Writing resumes = no fun!

[Apple]

I just found out about a job opening on Wednesday.  It closes on Monday.  So, that means I have tonight and tomorrow to write it, rewrite it, rewrite it again, and perfect it.  I had a migraine the last two nights, so didn't get to work on it at all then.  I also worked 60 hours this week, so tomorrow is my only day off.

I've done everything required in the job description, just not all at the same job.  On top of that, this job is so completely different than any job I've applied for, so my resume doesn't "match" what I need at all.  I can use the basics--job titles, years, grade, etc, but the detailed info needs completely redone.

I want this job.  I really, REALLY want this job.  I save a ton of money to take vacations in Europe, as well as a ton of vacation time.  My dream is to retire early and go work as a tour guide in Europe.  Well, this job is IN Europe.  And it looks like it would be part tour guide.  And part maintenance.  And part leading maintenance.  And a little office work.  Seriously, it is PERFECT for me.  But, I need to work on my French (Je comprends un peu le français.)  And, it could be a HUGE paycut (25-60% huge), but, the benefits could really make up for it, and I'd save on those big vacations--I could do long weekends instead.  And, hey, if I enjoy the job, I wouldn't want to retire early so badly, so my funds would have more time to grow.  And, my son is still in school, and finally made friends, and is in drama and jazz choir, etc.  So, I'm just not thinking about that part since it's such a long shot that I'd be offered the job, but I'm still going to try.

And I need to get back to working on it, but had to take a moment and vent.  I'm excited, but, I don't even expect a response, so I'm not worried about a big "let down" either.  I'm just enjoying being excited about a possibility, even if it's an extremely small one.  They just need to know I'm absolutely the right person for the job, dangit!

[Deleted]

Good luck!

[Jaguar]

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

The best thing to do (from personal past experience), is to list your current and previous jobs in chronological order, starting at current or last place of employment.

Start the resume off first, with your name in the header or just below.

Then list any degrees, school, or previous training you've received.

After that, list your current and previous employment record in chronological order, with most recent job first and working backward.

List the job descriptions on each , what you are/were responsible for, and the requirements of those positions.

Also state why you're seeking new employment (to advance in your field, etc), and how your experience would be an asset to their company.

If you write your resume with a strong selling point of yourself and what you have to contribute, you're more likely to at least get that first foot in the door for an interview.

[Apple]

Thanks, oped
Jaguar  I LOVE that quote!  I'm stealing it.

Start the resume off first, with your name in the header or just below.  Done... just not sure if I'll put my work email or home email address.  With local jobs, where we all know each other, I've just done my work email. 

Then list any degrees, school, or previous training you've received.  All my qualifications are work based, and don't at all qualify me for eduction based (MUST have at least a bachelors (low pay scale) or masters (higher pay scale) if using education to qualify).  I have an associates degree, so have to go solely with job experience, so education/training is listed last.

After that, list your current and previous employment record in chronological order, with most recent job first and working backward. Learned this a couple years ago, great advice!  Boss told me that if he doesn't see the most relevant stuff at the top, it goes in the garbage, so always start with current job first.

List the job descriptions on each , what you are/were responsible for, and the requirements of those positions. Done, but have held a LOT of titles at one location (12 titles in my 14 years), so some are condensed and my full trainee period is put in one "section".

Also state why you're seeking new employment (to advance in your field, etc), and how your experience would be an asset to their company.  Trying to figure out how to do this, since it really is a completely different job and is not a "step up" from my current job at all--it's in a completely different path.  But, I have put the right spin on my experience being an asset.

If you write your resume with a strong selling point of yourself and what you have to contribute, you're more likely to at least get that first foot in the door for an interview.This is also where it's a little difficult.  The job listing is very "personal"--they want "someone with an interest in WWI/WWII history", "someone who will successfully integrate into a foreign country", "someone who wants to tell the story of (the soldiers)"...  So, I have to write a professional resume, but I have to have "me" in there too, and my personal interests.  It's a little weird because every job I've had is skill and ability, not passion, outside interests and hobbies at all.

One thing I do with my resumes is write a "work experience" paragraph at the very beginning, before my employment history.  That way, I can pick and choose what work experience is most related to the job I'm looking at, and put it front and center.  Otherwise, the really important stuff can get lost in all those job titles and job descriptions, especially when I did it several years ago.  This way I was able to put down the most important work experience in the first sentence--even though I did it 14 years ago, I still did it, and it qualifies me.  I'm looking at putting a "personal qualifications" next, so that I can address that other half of the equation that is not work experience but still makes me stand out as the type of person they want.  If they didn't specifically go on about that so much in the job posting, I'd never dream of putting it on the resume.  Still, I have to put enough that they are interested in interviewing me, but not so much that it's no longer professional.

When it's strictly technical job skills/work history, the resume is a breeze.

[Opti]

Sept 13, 2014 22:23:08 GMT -5 Apple said:

I just found out about a job opening on Wednesday.  It closes on Monday.  So, that means I have tonight and tomorrow to write it, rewrite it, rewrite it again, and perfect it.  I had a migraine the last two nights, so didn't get to work on it at all then.  I also worked 60 hours this week, so tomorrow is my only day off.

I've done everything required in the job description, just not all at the same job.  On top of that, this job is so completely different than any job I've applied for, so my resume doesn't "match" what I need at all.  I can use the basics--job titles, years, grade, etc, but the detailed info needs completely redone.

I want this job.  I really, REALLY want this job.  I save a ton of money to take vacations in Europe, as well as a ton of vacation time.  My dream is to retire early and go work as a tour guide in Europe.  Well, this job is IN Europe.  And it looks like it would be part tour guide.  And part maintenance.  And part leading maintenance.  And a little office work.  Seriously, it is PERFECT for me.  But, I need to work on my French (Je comprends un peu le français.)  And, it could be a HUGE paycut (25-60% huge), but, the benefits could really make up for it, and I'd save on those big vacations--I could do long weekends instead.  And, hey, if I enjoy the job, I wouldn't want to retire early so badly, so my funds would have more time to grow.  And, my son is still in school, and finally made friends, and is in drama and jazz choir, etc.  So, I'm just not thinking about that part since it's such a long shot that I'd be offered the job, but I'm still going to try.

And I need to get back to working on it, but had to take a moment and vent.  I'm excited, but, I don't even expect a response, so I'm not worried about a big "let down" either.  I'm just enjoying being excited about a possibility, even if it's an extremely small one.  They just need to know I'm absolutely the right person for the job, dangit!

That is how I feel about a job I had a first interview for.

I could tell you how I customize my resumes, but its a process,

and it takes awhile. For that job I created a section called Other Selected Experience.

Since experience with food and retail was important, I listed my jobs at a bakery,

grocery store and a health food store. I included approximate dates and no more

than 2 lines for any job in that section. Those jobs, my own cooking and baking skills

plus my IT background made me a good enough candidate in my electronic application

that I got my first interview.

Its the second interviews and being hired into a job where only one employee is needed,

that is not working well enough yet. I think I need to Feng Shui my Fame and Reputation

areas.

[Apple]

Sept 14, 2014 9:25:36 GMT -5 @tbird said:

<abbr data-timestamp="1410704736000" class="time" title="Sept 14, 2014 7:25:36 GMT -7">Sept 14, 2014 7:25:36 GMT -7</abbr> Rukh said:
good luck!
I was really please when I saved my word resume as a pdf file. It looked more "polished" I thought.

My one suggestion would be to combine all these facet into a "professional summary" statement at the top of the resume to pull those pieces together for them.

I will need to do the pdf "trick".  One thing I've found with word is that if you open a document in a "read only" state, it can really mess with the formatting, making it look horrible.  A pdf would insure it won't get completely reformated on me.

I absolutely do the professional summary!  I've had a couple temporary promotions that jack my work titles (and therefore details) around, even though I've done essentially the same work for 12 years.  That kind of break up can hide my most important accomplishments and skills, so I like to summarize all the relevant stuff up front and center.  I've worked in a museum, done grounds maintenance, equipment maintenance, work scheduling, had design and engineering input--all important to this job, but not all done during my most current position.  If they want to see when I did that work, they have the position specific work history below.  But I HAVE done that work, and it's important they see that without digging for it.

While the temp promotions were nice for the experience and pay increase, they make my resume a lot more work. I have figured out how to shorten a bunch of the extraneous job title stuff though.

[Apple]

Almost done!!  I won't send it for a while so I can tweak it if I think of anything further to add.  This morning I realized that being elected secretary for a photography council was going to fill in some of the work skill blanks I had (office work related).  They consider both paid and unpaid experience, so in went a brief sentence...

I have gone back at least three times to cut out the extra info that would just make my resume look too long.  I'm hoping to cut out even more with another go-through or two.  But for now, I'm taking a short break.

[NoNamePerson]

Good luck and keep us posted.

ETA: just saw my spelling error!!!

[Apple]

Sept 14, 2014 11:04:07 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Good luck and keep up posted.

A post of yours is the whole reason I ended up finding the job posting, so I owe you a big THANK YOU! 

[taz157]

Sept 14, 2014 11:04:07 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Good luck and keep up posted.

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 14, 2014 12:08:42 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sept 14, 2014 11:04:07 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Good luck and keep up posted.

A post of yours is the whole reason I ended up finding the job posting, so I owe you a big THANK YOU! 

Don't know what I said but glad to be of service!!! And you're welcome...

[Opti]

Sept 13, 2014 22:34:40 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

 Then apparently I have picked well.

FWIW, last year around this time I discovered there actually was a way to break into

showbiz that might not require many years, etc. Every year, two organizations take applications

for an assistant film director program. One in LA and a smaller one in NYC.

[Nazgul Girl]

   Best wishes and good luck!

[Apple]

Resume is sent! That's a scary thought... And now I go to bed, but tomorrow I focus on learning more French like crazy!

[Jaguar]

Good Luck.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

That's your first step into the door, Apple - may it bring you a giant step forward for the future.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 0:23:10 GMT -5 Apple said:

Resume is sent! That's a scary thought... And now I go to bed, but tomorrow I focus on learning more French like crazy!

ok, too late but I would not put in anything about why you're leaving your current job - that's an interview question, not something for your resume.  Also, don't know if you had this but for others, objective is an outdated item also.

[Apple]

Sept 15, 2014 7:48:57 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

Sept 15, 2014 0:23:10 GMT -5 Apple said:

Resume is sent! That's a scary thought... And now I go to bed, but tomorrow I focus on learning more French like crazy!

ok, too late but I would not put in anything about why you're leaving your current job - that's an interview question, not something for your resume.  Also, don't know if you had this but for others, objective is an outdated item also.

Didn't say anything about why I would leave, and if I get to the interview stage it would be easy to answer without being negative-current career is a job, this one would fulfill a dream. Just need to figure out to say it right.

Also, no objective put in. The work experience summary was just a few sentences about the work I have done that is directly related to this position. That way it's all up front and highlights my key points within the first couple seconds.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 8:34:48 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sept 15, 2014 7:48:57 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

ok, too late but I would not put in anything about why you're leaving your current job - that's an interview question, not something for your resume.  Also, don't know if you had this but for others, objective is an outdated item also.

Didn't say anything about why I would leave, and if I get to the interview stage it would be easy to answer without being negative-current career is a job, this one would fulfill a dream. Just need to figure out to say it right.

Also, no objective put in. The work experience summary was just a few sentences about the work I have done that is directly related to this position. That way it's all up front and highlights my key points within the first couple seconds.

I just mentioned it because another poster said something about why you're leaving on your resume.....

[Apple]

Sept 15, 2014 8:41:14 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

Sept 15, 2014 8:34:48 GMT -5 Apple said:

Didn't say anything about why I would leave, and if I get to the interview stage it would be easy to answer without being negative-current career is a job, this one would fulfill a dream. Just need to figure out to say it right.

Also, no objective put in. The work experience summary was just a few sentences about the work I have done that is directly related to this position. That way it's all up front and highlights my key points within the first couple seconds.

I just mentioned it because another poster said something about why you're leaving on your resume.....

I didn't catch that, but not something I would do! I prefer to leave the can of worms untouched until I've landed the job and have some time and trust under my belt

[Apple]

Sept 14, 2014 14:58:55 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Sept 14, 2014 12:08:42 GMT -5 Apple said:

A post of yours is the whole reason I ended up finding the job posting, so I owe you a big THANK YOU! 

Don't know what I said but glad to be of service!!! And you're welcome...

I'll PM you