Making a resume....??

[NySportsfan]

This is probably a stupid question, but I haven't had to deal with it, and I am a young guy in my 20s so I will ask all the real smart people on this board......I got a high schol diploma, but dropped out of college, at a relatively decent college, to go to work mainly because I didnt like school much and didnt have money to go anymore.....I was an independent contractor up until recently, as well as jobs for family and friends where I didn't need a resume. I now decided to apply for an "official" job and have a question about listing things your resume...........

should I put down

South Side High School 1994

or add on top of that

xxxxx University, 30 credits, 1995

thanks, probably a dumb question, please Im not asking for jokes its a serious question I want to get this new job, every little bit helps, Thanks

 

[Penguinfan]

List EVERYTHING you have done, including all college credits, leave nothing out of a resume.

Penguinfan

 

[THE KOD]

list the college in terms of the year you went exp.1994-1995

If you are asked about it tell them you had 30 credits etc.
You probably won't be asked and it will put you in the best light
possible for a resume.

any credit you have towards college will help, not hurt on a resume with your background.

KOD

 

[NySportsfan]

thanks KOD.......I dont think the credits need to be put, the best way is probably just listing the college and the years attended?
xxx College, 1994-95

Theres a million different ways, I have the ability I am sure I just dont wanna get passed over because of a stupid resume thing, if only handicapping paid the bills, most need to work during the day


Mike

 

[THE KOD]

thanks KOD.......I dont think the credits need to be put, the best way is probably just listing the college and the years attended?
xxx College, 1994-95
Mike

.......................................................................

:yup

 

[kneifl]

Make sure its only ONE page long, if you're like me and other people who look at resumes - I will throw it away if it goes on and on and on for 2-3 pgs

Use bullets that tend to highlight accomplishments, goals met, strong points

Don't show long gaps in periods of employment, even if you were unemployed..List temp jobs - don't lie

List all colleges attended with dates attended

kneifl

 

[NySportsfan]

hey kneifl, can I ask what you run? reason is, I am actually moving to your area next august, and that is where I am looking for employment with a few people, actually looking in the arlington area which is where Im going to live w/family for the time being, if you dont want to share you surely dont have to, was just curious, Thanks for the resume help, Appreciated

Michael

 

[marine]

yea, i will second the idea of not putting the # credits down and just put the dates attended.
Looks much better that way.
THEN when they ask why it was only a short time do you offer an explanation and inform them of the heavy credit load you took or other circumstances.



Kneifl,
Agree with the one page thing, but what do you do when your list of accomplishments and skills is so long it requires more than one page?

OR,
Is it acceptable to have multiple versions of your resume floating around with the emphasis on the different skill sets for the job you are looking at?

 

[dogface]

NYSportsFan...

Send me a copy and I will look at it for you as well.

I have a M.Ed and have taught as well as have developed several resumes. I will say the length of the resume is dependent on the industry you are oging into. One pagers are th best, but like in Pharmaceuticals they want every "real" job you have had so they may ascertain any tends in your employment history, as well as identify yout total skill set.

If you are still into the labor type positions a one pager is proably again best for you..

I will look at it over the weekend and have revisions if you get it to me soon...




TSI

 

[NySportsfan]

Dogface, thanks for the help..........I haven't done the resume yet, but I am keeping your email address for my records, thanks........Have a couple of specific questions, as I am not updating my resume yet I still have some time left doing what I am doing now...........I'm not dealing with labor jobs, I'm basically dealing with upper level clerical and data entry jobs in accounting offices and such.......Have worked at a golf course p/t many yrs off/on doing pro shop stuff and things of that nature, and a few acctg offices.......Main question is about educational like I asked before to scott.........I went to college for one year, at a respected college.......how would I list that, and how would I list my high school diploma, just say.......xxx high school, 1995....or do I need to write the town etc? and for the college, how do you reccomend I list it? I had circumstances to explain to them why I quit which wont make me look bad, but I wanna list it the best way possible, and not including credits someone else suggested, Thanks a lot Dogface

Mike

 

[marine]

If you are looking for a profession type job and not something like jiffy lube (not to sound mean or anything, just couldnt think of an example) you dont need to put down your high school dates.


When they see you have begun college they will automatically assume you have graduated high school. So unless you went to like Harvard Private High school or something, I would not waste the limited space on a resume with HS stuff.

 

[NySportsfan]

ok thanks Marine.......the job is for the state, so it is somewhat of a professional job..........so I should just put down

xxx college, 1994-95

and not xxx high school before that...........thanks for clearing that up, guess education line will only read the college and the years then :shrug: thanks again

Mike

 

[dogface]

Tp provide quick answers on here without seeing all of the ifomration you have you want to accentuate the positive. We as reades look for eye catching information from left to right and top to bottom...

The header will include your name and contact information.

I would then follow it up with an objective for what position you were looking for...

I just took a little time to find one on the web that could show you some possible ideas of formatting the information the style you use can be found in MS WOrd:

But here is a link to the beginning of the resume should look like information wise not appearance wise:

http://stonefc.dreamhost.com/sfchome/My_Resume_s/Professional/professional.html

Using the above link use how this person Put His name and contact info at the top, and then also add the objective...

Then go to this link: http://stonefc.dreamhost.com/sfchome/My_Resume_s/Technical/technical.html

And use the way he published his experiences with your work experiences....List the last 3-5 jobs that were important, starting with your current position and working back with no gaps.

After you list your experiences, I would then go on to make a Memberships/Affiliations area with any clubs or organizations you may have belonged to that emphasize your work ethic and interests.

Then and Education, area.. with listing dates of college only, with maybe an emphasis on the type of classes you took if they were pertinent.

That should be enpoguh for now, this explanation may seem haphazard, but I am working and writing at the same time, feel free to contact me and I can send you ither samples..

I hope this helps a little right away...


One last thing, when writing down your experiences think of every job you did, and each of the tasks that you perfomred leaving nothing to as too small, also show any type of leadership positions you have had or where you showed leadership in those positions.

I hope this gives you a start and was not too confusing...although I may have confused myself! LOL!


TSI

 

[dogface]

pS: You will noticed that we put education at the near bottom...unles your job is predicated on education, it is a point that is and needs to be deemphasized...in your area I would imagin past work experience, and current skill set is more important...hopefully we have captured the interest of the reader before the get to that point...

trsut me when I say this most resume's are not thoroughly read, unless they can not find the information they are looking for, and in that case you are dead already...

TSI

 

[kneifl]

Sure NYSportsfan just get my e mail from MadJack. I'm sure he'll see this thread. BTW, I work in Advertising in the DC Metro area.

As for the 1 page explanation, sure there are exceptions but for a resume to be the most appealing to the employer they don't want to read a bunch of jumble. Most 3 page resumes I have actually had to sit down and read can easily be compressed into one page. I, nor other managers (I'm sure they feel the same way), have the time to read 3 page run on resumes. If the candidate was a CEO interviewing in front of a board of directors, it is a totally different story (I'm sure the more experienced candidate w/30+ yrs experience is an exception). The point is nowadays companies get A LOT of resumes for every available corporate position. No one likes to read 3 pages of jargon. Sort of like this paragraph I just typed...lol.

kneifl

 

[NySportsfan]

dogaface, it certainly helped me tremendously, thanks....I do want to de-emphaize education, because I dont want that to hinder the job I can get, I always felt If I write me skills, duties, and jobs etc and they are good enough, those are what should matter, not the useless trivia you learned in school, unless of course you are going into a professional field that requires it........also, I assume you dont list references on the resume, you put on the bottom, "references available upon request" last thing, about the refences....I worked at the golf course, doing various duties, almost every job there possible, and worked for a few different people directly/indirectly, dont know how I should list it, and while I was in high school I had a few jobs part time golf course and elsewhere doing various clerical things etc, and theres also the pro shop, it is a little tough to organize, but without the exact specific thing I doubt u can do much, I put your email address away and certainly will heed your advice when I cook up my finished product, Thanks again

Mike

 

[NySportsfan]

thanks kneifl, I will get your email from Jack.........Ill explain my situation to you, and see if theres anything you can do, there may not be, but Ill try anyway, thanks a lot for taking the time

Mike

 

[dogface]

Af for providing a final answer, it all depends how you word it for the GOlf Shop jobs, that I would eed to see...

Yes references are available upon request goes the bottom of your first page.

HAve a reference seet already prepared and one that matches your resume, list at minimim 2-3 personal references and 2-3 professional references. (Make sure you have more professional references don't go 3-2)

Also I would get a at least 7 copies of letters of recommendation that you can file away and use at will, the reason I mention 7 copies is that you want seven signed copies. Save the signed ones ofr very important positions, people or a job you really want...then make copies of tehm and sumbit the copies of recommendations to the other positions...make sense?

Have a good night, and feel free to keep me posted!

TSI

 

[NySportsfan]

Last thing dogface........You say put references upon request, and then they request them at the interview I assume or along those lines.........and, they check the references by calling the people and asking them "did so and so work here", and you get letters as well by those people, on nice paper? Sorry If I sound stupid, I just was never in this spot, Im a young guy in my 20s finally trying to make the job to a real job to get rolling with benefits et al, have been doing mostly side work and odd work for the past few years...Should the references mention charcter and those kinds of things, I assume so, or just job skills, and are family members(not parents) good for those, I know bosses and co workers are good for professional ones, I just didnt know for personal if you meant for character or actual personal relatives or friends, Sorry If Im confusing you even more,lol just post one more reply if you wish, I have your email address, and Ill give you more specific questions as I make my official resume, Thanks again

Mike

 

[dogface]

No one ever sounds stupid...LOL! It's truly a matter of whether or not you have experience in an area, in this case you haven't so there are no stupid questions. I will say for a fact that I know CEO's and even Principal's from High Schools that have a hard time getting a resume at least in it's correct form out...so coansider yourself amongst the elite! LOL!

Personal references are desgned to show more of your character and makeup than your abilities.

Professional references should speak to your skills, work ethic, and other abilities such as leadershp qualities, team work/[layer etc.

Never utilize a family member as a personal reference even if they are twice removed cousins, aunts etc....in most cases you wil lfind when developing those personal ones, they may have been your best buddies at work that will vouvh for your personality, and character...the call if it should come to them will be more about tell me about Mike, than tell me what he can't do...

Got it...


Yes all of these items go on high bond paper, considering you are oging for a state position, do not make the paper flashy....go with a cream or off white color, and make sure you get matching envelopes at the same time, but if you want a little more flair, ge t alegal size envelope and send ourresume that way wiht a little cardboard inside (Like a picture evnelope) so your resume is clean and crisp and not folded.

Aslo when in an interview, make sure you ask ahead of time how many people will be in the interview, or how many people you may meet, and then bring copies in a folder for everyone. If they say you will meet 5 people that day, make sure you bring 7 copies of everything. Shows foresight and preparation//

Feel free torespond again, but I will be not responding util tomorrow morning, off for some shut eye!

TSI