Resumes and Cover Letters
How important is a resume?
In the past, resumes and cover letters were the primary method to introduce yourself. Increasingly, they are merely a trigger within an employer’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which search through submitted resumes for keywords and related semantic context.
Using Resume Builders
Rezi is an AI-based resume builder. NDMU-affiliated individuals with an ndm.edu email addresses can use it for free. Rezi is the first of its kind, a next generation resume builder, incorporating GPT-3 technology. You will be able to write a resume and cover letter in less than 30 minutes. Rezi does not use graphics or design features as these will corrupt the resume parsing process in an ATS. Use Rezi to:
- Write ‘work experience’ bullet points automatically.
- Write cover letters automatically.
- Download your documents to MS Word, Google Docs, and PDF’s for free.
- Match your resume with the keywords from an uploaded job description.
Prompt the AI-generated language with Action Verbs (PDF). Always prompt the line with an action verb. Personalize each line as best you can.
Use these examples to get even more ideas for your resume
Applicant Tracking Systems
Nearly every employer uses a system that manages applicants’ resumes. Here are some tips for creating a resume that can pass through an ATS.
- Use keywords in the job ad within the context of your work/school experience. Summarize accomplishments and projects.
- Give more emphasis to the keywords nearer the top of the job ad.
- Pay attention to the adjectives used before a skill. ATS systems can judge proficiency by looking for words like expert, superior, strong, meticulous, efficiently or effectively.
- Place the primary skills from a job ad in a professional summary section at the top of your resume.
- Mirror the soft skills needed in the job as well as the hard skills.
- Use standard job titles and section titles (e.g., Work Experience) not abstract labels.
- Avoid using headers and footers.
- Use simple designs/layouts
- Can Your Resume Beat The Bots? How to Make It ATS-friendly
- 8 Secrets to Making an ATS-Friendly Resume - The Muse
- What's an ATS? How to Write a Resume to Beat the Applicant ...
Cover Letters
A cover letter accompanies your resume when applying for positions. It lets employers know why you are interested in the position and their organization. Rezi creates cover letters but these guidelines will help to customize the language it generates.
Guidelines
- Customize each cover letter to match your skills and experience to the position.
- Adhere to application guidelines.
- A well written, free of errors and grammatically correct cover letter is a must! Do not overuse the word “I.”
- Be sure to lead with the correct verb tense.
- Read your letter out loud to ensure that your ideas flow and to catch any awkward sentences or overuse of words or phrases.
- As a final check, have your letter reviewed.
Cover Letter Checklist(PDF) Example (PDF)
Salary Requirements
If you are required to include salary requirements, always state your requirements in a range and that you want to learn more about the position by meeting with them. Form your response on the basis of your research, not your personal need, such as: “Based on the research I have done for this position, it seems the salary range is…”
If an employer asks you to include salary history, avoid answering. This question is illegal in an increasing number of states.