Help! Another resume question. It's been a long time.

[journeymom]

So there are resumes and there are cover letters. Is it a bad idea to combine the two?

On my resume I start with a pithy paragraph describing the job I can do. It's a combination of my 'objective' and a 'profile'.

Next is my bullet points of my education and relevant skills.

Then my bullet points of work history.

I want to end with a paragraph that acknowledges I've been out of the work force raising children for quite a while but I've been busy leading a Girl Scout troop. I hope I can describe how raising children and running a troop translates to something useful for an employer.

But this paragraph normally belongs in a cover letter. But the online application process for this particular job I'm going for does not allow for a cover letter, just a resume.

So, is this totally inappropriate? It's been so long, I'm imagining the screener will take one look at my resume and say, 'Whoa, totally un kosher here! Toss it in the round file!'

For what it's worth, I'm going by the examples at this web site:

Moms Back To Work

Note that on the left side there are resume samples and cover letter samples.

I'm thinking of ending with "Can lead the department in a rousing chorus of campfire songs". Would that be too much...?

[macheetah]

I want to end with a paragraph that acknowledges I've been out of the work force raising children for quite a while but I've been busy leading a Girl Scout troop. I hope I can describe how raising children and running a troop translates to something useful for an employer.

Nonwork experience, especially vounteer and community based, has tons of "transferable skills." I think if you somehow summarize the gains - of transferable (to the workplace, and to this specific job) skills, experience and qualities, that is best. You can use terms like: goal oriented, team player, supervisory skills, motivation/energy, analytical skills, dedication/reliability, determination, confidence, integrity, efficiency, economy, ability to follow procedures.

...and if there is some quantitative point you can emphasize about your experience, even better - i.e. "Implemented z method of nonprofit fundraising, resulting in increased troop resources by x percent over y time period" or "Increased troop membership by x through my efforts in y resulting in a z increase over the year."

No matter the job or subject matter, this formula works well to illustrate value to an employer. And all employers seek some kind of tangible value (I've had to do this as a PR person. Even though I loathe word problems...and anything mathlike!)

But this paragraph normally belongs in a cover letter. But the online application process for this particular job I'm going for does not allow for a cover letter, just a resume.

Can you tailor what you describe to the particular job opportunity? You can start out by saying how much you want to work for that particular company - and even better if you can say why while complementing them. (Google News check about what's hot with them, or check their press room on a website.)

Use their stated requirements this way: you can just list them and, adjacent to them, briefly, succinctly state how you meet them. Such as "Required: 10 years of experience in accounting at a major firm. I have over 12 years of experience handling xyz accounts at CrunchemNumbers Inc., a multinational firm." And on down the list.

What can make you stand out from the rest of the pile of applications is a personal interest in the company, and by making it easy for the employer to see how you fit their very specific needs.

Good luck! I hope this helps with some ideas.

[journeymom]

Thank you for an incredibly valuable post!

It turns out that there is a step where I could upload a 'cover letter'. I whipped one up and I'm concerned that it sounds quite a bit like the 'profile' paragraph on the resume. Oh well, my brain was fried by then. I've got to simply forge ahead.