Resume Help

[Belegon]

Ok...It has been almost 15 years since I really had to worry about what makes a decent resume...

Now I need it. Does anyone have any expertise to lend? Among other things, remember that I can spend 1000 words describing the ring of a doorbell...getting a single page resume is frustrating me...I want to say so much more! I have a two page one at the moment...

any and all help here would be grand...

 

[TxRad]

I've had the same job for 35 years so, I have no idea of what even goes on a resume any longer....

 

[sophia jane]

Monster.com offers some great resume advice. Wish I could help but I haven't ever needed on myself.

 

[Andreina]

check here

 

[Norajane]

Two page resumes are acceptable these days, provided that everything is relevant to the job you're applying for. Meaning, your Dairy Queen job in high school doesn't really need to be listed if you're going for a software development position and have been working in the tech industry the last 15 years.

You can organize chronologically, but if all your jobs required roughly the same skill-set, you can just list them with dates and titles, and then focus the bulk of the page on your achievements, skills, and experience/training/certifications, etc.

Bullet points can help you cut it down a bit- no need to write in full sentences.

Good luck!

 

[Belegon]

Wow, talk about quick replys...very much appreciated...will take that and more, quite willing to be humble here....

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Bel, if you need help, PM me - this is part of what i do for a living

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Wow, talk about quick replys...very much appreciated...will take that and more, quite willing to be humble here....

When you get ready to send them out bel, check the company websites. Some of them give a kind of sketch of what they expect on a resume, so you can tailor it to meet the job. I would suggest making one, just for yourself, that is as full as you can make it, including that job back in HS. Work out an accomplishments, personal and other synopsis your comfortable with.

Then, you can use your big, complete one, to tailor smaller, tighter and more specific ones to each job you apply for.

Best of luck

 

[zeb1094]

You really only need to concentrate on the last few years of your last job. All the rest was just a lead in and experiance gain to get to where you were at your last position.

The past, more than 10 years ago it not all that relevant, except for education. What you were doing last week is though. I have had to read hundreds of resumes and the shorter and to the point the better. I, the interogator, will only be asking you things relevant to the job you are applying for. I will want to know how you got to the position you were in and why you left. I will want to know your educational background and any continuing education you may have had during your last position. I will want to know your major acheivments at you last positions and where you want to go with your career.

Now I will put on the interviewee hat.

Once you get here, keep your answers short and too the point. Do not volunteer information not asked for. Do not open any doors for them, do not discuss, Marital status, Religion, Social behavior outside of the workplace, your age, or your race, your sexual orientation. If you mention it, they can question you on it, until the door is open they can not even see if it's unlocked.

 

[impressive]

And remember -- there are a wealth of reference letters available, should you need them.

 

[R. Richard]

I was going to reply, but Colly said it all!

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Wow, talk about quick replys...very much appreciated...will take that and more, quite willing to be humble here....

What you said. Terms such as: "Like a duck on a June bug" or "A hungry trout on a wounded minnow" come to mind.

Just another example of the fine, fast service provided by the "Author's Hangout Employment Service."

Rumple Foreskin

 

[moonlight elf]

What you said. Terms such as: "Like a duck on a June bug" or "A hungry trout on a wounded minnow" come to mind.

Just another example of the fine, fast service provided by the "Author's Hangout Employment Service."

Rumple Foreskin

Indeed! And the Author's Hangout has all kinds of excellent services


Much Luck Bel

 

[Belegon]

can I just make a quick point to everyone here?





I LOVE YOU!!!!


The people here are without doubt among the best in the world!

Just Sayin...

 

[MissBri]

 

[matriarch]

Removed: cultural differences make my comments a waste of time.

Good luck.

 

[minsue]

Start with details about yourself - dob, marital status, children, and always try and include a current photograph.

I'm thinkin' that's a cultural difference, love. I don't think I've ever seen an American resume with those items. *chalking up that info for future CVs... *

 

[Norajane]

Start with details about yourself - dob, marital status, children, and always try and include a current photograph.

Not in the US, sweets! All that stuff is illegal for an employer to ask about, and can set up an employer for a discrimination lawsuit...you didn't hire me because I'm too old or you believe because I just got married that I'll get pregnant and take too much time off for the kids or I'm black or gay or whatnot.

 

[sophia jane]

I'm thinkin' that's a cultural difference, love. I don't think I've ever seen an American resume with those items. *chalking up that info for future CVs... *

Yes, none of that should be on our resumes, I think.

 

[matriarch]

Not in the US, sweets! All that stuff is illegal for an employer to ask about, and photos can set up an employer for a discrimination lawsuit...you didn't hire me because I'm too old or you believe because I just got married that I'll get pregnant and take too much time off for the kids or I'm black or whatnot.

I knew this was a strange place, but you guys take the 'just in case' syndrome to new heights.

In my last employer, we stopped including DOB on the job application forms for just that reason, age discrimination. But I noticed, just before I left, that it was back on the form again. I've never come across anyone who was discriminated for their age - at least, not in my field of work, but I have a feeling in the next few years I will see it first hand.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm thinkin' that's a cultural difference, love. I don't think I've ever seen an American resume with those items. *chalking up that info for future CVs... *

I also do not think I have ever seen a CV with a photo unless in acting.

Hi GOOSE! HI MAT!

 

[zeb1094]

For sure. Do not, ever, ever put your age, marital status, race, creed, etc. on a resume in the states. Not good form, don't you know!

 

[matriarch]

I also do not think I have ever seen a CV with a photo unless in acting.

Hi GOOSE! HI MAT!

Hi Charley.

 

[Belegon]

yes, the personal stuff mentioned can't be there My Queen...but I am fascinated to discover that it SHOULD be there on the other side of the pond....

...was thinking that I would only have last three jobs on my resume...as I was at the last two for the last 13 years and the one prior to that has no bearing on the position I am looking for...unless it were with the San Diego Padres, and they already have me on file ya know....

 

[Norajane]

I knew this was a strange place, but you guys take the 'just in case' syndrome to new heights.

In my last employer, we stopped including DOB on the job application forms for just that reason, age discrimination. But I noticed, just before I left, that it was back on the form again. I've never come across anyone who was discriminated for their age - at least, not in my field of work, but I have a feeling in the next few years I will see it first hand.

I worked in recruiting for a couple of years, and there are all kinds of things employers have to worry about because of discriminatory practices in the past. They work around it in different ways, though. You don't ask a woman if she's married and has kids; you ask if she would be able to accept a job with 25% travel or that required 15 hours of overtime a week.

There is a lot of age discrimination out there - try finding a tech job if you're over 50. But age can usually be figured out based on college diploma years, or job experience even though they can't ask for date of birth and I'm sure it's used as a screening method for some jobs. There seem to be an awful lot of 20 year old receptionists at law firms...