By Carol Kleiman
Tribune Jobs Columnist
October 15, 1998
Think first before you send a résumé.
That advice comes from Mariane White, corporate human resources director of
Ivex Packaging Corp., a large, international company based in Lincolnshire, Ill.
In her 15 years in personnel work, White, a certified senior human resource
professional with a master's degree in industrial relations from Loyola
University in Chicago, has spent "a good deal of time on recruitment
issues. (Each week) I sort through hundreds -- it seems like thousands -- of résumés."
It's not surprising, then, that the director has a few "pet peeves"
about how to apply for a job:
1. "It drives me nuts when someone repeatedly sends me their résumé.
One applicant faxed and e-mailed his résumé five times within a two-week
period and then mailed it to me, too."
Tip: "Get a fax that prints out a confirmation and don't send it
again."
2. "Another pet peeve is a cover letter that is mass-produced, wordy and
confusing." Tip: "Customize your cover letter to each individual
company or don't include it."
3. "Another `button': Anyone who sends me a six-page résumé. Most
people know to keep it short in written form, but they feel that if they e-mail
it, it can be as long they'd like." Tip: "Give me the highlights, not
your entire career!"
4. "Or the opposite: Someone with 20 years of experience who sends a
brief résumé and no cover letter." Tip: "I can't read between the
lines and guess at what you were really responsible for, so you get shortchanged
when it comes to setting up interviews. Make sure you give some details of your
accomplishments and responsibilities."
White, who also has a bachelor of science degree in human resources and
psychology from Elmhurst College, says that "anyone can get a job interview
and probably a job offer just by following this common sense advice."
And here's a tip from me: Proof-read your résumé and cover letter
carefully, word for word, before you send it, whether by fax, e-mail or snail
mail.
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