Resume and Cover Letter FAQ

Recently, I was fortunate enough to meet and speak to dozens of job seekers at the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Career Expo.

As is always the case, I fielded dozens of questions on resumes and cover letters.

Now, I'd like to share with you four of the most commonly asked questions, along with my answers, based on 12 years of writing and hiring experience ...

Q. Should I include reasons for leaving prior jobs in my resume?

A. In most cases, no. The only time I would discuss why a position ended is if the company closed down or had to lay you off after just a few months. In that case, a period of short employment should be explained.

On the many resumes I've written for dot-com refugees this year, I've sometimes included a line like this: "Position eliminated due to corporate restructuring."

Q. How important is a cover letter? I normally don't include one when faxing a resume.

A. Some hiring professionals place great emphasis on the cover letter and some don't. To be safe, it's a good idea to include a cover letter, whether you're faxing, e-mailing or using traditional mail to deliver your documents.

Your cover letter should quickly make it clear that you have the right skills and experience for the job, especially you're coming from another industry.

Q. How can I e-mail my resume?

A. For best results, send your resume INSIDE and ATTACHED to your e-mail. That way, even if you have Windows and the employer has a Mac, for example, you're sure that your documents can be read.

Follow these steps before e-mailing your resume to employers:

1. copy and paste the text of your resume and cover letter into the body of an e-mail;
2. attach the document (in Word or WordPerfect) to the e-mail;
3. send a test message to yourself and a friend, to see how the whole thing will look and print -- if it's a mess, adjust and test until it works.

Q. How long should my resume be? One page or two?

A. There's no law against two-page resumes, especially for folks with 10 or more years of experience, or those in highly technical careers. I've done two-page resumes for recent college grads who had to list computer languages, certifications and other details.

But if your resume is two pages long, it should be a compelling read. Put your most valuable selling points near the top of page one. Summarize as needed and remember that you can always elaborate during a job interview.

There you have it! Four of the most commonly asked questions on resumes and cover letters in today's job market.

Best of luck to you!

-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back. For more information, please visit http://www.CollegeRecruiter.com/1dayresumes.html