Lettersmith Services - Resume and Cover Letter Writing

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Our Certified Professional Resume Writer is among the most qualified in North America. Through an in-depth telephone consultation process, she will develop a resume strategy and format just for you, and write a resume that will showcase your strengths and accomplishments. The result? You'll secure a position faster, and at the salary you deserve!

The Process Fees Resume Packages

Cover Letter Writing
Your second most important career document!

Never mail your resume without a cover letter! Resumes without cover letters are not taken seriously. Studies show that 80% of employers prefer to receive a cover letter with the resume – and 30% will actually toss resumes sent without one! A cover letter is not just "wrapping" for your resume. It's an important career document that may determine whether your resume is read at all.

Our most popular cover letter service is the Model Cover Letter. This is a unique, customizable letter written especially for YOU. We provide an electronic copy, so that you can tailor it for the various opportunities.

We can write letters specifically for:

Advertised Positions
Unadvertised Opportunities (A Direct Mail or Broadcast Cover Letter)
Recruiters
Networking
Custom Cover Letter (to target that special opportunity)

Interview Follow-Up / Thank You Letters
Not just a nicety – a necessity!

Always send a thank you letter within three days of the interview. Sending a thank-you letter is a small, but essential courtesy. It's also a marketing document, just like the resume and cover letter. A good thank you letter does more than just thank the person for the interview. It also reminds them of who you are and what you can do for their company, and reiterates your interest in the position.

We can create a Model Thank You Letter that you can customize for the company. Or you can call and ask us to create the letter from scratch. We even have optional "Thank You Folders" called Messenger Cards, in which your thank you letters can be inserted, along with a matching NetCard (business card).

Electronic and Scannable Resumes

In this electronic age, most job seekers need several versions of their resume. We can convert your resume into the formats you may need, including:

Microsoft Word Resume (Word.doc) for emailing and printing: Included with all resume packages, this is the document you will use most often. Most companies will want your resume in Microsoft Word format, and this is the document you will email to them. Since this is your attractive "Presentation Resume" -- you should also use this one for printing. We do not recommend altering the contents of your document, as this voids our guarantee.
ASCII Plain Text/Scannable Resume (ASCII.txt) for Internet Forms: You may need a plain ASCII text file when applying for jobs online. The plain text is ideal for online forms -- you can paste the ASCII text right into the form. Also...if a company asks you for a "Scannable Resume" -- this is the one to send. It isn't pretty -- but it does the job! (Free with the Gold Resume Package, and the Platinum Package, or available for an additional charge.)
Internet-Friendly Resume (Word.doc or .rtf) for uploading to the Internet: Most of the Internet job sites (such as Monster.com) now upload Word documents. The problem is that their system may change the formatting of your Presentation Resume...and alter your fonts, bullets, margins, alignment, tabs, indents, symbols, borders, etc. This can really create a mess! But Monster won't upload ASCII text files directly -- they can only be pasted into forms. And besides, the ASCII text is kind of ugly. The solution is the Internet-Friendly Resume. It's a little more attractive and readable than the plain (ASCII) text file....but more simplified than the Presentation Resume. Since it's a Word doc, you can directly upload it to online databases, and the format should remain intact. (Free with the Gold Resume Package and the Platinum Package, or available for an additional charge.)
PDF Resume. This is a version of your resume that can be viewed in its fully-formatted presentation by just about anyone -- even those who don't have MS-Word. A PDF resume will retain its formatting, regardless of the font or software at the receiving end. You may need it if you encounter a company that doesn't use MS-Word. If you do not have Word on your system, we will send you a free PDF resume in lieu of the Word resume.

For more information, see Seven Resume Distribution Tips.

LinkedIn Profile Writing

A LinkedIn profile is an essential part of your job search these days. Surveys show that employers are looking for talent on Linked in before they go to job boards such as Monster. And since LinkedIn is a professional networking site rather than a social one, employers tend to look there before they go to Facebook or Twitter. LinkedIn is now the #1 tool that recruiters use to publish jobs and research candidates!

Like your resume, your LinkedIn profile needs to be well-written, and it needs to include all of the essential keywords to help the hiring agents find you. But you shouldn't simply paste your resume into LinkedIn. Why? The writing style for social media is different than the style for a resume. It is less formal and more lively -- with less "corporate speak." We can help by writing the summary of your profile or even developing your entire LinkedIn page.

Reference Sheets & Salary History

We can develop reference sheets and salary histories to coordinate with the design of your resume. Did you know that a salary history can work against you if you don't use the right strategy? Yet many companies insist that you include a salary history with your resume. Never fear! We can help!

Confidential Reference Checking Service

Ever wonder what your references are saying about you? Ask about our reference checking service. We'll go under cover, ask them the right questions, and provide you with a written report. Under no circumstances do we reveal that we are calling on your behalf.

Net Cards with Mini-Resume

The power of a resume with the convenience of a business card!

Experts suggest using business cards in your job search. They’re always handy when networking, and they have a high retention rate.

Net Cards are folded business cards with a "Resume-in-Brief" inside. They're perfect for networking or for leaving behind during an interview.

Resume Presentation Folders

Perfect for interviews or for that special opportunity, these presentation folders will distinguish you as "a cut above." Available in many colors to coordinate with your resume paper.

Contact Us:

The Lettersmith Career Marketing
Deborah L. Schuster, CPRW

Phone Toll Free: 1-800-586-3335

Phone (in Southeast Michigan): 248-828-1699

Fax: 810-592-8431

Snail Mail:

55 E. Long Lake Rd., # 484, Troy, MI 48085

Located in the Detroit area of Southeast Michigan.

Serving Clients Nationwide in the U.S. and Canada.

The Lettersmith is a member in good standing of the Professional Association of Resume Writers, and we serve our clients according to the PARW Code of Business Ethics. We continually strive to provide the highest level of customer service, and we promise to protect your confidentiality and the privacy of your personal information.