Been a lot on TV lately about job hunting, resumes, etc., I wrote many during my time in the printing industry, and an employment agency years ago. My theory on resumes:
Name at the top, prominently.
Right under that, JOB OBJECTIVE. Make it specific and to the point. When they see it, they really don't care what your name is. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? If they need someone like that, they read on, and the next thing is your EDUCATION. Can you back up what you are looking for, with the education they want.
Follow the trail. Depending on the size of the company, Mail room, Personnel Department, Specific Department.
In the mail room, a clerk or a secretary will see it first. Put yourself in their shoes. Name means nothing. OBJECTIVE ....... they read this, and know where to send the resume. Same response from the Personnel Department only they are somewhat more educated, but from the OBJECTIVE they will know where to send the resume.
Don't make the objective broad or wordy, brief and to the point. We used to use a lot of flowery phrases, "with a company that recognizes and rewards proven ability." Blowing a lot of smoke, so to speak, and it was effective then, but I think not as fruitful anymore.
So now they know your name and what you are looking for and hopefully your resume has gotten to a department who speaks your language. i.e. Bill Smith looking for a position in the drafting department, and you are now being scrutinized by the Head of the Drafting Department.
Now, EDUCATION, have you prepared yourself to be a Draftsman, education wise. If so, he moves on.
Your EDUCATION has to back up your OBJECTIVE.
EXPERIENCE, has your word related experience been in drafting? If so, he is still interested and moves on.
He has 50 resumes, draftsmen, basically the same education and experience, flip a coin, or which resume rises to the top of the list.
After EXPERIENCE comes, on resumes, what I think can be the tie-breaker. If you have gotten this far, they are interested .....now ...... the clincher part.
PERSONAL .... a paragraph and what we are going to sell here is SIZZLE. We've promoted the steak, name, objective, education, experience, now, the things that make YOU STAND OUT. Visualize that many are looking for the same job you are, they have the same education and the same experience ..... now, what makes YOU stand out. Things that YOU did ..... THE SIZZLE.
President of your class, involved in the community while in school, captained the football team, developed this, designed that .... the thing or things that YOU DID that others didn't. SELL THE SIZZLE, it makes YOU stand out, from all those others looking for the same job.
All you want that resume to do is get YOU an INTERVIEW, so you have to make them want to see more, talk with you, like cream, rise to the top.
Things like, payed all of my college tuition, cub scout leader, volunteered at a senior citizens home, WORKED MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, (they love that).
I got a guy a job onetime, DEGREE REQUIRED, large company, nice pay, because he had been working on his degree, driving 30 miles to school, and back, married with 3 children, and he had been working to get his degree for five years.
They read that, hired him, and gave him an excellent job.
I have been asked to write an E-Book on this subject, and in the process of wrapping it up now. It goes in to more detail than this BLOG
MY LIBRARY
