Writing a Professional Resume Cover Page

Your resume cover page is one of the most critical pieces of your resume marketing kit. Unfortunately, it is all too often completely overlooked by job seekers.

The cover page provides you with a number of advantages that you cannot hope to achieve with a stand-alone resume alone. For example; the standard resume is limited to one or two pages at a maximum. If your resume is longer than this, you have already lost the ball game. With such a short amount of space, it can be difficult to broadcast the message that you are the ideal candidate. The cover page; however allows you the opportunity to go into greater detail about your specific qualifications, skills and experience. It gives you a chance to truly shine.

To write a great cover page, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. First, do not make the mistake of confusing a cover page with a cover letter. The two are significantly different. The major difference between a resume cover page and a cover letter is that a resume cover page is intended for online use while a cover letter is to be used when you are working with a hardcopy resume.

Secondly, while a cover page can give your online resume personality and a dynamic appearance, you must take to remain within the boundaries of professionalism. Never place any personal content on your cover page. If you intend to upload a photo of yourself on your cover page, keep in mind it should be a photograph that reveals your professional side.

Also; don't be afraid to be creative with your cover page. Insert links to sites or pages where a prospective employer can find out more about you. Have you had anything published? Can it be viewed on the web? Go ahead and direct the employer to that information via links in your resume cover page.

You might also check into having your cover page optimized. This will allow your resume a better chance of coming up in searches that may be performed by prospective employers looking for candidates with your skills and experience.

Finally, remember that all the information that should be included on your cover page should be directly related to your career aspirations.