they are relevant for this potential position.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

5 Reasons You Should Customize Your Résumé

5 Reasons You Should Customize Your Résumé

I hear the question all the time: “Can’t I just use one résumé for all jobs openings?” After all, your experiences and education don’t magically change simply because it’s a different job opportunity. I get why people think that way, but the fact is that it’s just not accurate thinking. Even if multiple openings are within the same field, each job listing comes with its own unique responsibilities and requirements. Furthermore, each employer is looking for something slightly different than the next. To further my point, I will use this blog entry to explain my top 5 reasons why you should customize your résumé.

You need to STAND out! A recent study found that the average job posting receives roughly 200 responses within a week of posting. Consider the following two résumés – Which résumé would you be more confident in getting a call back? 1) A generic résumé that doesn’t make any attempt to address the needs of an employer. OR 2) One that highlights your value to that specific company. It’s worth the time to put in the work if it will help you stand out.
Show that you are actually qualified. One frustration that I routinely encounter while selecting candidates to interview is the large number of unqualified candidates that apply. This can happen for two reasons: 1) They really aren’t qualified. OR 2) They are qualified but didn’t do a good job communicating that in the precious few seconds résumés are looked at before gauging interest. It is imperative that employers can easily see that you are qualified. Don’t let reason #2 happen to you. It might mean you missed out on a great opportunity.
Helps to demonstrate genuine interest in the position. Another thing I notice when scanning résumés is that many give the impression that the candidate applies to any and all jobs he/she can find. Employers like to feel that you are truly interested in their specific opening. Whether that is true or not, it should always seem that way.
Makes it easier to include keywords. With employers receiving sometimes hundreds of résumés for each opening, they very often use software to filter out unqualified candidates. One way this is done is through the use of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that looks for specific keywords in a résumé. Scanning that specific job posting can help to determine keywords for the position. (This is something that Certified Résumé Writers are VERY good at)
Focuses on relevant strengths and successes. By customizing your résumé, you are able to expand on specific responsibilities that may have been listed in the job posting. While they might have been on your résumé anyway, it helps to move them up and/or elaborate when possible. This will help employers visualize how you fit into their plan.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

7 Things to Consider When Offered a Job

7 Things to Consider When Offered a Job

We all know the saying, “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side”. Well that is true with job hunting as well. Often, people have an urge to constantly search for new jobs due to the fear that something better is out there. While there usually is something else out there, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily better. Receiving a new job offer is exciting and a meaningful accomplishment, but you still want to make sure that the switch is right for you. Moving to a new job can certainly be a great move for you in terms of future potential and salary, but it’s not a guarantee. Here are 7 things to consider when offered a job that can help you determine if a new job offer makes sense for you.

Room for growth. This is a key topic to consider, especially if you have a desire to move up in the future. Many companies offer a good starting salary, but there isn’t really anywhere to go from there. Often, the easiest place to move up is within your own company, so it’s worth looking into growth potential in the new company.
Stability of position and company. Sometimes a position sounds almost too good to be true. Before leaving a solid job at a stable company, you may want to consider the stability of the new company and position. Has each been around awhile? If there is a risk – which is not always a bad thing – are you in a position to take it?
Does the position spark your interest? If you plan on being at your new position for the foreseeable future, you probably don’t want to be miserable each day. Some items to consider include: Will you be able to learn about new areas, products or programs? Are you truly interested in the field that you are considering entering?
Does the new schedule and commute make sense for you and your family? It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of a new job (and potentially higher salary), only to forget to consider how it will impact your personal life. Everyone’s situation is different, so be sure to consider the new schedule and commute when deciding on a job offer.
Can you envision yourself working with these people for years to come? Most people spend just as much time with their colleagues as their own families. If something gives you a bad feeling about working with the people in the interview, it’s worth thinking about if the job is truly right for you.
Are you simply following the crowd? You’d be surprised to hear how many people begin applying for new jobs simply because their friends or co-workers are changing jobs. I assume this is due to a fear of being left behind. Still, switching jobs or careers is not the right move for everyone. Be sure to find the right opportunity for you, not simply the next opportunity.
Does the actual role match the description? Occasionally, employers will try to lure in applicants with job postings that promise interesting & creative opportunities, travel, etc., but then in the interview the job doesn’t seem to match the description for which you applied. That should be a red flag. Especially if you are leaving behind a solid career, you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse within a few weeks on the new job.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!