Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
Whether this is your first resume and cover letter or your 10th, writing effective application materials can be challenging.
This is partially because effective resumes aren’t written in the same way you might naturally speak. As a result, it can be challenging to convey your professional accomplishments in an effective written tone and style.
And sure, cover letters are more personalized, but they still require a professional tone you might not use daily.
Another reason it can be difficult to write resumes and cover letters is because they affect so much of your life. From where you can live to how much spending money you have, resumes and cover letters are key factors in landing a job that supports your goals.
To top it all off, they need to snag a hiring manager’s attention in just a few seconds.
All of these things compound to make writing resumes and cover letters a little intimidating. To help you out, we asked one of our career experts to answer some of the most common questions about resumes and cover letters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resumes
Answering resume questions is Keith Spencer, a member of FlexJobs’ team of career experts. From career planning for university students to professional career coaching, Keith is passionate about helping others.
Take some time to look through his top tips and take your resume to the next level.
1. Does my resume have to be just one page?
Maintaining a one-page resume has become an outdated standard. If you have had an extensive career, have worn many hats in your past roles, or have a considerable number of achievements to include, it’s perfectly fine to go beyond the first page.
That said, there’s still a best practice of keeping it under two pages, maximum.
Also, keep in mind that you shouldn’t go onto a second page simply because it’s allowed. Hiring managers are notoriously rushed, so you want to keep the information on your resume as concise, relevant, and targeted as possible!
2. Should I list my entire career history?
Only the last 10-15 years of work experience should be in your resume’s “Professional Experience” section. With less information, you highlight your most recent—and relevant—work for potential employers.
Keeping your career history short and sweet ensures you avoid potential issues related to ageism within the application stage of the job search process.
When you have relevant experience that extends beyond that 10- to 15-year range, consider including an “Additional Related Experience” section.
Build this section after your professional experience section, listing one or two earlier roles here. Remove the dates and keep the descriptions condensed.
You could also craft a “Highlighted Attributes” section before your “Professional Experience” section. This list will include key contributions or accomplishments from earlier experiences.
Again, you’ll want to ensure they’re highly relevant to the job you’re applying for.
3. What do I do if I have a gap in employment?
It’s best to address any employment gaps head-on in the “Professional Experience” section. Note that you only need to address any gaps within that 10-15 year employment window you’re highlighting.
For example, you can include a “Career Break” for unplanned gaps or a “Planned Career Break” entry within your experience section.
Proactively address the reason for this gap and avoid having employers imagine potential concerns or red flags that don’t exist. For these types of entries, tactfully explain why you were unemployed.
Caregivers, for example, might include a statement like this: “An intentional pause in career to focus on full-time caregiving; parted with a previous employer on good terms and excited and energized to return to work.”
How to address layoffs and more
Another common concern is addressing getting laid off or fired.
Your explanation might read, “One of many laid off due to a change in company strategy; using the time to identify and research top remote organizations.”
Also, if you have been out of the workforce for a while, you may have had the time to volunteer, take online or in-person courses, or engage in other professional development activities.
If so, mentioning this type of experience within your “Career Break” entry is perfectly appropriate, showing you stayed professionally engaged.
4. What skills should I list on my resume?
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. The skills to include will depend heavily on the position you’re applying to.
If you were to list your entire skill set, you’d quickly run out of space. Instead, carefully review the job description to identify key skills and attributes the employer is seeking. Matching those as closely as possible is the best way to stand out.
It’s also worth mentioning that some of your best skills can be relevant but maybe aren’t explicitly mentioned. It’s a good idea to include a mixture of “soft” (or transferable) skills and “hard” (or technical) skills.
Your transferable skills can be listed in a “Key Skills” or “Core Competencies” section.
That section will generally be positioned directly after your “Professional Summary” section and should focus primarily on general transferable skills, like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, etc.
How to list specific skills
You can also include some role-specific transferable skills. For example, customer service, customer support, building rapport, customer satisfaction, and conflict resolution would be appropriate for a customer service role.
Technical skills should be listed in a “Technology Skills” section, although you can include these in your “Key Skills” section if they’re a focus in the job description. Adding them there helps highlight them more prominently.
Including subsections within your “Technology Skills” section can also be helpful.
For example, a “Remote Collaboration Tools” subsection is a great place to list things like Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, etc.
A “Task and Project Management Software” subsection would be a good place to list things like Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Adobe Creative Suite, CRM Tools, QuickBooks, etc.
5. How do I make my resume stand out?
Tailoring your resume to the job is, by far, the best way to stand out and grab a recruiter’s attention. Avoid sending a cookie-cutter resume.
Instead, focus on job descriptions to find attractive keywords and phrases. Look for specific skills, experiences, or attributes integral to the role.
Not only will tailoring your resume help you beat the applicant tracking systems (ATS), but you’ll make it easier for recruiters to see that you’re an obvious fit for the role. Remember, they need more time to puzzle through whether your skills align if it’s not apparent.
Include specific accomplishments you achieved, ideally with quantifiable metrics. For example, showing that you increased sales by [X%], decreased costs by [$XX, XXX], or improved customer satisfaction ratings by [X%] demonstrates that you accomplished those tasks and did them well.
Past performance is an excellent indicator of future success, so list specific accomplishments to help you stand out even more!
Frequently Asked Questions About Cover Letters
Along with your resume, a personalized cover letter can be one of the most draining aspects of job submission if you don’t love to write.
Balancing a friendly and customized letter with a professional and structured format can be tricky. Here’s what Keith has to say about some of the cover letter questions we hear from job seekers.
1. What is the purpose of a cover letter?
Think of your cover letter as a chance to further promote your candidacy. You provide additional context to key points that are mentioned in your resume.
While your resume is a great place to list your skills, experience, and accomplishments, your cover letter amplifies your fit for the specific role.
Describe your passion for the field or industry, demonstrate enthusiasm for the company and its mission, and explain relevant accomplishments in greater detail than your resume—all while including your personality.
Once your resume has snagged a hiring manager’s notice, the cover letter helps them visualize you in the role and working with the team. Tailor your cover letter to individual roles with the same detail you give to your resume.
2. Do employers read cover letters?
There’s not a solid answer to that question. Statistics on the importance of cover letters vary, but recent reports share that 56% of employers want cover letters attached.
According to a survey from Resume Genius, roughly 60% of employers require a cover letter, and over 75% of recruiters prefer applicants to submit a cover letter. All of that adds up to the reality that you should consider submitting a cover letter, even when it’s not required.
Typically, your cover letter will be read after your resume, but a tailored cover letter can help you stand out. And realistically, every little bit helps when you’re looking to stand out in a crowded job market.
Even if there’s a chance a hiring manager won’t read your cover letter, it’s a good idea to hedge your bets and submit a thoughtful, targeted cover letter.
3. How long should a cover letter be?
Standards for cover letters dictate that it shouldn’t be more than one page. Your word count should sit within the 200-500 words range. Some career experts suggest an even briefer cover letter is better.
A well-written letter gets straight to the point, includes three to five relevant examples of your experience, and details your interest in the role or company.
4. What should I include in a cover letter?
Before writing your letter, focus on the job description and research you’ve gathered. Establish your attraction to the company, such as alignment with its values and mission. You might also highlight how you align well with the role you’re applying to.
Your cover letter must be unique, separate from your resume, rather than repetitive. Provide more detailed examples and context, making you a strong candidate.
5. How should I start a cover letter?
While most employers do read cover letters, that same Resume Genius survey tells us they often spend between 30 seconds to under 2 minutes reviewing your letter, which means the start of your cover letter is significant!
Hook the reader in with your first paragraph to entice them to read more. Briefly reference the position, then explain why you’re attracted to the role. Ensure that you’re connecting your passion for the opportunity to your experience.
You want the recruiter to feel like this isn’t “just another job” to you but something you are genuinely excited about. Justify your excitement with specific examples showing you’re a good fit.
Standing Out With a Polished Submission
There you have it — answers to 10 of the most common questions about your resume and cover letter. With these tips under your belt, you’re ready to create a resume and cover letter template you can tailor to each role you apply to.
