Many people feel a little stumped when it comes to writing a cover letter. What can you say that you haven’t already said in your resume? Do you just repeat the details you’ve already given your employer? Or do you risk sending in something short or skipping the cover letter altogether? There are times when writing a good cover letter can really help you to stand out from the crowd. Since most people don’t put much effort into cover letters, you can distinguish yourself by sending in something elegantly written and personalized. Here are a few tips on how to write a cover letter:

Resume tips can vary in their degree of importance. For instance, it's no longer necessary to include the formerly obligatory "References available upon request" disclosure at the end. While this may not seem like a huge deal, there are other tips that loom a little larger in their importance. Did you know that it is considered industry best practice to keep your resume to one page in length? That is, unless you have more than ten years of experience in your current industry. If you're an IT professional, however, all bets are off. IT people tend to gather ten years of certifications alone in one year of employment. Therefore, it is acceptable for job seekers in that industry to craft a resume of two or even three pages in length, depending on their qualifications, certifications, and experience level.

Perhaps the most important rule to follow when writing your resume, however, is to select an appropriate format. Here are four excellent selections to consider when making this potentially make or break choice:

Unless you have been hiding under the proverbial rock, you already know that a virtual resume is a great tool to aide in your online job search. You may have taken the first step by updating your LinkedIn profile and customizing your page. However, if you take your search one step further, you can purchase a domain name specifically to host and display your virtual qualifications for the whole world to see.

But you see, this is much more than saving your resume as a pdf and posting it online.

The benefits of a virtual resume are numerous. One of the most important includes having complete control over what details you share and how you display your information. Additional benefits of a virtual resume include:

Are you feeling discouraged during your job search? Discouragement can come not only from how potential employers respond to your queries and applications, but also from your own self-assessment of skills. You might be wondering if you'll ever be good enough for the jobs you want. It's likely that you are also comparing yourself to other candidates who may seem more accomplished than you. How can you compete with them?