2024 CareerForce Creative Job Search - Chapter 4 - Job Search Tools - Resumes and Cover Letters

Sep 13, 2026

Job search success depends on preparing accurate, error-free marketing materials that clearly communicate skills, experience, and career goals. This chapter explains how resumes function primarily to secure an interview and why customization is required for each job opening. It provides guidance for cover letter submission and networking tools like business cards, then details resume formats and a four-step process to gather employment history, map skills, craft accomplishments, and set job search objectives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages46

Reading Time16 min

AccessFree to download

Job Search Tools

Resumes

Resume Formats

Four Steps to Get Started

42 4 JOB SEARCH TOOLS 4: JOB SEARCH TOOLS Before attending a networking group, cold calling a company, or applying for a job, you should have a toolkit of marketing materials that tell people who you are and describe your skills, experience and career goals. Yes, that’s right: marketing materials to “sell” yourself. Marketing tools such as resumes, cover letters and business cards for networking need to be accurate, error-free and attractive to potential employers . Submitting a resume can be a key element of your job search. The popular belief is that resumes land jobs. This is not true. The resume’s sole purpose is to land you an interview. Many, but not all job applications will require you to submit a cover letter with your resume . In this chapter, we’ll show you how to write a resume and cover letter that will match your qualifications and experience to a specific job opening. We’ll give you tips on how to submit your cover letter and resume in digital formats plus share resume and cover letter templates that have been effective for others. The business card is a great tool for networking. Not everyone will want a copy of your resume when you meet them, especially if it’s at a professional networking mixer or a social function. That’s where the business card comes in — a quick way to share your personal brand and contact information. Creative Job [Search](Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch)[ |](Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch)[ CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch](Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch) 43 RESUMES Do not approach the task of developing your resume lightly. By now you should have taken the time to identify your hard and soft skills and determine which of them are transferrable to the current opportunity. If you cannot identify at least 20 job-related hard and soft skills at this point, your first task is to revisit Chapter 3 on skills and create your list. Be aware that your resume is never really done. You must customize it to match the qualifications and skills sought by employers for each position for which you apply. Job seekers start out at different points when preparing their resumes. Some will have a resume a few months or a few years old. Others may have been employed for several years or decades and don’t have a current resume . RESUME FORMATS There are three standard resume formats: chronological; functional or skills-based; and combination. The format you should choose depends on the type of job you are applying for and your level of experience. 1 . Chronological – This resume format is ideal for people with current work experience that is relevant to the position they are interested in. 2 . Functional/Skills-Based – If you lack relevant work experience, or you are looking to make a career change, the skills-based format is a good choice. This format doesn’t typically list dates of employment, so be aware that may cause it to be filtered out of consideration by some employers’ automated application tracking systems. 4: JOB SEARCH TOOLS 3 Combination – The combination resume is a great choice for job seekers whose most recent work isn’t the most relevant to the job they are currently seeking. You list the skills that are most important under their own headings first, then back that up with an employment history section that list dates of employment. Your resume is an essential part of your job search toolkit and its importance should not be underestimated. You will need one for whatever kind of job you are looking for. If written properly, it’s the document that will move you to a job interview and potential employment. Four Steps to Get Started Regardless of where you’re starting in developing your resume you first have to gather and organize lots of different types of job-related information. 1 2 Employment History Gather all of your position titles and dates of employment for the past 10-15 years. Be as specific

FAQs

What is the main purpose of a resume in a job search?

A resume’s sole purpose is to land an interview, not to directly get a job.

When do job seekers need a cover letter with a resume?

Many, but not all, job applications require a cover letter, and it should match the applicant’s qualifications to the specific opening.

What are the three standard resume formats mentioned in the chapter?

The chapter lists chronological, functional/skills-based, and combination formats, each suited to different job-search situations and experience levels.

Sep 13, 2026

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