Tips to Land a Job

With Election Day approaching, it’s virtually impossible to escape the negative political ads filling the airwaves. But candidates who rely strictly on attacking opponents — rather than highlighting their own strengths and accomplishments — risk alienating the very people they need to win over. The same is true for job candidates.

Hiring managers are drawn to job applicants who show strong interest in the open position as well as in-depth knowledge of the company. That’s why researching a prospective employer and writing a targeted resume and cover letter is so critical.

Good resumes feature concrete achievements, not routine daily tasks. For instance, consider the difference between the approaches these two management candidates took.

Poets and novelists often use complex metaphors to further a reader’s understanding or to highlight important ideas, but crafting a cover letter or resume is not an exercise in creative writing.

One incorrectly used term. One transposed letter. One misplaced punctuation mark. That’s all it could take to cause an employer to question your professionalism and attention to detail.