There are diverse views about how one should produce the professional résumé. Until just a few years ago, there were only a few formal college degrees in technical communication, and as one implication of this, there are a diversity of opinions about how best to create résumés to demonstrate one's competencies in the field. Advice about creating professional résumés in the fields surrounding technical communication and usability vary widely, but interviewers tend often to be very interested in experience and portfolios with examples of skills.
#31771
Seven Steps to Persuasive Cover Letters
Almost all technical writing benefits from the technique of persuasion. Grants and proposals must have persuasive elements to be effective; operating instructions should convince customers that they have bought the best product for the job; hospital literature should assure patients that they have chosen the most well-equipped place to recover from surgery; cover letters (and all correspondence with a prospective employer or client) should leave no doubt in the employer's mind about your excellent qualifications for the job or assignment under discussion.
Evans Fryer, Elizabeth and Judith Harper. Between the Lines (2007). Careers>Resumes>Correspondence
#14948
Show Me, Don't Tell Me: Writing Resumes that Work
As a hiring manager and instructor, I've seen many resumes and taught hundreds of students on how to write an impressive resume. What I find most remarkable about resumes is when they exhibit simplicity and clarity. In this article, I propose some basics for getting the attention of a hiring manager by showing how you can showcase your skills, experience and talents using simple resume basics.
Beaman, Rockie Lyons. STC Williamette Valley (2002). Careers>Resumes
#23680
Resumes. We know we need one. Most of use have one. But are we using our resumes to showcase what we can do, and to put our skills and talents in the best light? We can agree that a resume contains information about our work histories. It is often used by potential employers to pick a short list of candidates to interview for a job. In other words, it is often used by potential employers to screen out most of the candidates they decide aren’t qualified enough to make the short list. So how do you use a resume to your advantage?
Bailie, Rahel Anne. Intentional Design Inc. (2003). Careers>Resumes
#31929
Curriculum vitae (CVs) tell the stories of the professional lives of university scientists, documenting their careers and showcasing their accomplishments. A well-crafted CV can help a job applicant land an interview--instead of having her materials shredded or buried in a file. The CV is no less important for scientists with tenure and no intention of changing jobs, because it is an essential part of any application for grants, awards, and promotions. It should, therefore, be kept up-to-date at every academic career stage.
Webb, Sarah. Science (2006). Careers>Resumes
#31921
Tooling Up: Résumé Rocket Science 2007
I may sound unorthodox when I say that you really don’t need to be all that concerned about writing the perfect CV or résumé. If you are interested in an industry job, you want your CV to open doors as it gets routed from person to person inside an organization. But you also want it to represent you accurately when you make a good networking connection.
Jensen, David G. Science (2007). Careers>Resumes
#31008
Most resumes circulating in cyberspace and on paper are terrible and actually do more harm than good for the prospective job seeker. How can you avoid resume mistakes?
Job Canada (2008). Careers>Resumes
#30321
The résumé is the key to landing a job initially, and then to advancing in the profession. So, let's consider the elements that go towards composing the ideal résumé.
#14940
Training and Development: Guidelines for an Effective Resume and Portfolio
I recently posted a message to a popular usability discussion list to learn more about usability-oriented resumes and portfolios. I come from a technical background and my résumé lists common technologies and software. I am interested in creating a version of my resume with a focus on usability, so I wondered what types of information usability practitioners list on their resumes, as well as what usability employers look for. I was also looking for advice regarding online portfolios. Do people prefer online to paper? What types of work should I include? I received a lot of great responses. Everyone believes having an online resume and portfolio is important. Several people said it is important to tailor your resume and portfolio for each job opportunity. I agree with that, but would add that it is important to maintain a comprehensive version of both online, and then tailor the printed versions for each job.
Johnson, Tessa. Usability Interface (2002). Careers>Resumes>Usability
#29339
Use this Formula for the Perfect Cover Letter 
Never assume that hiring managers don't look at cover letters, even when you apply for a job via e-mail. Use this outline to make sure you include the right information in your cover letter.
Davis, Jeff. TechRepublic (2003). Careers>Resumes>Cover Letters
#20140
Using a Résumé to Showcase Your Talents 
Demonstrates how technical communicators can create achievement-based résumés that emphasize past accomplishments and future potential.
Bailie, Rahel Anne. Intercom (2003). Careers>Resumes>TC
#24171
Using Résumés to Show the Value of Skilled Writing
The difficult conditions in today’s tight job market provide a silver lining for those who teach technical writing. This urgent environment makes it easier to demonstrate the practical value of writing skills to students developing résumés and letters of application.
Schmadeka, Wayne L. Intercom (2004). Careers>Resumes>Writing
#31933
What Is a Resumé Hole and How Do I Fill It?
Usually, a resumé will show a chronology of a professional career that is almost continuous. But what if the unexpected happens, and you are left with a "resumé hole"? A resumé hole is a large period of unaccounted time in your resumé.
Kitts, Adrienne. Science (2001). Careers>Resumes
#31009
Which Resume Format Is For You?
How do you know which resume format is right for you? Using the right kind of resume is important--whether you are wanting to emphasize specific aspects or deemphasize them.
Professional Resumes (2006). Careers>Resumes
#30340
The Why You Need an Up-to-Date Resume
Provide your boss and the personnel department with a copy of your resume each time you update it. They will be interested to learn about any educational or training programs you've completed, changes in your current job responsibilities, new professional or civic organizations you've joined and any technical skills you've acquired since starting your current job. A resume should also reflect special accomplishments and your on-the-job performance record.
Davis, Portia. Boston Broadside (1993). Careers>Resumes
#31932
Writing a Winning Cover Letter 
Your curriculum vitae cover letter is both an introduction and a sales pitch. It should show what sets this individual apart from all others, advises Professor Jeffrey Stansbury, chair of the faculty search committee at the Department of Craniofacial Biology of the University of Colorado School of Dentistry in Denver. Like any good sales pitch, your cover letter should motivate the customer to learn more about the product--in this case, you.
Borchardt, John K. Science (2006). Careers>Resumes>Cover Letters
#30363
I did a presentation recently at a local college, and the students had a lot of questions about resumes and cover letters. Below are some helpful tips.
Leigh, Heather. Crazy for Words (2007). Careers>Resumes>Advice
#32484
How to write a cover letter.
Basu, Anindita. Writing Technically (2008). Careers>Resumes>Cover Letters>Business Communication
#32658
Creating The Perfect Portfolio
At its core, building an online portfolio is much the same as any other design brief—the only difference is that you are your own client. So as with any design brief, it’s best to begin by asking yourself, “who is my target audience?” Let’s look at two types of portfolios.
Ta'eed, Collis. Digital Web Magazine (2008). Careers>Resumes>Portfolios>Web Design
#32796
Ethics Case: The Engineered Résumé
A proposal specialist must decide whether to pursue more information about a new coworker whom she has reason to suspect was dishonest during the hiring process.
Kuszmaul, JoEllen. Intercom (2008). Articles>TC>Ethics>Resumes
#32801
Does the Typeface of a Resume Impact Our Perception of the Applicant?
Resumes play an important role when applying for a job. Unfortunately, many applicants focus only on the content of the resume and not the appearance. The typeface chosen to display the resume not only influences the physical appearance, but also influences how an employer may view the applicant. In this study, resumes displayed in a high appropriate typeface (Corbel), resulted in the applicant being perceived as more knowledgeable, mature, experienced, professional, believable, and trustworthy than when displayed in a neutral typeface (Tempus Sans) or low appropriate typeface (Vivaldi). Moreover, the applicant was more likely to be called for an interview when their resume was displayed in a high appropriate typeface than a neutral or low appropriate typeface.
Shaikh, A. Dawn and Doug Fox. Usability News (2008). Careers>Resumes>Typography>User Centered Design
#33597
Communicating Your Value as a Technical Communicator
A resume tells a prospective employer what you have done and how your experience makes you the best candidate for an open position. A marketing plan, on the other hand, guides you in selecting the best position for your skills and experience. A resume explains what you did – a marketing plan captures what you want. You want to precisely define the target market for your job search so that you do not waste time – yours or your interviewer’s.
Harvey, Michael. Carolina Communique (2008). Careers>Resumes
#34030
What Doc Managers Look for in a Résumé?
Most hiring managers, and I am no exception, take a couple of passes when reviewing résumés. The first pass eliminates people who are clearly not what I am looking for. I try to answer two questions: first, are this person’s qualifications even in the ballpark for the job, and second, can he or she write at least well enough to create a competent résumé? Answering the first of these questions is not hard, but it does require that you understand the job requirements thoroughly and read the résumé closely.
Technical Communication Center (2008). Careers>Resumes>Documentation>Technical Writing
#34115
The Seven Deadly Sins of Résumé Design
So you’ve labored with sweat and tears writing your résumé, and now you’re all set to turn it into a magnificently designed creation. Unfortunately, with the freedom of modern computers and fancy software, comes huge opportunities for abuse. When it comes to résumés, both non-designers and professional designers commit some almost unforgivable sins. Here are the 7 deadly sins of résumé design and how to repent.
Rith, Chanpory. Lifeclever (2006). Careers>Resumes
#34215
If you avoid these all-too-common mistakes that can be found in résumés for all kinds of IT positions, you'll boost your chance of landing the job.
Schaffer, Greg. Computerworld (2009). Careers>Resumes>Advice
#34296
Ryan Dougherty made a video résumé and decided whenever he applied for a job online that he would upload a cover letter with a link to the video instead of a standard resume. Bingo! Not only did employers start calling, but he ended up landing a job as budget manager and assistant to the dean of the University of San Francisco’s nursing school in March. He believes the video resume set him apart.
Tahmincioglu, Eve. MSNBC (2009). Careers>Resumes>Multimedia
