Resume Help!!

[DebSP]

Ok ladies I need help. I have not been in the job market for the past 20 years. I have seen a job advertised locally that I really, really want. My resume is old style and not up to date. The problem is I have 4 days to apply. That only gives me Monday and Tuesday which are business days to find a professional to help and taking time off from my current job on those two days to update my resume is not going to fly! Do any of you know of a good resource to look at on my own to update a resume? A google search returns thousands of sites to comb through and I still won't know which ones are good. It would be a big drain of time with possible poor results. Any suggestions?

[shootingstar]

Make sure you can summarize in 1 sentence your area of work expertise as it relates to the job you are applying. Have it immediately at top of lst page under your address, email address.

The trend these days is to make sure you list relevant jobs in chronological order with key work achievements that highlight your relevant work skills and expertise. HR folks do not want to waste time to figure out your work chronology and dates.

I actually list the employer's website for each of them..so HR folks get a sense of the workplace cultures and size of the firms where I've worked. It's to save them the research up front. Then we don't waste time for them to ask questions/figure out if you understand their workplace culture, etc.

[DebSP]

Thank you for your help. I used the one website to get the format for my resume. I actually spent almost the whole day on it yesterday! Anyways I took it in to a job centre today for their opinion and they said I was on the right track. They gave me a few pointers and I am fixing it tonight and sending it tomorrow! Thanks again. You guys are like good friends whom I have never met but I can turn to for advice!

[ivorygorgon]

I am a paralegal/office manager and I am currently hiring for an entry level office assistant. Here are some things that are absolutely driving me insane right now, as I sift through literally hundreds (probably over 1,000 now) of resumes:

1. I hate the objective line. You want a job, I get it. Leave it out. It adds nothing.

2. 1 page! The first rule in resume writing. I don't want to see pages of your waitressing history.

3. Be detail oriented. I asked for a resume and salary requirement only. Do you know how many cover letters and no salary requirement applicants I am getting? All of these go directly in the trash.

4. I am sure mileage will vary on this one, but IMHO, don't make your resume too ostentatious. Sometimes I get so distracted at what I am looking at that I can't make sense of the information.

5. I only want to spend, maybe, 20 seconds per resume. I don't want to read an opus. You don't have to include every little skill.

6. Beware of hyperbole, I don't know if this one is a generation gap thing or not, but I am getting a lot of resumes where the applicant says their skills are "bar none," or the "best you will find," but the applicant has very little work experience. I know people are trying to sell and get an interview, but these statements just make the applicant seem like they don't have any self awareness or knowledge of what really good experience looks like.

Probably enough for now Good luck.

[DebSP]

Well Ivorygorgon, you post made me feel much better! I sent my resume yesterday. No objective. Started with a brief outline of the skills that matched the job description in the ad. Then only one employment history (have had the same job for 17 years, does anything before that really matter?) Followed up with my educational info from University and Community College only. Plain white paper, arial font in a good size and just bolded the section titles. Straight forward and to the point I thought. It ended up taking a page and a half and I did do a cover letter also but it was only one paragraph and was necessary to point out which position I wanted since more than one was advertised. I am changing careers completely (hopefully). It is really scaring me to death. I am so out of my comfort zone doing this. But for my own sanity I have to make a change! Where the heck did 17 years go? I was only going to stay until the kids were in school and my youngest is now in second year of university!

[shootingstar]

where the applicant says their skills are "bar none," or the "best you will find," but the applicant has very little work experience.

So sad if this is the trend. I agree hyperbole is..junk these days. People already make breezy, inflated statements on FB, blogs, etc. (Wonder if I'm guilty..)

For certain professions /fields, being too brief in resume, wastes a hiring manager also. Unlike ivory, I hired for specialized skills which required 3-7 yrs. of required skills experience + formal training so it really narrowed down the pool of eligible candidates. On average I was only screening no more than 25 resumes or less to short-listing for interviews.

It is very important to prospective hiring managers to highlight up to 3-4 major,core achievements in each job that relate to position that you are applying for.

Deb, having 1 2-line statement that encapsulates your skill set that relates to the job is very useful.
If you are still looking after this resume send-out, would recommend just mention at end of any volunteer work where you have spent several yrs., if you are re-entering in workforce. Employers responded well to me on it....after all, my job search was a long one and they are wondering what I did with my time..besides look for work.

[Bike Writer]

Hi Deb, you didn't ask this but while you are waiting for an interview research as much as you can about the company so that in an interview you can ask relevant and meaningful questions about the company and specifically let them know how you can use your skills to help them solve problems. Be specific with examples.

Good luck and I hope your resume lands you an interview!

[indysteel]

[I]
For certain professions /fields, being too brief in resume, wastes a hiring manager also. Unlike ivory, I hired for specialized skills which required 3-7 yrs. of required skills experience + formal training so it really narrowed down the pool of eligible candidates. On average I was only screening no more than 25 resumes or less to short-listing for interviews.

You beat me to the punch. I think this, along with cover letter versus no cover letter, is very job and industry specific. I'm an attorney and I know for a fact that my cover letters helped me get my jobs. Plus, in jobs where communication--especially persuasive communication--is key, I think anythng that demonstrates your writing skills can be very helpful.

It probably goes without saying, but you'd be surprised at how many resumes and cover letters I've seen that violate this, but for the love of God, carefully proofread what you send to a potential employer. I have a nasty habit of glossing over things I've written and reread ad infinitem, so I recommend having someone else proofread it, too. Fresh eyes are helpful.