BC 2 - Resume, References and Cover Letters - Strategies to Get Noticed

Sep 13, 2026

Upload by Finn

Guidance for job seekers on creating resumes, references, and cover letters that attract attention and secure interviews. Emphasizes presenting the strongest benefits first, using compelling headlines and clear visual focus to build interest, and aligning content to employer needs. Covers keyword identification and placement, matching skills and accomplishments through structured stories using Problem-Action-Results, and quantifying outcomes. Includes actionable tactics such as using word clouds, checking match percentages with tools, and following strict formatting rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages39

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Strategies to Get Noticed

Grab Attention

Call for Action

Formatting Rules

Keywords and Skills

Job Search Tools

BC 2 Resume, References and Cover Letters Jim Fergle Job Search Services Manager Strategies to Get Noticed Grab Attention • Strongest benefit FIRST • Headlines and Visual Appeal Capture Interest • Visual Center Strategy Create Desire • Show why employer needs you • Show how you can satisfy their need • Prove your Superiority by fulfilling that need Call for Action • Read for overview • Identify employer need • Use word clouds to find keywords • See how words used • Highlight skills and tools • Match your skills, and accomplishments • Write out stories about skills, and accomplishments use Problem, Action, Results • Quantify accomplishments ( $, \#,% ) • Re-do your resume to match Ad • Use Jobscan/Resunate to check % of Match • Submit • Font Size: 11 or 12 point • Font Style: Arial, Calibri, Verdana , Helvetica, Tahoma • Keep Same Font Size and Style • Graphic Free: Avoid italics, lines, underlines, tables / columns / text boxes, decorative lines, pictures, open / hollow bullet points. • No Headers or Footers • No Templates • No keyword stuffing • Solid Bullet Points • Bold Headings • 1.0 margins • Identify Keywords and Skills • How are they used • Incorporate into your resume. Keywords • What are they? • Why are they important? • Where do you find them? • How do you use them? • What’s Better: To list or to Show? • Position Titles • Industry Names or Industry Niches • Knowledge Base, Skill Sets, Techniques • “Name Brand” Companies Fortune 500 • Prestigious Universities • Degrees, Licenses, Certifications, Training • Conferences or Trade Shows • Software Experience • Technologies frequently used in the position • Products • Professional Associations, Organizations, Affiliations • Telephone Area Codes, City Names • Language Fluency: Bi-lingual, Tri-lingual

FAQs

How should the most important content be prioritized in the resume?

Place the strongest benefit first, then use headlines and visual appeal to capture interest and create desire before details.

What approach is recommended for describing skills and accomplishments?

Use stories structured as Problem, Action, Results, and quantify accomplishments using symbols like $, #, and %.

Which keywords should be included and how can they be optimized?

Identify employer-relevant keywords and skills, then incorporate them naturally, including position titles, industry names, degrees and certifications, software and technologies, and relevant organizations.

Sep 13, 2026

Upload by Finn