Tips for writing a resume...

Crom · Post by **Crom** » 2004-03-29 04:41pm

I've graduated from college and want a job. Unfortunately my work experience is pretty nil. I am going to go research up resume writing, but before I did I thought I'd sound out the board for any good tips on writing resumes.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-03-29 10:28pm

'Pornstar' might not be the best qualification to put on your resume. Even if it seems like a good idea at the time.

Basics: education that you have completed, relevant skills (I can drive, I can type, I can kiss arse etc), employment history in descending order (so the most recent work you did goes first), a list of hobbies (apparently if you like squash and the other guy likes squash you're ahead of the other guy who hasn't listed his hobbies), and contact details of at least 3 references. If you've got family who are willing to do this you could put their names on as references (give them a pseudonym, or a bogus surname) and that part is easy to solve.

dworkin · Post by **dworkin** » 2004-03-29 11:07pm

Brevity is good. An employer doesn't want to read through your life history as they can find out about that crap at the interview.

Most employers also only hire lucky people. This means they dump half the CVs in the bin without reading them.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-03-30 01:02am

Target your resume for the job. Try to use keywords that a resume scanner will pick up. Bigger companies just scan resumes and score them, you could be ideal for the job but if you are missing the right words in the resume it goes into the trash.

Natorgator · Post by **Natorgator** » 2004-03-30 02:19am

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Target your resume for the job. Try to use keywords that a resume scanner will pick up. Bigger companies just scan resumes and score them, you could be ideal for the job but if you are missing the right words in the resume it goes into the trash.

Not only that, but make sure it is free of errors.

There's an opening in the IT department where I work and my boss has gotten countless resumes that were obviously written by idiots because they contain typos. What does that tell you about a potential employee if he/she can't even get their resume right?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-03-30 02:29am

Natorgator wrote: There's an opening in the IT department where I work and my boss has gotten countless resumes that were obviously written by idiots because they contain typos. What does that tell you about a potential employee if he/she can't even get their resume right?

It might not tell you anything that could keep them from being an excellent employee but if there are plenty of job applicants resume errors are a quick and easy basis for narrowing the field. The person doing the hiring is looking for reasons to cut back on the number of people he has to interview so most likely he's going to take the easy road and toss those that have errors, look sloppy etc...

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2004-03-30 04:10am

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Target your resume for the job.
<snip>

That reminds me, I know someone that wrote his resume in blood red ink when he was applying as an advertising executive. On his interview, he was asked why he did that, and he replied that "their company is in need of new blood". He got the job.

Comosicus · Post by **Comosicus** » 2004-03-30 04:43am

generator_g1 wrote:
TrailerParkJawa wrote:Target your resume for the job.
<snip>
That reminds me, I know someone that wrote his resume in blood red ink when he was applying as an advertising executive. On his interview, he was asked why he did that, and he replied that "their company is in need of new blood". He got the job.

That' very funny

When you list your qualities and hobbies, make sure they support each other. If you say that you are a dinamic person, but at hobbies you list spending time online or meditating or other solo stuff, they can spot the discrepance. In this case try putting hobbies that involve team work, human interactions and things like that.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-03-30 05:32am

Don't brag to much about your sexual exploitations, that is unless you are applying for the position of porn star.

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2004-03-30 06:23am

Superman wrote:Don't brag to much about your sexual exploitations, that is unless you are applying for the position of porn star.

How do porn stars become porn stars anyway? Do they have auditions too? Is that really the use of the casting couch?

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2004-03-30 06:28am

Comosicus wrote: When you list your qualities and hobbies, make sure they support each other. If you say that you are a dynamic person, but at hobbies you list spending time online or meditating or other solo stuff, they can spot the discrepancy. In this case try putting hobbies that involve team work, human interactions and things like that.

It also depends on what type of job your are applying for. If the job involves a lot of customer/people interaction, make sure that you have joined clubs/organizations that also involve a lot of people interaction like your local charity cause, school newspapers etc.

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2004-03-30 06:37am

You can also try online job sites like http://www.jobsdb.com. Just enter your info/resume, and they'll look for a job that suits your qualifications and e-mail the details to your e-mail address.

Also don't expect to be hired at the first job that you apply, sometimes you have to apply dozens of times before the right offer comes along...