Ten “Golden Rules” for Introducing Yourself to a Prospective Employer

We work with our customers and trainees every day preparing them for that employment application, interview, or a resume to apply for a job…..it occurred to me that over the years with my human resources experience, that many people who have a job for a very long time and are now without one may never have had to prepare a resume and write that cover letter of introduction. Here are my ten “golden rules” for introducing yourself to a prospective employer.

1. A resume must ALWAYS be one page
2. A cover letter of introduction must ALWAYS be one page
3. A cover letter should highlight and augment what you have in your resume to create the “hook” for the recruiter. They will look at both for a minute or less. Keep it business, never personal.
4. ABSOLUTELY no typographical mistakes in either document……check it over and over and have someone else do it, too.
5. Use a very legible font, no script, nothing tiny. Times New Roman 12 is a good font.
6. Describe what you can do for a company at the top, not the position you want….recruiters really don’t care what you want….they are looking to fill a job.
7. List ALL the ways to reach you…..home phone, pager, cell phone, email and then be sure to check it.
8. Consider a functional resume which describes your strengths and experiences in all the jobs you have had as opposed to one done by date. Be sure to list education and provide references by date.
9. If you do one by date, be sure to put the most recent job description at the top.
   Once you have gotten a new job, keep your resume current (I never was very good about that and I wish I had been).
   

And finally, remember this is only one way to find a job. A resume and a cover letter are tools to find a job. Networking with EVERYONE is the best way to make that connection.

Economic Impact

I am just back from a week in Washington, DC with my counterparts from Goodwills across the country. We shared information about the impact of Goodwill with our elected representatives that I would also like to share with you.

The numbers prove that Goodwill is an important piece of the effort to jumpstart Michigan’s economy. The 10 Goodwills in our state generate more than $100 million in annual revenue.

Here are the important numbers about the Goodwills in Michigan for 2007:
· $103.1 million in gross revenues
· Direct employment of 3588 people
· Served 28,949 clients
· Placed 6349 people in competitive wage job positions

Nationally there are more than 180 local Goodwill organizations training, preparing folks to be ready for work and trusted from the day they start working. I am proud that Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit is a key part of this important effort..

Trained. Trusted. Ready to Work.

Want to know where the jobs are? Just follow Goodwill.

Research in the region shows that future employment opportunities are in: healthcare, information technology, administrative/clerical and, importantly, hospitality/retail.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Wayne County Community College, the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute and CVS/Pharmacy are coordinating the Detroit Hospitality/Retail Career Center funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and Detroit Workforce Development Department. START is a Skillls, Tasks, and Results Training for participants seeking careers in retail, hospitality and lodging. Our students receive 180 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction covering all aspects of hotel operations, skills-based training 12 hospitality and retail positions, instruction in guest services, professionalism and safety, industry-recognized certification upon completing the program, as well as 18 Continuing Education Units. Employers receive free recruitment and pre-screening, criminal background checks, drug screening, accommodations for interviewing and employment consultation. There is an expanded labor pool, with employee assistance services, reduce employee turnover, work opportunity tax credits, targeted jobs tax credits and a diverse applicant pool.

Detroit mirrors the national in moving toward a service economy. With all our all our new hotels, new restaurants and new development, Goodwill is meeting the community’s needs with trained hospitality and retail employees. This program is good for all our employer partners and good for the people we serve. Once again, we are playing to our strength – preparing the workforce for today’s jobs….trained, trusted and ready to work.