writing a good resume?

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I've come to put my house in order
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Need to write on for a job interview...I'm already in the company and I'm applying for a better position...not really good at this sort of thing. Any advise and or websites you guys can point me to? Need to have it in Weds morn @ 11...
 

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Microsoft word has some decent formats.

Best thing to do is ask someone in a similar field/position for a copy of theres via email and then change it over.

I like: Name at top, then purpose, then education, then work experience, then volunteer (research, etc), then skills/interests.

And at the bottom, address, phone, cell, email, fax. USE A REAL EMAIL (Not hotmail, yahoo, etc)


Sean
 

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Yeah, formats are easy to get.
The ones that I commonly like to see have name/contact info at the top.
Objective is ok, but nobody reads that anyway, it's BS.
Then, a section for Relevant Skills (if applicable).
Work Experience, Education, then whatever, nobody reads past education anyway.
You need to make a favorable impression based on what you write and assume the reader will have this piece of paper in their hands for all about 60 seconds, if even that. Make sure include the appropriate buzz words as well, most times recruiters just look for specific words, regardless if they know what they mean.
 

Nonsequential
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The idea of having someone send you their resume as an attachment and then switch things over is a good one, try that. Assuming you are going to ask someone who has a solid resume format.
 
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Here is my girls

Rozonda LaQueeta "Pookie" Jenkins
2036 South Side Skreet Projects
Compton, CA 11122
Phone: Cut off right now but will be back on by the 15th.
OBJECTIVE
To one day fulfill my dream of becoming a SoulTrain Dancer and, you know, just gittin my life togetha and stuff. I also hope to one day be the best cosmotologecalist in the 'hood.'
SKILLS
I do hurh and nails in my kitchen and I use my glitter and weave bonding glue for arts and crafts and stuff. I do braids in any texture or color; synthetoc or human hurh.
EDUCATION
The "GET YOURS" Home Correspondence Course, INC.
Big Mamma's House of Hair 'N Nails 'N Fried Chicken 'N Stuff (Gradiated with honors for the most extensions don in a year's time)
WORK EXPERIENCE
January 10, 1999-January 30, 1999
Big Daddy's Motel Motor Lodge Bar & Grill Pool Hall & Bait 'N TackleShop
Reason for leaving: I got sick 'n tired of Big Daddy hittin on me.
March 1, 1999-November 1, 1999
The Golden Tooth Dental & Jewelry Emporium
I loveded this job cuz they gave me a free toof ary monf and now I can spell my baby daddy name but they done up and fired me cuz I let one of my homeboys sniff the laughing gas. He just smelt it, he don't do drugs no mo.
November 2, 1999-November 10, 1999
My Baby Daddy's Day Care Center Car Wash & Barber Shop
Reason for leaving: They tried to work a sistuh ta deaf and I got thangs ta do.
November 12, 1999- November 14, 1999
Kim Fung Toi's House of Rice & Skrimps and Stuff
Reason For Leaving: You don't even wanna know.
Jimmy's Jheri Curls & Motor Lube
Reason for leaving: Hospitalized for spine injury when I slipped on an overflow of activator.
The Ike Turner Pimp Slap Recovery Center (They have lovely commodations; yes I worked there and was a patient too.)
Reason for leaving: Center closed down cuz Tina Turner done refused Ike's request to give a benefit concert and donate the money to Ike. Ike say Tina done got beside haself since she a big star and arythang. He say he remember when she was Anna Mae Bullock from Nut Bush, Tennessee.
REFERENCES
Lawanda Jenkins (from up the skreet)
Hezakiah Clevestus "The Playa" Jones (my homie's cuzzin's babydaddy)
The Right Reverend Aliza Benjarmin "ineedadrank" O'grady (pastor of the Greater Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ Kingdom Hall of Our Lady of Saints Holy Rosary Latter Day Seventh Advent Saints Episcapaleen Sanctified Non-Denominational Baptist Church Inc., a not-for-profit agency.)
 

Woah, woah, Daddy's wrong, Mommy's right.
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use a cover letter instead of an objective - everyone knows your objective and it is a waste of space. IMO, keep the resume to one page, no one looks at page 2 anyway.

Contact info at top
Depending how long you have been out of school, work history or scholastic history, then the other
Relevant Skills
Personal interests
 

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i agree

a) no objective

and

b) i can't stress this enough...put it into a PDF...i've received a lot of resumes in word and formatting changes from version to version. PDF will give you something consistent.
 

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Yes - definitely use a cover letter.

Definitely keep both to 1 page each. I throw away resumes over 1 page and I think many others do too... Tells me you are inefficient.

Sean
 

Regional Manager, Dunder Mifflin Inc.
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Microsoft word has some decent formats.

Best thing to do is ask someone in a similar field/position for a copy of theres via email and then change it over.

I like: Name at top, then purpose, then education, then work experience, then volunteer (research, etc), then skills/interests.

And at the bottom, address, phone, cell, email, fax. USE A REAL EMAIL (Not hotmail, yahoo, etc)


Sean

Sean... I am sure if we did a poll most people don't use what you describe as a "real email" addres. Or maybe you can elaborate on what a real email is. I am a nomad, how the hell am I supposed to get a "@comcast.net" address when I live in a new country every year?

I found that comment somewhat pompous with all due respect.
 

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sean is right here

you don't want your email address to be

hot4you@yahoo.com

go to gmail and get one with your name or some version of it...it's free and easy.
 

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yeah, I think he meant use your name@someEmail.com, whether it be yahoo/gmail/hotmail whatever.
I personally wouldn't worry about references either if they aren't asking for them. Typically you put your references on an application and they usually aren't even contacted. There's some legality with what the potential employer can ask anyway so most places don't bother.
 

Woah, woah, Daddy's wrong, Mommy's right.
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Good call on the pdf BetIt.

Couple more things, make sure there are no typos. Literally none, like not even two spaces between a word. I throw out anything with typos or errors. IMO, if you aren't careful enough to catch them in a resume you won't in your work either.

I agree w/ Michael Scott on the email address, yahoo, gmail, hotmail don't bother me. Everyone knows you aren't going to use your work address and most people have at least one "garbage" email address. Would be interested to see Sean's response though.
 

Woah, woah, Daddy's wrong, Mommy's right.
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sean is right here

you don't want your email address to be

hot4you@yahoo.com

go to gmail and get one with your name or some version of it...it's free and easy.

That makes sense and I agree.

Re references, I would just put

References available upon request

at the bottom of the resume.
 

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Oh, and make sure you KNOW what you are putting down on your resume.
If you put skill XYZ on there, it's fair game, you should know it. People will put down anything and everything and when I ask them, tell me that they've heard about it or read an article on it.

If I'm interviewing you and you say that or can't back something up on your resume, you might as well leave because you've lost all credibility.
 

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If you guys want to use hotmail addresses, go ahead and do so. Most professionally employed people have non hotmail addresses. I am not saying this pompously. I am just stating a fact.

Best email addresses:

---@alum.___.edu or ---@somebusiness.com (Preferably not yours if you are leaving)

Next best:

Mike.smith@comcast.net or Mike.smith@earthlink.net


Looking bad:

____@hotmail.com, ___@yahoo.com


I am not against these email addresses. They serve their purposes, but they are generally seen as non professional. I could care less and would never judge down on these emails, but I know some people who do and the key to job hunting is to give as few reasons as possible not to interview...

You don't see people from any major company emailing you from hotmail.

But I did not mean to be pompous. If you like hotmail, go for it. Just know it may lower your job chances.

Along the same lines, I feel every woman should be able to wear an engagement ring and it is illegal for an interviewer to ask if you are married or interested in having kids, but trust me, if you are between 20 and 45 and female, your chances go up if you leave that ring at home and answer that you do not want kids.

Sean
 

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Oh yeah - and expect questions.

I've placed professional gambler on my resumes or card counter, or professional sports bettor or whatever. Every single Wall Street place I interviewed at including ones where I got offers 30 minutes going over exactly how I do it - partially in interest and partially to see if I was legit.

Sean
 

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I've never heard that email thing before Sean, but I'm in the IT industry so it's well-accepted to have a gmail or yahoo email account.
 

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Juice - I am not saying everyone is against free emails.

I am just saying, they are highly associated with spam, fraud, etc.

I have hotmail and yahoo accounts. I have no problem with them.

But I know some people look down on them. If 1/100 people doesn't like them, that's enough reason for me not to use one when applying for a job I want.

Probably 75% of people could care less if you interview in a suit or just a tie, but I'd still wear the suit.

Sean
 

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Oh yeah - and expect questions.


Also, on every interview I've gone on, I brought pre-typed questions of my own.

IMO, nothing shows disinterest like ending the conversation with "Not really" when the interviewer asks if you would like to ask anything. It doesn't even matter if the topic has been covered in the interview...you can even ask something like "just to be absolutely clear on this point, could you please explain x..."

I typically brought at least 5 good questions with me (which I still have typed up somewhere on my computer and would use again, God forbid I'm in that situation anytime soon). Wanna know the best one to ask?

"When did you join the company, and what it is about this job that keeps you here?"

This isn't something you'd ask a chick in HR, but trust me; interviewers (especially executives) love to talk about themselves. You can temporarily put the ball back into their court (and probably catch them a bit off guard) so you'll have a chance to gather your thoughts without looking bad in any way.
 

EV Whore
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"When did you join the company, and what it is about this job that keeps you here?"

This isn't something you'd ask a chick in HR, but trust me; interviewers (especially executives) love to talk about themselves. You can temporarily put the ball back into their court (and probably catch them a bit off guard) so you'll have a chance to gather your thoughts without looking bad in any way.

That's a good one.

:money8:
 

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