The video gives some valuable tips on both resumes and cover letters. Check it out, below:

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

• Your resume needs to be grammatically perfect. If it isn’t, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-flattering conclusions about you, like: “This person can’t write,” or “This person obviously doesn’t care.”

2. Lack of Specifics

• Employers need to understand what you’ve done and accomplished. For example:
• A. Worked with employees in a restaurant setting.
• B. Recruited, hired, trained and supervised more than 20 employees in a restaurant with $2 million in annual sales.
• Both of these phrases could describe the same person, but the details and specifics in example B will more likely grab an employer’s attention.

3. Attempting One Size Fits All

• Whenever you try to develop a one-size-fits-all resume to send to all employers, you almost always end up with something employers will toss in the recycle bin. Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position in a specific organization.

4. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments

• It’s easy to slip into a mode where you simply start listing job duties on your resume. For example:
• Attended group meetings and recorded minutes.
• Worked with children in a day-care setting.
• Updated departmental files.
• Employers, however, don’t care so much about what you’ve done as what you’ve accomplished in your various activities. They’re looking for statements more like these:
• Used laptop computer to record weekly meeting minutes and compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based file for future organizational reference.
• Developed three daily activities for preschool-age children and prepared them for a 10-minute holiday program performance.
• Reorganized 10 years worth of unwieldy files, making them easily accessible to department members.

5. Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short

• Despite what you may read or hear, there are no real rules governing resume length. Why? Because human beings, who have different preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned, will be reading it.
• That doesn’t mean you should start sending out five-page resumes, of course. Generally speaking, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don’t feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don’t cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it conform to an arbitrary one-page standard.

6. A Bad Objective

• Employers do read your resume’s objective statement, but too often they plow through vague pufferies like, “Seeking a challenging position that offers professional growth.” Give employers something specific and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own.
  Example: “A challenging entry-level marketing position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience in fund-raising for nonprofits.”

7. No Action Verbs

• Avoid using phrases like “responsible for.” Instead, use action verbs: “Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff.”

8. Leaving Off Important Information

• You may be tempted, for example, to eliminate mention of the jobs you’ve taken to earn extra money for school. Typically, however, the soft skills you’ve gained from these experiences (e.g., work ethic, time management) are more important to employers than you might think.

9. Visually Too Busy

• If your resume is wall-to-wall text featuring five different fonts, it will most likely give the employer a headache. So show your resume to several other people before sending it out. Do they find it visually attractive? If what you have is hard on the eyes, revise.

10. Incorrect Contact Information

• I once worked with a student whose resume seemed incredibly strong, but he wasn’t getting any bites from employers. So one day, I jokingly asked him if the phone number he’d listed on his resume was correct. It wasn’t. Once he changed it, he started getting the calls he’d been expecting. Moral of the story: Double-check even the most minute, taken-for-granted details — sooner rather than later.

There are plenty of websites that offer lists of popular job interview questions, and knowing the types of questions to expect can be very useful. But knowing how to answer those questions can mean the difference between getting the job and getting the “rejection letter.”

How to Answer Questions

First, know these important facts:

1. There is no way to predict every question you will be asked during a job interview. In other words, expect unexpected questions–they’ll come up no matter how much preparation you do.
2. Treat any sample answers you find, such as in discussion forums, books or on Internet job sites, as guides only. Do not use any sample answers word for word! Interviewers can spot “canned” answers a mile away, and if they suspect you are regurgitating answers that are not your own, you can kiss that job goodbye. You must apply your own experiences, personality and style to answer the questions in your own way. This is crucial, and it will give you a big advantage over candidates who simply recite sample answers.
3. Job interview questions are not things to fear, they are opportunities to excel. They allow you to show why you are the best person for the job – so instead of dreading them, look forward to them! The key is to give better answers than anyone else, and that’s where your preparation comes in.

Now, take these actions:

1. Make a list of your best “selling points” for the position. What qualifications, skills, experience, knowledge, background, personality traits do you possess that would apply to this particular job? Write them down and look for opportunities to work them into your answers.
2. In addition to any sample job interview questions you find through various resources, you absolutely must develop your own list of probable questions based specifically on the job for which you are applying. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes… what kinds of questions would you ask to find the best person for this job?
3. Write down your answers to likely questions. Study the job announcement carefully. (If you don’t have one, get one!) Note the phrases they use when describing the desired qualifications. You’ll want to target these as much as possible when developing your answers. For example, if the announcement says they want someone with “strong customer service skills,” make sure you include “strong customer service skills” in at least one of your answers. That will make a better impression than saying “I helped customers.”
4. Review and edit your answers until you feel they are “just right.” Read them over and over until you are comfortable that you know them fairly well. Don’t try to memorize them; don’t worry about remembering every word. Practice saying them out loud. If possible, have a friend help you rehearse for the interview.

Here are some more very important tips…

1. Be a (Short) Story Teller

• Make use of this old marketing tip: “Facts tell but stories sell.” During a job interview, you are selling yourself. Whenever possible, answer questions with a short story that gives specific examples of your experiences. Notice I said “short.” You don’t want to ramble or take up too much time; you want to be brief but still make your point.
• For example, imagine two people interviewing for a job as a dog groomer are asked, “Have you ever dealt with aggressive dogs?” Candidate Joe answers, “Yes, about 10% of the dogs I’ve groomed had aggressive tendencies.” Candidate Mary answers, “Oh yes, quite often. I remember one situation where a client brought in his Pit Bull, Chomper. He started growling at me the moment his owner left, and I could tell from his stance he wasn’t about to let me get near his nails with my clippers. I think he would’ve torn my arm off if I hadn’t used the Schweitzer Maneuver on him. That calmed him down right away and I didn’t have any problems after that.” (I know nothing about dog grooming; I made the Schweitzer Maneuver up for illustrative purposes.)
• Don’t you agree that Mary’s answer is better? Sure, Joe answered the question, but Mary did more than that–she gave a specific example and told a quick story that will be remembered by the interviewers.
• In today’s job market where there are dozens of highly qualified candidates for each opening, anything you do that will make you stand out and be remembered will greatly increase your odds of getting hired.

2. Keep the Interviewer’s Perspective in Mind; Answer His “What’s in it for Me?” Question

• While many questions asked during job interviews appear to focus on your past accomplishments, here’s an important tip: they may be asking about what you did, but what they really want to know is what you can do now, for them.
• The key is to talk about your past accomplishments in a way that shows how they are relevant to the specific job for which you are interviewing. Doing advance research about the company (such as at their website or at www.hoovers.com) and the position will be extremely helpful.
• Here’s another example with Joe and Mary. The interviewer asks, “What is the most difficult challenge you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?” Joe answers with, “In one job I was delivering pizzas and I kept getting lost. By the time I’d find the address, the pizza would be cold, the customer would be unhappy, and my boss was ready to fire me. I overcame this problem by purchasing a GPS navigation device and installing it in my car. Now I never get lost!” Mary answers, “In my current job at Stylish Hounds, management ran a special promotion to increase the number of customers who use the dog-grooming service. It was a bit too successful because we suddenly had more customers than we could handle. Management would not hire additional groomers to help with the workload. Instead of turning customers away or significantly delaying their appointments, I devised a new grooming method that was twice as fast. Then I developed a new work schedule. Both efforts maximized productivity and we were able to handle the increased workload effectively without upsetting our customers.”
• Joe’s answer shows initiative and commitment (he bought that GPS gadget with his own money, after all). But Mary’s answer relates specifically to the job they are applying for (dog groomer). And Mary had done research about the company and discovered it was about to significantly expand it’s dog-grooming operations. So she picked an example from her past that addressed an issue the interviewer was likely to apply to a future situation in his company. See the difference?
• Here’s one more example. Joe and Mary are asked, “What’s your greatest accomplishment?” Joe answers, “I won two Olympic Gold Medals during the 2000 Olympics in the high-jump competition.” Mary answers, “I was named Stylish Hounds’s Dog Groomer of the Year in 2003 for increasing productivity in my section by 47%.”
• Joe’s accomplishment is pretty spectacular. But remember the interviewer’s perspective. He might be impressed, but he’s thinking “What’s in it for me? What does being a world-class high-jumper four years ago have to do with helping me to increase sales in my dog-grooming department?” Mary’s answer is much less spectacular than Joe’s, but it’s relevant to the position and indicates that she has what it takes to be successful in this particular job. It tells the interviewer, “I have what you’re looking for; I can help you with your specific needs.”
• Looks like Mary has a new job!

3. Do Not Lie

• Last, but not least, tell the truth. It’s sometimes very tempting to “alter” the truth a bit during a job interview. For instance, say you quit instead of being fired. But the risk of being discovered as a liar far outweighs the potential benefit of hiding the truth.
• If you are thinking about telling a lie during the interview, ask yourself these questions (this technique has helped me make many major decisions): “What is the best thing that could happen? What is the worst thing that could happen? Is the best thing worth risking the worst thing?” In this instance, the best thing would be getting the job. The worst thing would be getting discovered as a liar, which could lead to getting fired, which could lead to unemployment, which could lead to more job searching, which could lead to another interview, which could lead to the stress of deciding whether to lie about just getting fired, and so on… a cycle that can go on indefinitely. Is all that worth getting the one job, perhaps on a temporary basis?
• Always consider the consequences of your actions.

In Summary, Here’s What You Need To Do When Preparing To Answer Job Interview Questions:

1. Study the job announcement.
2. Research the company.
3. Anticipate likely questions.
4. Prepare answers to those questions that are relevant to the position and the company.
5. Promote your best “selling points” (relevant qualifications, capabilities, experience, personality traits, etc.) by working them into your answers.
6. Practice. Practice. Practice.

THE Primary Purpose of a Resume

• The resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview. If it does what the fantasy resume did, then it works. If it doesn’t, then it isn’t an effective resume. A resume is an advertisement – nothing more, nothing less.
• A great resume doesn’t just tell them what you have done. It makes the same assertion that all good ads do: if you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light, and it convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career.
• It is so pleasing to the eye that the reader is enticed to pick it up and read it. It “whets the appetite” by stimulating interest in meeting you and learning more about you. It inspires the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview.

OTHER Possible Reasons to Have a Resume

• To pass the employer’s screening process (requisite educational level, number years’ experience, etc.), to give basic facts which might favorably influence the employer (companies worked for, political affiliations, racial minority, etc.). To provide contact information: an up-to-date address and a telephone number (a telephone number which will always be answered during business hours).
• To establish you as a professional person with high standards and excellent writing skills, based on the fact that the resume is so well done (clear, well-organized, well-written, well-designed, of the highest professional grades of printing and paper). For persons in the art, advertising, marketing, or writing professions, the resume can serve as a sample of their skills.
• To have something to give to potential employers, your job-hunting contacts and professional references, to provide background information, to give out in “informational interviews” with the request for a critique (a concrete creative way to cultivate the support of this new person), to send a contact as an excuse for follow-up contact, and to keep in your briefcase to give to people you meet casually – as another form of “business card.”
• To use as a covering piece or addendum to another form of job application, as part of a grant or contract proposal, as an accompaniment to graduate school or other application.
• To put in an employer’s personnel files.
• To help you clarify your direction, qualifications, and strengths, boost your confidence, or to start the process of commiting to a job or career change.

What a Resume is NOT

• It is a mistake to think of your resume as a history of your past, as a personal statement, or as some sort of self expression. Sure, most of the content of any resume is focused on your job history. But – you must write with the intention to create interest, to persuade the employer to call you. If you write with that goal, your final product will be very different than if you write to inform or catalog your job history.
• Most people write a resume simply because everyone knows that you have to have one to get a job. They write their resume grudgingly, to fulfill this obligation. Writing the resume is only slightly above filling out income tax forms in the hierarchy of worldly delights. If you realize that a great resume can be your ticket to getting exactly the job you want, you may be able to muster some genuine enthusiasm for creating a real masterpiece, rather than the feeble products most people turn out.

What if I’m not sure of my Job Target?

• If you are hunting for a job, but are not sure you are on a career path that is perfect for you, you are probably going to wind up doing something that doesn’t fit you very well, that you are not going to find fulfilling, and that you will most likely leave within five years. Doesn’t sound like much of a life to me. How about you? Are you willing to keep putting up with pinning your fate on the random turnings of the wheel?

If your answer to that question is no – go find out How The Boss Works, and get started down the right path today.