Resume question -- please help

[Starbucks Anarchist]

I'm trying to respond to a job listing from Craigslist.

The ad says to e-mail my resume. Now does that mean I can't send any cover letter at all, and that I should just send the resume?

I know it seems clear-cut, but I'm not sure how literally I should take it -- sending ONLY a resume seems impersonal (yet effective at the same time).

Maybe the resume-only method is so they can whittle the candidates down, and if they do like me, then they'll ask for a cover letter and/or call me regarding my qualifications.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: Also, should I e-mail the resume as an attachment or within the body of the message? They don't list a preference.

[ps1074]

1. I don't know what the etiquette is but

If it was me, I would send both the resume and a cover letter as attachments.

If they want just the resume - fine, they won't read the cover letter but let it be there just in case.

my 2 cents

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. Thanks, and some more questions.

If both the letter and resume are attachments, what do I put in the body of the message? Something like, "attached are my cover letter and resume in regards to the job listing"?

Also, I have a Mac and use Appleworks. They use PCs and probably use Word. I know you can convert an Appleworks doc into a Word doc, but I want to make sure it works.

Would you mind PMing me your e-mail address so I can send a converted sample document to you to see if it works?

[ps1074]

4. sure, PMed you

eom

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. Just sent the e-mail. Thanks.

[ps1074]

6. still not here

x( will let you know as soon as I receive it.

[ps1074]

7. You got PM

:)

[pokerfan]

2. I would e-mail the resume as an attachment to a short cover letter

My resume is a pdf anyway so it pretty much has to be sent as an attachment.

It's a pdf for multiple reasons:
- interoperability
- seems more professional
- it will always look the way I intended it to look (fonts, format, etc,)
- can't easily be altered
- demonstrates at least rudimentary computer skills.

I would make the cover letter very short and very to the point. If all they want is the resume, they will ignore the cover letter anyway. They can't ding you for adding it as an attachment.

I happen to have Adobe Acrobat but it is no longer rwquired need it to create a basic pdf file. Just google pdf + creator + free and you will find several freeware programs.

Good luck.

[seaglass]

8. I have received good response by putting my cover letter in

the body of the email message with the resume attached.

I use my cover letters to screen employers out - and it has worked great. I have a long employment gap and honestly address it in the cover. I don't want to waste my time going to an interview if they can't see beyond it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

9. Maybe I'll do that.

Thanks! :hi:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

10. Three more questions for everybody:

First, the job I'm applying for is the exact same position and in the exact same industry I've been working in for a few years, just with a different company, obviously.

When I list the two different companies I've already worked for, should I just list my job title and job duties only once or list them twice, once after listing each company I worked for, since it's the exact same position?

Also, as far as references go, I have letters of recommendation from both bosses -- should I list their name, position and company, then add "Letters of recommendation available upon request" only once or type that once under each name, mentioning "letter" in the singular form?

Finally, the job I'm applying for is in New York, where I'll be moving to in a few months. I'm currently in California and will notify them in the cover letter of a two-week window regarding my arrival in NYC. Will the fact that I'm not there right now (the job is based on seasonal TV broadcasts for the most part, BTW) hurt me too much?

Thanks again! :hi:

[Mutley]

11. I'd list your duties separately both times.

You could highlight even any minor differences between the two that way.

I have "Recommendations available upon request" at the bottom of my resume with a separate page listing those recommendations.

I'm no resume expert, but mine has seemed to work for me so far.

I'm not sure about the third one, but I can say a hearty Welcome to the East Coast! :hi:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Thanks, mutley!

:hi: