2 Quick Resumé Tips

When an editor is hiring for a position, she will have to wade through dozens, if not hundreds of resumés. It's a tiring and tedious job, and the editor is likely to have a low tolerance level for small annoyances. Anything you can do to make it easier for her to find and read your resumé and cover letter will work to your advantage. Follow these two simple rules and you'll already stand out among the applicants, even before the editor reads your application.

1. Send PDF files. Word documents can have font problems. All that tidy formatting you worked on can get messed up, making your resumé harder to read.
2. Name the document with your name. For example, "vangerwen-cover.pdf" and "vangerwen-resume.pdf" will be easier to find in a folder filled with documents labelled just "coverletter.doc" and "resume-final.doc."

be clear!

As Strunk and White have said, "Clarity, clarity, clarity."

Muddiness is not merely a disturber of prose, it is also a destroyer of life, of hope: death on the highway caused by a badly worded road sign, heartbreak among lovers caused by a misplaced phrase in a well-intentioned letter, anguish of a traveller expecting to be met at a railroad station and not being met because of a slipshod telegram.

To this list I would add the missed networking connection or opportunity to prove that you're right for a job because you failed to explain in an email that that's what you're looking for. "Think of the tragedies that are rooted in ambiguity, and be clear!"


Every week I receive an email or two from hopeful applicants looking for a job or an internship at my company. What astounds me is when an applicant fails to simply state that that's what he/she wants. He/she will tell me a little bit about him/herself, and will attach a resumé, but I'll be left wondering whether he/she is interested in an internship, a job or just career advice.


As the author of this blog, I also receive many queries about the magazine industry, with editor wannabes sending bios and resumés my way. But likewise, sometimes I have no idea what they're asking for. Do they want me to make an introduction? Do they think I'm a hiring agency? Do they want me to do a resumé critique? (I don't do this, by the way, so don't ask.) 


Unless you clearly tell me why you're contacting me, I can't help you. And usually I won't be bothered to reply and ask you to clarify. Just like any other hiring manager, HR professional or editor to whom you're sending your resumé, I'm just going to hit Delete.


Do yourself a favour so your email doesn't end up in the trash: be clear!

random useful information & bright ideas

A roundup of some of the things I've been reading in the last few days.

• Top five resources for folks making the transition from print to online, from Phillip Smith (via @kattancock)

• What would your copy wear? Tips on giving your cover letter the proper tone. (Hint: consider who your audience is.) From The Urban Muse.

• Wise words: "The only way to make a magazine better for the advertiser is to make it better for the reader." A sign on the wall at Western Horseman magazine. Through MrMagazine.com.

• How to persuade people (including your boss). From Smashing Magazine.

• Sometimes setting boundaries is the best way to come up with good/fresh ideas. Seth Godin on traction and friction.

• How to blog almost every day, from Chris Brogan.

going the extra mile to get the job

Remember "the best job in the world" that I posted about – caretaker of Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef? Not only has the competition generated tons of interest and free press for Tourism Queensland, but it's also attracted some creative applications, like this video and blog entry from Vancouverite Marcella Moser.




It's not my taste, but it is completely appropriate for the job to which she's applying. The key is that it's all show, not tell. Marcella has demonstrated that she's capable of writing a blog, producing video and handling the back end by creating a well-designed custom site. The blog also gives a sense of her writing style, interests and personality, and proves that she can come up with a good idea and execute it well.

Now, by no means am I suggesting you all go out and make a video and start a blog for every job you apply to, but think about what would be appropriate. And even if you stick to a simple cover letter and resumé, keep these points in mind:

• Show more than tell. In your cover letter, include examples of past situations that demonstrate relevant talents. In your resumé, list accomplishments instead of just duties.

• Consider your audience. Include keywords from the job posting and highlight duties and accomplishments most relevant to the position.

• Tailor your application to the recipient. Do the above for each job you apply to. Every position is different, so every application should be.

Related posts:
• Creative resumés
• Putting together a good application package
• Writing a good cover letter

proofread your work!

I can't believe I have to say this, but proofread your cover letters! Over the weekend I had two editors complain to me about the number of cover letters they've received with spelling and grammatical mistakes, and it's not the first time I've heard it. I have to say, I'm flabbergasted. For whatever job you're applying to, but especially for jobs like editing, you have to hand in an application free of mistakes. A big part of an editing job is ensuring an error-free publication; your cover letter and résumé are the first indication of whether you're capable of doing that. Having mistakes shows not only that you can't do that, but also that you don't pay attention to detail, you're sloppy and that you don't have an understanding of the job you are applying to. I thought proofreading was common sense. But, since apparently it's not, I'll say it again: proofread your work!

reader's question: how can a mid-career freelance writer get a mid-level editing job?

Q. I'm a freelance writer looking for a job as a mid-level editor and I can't even get to the interview stage. Pluses: five years experience, great clips, and excellent internships. Minuses: could use more editing experience and need to relocate. Even when the job description seems tailored to me, I don't get a response. How does one navigate the no-phone-calls-please job market from a distance?

A. Moving from writer to editor mid-career can be tough, but there are a few strategies that might improve your odds.

1. reevaluate your application package
Are you putting your best face forward? Even if you have the exact experience the position calls for, if you don't communicate that in your cover letter, résumé and clippings, you're not going to get the interview. For tips, see previous posts on putting together an application package, resume tips and how to write a cover letter.

2. prove you can do the job
Being a good writer and being a good editor are two different things – each job calls for a different skill set. I think the hesitation hiring managers have with bringing on a writer for an editor's position, is that maybe that writer will continue to write and not edit. The worst editors are frustrated writers who change copy heavily, inserting their own voice and rewriting the story. Prove you're not one of them by submitting an example of your editing. Other ways to show you can wear an editor's cap: submit a critique of the magazine you're applying to, hand in on-target story ideas, highlight your editing accomplishments in your résumé and cover letter, and resist the urge to send in more than three to five clippings.

3. keep networking
Continue to freelance and make connections in the industry, and make sure everyone knows you're looking to land a full-time editing gig. Knowing someone isn't likely to land you the job, but it will mean people will probably spend a little longer looking at your application. And they may even take a chance on interviewing you if they're familiar with your work ethic.

Beyond that, be sure to mention in your cover letter your willingness to relocate, and obey the no-phone-calls-please rule. It's acceptable to follow up once with an email to ensure your package arrived, but if you call, that will just piss them off and prove that you can't follow instructions.

Do you have a question about your editorial career? Email me at vangerwen[at]gmail[dot]com.

where are the cover letters and clippings?

A friend of mine is currently going through the process of hiring an editor. Under the presumption that she would be inundated with proper application packages, she's been appalled and bewildered by the lack of cover letters and clippings – most applicants are merely emailing their résumés. Why, she wondered, has no one gone the extra mile? Some of the things you may want to include in the next application package you send in:

• portfolio
• tearsheets/clippings (preferably in colour)
• tearsheets of competitors with commentary on what they're doing right/wrong
• story ideas
• reference letters
• sample of a completed edit
• copy of the magazine or printouts/CD of the website you currently work for
• And I can't believe that people aren't including cover letters!

There's certainly no problem with email applications, but in most cases, if you really want the job, make the effort to put together a nice hard-copy package in a professional binder or folder. Then find out who you should address it to and mail or courier it to them. As my friend said, "If I were to get an awesome package, even if the job experience was a little lacking, I'd be so much more inclined to take a person seriously as a candidate."

not getting the interview?

Maybe it's your cover letter. Your resume tells potential employers what your qualifications are, but it's your cover letter that tells them why you're the right person for the job. Here's my secret formula for a killer cover letter. It's worked for me, and one colleague of mine has gotten an interview for every job she's applied to by using this method.

the opening paragraph
Keep your first paragraph brief. Let the potential employer know what position you're applying to and where you heard about it. This is the place to name drop if someone they know recommended that you apply. Complete the paragraph with an overarching statement about how you're the ideal candidate, without going into details – this sentence is merely a set-up for what's to follow.

the body
Choose two or three key traits or skills that are valuable to the position: Do you function well under stress? Are you adept at meeting tight deadlines? Do you have a knack for packaging stories? Write one short paragraph for each, using a specific example from your past to illustrate each point, with the purpose to draw parallels to the position you're applying to. Don't rehash your resume.

the final paragraph
Conclude by asking for the opportunity to discuss further how you can help them (i.e. ask for the interview). Thank them for their time and consideration, then promise to follow up.

Overall, be direct and concise, and use active language. Most importantly, don't lose sight of the fact that it's all about them – how will you solve their problems? They just don't care that this is a great opportunity for you. They want to know how you're going to help them.

Oh, and it better be the best damn piece of work you've ever written.