online resume?

[rin_x_x]

Hi guys. I'm checking out listings in my area for jobs (6 months unemployed.. yaaaay...) and I found one that I really like. it's a small pet food store, and all I'd be doing would just be maintaining the store and cashier work. However, I've only ever handed in my resumes, and this particular listing asks only for resumes to be e-mailed in, and I'

Comments

[shanrina]

Usually what I've done is attach my resume to the email unless it specifically says otherwise, but I'm unemployed so that might not be the right approach. ;) If you do decide to attach your resume, though, go through it beforehand and do everything you can to simplify any formatting you have to reduce the chances of it looking all funny and wacky when they open it on their computers.

[machiko]

My general cover letter formula is this:

Dear [name],

I am [name, location, any schooling]. I found your listing through [place]. [Additional line about like, part-time vs full time, whatever else.]

[Paragraph about what skills you have that allow you to perform this job. Also any hobbies or such that might make you a match (like for this, if you love animals, that would be worth mention).]

[Thank reader for reading your letter.] I can be contacted by [phone #, email]. [Anything else about contacting you.]

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Everyone else, feel free to rip this apart. Lol.

[rin_x_x]

Thanks very much for it. if you don't mind, I am going to steal it! XD

[johnadreams]

I would attach your cover letter and resume as pdfs, then write a brief statement about what job you're interested in (e.g. "This is a response to your ad on Idealist for a part-time cashier position."), your hours available, and say that your cover letter and resume are attached. Don't go too in depth since you've got a cover letter, or you'll just be repeating yourself. I've never gotten either positive or negative responses about this, so I just keep doing it, lol.

[rin_x_x]

I should note that I do not have a cover letter at all. But I never thought of making them pdfs. That would definitely solve the format problem, methinks. Thanks! :D

[inquisitiveravn]

Cover letters should be customized to the company you're contacting; it's your chance to introduce yourself and let them know that you have a clue about them. Resumes are standardized, but you can have several based on the type of job you're applying for, e.g. one for retail, one for office work, etc. But yeah, companies generally want resumes as Word docs or pdfs.

[hiddensinful]

What I have found that works for me in terms of cover letters is a catchy first liner. I've gotten feedback on interviews that they really liked this (of course I didn't get the jobs so obviously cover letters aren't everything, but positive feedback is good nonetheless).
Here's what I wrote as my first line on a cover letter for a job I got an interview for: Three years of professional writing and non-profit development experience, as well as a passion for social justice, is what I can bring to the Grant Writer position at Henry Street Settlement.