Resume Tips for My Situation?

[Deleted]

I have been applying for all local office jobs that come up. I used to get called for anything I applied for, but now have not gotten many bites - even for the $8 an hour jobs...

I have a lot of office experience but I also have an IT certification and spent my last working job doing PC/LAN Admin. Since there are very few tech opportunities here, I am looking mostly for a general office or bookkeeping job. I would be thrilled with $10 and a foot in the door.

Should I create a "dumbed down" version without my tech skills on it? I think people might see my MCSE and think that I will leave soon for a better job. I don't have any desire to job hop, so if I could find a good office job, then I would happily stay there.

We have a lot of hotels in the area. My "perfect" job for right now would be working the front desk. I love to share with tourists about our area, and the job would be solo and tend to be quiet. This would fit me perfectly. My other perfect job would be working in either an animal shelter or for a vet.

I have until next summer before I lose SSDI. My plan has always been to start looking in Jan/Feb because that is the time this area starts to wake up from winter and start hiring people again. In the mean time, of course, I apply for anything that looks decent.

I am considering ND for a move when DS gets out of the local schools. It would be a couple years, so in the meantime I want to find a job, or earn the equivalent online, and keep working on my body, house, and property. So far I have left about 80 pounds of my fat in my yard via sweat and it is starting to look amazing!

If I haven't found something by March or so, then I plan to print a gazillion copies of my resume and hit the streets and see if I can find an office that needs some help. I will also temp because that might get me in the door as well.

I feel positive about finding something, it's just the process that is miserable...

[Tennesseer]

Highlight your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) on your resume to match the specific needs of each and every potential employer. Sending out hundreds resumes to random employers often doesn't work and generic resumes get passed over real quick.

[midjd]

I feel positive about finding something, it's just the process that is miserable...

I think a positive attitude is key.

I don't know much about network administration or tech certs... but if you're not getting many bites with those on your resume, couldn't hurt to remove/downplay them and see if that helps. I agree with Tenn that it's best to tailor your resume to the employer... when I was job-hunting, I had a "public service" resume, a labor law resume, an employment discrimination law resume, a Social Security Disability resume... you get the idea. Still got a lot of rejections, but I think I had better luck that some of my classmates.

[susanb]

Applying for jobs and not getting bites can be disheartening. I have been there and it is can really take the wind out of your sails, but I am agree that you will find something!


Here is a link to a sample resume for an office assistant (you have to scroll down to see it).
www.resume-resource.com/exad2.html

[Deleted]

Having MCSE on a resume doesn't mean much especially if it isn't related to the job. That was replaced by MCITP Enterprise Admin for the 2008+ products, so MCSE is dated by IT standards.

[Peace77]

I would sign up with the Temp agencies now. Don't wait until next year. They often have free classes that can improve your chances with other employers.

There are retail stores hiring staff for the holidays.

[Deleted]

Shasta Again? I missed calling you Shasta anyhow ;D

If you want to PM me your resume with personal info removed (and company names) I'd be happy to do some editing for you. I have been an HR rep in the past & then a hiring manger for many years. I'm hiring 4 people right now, so in full swing of resume review.

The main key now is getting impact with the reviewer in a 10 second scan. You have to grab them fast because they are reviewing so many resumes. If your resume is hard to read, cluttered, or in reverse chronological order I'm not going to see what I need to see. You can't make me work that hard to figure out if you have the skills I need.

I have noticed that a lot (and I mean a lot) of resumes recently the skills section is being used to match the job posting, but there is absolutely NOTHING in the resume content that supports the skills listed. That is beginning to really irritate me. The candidate is making the effort to 'customize' their resume for my posting but is only making a partial effort - weird!! That tells me they are blitzing out a ton of resumes. Sorry . . . if I bring you in & you have not even bothered to look at my company website, it's not likely you'll be hearing back from me + it will be a really short interview.

[hoops902]

Nov 9, 2012 22:50:43 GMT -5 @mmc said:

Having MCSE on a resume doesn't mean much especially if it isn't related to the job. That was replaced by MCITP Enterprise Admin for the 2008+ products, so MCSE is dated by IT standards.

Which means I'd leave it off then. Anyone who knows that it's outdated isn't likely to give it much credibility, anyone who doesn't know it's outdated is likely to think you're not really interested in their type of job but are just using it as a filler until you find something more IT intensive. This seems like an example where having it on your resume means zero positive and only negative.

While I wouldn't tailor my resume for every specific job I applied for, if you know that something like "hotel front desk" is a big category, I might make a few resumes. One for a hotel reception type job, one for category X type job, one for category Y type job.

[raeoflyte]

Shasta--if you have VCA animal clinics in your area definitely apply there. Front desk staff probably start about $8 an hour, but they have pretty good health benefits, 401k, etc.

From my friend who manages the front desk at one of our local VCA's they ALWAYS need staff.

[suesinfl]

If I haven't found something by March or so, then I plan to print a gazillion copies of my resume and hit the streets and see if I can find an office that needs some help.

Shasta, hitting the streets is a good idea, but if a business doesn't have a position open, leaving your resume may be moot. My experience has been that if they need someone, the will advertise even if they have resumes on hand. Some will not even keep them and they just go into the trash.

It might be a good idea to ask if they refer to resumes that they keep or do they automatically advertise.

[sbcalimom]

I don't know if you've looked into Virtual Assistant work online but that may be something you can do from home. I'd try finding some business that provide VAs and contact them to see if they're looking for support. Often, if you can get some experience and some good referrals going, you can then start charging more and branch out on your own. It may be a good side gig while you're looking for something local or it may turn out to be enough to support yourself given time.

[seriousthistime]

Reverse chronological order is a bad thing on a resume? I always thought you were supposed to start out with most recent work experience and work backward.

Why would anyone want to read about the job I had 20 years ago before I got my bachelor's and grad degrees and 10 years experience in my professional field?

[Deleted]

I got the dreaded "you are not qualified" letter today - for the job I applied for at the local animal shelter. Apparently 20 years of work experience makes me disqualified to clean up dog poop for min wage. Okay.......

[susanb]

Nov 10, 2012 10:23:01 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Shasta Again? I missed calling you Shasta anyhow ;D

If you want to PM me your resume with personal info removed (and company names) I'd be happy to do some editing for you. I have been an HR rep in the past & then a hiring manger for many years. I'm hiring 4 people right now, so in full swing of resume review.

The main key now is getting impact with the reviewer in a 10 second scan. You have to grab them fast because they are reviewing so many resumes. If your resume is hard to read, cluttered, or in reverse chronological order I'm not going to see what I need to see. You can't make me work that hard to figure out if you have the skills I need.

I have noticed that a lot (and I mean a lot) of resumes recently the skills section is being used to match the job posting, but there is absolutely NOTHING in the resume content that supports the skills listed. That is beginning to really irritate me. The candidate is making the effort to 'customize' their resume for my posting but is only making a partial effort - weird!! That tells me they are blitzing out a ton of resumes. Sorry . . . if I bring you in & you have not even bothered to look at my company website, it's not likely you'll be hearing back from me + it will be a really short interview.

Karma to Rockin' for her generous offer!

Getting feedback from someone with Rockin's expertise on the open market would probably cost $175+. Shasta, I hope you take her up on it!

[susanb]

Nov 10, 2012 18:02:46 GMT -5 @goldpanninggirl said:

I got the dreaded "you are not qualified" letter today - for the job I applied for at the local animal shelter. Apparently 20 years of work experience makes me disqualified to clean up dog poop for min wage. Okay.......

I have gotten those too. Ironically, I have gotten more of those from jobs I was qualified for than jobs I wasn't.

It feels like a kick in the gut, I know. Just have faith that this door closed because a better opportunity is waiting.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2012 17:28:03 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Reverse chronological order is a bad thing on a resume? I always thought you were supposed to start out with most recent work experience and work backward.

Why would anyone want to read about the job I had 20 years ago before I got my bachelor's and grad degrees and 10 years experience in my professional field?

Eegads, I meant NOT in reverse chronological order!! Thanks for the correction serious.
I have received several resumes in the past week where they list their oldest experience first. I have to scan too much of the resume to get to the experience I care about, so it puts me off. I will only slog through a bad format for jobs that are super hard to recruit for (I have 2 positions that are a combination of skills & part labor based, so tough to find people that want to put up with it.)

[Tennesseer]

Nov 10, 2012 13:47:33 GMT -5 suesinfl said:

If I haven't found something by March or so, then I plan to print a gazillion copies of my resume and hit the streets and see if I can find an office that needs some help.

Shasta, hitting the streets is a good idea, but if a business doesn't have a position open, leaving your resume may be moot. My experience has been that if they need someone, the will advertise even if they have resumes on hand. Some will not even keep them and they just go into the trash.

It might be a good idea to ask if they refer to resumes that they keep or do they automatically advertise.

Many employers trash unsolicited resumes and will only accept resumes for advertised positions.

My former employer's Legal department told us not to even acknowledge receipt of an unsolicited resume. Acknowledgment of an unsolicited resume could be construed the resume sender is an actual applicant for employment. And then the trouble starts.

[suesinfl]

Thank you Tenn that is what I was trying to say, but couldn't quite put it in the correct words and make it make sense.