When you go to apply for your first job, you will be required to fill out an application. The application is how you will get noticed by the employer. It is important to understand the correct way to fill out an application and the different types that businesses use for job postings. Some companies may use a simple, one-page paper application, while others may require a multi-page, online application.
Before filling out an application, review application tips from a job seeker website: Application Tips and Tricks
All résumés, whether submitted in person, via mail, or via email, should include a cover letter. Your cover letter should be personalized for the position. It should accompany your résumé as an introduction of some key points that you want a potential employer to learn about you.
The goal of the cover letter is to get you noticed by employers so they will want to do an interview with you.
There are a few things you should remember when writing your cover letter:
A résumé is a piece of paper that tells prospective employers who you are, what you've done, and why they should hire you. Some businesses just want a completed job application, but the résumé brings extra attention to the job application. The information you need to complete a job application is similar to that of a résumé, but with a résumé you can include more detail and information that a job application may not specifically ask for.
Since you are in middle school, you may not have a lot of work experience to add to your résumé. However, there are ways that you can build your résumé:
Tips for writing your résumé:
Hard Copy
A hard copy résumé is one that you print out and submit to an employer. This is often done in person and should be brought into an interview.
Online Résumé
Employers today have savvy human resource technology that can be used to scan résumés for the right fit. The important part to a good online résumé is understanding keywords (words that are used as a reference point to locate information in a document). It is best to read through the job description and highlight the words that match your skills and education. Take these words and reuse them in your own résumé and cover letter to describe yourself.
Non-traditional Résumés
Some creative jobs may look for a non-traditional approach to a résumé. This could take the form of a video, a brochure that tells about your accomplishments or other "outside of the box" ideas. This approach should only be used if it is appropriate for the position you are applying for and you are confident that your product is top notch.
Chronological
This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological. Employers tend to prefer this format as it demonstrates a candidate's steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.
Functional
A functional résumé focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications, and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas.
Combination
A combination résumé uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then describes employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the other two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section.
Targeted
A targeted résumé is written specifically for the position you are applying for and highlights your skills and education that match directly to the position.