Resume
Hi everyone, how important is that to have a cover letter, resume and references on paper or do most companies not want paper and want the information download ed onto a flash drive, , and where can I get free help with this? ??
Good question Amy, I would suggest keep references until employer asks for them. It is also good to remind your references, when your potential employer is about to contact them. Cover letter may or may not be necessary depending on how technically you submit your information for the job. If you send an email and attach resume as a file, then cover letter is essentially your message in the email. If you submit an online application for a job, in many cases you end up copying information from your resume. It is very convenient to have a paper copy of your resume, especially when you go on interview.
Most large companies use applicant tracking systems, where all information is store electronically. So, they don't need a paper copy.
Amy pennsylvania state career services is called Career Link I will put the link after this post. Yes you should have a Cover letter template that you can easily customize for employers. I do not include references I keep those on a different sheet and provide them when they are requested. I would definately go to your states career site and see what they have to offer my states is an awesome resource, and they have helped me a lot over the years.
I've always taken a paper resume with me when I get to an interview in case the interviewer doesn't have one - it looks prepared and helpful. I've usually applied by online form or email, and your local library (such as https://www.carnegielibrary.org/services/for-job-seekers/) might be able to give you some free help. Haven't seen anything needing a flash drive myself. Good luck!