This is the second article in a three-part series on how to protect your career from a recession with more strategies for success that you can implement.

Resumes and Cover Letters

As a first step in the resume development process, create a top-notch resume with the ChiefMonster Profile Builder. You'll instantly begin to market yourself to the high-end crowd just by writing a brief executive profile.

There Are No Rules

There is no single template for resume and cover letter writing. That's what makes the entire process such a challenge. To make things easier, here's a quick overview of what you must include, should include and may include.

Must Include:

• Experience
• Education

Should Include One or More of the Following:

• Career Summary (at the top of your resume)
• Technical Qualifications
• Career Profile
• Executive Profile
• Summary of Skills
• Career Achievements

May Include:

• Published articles or public speaking
• Professional and civic affiliations
• Honors and awards
• Foreign language skills
• Teaching or international experience
• Technology skills
• Personal profile

The Right Resume Style

There are three resume styles: chronological, functional or combination. Select the one that works best for you, based on past experience and current career objectives.

• Chronological resumes focus on the strengths of your work experience. These are the most typical and widely accepted style.
• Functional resumes focus on your specific skill sets. These are generally recommended when your work history does not reflect your current career objectives. Use this format to pull out the highlights of your career, skills, achievements and qualifications that directly relate to your objectives, while downplaying your work experience.
• Combination resumes combine your chronological work experience with a powerful summary at the beginning of the resume.

Integrated Resume/Cover Letter Strategy

Create a cohesive package that includes an accomplishment-oriented resume and a targeted cover letter. Develop three specific examples of your top core competencies to note in your career summary that align with the hiring authority's expectations. For instance, the resume profile for a senior-level operations manufacturing professional might list introducing lean manufacturing expertise, streamlining operations and maximizing profitability.

A key paragraph in the cover letter should amplify each point in bulleted phrases.

The Job Search: Market Yourself Broadly

There are dozens of ways to land interview opportunities. It is widely believed that networking is the most effective method of searching. However, a Census Bureau survey of 10 million job seekers found that most people apply directly to employers. Networking ranked second and answering advertisements was third. Making quality contacts through networking with targeted employers locates opportunities early, thereby reducing or even eliminating competition.

Spot Opportunities

You are more likely to find a new position by reading your local newspaper's business section than by screening classified ads. Try looking for "spot opportunities."

A spot opportunity is reported information that can be used to uncover or create employment opportunities. Here are a couple examples:

• News of an executive's promotion or the recruitment of a new senior manager is a basic indication of opportunity. Rarely will an executive keep all of an inherited staff; within the first six months, new hiring usually occurs.
• Raising new capital through public offerings or major bank financing normally indicates that a firm is planning business development or trying to solve a financial crunch. In most instances, some portion of the new funds will be spent on hiring additional personnel.