Do I really need a

[NurseMegh]

I am a new graduate LPN. I wanted to know if I really needed a cover letter with my resume?

[casi, ASN, RN]

Yes! The job market is harsh right now and you need to make yourself memorable.

[Hancock330]

You MUST have a cover letter with your resume. Some way to convince a potential employer that you are literate, thoughtful, and would really love the opportunity to enrich his/her work place with your nursing and people skills. Put real effort into the letter to convince the employer that not only are you competent (your resume should document that) but that you are the kind of person he/she would want working for him/her. Good luck.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Short answer-YES.

[AprilRNurse]

Hmm, I was actually told no by my mom- who works with a company placing people in jobs. (like a temp agency, but not temporary)

She said to revise my husbands resume, shorten it as much as possible, and never have it more than one page. Drop the cover letter, and instead of each job and what he does there... put his name, objective, qualifications (what he's capable of doing) and then just a short list of where he's worked.

With the multitude of resume's places are getting, they want the first few lines to give the info they need.

However- most people no longer send thank you letters for interviews- she says this is a BIG way to win over the interviewer if they are deciding between a few final applicants.

[happy2learn]

I'd say yes. Anything to make you stand out.

I agree with a shorter resume, however, my husband's resume is 2 pages long. Ever since I edited his resume 2 months ago, he has been receiving calls on every job he has applied for.

I do believe that is because the first things you look at are an overview of his experience/qualifications and his core competencies, which is where he really sells himself.

He always uses cover letters as well. I think this is where you can make your first good impression. He always does research on the company and points out things he likes and things that he can bring to the table.

And definitely the thank you note. Very important.

[m_aidez]

You have to catch their attention right of the bat... a cover letter will help you do this. It shows professionalism.

[m_aidez]

Hmm, I was actually told no by my mom- who works with a company placing people in jobs. (like a temp agency, but not temporary)

She said to revise my husbands resume, shorten it as much as possible, and never have it more than one page. Drop the cover letter, and instead of each job and what he does there... put his name, objective, qualifications (what he's capable of doing) and then just a short list of where he's worked.

With the multitude of resume's places are getting, they want the first few lines to give the info they need.

However- most people no longer send thank you letters for interviews- she says this is a BIG way to win over the interviewer if they are deciding between a few final applicants.

Google "functional resumes" if you're interested in the above comment. This type of resume is especially good for graduates who do not have a lot of experience within the field.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

yes. Anything to set you apart from all of those other applicants. Especially in these times.

[himilayaneyes]

not only do you need a cover letter, but you also need to send a thank you note within a couple days of your interview in this competitive job market.

[coolpeach]

Yes on the cover letter, and I agree on the short and sweet resume. My dad is a recruiter, and he says if your resume is more than a page long he puts it in the bottom of the pile.

[TDCHIM]

This thread reminded me of this very informative article on the topic of resumes and job interviews I read in the Onion the other day. Here you go, job seekers!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-unemployment-high-because-people-keep-blowi,17803/