Resumes and Cover Letters That Don't Suck

A hiring manager will look at your resume for about six seconds before deciding your fate. Six seconds. That’s less time than it takes to watch a commercial. Your entire history of school projects, skills, and effort has to make an impact in the time it takes to tie your shoes. This isn't to scare you. It's to show you that a great resume isn't about listing everything you've ever done. It's about making those six seconds count.

Your resume and cover letter are your personal marketing documents. Their only job is to get you an interview. Nothing more.A resume is a one-page summary of your skills, accomplishments, and education. For you, “experience” includes school projects, volunteer work, personal projects, helping with a family business, or any responsibility you've held. A cover letter is a short, 3-4 paragraph letter explaining why you want this specific job and what you’d bring to it. It should never be a repeat of your resume.The biggest mistake is sending the same generic document everywhere. You must tailor your application for each job. Also, avoid these common errors that get you rejected instantly:Spelling or grammar mistakes.Lying about your experience.Using an unprofessional email address.Submitting...

Isabella (17) wanted a part-time job at a local bookstore. She opened a document to write her resume and stared at the blank “Work Experience” section. She had never had a formal job. She almost closed the file, feeling defeated. Then she decided to think differently. Instead of jobs, she listed projects. She wrote that she organized the annual school book fair, which taught her event planning. She listed tutoring younger students in reading, showing her patience and teaching skills. She even included her popular book review social media account, which demonstrated writing and digital marketing abilities. She also noted she spoke two languages. In her interview, the manager told her, “Your resume was one of the only ones that showed me who you actually are, not just where you’ve worked.” I...