Land your dream job

The résumé and job interview are the two tools you have to sell yourself and your skills to a prospective employer. Here's how you can ace both.

5 résumé-writing tips
Goal: To concisely present your training, qualifications and accomplishments so that recruiters can easily assess your experience and see how you will be of benefit to them and their company.

1. Write a personalized cover letter.
"There is a lot of value in having a cover letter," says Jenny Pruegger, human resources expert with Canadian Living's publisher, Transcontinental. "But it shouldn't be generic. Tailor it to the job you are applying for and your own experience and use it to tell the employer why you are interested in the particular position you are applying for."

2. Keep it concise.
Pruegger says two pages is a good length for a résumé; anything shorter doesn't provide the employer with enough detail about your work history and accomplishments, and anything longer is cumbersome and could discourage a recruiter from reading your résumé.

3. Account for any absence from the workplace.
Prugger says it's best to list your employment history using months and years, such as November 2002 to April 2004, as opposed to simply stating 2002 to 2004. "This way an employer can easily identify any gaps in employment and discuss them with you," she says.

Be proactive in addressing absences from the workforce, whether you were out of work for a few months due to a layoff or chose to stay home with children for several years. You can account for these absences on your résumé or note them in your cover letter. "As long as you are able to explain the gap and why it occurred, you will be fine in the interview. The most important thing is to be honest about it and account for it," says Pruegger.

4. State your key accomplishments.
In addition to spelling out your responsibilities for each position you've held, Pruegger also advises job-seekers to state their accomplishments. Don't be afraid to celebrate yourself. For example, if you surpassed your sales goal by 15 per cent or introduced a new procedure that made the organization more efficient or successful, say so on your résumé.

5. Make no mistakes.
One of the quickest ways to get your résumé in the garbage is to make sloppy mistakes such as typos. Take the time to proofread your résumé and cover letter carefully before you send them out.

Bonus: Regard your résumé as an advertisement for yourself that tells recruiters what you can do for the organization.