Health and Human Services Professional Development

To Whom it Concerns…Please Read My Cover Letter by   Jill Bowers   on   July 1, 2013   There are no second chances with a cover letter. It is often the first thing that employers glance at. Some may actually read cover letters. Others will skim them. Regardless, if something they do not like jumps out at them, your file will likely be tossed to the bottom of the pile…or worse yet, the trash. Thus, the cover letter is crucial. Some red flags include typos/grammatical errors, too long, rambling, repeating what is on your resume or CV, not addressing important points (e.g., the skills you possess that qualify you for the job), or using the same action words (best to avoid repetitive use of the same words). For more information, see  6 Secrets to Writing a Great Cover Letter ,  8 Cover Letter Tips for Graduates with No Job Experience ,  5 Things Your Cover Letter Must Cover , and  Action Words for Your Cover Letter...

A Good/Bad Resume by   Jill Bowers   on   July 5, 2013 An 11 minute video from Lynda, which illustrates the differences between a good and bad resume: https://youtu.be/0mZdxiHLx6Q *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

15 Fast Tips for Developing Your Resume by   Jill Bowers   on   August 16, 2013   Your resume is essentially your own personal flyer or advertisement. The way it is written, your vocabulary or the words that you use, the layout, detail, and consistency…all of these things are a reflection of YOU. Therefore, when writing one, you have to use business or marketing strategies and carefully articulate your goals, passions, educational background, skills, and accomplishments to get “buy in” from employers. The resume generally serves one, main purpose, and that is to get you an interview. It is not the  only  thing that will get you an interview, but it will play a major role. Employers and hiring managers do not often read every, single detail. In fact, they will likely spend less than a minute looking at it prior to your interview, or they could simply scan it and toss it based on a few small errors or something that they do not like. So, you need to mak...

Preparing for Interviews by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 The article, “ 4 Ways to Prepare for an Interview ,” on experience.com provides strategies on preparing for job interviews. This article offers tips for dressing appropriately, being prepared for talking about what is on your resume, doing your homework on the employer or business to which you are applying, and planning for unexpected turns in the interview process. To read the article on experience.com:  http://www.experience.com/entry-level-jobs/careers/jobs/4-ways-to-prepare-for-an-interview/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

The Resume: It Could be the First and Only Impression by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013   Although you need to have a good idea of what you SHOULD include on a resume, it may be equally important to know what to AVOID. Because the resume may be your first and last opportunity to make an impression, you want to avoid things like typos or grammatical errors, falsifying information on your resume, or disclosing too much personal information. See more tips in the article,  Ten Things to Avoid on your Resume , on  The Job and Career Connection of Connecticut website. Source:  http://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/jcc/viewarticle.asp?intArticle=24 Infographic from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/lying-on-resumes/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Author: Jill Bowers, PhD Your resume is essentially your own personal flyer or advertisement. The way it is written, your vocabulary or the words that you use, the layout, detail, and consistency…all of these things are a reflection of YOU. Therefore, when writing one, you have to use business or marketing strategies and carefully articulate your goals, passions, educational background, skills, and accomplishments to get “buy in” from employers. The resume generally serves one, main purpose, and that is to get you an interview. It is not the only thing that will get you an interview, but it will play a major role. Employers and hiring managers do not often read every, single detail. In fact, they will likely spend less than a minute looking at it prior to your interview, or they could simply scan it and toss it based on a few small errors or something that they do not like. So, you need to make certain that your resume has marketing power. Here are 15 tips for writi...