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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Anybody know anything about resumes?
        
(Message started by: thomas on May 14^th, 2008, 11:52am)

Title: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by thomas on May 14^th, 2008, 11:52am

I'm writing mine....... again. God it's been forever since I've looked for a job. Has it changed much in the last 10 years?

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by TomM on May 14^th, 2008, 12:07pm

In my humble opinion, keep it to one page. Lots of white space.
No one gives a shit about your hobbies, I think. They want to know what you did, how long your were there, and your education.
Again, IMHO.
TomM

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Langa on May 14^th, 2008, 12:26pm

Thomas, there's lots of links to resume samples on the internet. Keep it simple, no hobbies necessary and make sure you have your references ready for when they ask that in the application - they do call.

One pager and usually I would look for any job that resembled the job I was trying to fill and how long the person was there. That's where I would ask all the questions.

Was in HR for a while. Hated it. :P

Good Luck,
Langa

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by fubar on May 14^th, 2008, 12:29pm

Whatever you do, have someone else proof it. The mistakes I see in the resumes people send me are horrendous. I'm sure I pass on well-qualified people who just happen to make idiotic spelling errors. You never have a second chance to make a first impression...

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Mosaicwench on May 14^th, 2008, 12:47pm

Send it to me - I'll proof it for you.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by thomas on May 14^th, 2008, 1:20pm

on 05/14/08 at 12:47:48, Mosaicwench wrote:

Send it to me - I'll proof it for you.

THanks, I should have it done tonight.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by midwestbeth on May 14^th, 2008, 1:34pm

Sounds like you have been given good advice from all posted above.....Good luck with the job search.

Beth

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Sandy_C on May 14^th, 2008, 2:16pm

Thomas, absolutely, one page, no hobbies, keep your education to one liners, like

1989 - BS degree in math from XYZU
1991 - MS degree in physics from ABCU
1993 - PHD in physics from Yale
::)

Do not send a list of references with the resume, but on the resume say "References available".

As to job experience, again no more than two or three lines per job.
Example: 1994-1999 - XYZ Inc, city, state. Responsible for yadda yadda, Accomplishments, discovered the cure for cancer.

Keep the resume short, listing with bullets experience and education.

Then, write a short two to three paragraph cover letter to go with every resume you send out, tailor made to the specific job you are applying for. And, be prepared to also tailor make the resume to fit the specific job, within reason.

I'm only speaking from experience with my husband's loooong period of unemployment. He started out with a three page resume, with two paragraphs minimum per job description, and he sent this out to every blind box ad in newspapers all over the country(please don't do this), with little response. Once he shortened the resume, bingo!

Wishing you fast and great success on your job search. You are an extremely "salable" commodity! Go for it!

Sandy

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Peppermint on May 14^th, 2008, 2:39pm

Hey Thomas..

What Sandy said. Keep it brief, with Highlights, always include Dates, location(city), and major responsibilities. Always include your main accomplishments, special tasks or accomplishments outside of your job description.

Lastly - ALWAYS send a thank you letter to the person who interviewed you, and if you go through an agency, when you get a job, send them one too, you never know when you'll need them again (even if you thought they were overbearing). Snail mail, in my opinion, is better.

Good luck!
Pepp

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by echo on May 14^th, 2008, 3:53pm

My two cents:

One page.

Whereas, I hire technical writters and process specialists, if there is one typo or fonts that are inconsistant -- I 86 it.

modified to add this - I once had a candidate that fit every bill by resume so I called him in for an interview. As he walked through the door he said "Hey dude, what the fucks happening!" --- end of interview.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by thomas on May 14^th, 2008, 4:15pm

on 05/14/08 at 15:53:42, echo wrote:

I once had a candidate that fit every bill by resume so I called him in for an interview. As he walked through the door he said "Hey dude, what the fucks happening!" --- end of interview.

And can you believe that I've been looking for a job ever since then? ;)

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by echo on May 14^th, 2008, 4:17pm

on 05/14/08 at 16:15:19, thomas wrote:

And can you believe that I've been looking for a job ever since then? ;)

LMAO. Nice touch Thomas!

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by purpleydog on May 14^th, 2008, 5:42pm

on 05/14/08 at 12:29:03, fubar wrote:

There, fixed it for ya. ;)

I, too, have received resumes from what were probably very qualified people, but if you can't at least use spell check, in my mind, you don't really care. And definitely have someone proof read it. After you spell check. They may see something you didn't, or have an idea. How you word it is very important.

Good Luck!!

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Donna_D. on May 14^th, 2008, 5:45pm

on 05/14/08 at 12:29:03, fubar wrote:

Good advice. Several years ago, n my way to an interview, I noticed that I had listed my previous position description as Customer Service Manger. Luckily, the error was overlooked and I got the job anyways but I was sweating bullets throughout the entire interview praying they did not notice!

Good luck on the job hunt, Thomas. If you need a reference for your non-profit job experience just give me a shout!

DD

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by chewy on May 14^th, 2008, 9:01pm

Short and to the point.

If an employer has 25 resumes in front of him he's going to put the "novels" off to the side.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by deltadarlin on May 15^th, 2008, 9:01am

I'll give you another piece of advice here. Get some really nice professional resume paper (eggshell, matte gray) and envelopes. I've gotten more than one interview because my resume stood out from the rest.

If you want more than one proof-reader, send it too me. I spent many years teaching people *how* to write resumes.

Carolyn

ps, I disagree with lot of *white space*. You want to write a resume that is descriptive enough that the prospective employer gets a good understanding of what your previous jobs entailed.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Tara Ann on May 15^th, 2008, 9:10am

I agree with the one page deal. Best of Luck Thomas!

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by BarbaraD on May 15^th, 2008, 9:21am

If it takes over 45 seconds to read it's too long....

Other than that I agree with most of what's been written here. Remember the KISS formula -- Keep It Simple and Short....

Good luck..

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Brew on May 15^th, 2008, 9:36am

Any fool can make something complicated - it takes a genius to make it simple.

--Woody Guthrie

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Paul98 on May 15^th, 2008, 10:07am

Thomas-

Keep the resume' simple, neat and for god's sake no spelln errors. Also, be careful about gaps in employment. It isn't so bad for kids in their early 20's but once you hit your 30's the gaps will stick out like sore thumbs.

Best of luck my friend!

-P.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by thomas on May 15^th, 2008, 10:14am

No worries about gaps, I've worked just about everyday since I was 14. ;)

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by jimmers on May 15^th, 2008, 12:38pm

on 05/14/08 at 15:53:42, echo wrote:

writters is spelled -writers
inconsistant is spelled - inconsistent

Was this a test, did I ace it? :D

Jimmers

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Brew on May 15^th, 2008, 12:42pm

on 05/15/08 at 12:38:31, jimmers wrote:

writters is spelled -writers
inconsistant is spelled - inconsistent

Was this a test, did I ace it? :D

Jimmers

Nope. You get a 67%

"fucks" is supposed to be "fuck's," a contraction of "fuck is."

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by jimmers on May 15^th, 2008, 2:29pm

LMAO Bill!

Aw phuckit!

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Killroy 2.0 on May 15^th, 2008, 3:21pm

on 05/15/08 at 12:42:36, Brew wrote:

Nope. You get a 67%

"fucks" is supposed to be "fuck's," a contraction of "fuck is."

Wouldn’t the word fuck's with the apostrophe mean possession of , as in belonging to Fuck? :o

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by thomas on May 15^th, 2008, 3:32pm

on 05/15/08 at 15:21:49, Killroy 2.0 wrote:

Wouldn’t the word fuck's with the apostrophe mean possession of , as in belonging to Fuck? :o

It works both ways.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by echo on May 15^th, 2008, 3:36pm

on 05/15/08 at 12:38:31, jimmers wrote:

writters is spelled -writers
inconsistant is spelled - inconsistent

Was this a test, did I ace it? :D

Jimmers

Very good Jim. I was wondering if I slid that by.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Brew on May 15^th, 2008, 3:57pm

on 05/15/08 at 15:21:49, Killroy 2.0 wrote:

Wouldn’t the word fuck's with the apostrophe mean possession of , as in belonging to Fuck? :o

That's one of the ways it's used - to show possession.

But it's also used in contractions - Like in my response: That's (That is), it's (it is), and it's (again, it is).

I know - shut up, smarty pants.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by jimmers on May 15^th, 2008, 4:14pm

on 05/15/08 at 15:36:42, echo wrote:

Very good Jim. I was wondering if I slid that by.

Nice cover Echo ;)

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Paul98 on May 15^th, 2008, 4:27pm

Well who the fuck's hiding Fuck's dictionary? Did all the little Fucks' take it? :o

-P.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Brew on May 15^th, 2008, 4:36pm

on 05/15/08 at 16:27:04, Paul98 wrote:

Well who the fuck's hiding Fuck's dictionary? Did all the little Fucks' take it? :o

-P.

No apostrophe after the last Fucks, my friend.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by seasonalboomer on May 15^th, 2008, 4:37pm

Don't try to hide unexplainable gaps with obfuscation:

1985-1986: MCCF

Involved in the manufacture of vehicle identification technology.

(Actually means, was in jail at Macomb County Correctional Facility making license plates.)

Scott

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Brew on May 15^th, 2008, 4:42pm

on 05/15/08 at 16:37:27, seasonalboomer wrote:

I don't know - that probably would have worked on me.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Paul98 on May 15^th, 2008, 6:25pm

on 05/15/08 at 16:36:10, Brew wrote:

No apostrophe after the last Fucks, my friend.

Ah, but it is plural. It is old use of the ' but still correct. ;)

-P.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on May 15^th, 2008, 6:45pm

I think Bill is right and you are right too, Paul. Fucks is plural, but you are not using it as a posessive. For example, "those fucks' resumes" is plural and posessive, and needs the apostrophe. However, "the little fucks" is plural but not posessive.

Hope this helps, thomas

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Kevin_M on May 15^th, 2008, 10:33pm

Have an objective at the top and make sure has the type of job applied for mentioned. Some will scan the objective looking for, for instance, commissioned sales for those that say it in the objective.

There are many words to use for different jobs. These are good for cover letters or elsewhere on a resume.

If organizational skills are needed for the job, use these words:

arranged, compiled, executed, logged, maintained, monitered, obtained, organized, prepared, presented, reserved, responded, reviewed, submitted, supplied, verified.

If helping skills required, include:

advised, adapted, aided, answered, arranged, assessed, assisted, clarified, collaborated, contributed, cooperated, counseled, educated, encouraged, ensured, expedited, facilitated, familiarized, furthered, guided, helped, insured, intervened, provided, referred, represented, resolved, simplified, supplied, supported, volunteered.

If management skills are required:

assigned, attained, considered, consolidated, coordinated, eliminated, enhanced, executed, handled, improved, increased, initiated, motivated, navigated, organized, oversaw, reviewed, secured, selected, strengthened,

If requiring communicative/people skills:

addressed, arranged, clarified, composed, conferred, consulted, conveyed, defined, developed, directed, explained, interacted, involved, listened, participated, presented, promoted, reconciled, resolved, specified, spoke, suggested, wrote.

And on an on for different skills required for each job description -- one's that require creative skills, data/financial skills, research skills, teaching skills. pm me if interested in a list for these.

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by jimmers on May 15^th, 2008, 11:30pm

Damn Kevin, you have way to much time on your hands! :D

Just kiddin

Jimaruz'

Title: Re: Anybody know anything about resumes?
Post by Kevin_M on May 15^th, 2008, 11:36pm

on 05/15/08 at 23:30:43, jimmers wrote:

Damn Kevin, you have way to much time on your hands! :D

That's called unemployed last Fall. ;)