How To Write The Perfect Resume And Cover Letter

How To Write The Perfect Resume And Cover Letter PowerToFlys Head of Global Talent Management Rachel Valdez, Director of Global Talent in Tech Services, Suzanne Horner and Skillcrushs Director of Content Randle Browning, who have placed thousands of women in jobs, share the dos and donts of resume and cover letter writing. Check out the webinar video and highlights belowQ How do I get my resume down to one page?A Be ruthless in your editing Intensively edit yourself. There are also 1-page templates you can find online that can help you stick to a single page. Spend time, pull pieces out and focus on how does this relate to this job description? Do ansicht things especially if youve been working for a long time.Q Which items should I cut from my resume?A There are several easy cuts that can be made to even the best of resumes including accomplishments and awards unrelated to your field or the desired field you want to be in, in-training language, irrelevant and out-of-date job experie nce, outdated skills that are almost universal, generic filler words (references upon request, team player, goal-oriented).Q Which items should I include on my resume?A Tell a story and tell it well. Then, take it a step further by showing not just telling. Link to specific projects. Make it easy for recruiters to get your skills. Quantify you accomplishments with stats and numbers. For example, how much time did you save your team with a new tool? How much revenue did you help increase?Q How do I address the gap in my work history?A Do your research and brush up on new skills that will expand on your previous experience to stay current. If youve taken time off to raise kids, help family, etc, its OK to share that information. Use the time to stay competitive by volunteering and taking courses. Proactively explaining your work gap prevents hiring managers from guessing erroneously about why you werent working.Q Whats the formula for a perfect resume, cover letter or cover email? A A lways be closing. A-B-C. Focus on what will make you shine to a hiring manager. The successful ones are easy for the reader to read, are an email instead of attachment and are short, specific and interactive, striking the right tone. Focus on your hiring managers unmet needs. Cut down on everything except what you bring to that specific role.Check out our previous webinar featuring PowerToFly CEO Milena Berry on how to land your first remote job.Make hiring women in tech, and across digital, your competitive advantage. Sign up with PowerToFly today. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely pi cture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop mo re innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the rig ht candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest -paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentierung technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.