Step 6: Submitting Your résumé and Cover Letter

Phew! Our résumé and cover letter are finally prepared. Congratulations, that was a lot of hard work! So now we have two or three pages of professional looking material sitting in front of us...what are we going to do with it now?

Here are some basic tips to follow to make sure that your résumé catches the attention of anyone who reads it:

• Follow the instructions given to you
  • Don't call if employer has stated: "No phone calls please."
  • If an ad says to handwrite a cover letter, make sure you do so
  • Follow directions for delivering your résumé, whether it be in person, by mail or fax

By following the instructions laid out to you by an employer, you are already starting to make a positive first impression by demonstrating that you can follow direction. Many people who disregard an employer's wishes may not even be granted an opportunity for an interview.

• When dropping off your résumé in person, be dressed as though you are going for an interview. Positive first impressions count for a lot. Don't request to speak to the manager or boss while you are there, but do ask for a contact name and be prepared in case a situation arises in which the employer wants to interview you on the spot.
  
  
• Check, double check and triple check your résumé and cover letters for mistakes. Proofread from right to left or top to bottom to spot common errors.
  
  
• Be professional and courteous with everyone you meet, whether it be in person or over the phone. You never know; it might be the employer answering the phone or the person you see in hard hat and work boots on the job site.