Today's competitive employment market and internet-based recruiting environment can make it difficult for even the best professionals to get the attention of hiring managers. Helbling & Associates' search consultants highlight the essentials that should be included in your resume and cover letter to reflect your value to a prospective employer and get you noticed.

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Creating a Resume and Cover Letter That Illustrate Your Value‐Added Attributes
by Ryan Pugh and Sami Barry
G eFng recognized by prospecJve employers in today’s ‣ Marketable traits such as being a doer‐seller capable of
compeJJve employment market and internet‐based recruiJng performing dual roles (a big plus in today’s industry).
environment can be difficult for many professionals. “Internet‐ ‣ Membership and parJcipaJon in industry‐specific
based recruiJng” encompasses job boards, web site posJngs, and organizaJons summarizing any board or commi8ee
applicaJon systems that companies uJlize to accept resumes. posiJons held.
Digital recruitment has made the process impersonal, and the
resume evaluaJon stage is no more than determining who can be In addiJon to highlighJng key points, it is essenJal to address the
“weeded out”. As a candidate, you must ensure that you create a fundamentals of a well‐wri8en resume:
resume and cover le8er that a8ract the a8enJon of a hiring
manager. By properly highlighJng your value‐added a8ributes, you • Be as specific as possible with employment dates. For example,
can increase your chances of entering the interview process. use 1/2008 – 6/2009 rather than 2008 – 2009. If there are gaps
in your employment, be prepared to discuss the reasons. Do
Value‐added a8ributes are important to include in a resume not leave any fact in quesJon for the hiring manager.
because they illustrate the posiJve impact that you have made • Do not misrepresent yourself or your experience. More than
upon your previous employers. A prospecJve employer can then ever, organizaJons conduct verificaJons regarding
analyze those a8ributes to understand the immediate value that compensaJon packages, educaJon, and general background
you can add to their company. checks.
• Do not include personal informaJon that is unrelated to your
Specializing in retained execuJve search, we get exposed to a skills. This informaJon simply takes up space.
myriad of resumes that employ different styles which lead to
varying levels of effecJveness. Outlined below are a few Jps for Once you have mastered all of the above in your resume, you can
formaFng a resume that will earn a second look: then write a strong cover le8er that complements what you have
outlined. Spend Jme doing your “due diligence” whether you have
• Briefly state your long‐term career objecJve. This is essenJal found a posiJon on the internet or if you have targeted
knowledge for the hiring manager because it outlines specific organizaJons that you would like to work for.
career goals that you would like to pursue.
• It was once customary to limit your resume to 1 or 2 pages, but • UJlize the Internet to gather valuable informaJon about the
it has become acceptable to exceed that limit if the addiJonal company: projects, specializaJon, clients, iniJaJves, execuJve
informaJon provides value. Keep all of your sentences clear team, and industry trends. Search for arJcles on the firm and
and concise. its team members while also uJlizing social networking sites
• Highlight your strengths and experiences that will set you apart such as Facebook, Twi8er, and Linked‐In.
from others (value‐added a8ributes): • Tailor your cover le8er to highlight your strengths as they relate
‣ Specialized talents within your field of experJse to the company’s current projects and iniJaJves. This will
(i.e. “uJlizaJon of BIM in a healthcare seFng”). display that you are truly interested in working for the
‣ The posiJve impacts that you have made on previous organizaJon and confident in the value that you can provide.
employers. Focus on parJcipaJon in challenging projects
or iniJaJves and the specific results achieved (use actual The bo8om line is that employers want to see how you can add
numbers or percentages in descripJons such as “increased value to their company. They want to have a full understanding of
revenues by 75% in 18 months”). your skills, capabiliJes, intellect, self‐moJvaJon, and
‣ Training seminars, conJnuing educaJon courses, and determinaJon. You will be on your way to the interview stage if
industry‐specific cerJficaJons such as LEED AP CerJficaJon, your resume and cover le8er reflect those qualiJes.
Professional Engineer license (PE), Project Management
Professional (PMP), CerJfied Energy Manager (CEM), or To subscribe to Helbling’s quarterly newsleMer, visit our home page at
CerJfied FaciliJes Manager (CFM). If you do not have www.helblingsearch.com and click on the green buMon on the
cerJficaJons, consider the value of earning them. boMom right.
‐ Ryan Pugh has been a Managing Consultant with Helbling & Associates since 2004 and Sami Barry joined the firm in 1994, shortly aFer its incepHon. ‐