Automotive : Burnaby Campus: Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

• Tailor your cover letter and resume to a specific job. Use the same terms in your application that appear in the job description. Many organizations "weed out" cover letters and resumes (often with automated software) that don't match the description.

• Try to make a personal contact at the company/institution and find out if you can address your cover letter to a specific indivdual. (However, make sure that person is not away on vacation somewhere or off sick.)

• Research your potential employer and indicate in your cover letter that you do know something about the organization. Even better, indicate briefly how your experience/qualifications fit well with the target's organizational needs.

• Include at least one thing in your resume that will make it stand out from the crowd, even if it might not directly address the qualifications asked for (this seems contradictory, but recruiters are as curious as the rest of us and will perk up when they see something a little different). If you've had experience as a blacksmith, for example, stick that in there (briefly).

• Make sure you include any awards or other official recognition in your resume; it's even worth highlighting in your cover letter.

• When you land an interview, try to anticipate what kinds of questions you may be asked. Do mock interviews with friends/family. Be prepared to ask your own intelligent questions about the organization.

• Consider bringing materials with you to the interview that indicate what kind of work/training you've been engaged in. For example, photos on a tablet showing you working on a particular engine/vehicle might be engaging.

• Always keep a record of who you have applied with (create a folder on your computer and have different covers and resumes for each job). Even make a note of what you were wearing when you went to the interview, if you got one. If asked to come for a second interview, wear the same stuff (no kidding!).

These resources will help you learn more about the company before your interview.

Share tips on purpose, keywords, organization, content, and tailoring the resume for the position.

Share tips on purpose, organization, content, and tailoring the cover letter for the position.