Resume questions

Magick1 · #1 02-08-2008, 01:49 PM

Hubby's been searching since he was notified he was being laid off (early Dec) and submitting apps everywhere.

Any suggestions on why he cannot even make it through the HR preliminary cut?

How far back should you go on a resume?

Tips of things (besides the obvious, spelling issues, etc) that you should avoid?

How do you dress an app up for online applying so people will take notice?

He's feeling so beat up now, what with the insurance fiasco, losing his job and now, not even getting calls for interviews after applying everywhere.

I think he's getting depressed a little. And, I would like to help him, but don't really know what to do. My resume looks like his (as I typed them both up). Mine, when I was looking, got a response (due to my experience, etc). But, his, isn't getting him anywhere.

I am up for all suggestions.

**jgibson2**[$] · #2 02-08-2008, 03:04 PM

Think outside the box.

My 26 year old son has had a series of temp jobs (not A+ certified - test phobia and the temp jobs have made it hard to get to school to get certified)

He has interviews for several potential openings coming up in the next 2 weeks. Maryland dept of transportation has boatloads of "trainee" positions for computerized traffic systems. I should have known that, but I didn't. They ONLY post jobs to their web site. His qualifications make him a very good candidate for the job.

A local physician group is hiring their own IT people (multiple positions). Rob hasn't heard back from them yet, but I'm pretty sure these are people who used to have Dell do their warranty work - Guess who Rob used to subcontract for.

He's found a few others, but they're not advertised on traditional job sites -- he's had to go poking around small company web sites and his community college job posting board to find this stuff.

Also, he needs to ask EVERYONE he knows who they think might be hiring for any position for which he might be remotely qualified. We've gotten tips for both our adult sons that way.

poseidon · #3 02-09-2008, 07:51 AM

A few things...

1. He should be networking. I highly suggest LinkedIn.com. E-mail me at poseidon33@msn.com and I'll be happy to send an invite. More often than not it takes KNOWING someone on the inside of a company to have your resume make it to someone's desk instead of someone's trash.

2. His resume must have the proper key words in it. These days, when you are faxing or e-mailing a resume, before it even sees a human it goes through a scanner. The scanner searches key words. If the key words aren't there, the scanner sends the resume to the trash.

The best way to "guess" the right key words is to carefully look at the job description. Any words that stand out in the job description must be in the resume.

This means that your husband will likely have to tweak his resume for every job he is applying for. That's an unfortunate reality in today's job marketplace.

3. The resume should be on a single page. You'll hear people talk about two pages, but in all honesty, two pages is too much information.

Think of a job search as going out to a nice restaurant. You don't normally start with the main course. You build up to it with an appetizer, and perhaps soup or salad, THEN you move into the main course.

Your resume is the appetizer. It should give enough information to generate interest. If the employer can figure you out by your entire resume, there's no need to call you in for an interview. So, offer just very brief highlights, again stressing only the most important things by using the right key words.

The cover letter should invite them to contact you to learn more about you, but again, it should be brief. Be sure to include a WOW statement in the cover letter that doesn't merely suggest, but DEMANDS they know you are the very best person for the job.

Do not go back more than 15 years. Even if you've worked 20 years at a job, it is always 15+ years. Anything beyond that makes you look old and your resume will be rejected.

One of the things that got me in trouble was, believe it or not, my job history. I was with the insurance company for 15 years. Apparently, in this job market, you are expected to have a new job every 2-3 years. I think that's nuts, but that's what is expected. Longevity is NOT your friend.

Saying that, I plan to remain with my current company as long as possible.

Magick1 · #4 02-09-2008, 09:12 PM

Thanks for the excellent tips. I wondered about the 2 page deal. I appreciate the offer of the linkedin email, but I should be able to do send it to him.

I greatly appreciate the information. Fortunately, we haven't had to do much of this in the many past years. But, the market isn't like it once was.

**theworm**[$] · #5 02-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

poseidon said

Do not go back more than 15 years. Even if you've worked 20 years at a job, it is always 15+ years. Anything beyond that makes you look old and your resume will be rejected.

.

I don't agree with this.

On a resume, I didn't go all the way back and I was asked a lot of questions about the jobs that I left off and why I left them off. If your resume indicates the year of your graduation, and then skips a few years of your career it can raise a red flag. I revised my resume to list all the companies that I worked for and the positions held, but I didn't go into any job description details on the older jobs.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #6 02-09-2008, 10:09 PM

It definitely depends on the industry you are in. Nine times out of 10, I don't even have dates on my resume. No one cares how long I worked on a project or at a certain company; they just want to know what I did while I was there. It also avoids any gap questions like Wormie mentioned, and allows me to customize my resume for the job I'm looking for, without adding in some filler job that didn't have any related responsibilities. If they want dates, they usually ask, but again, it's very rare that they do.

poseidon · #7 02-10-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

theworm said

I don't agree with this.

On a resume, I didn't go all the way back and I was asked a lot of questions about the jobs that I left off and why I left them off. If your resume indicates the year of your graduation, and then skips a few years of your career it can raise a red flag. I revised my resume to list all the companies that I worked for and the positions held, but I didn't go into any job description details on the older jobs.

The point is that you got a call back and had questions asked because they wanted more information. You WANT the call back.

poseidon · #8 02-10-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

pippadaisy said

It definitely depends on the industry you are in. Nine times out of 10, I don't even have dates on my resume. No one cares how long I worked on a project or at a certain company; they just want to know what I did while I was there. It also avoids any gap questions like Wormie mentioned, and allows me to customize my resume for the job I'm looking for, without adding in some filler job that didn't have any related responsibilities. If they want dates, they usually ask, but again, it's very rare that they do.

Unfortunately, I had to include dates because the only job I worked since I graduated from college 18 years ago was the insurance company.

I simply made the error of assuming that my longevity would have been a plus when, in fact, it was a huge minus.

magenta321 · #9 02-10-2008, 08:55 AM

I do not list every job I've had since graduation from college, nor any of the jobs I had before graduation. Generally your last 2-3 jobs are enough to show your level of responsibility, and highlight any skills that might be aplicable to the job. I've never had anyone ask why my resume didn't go back to the year I graduated. I think it's normal for them to ask at an interview why you left previous jobs, however. I don't think it means you are red-flagged. It's just a standard interview question.

I see Jeff's point about staying one place too long. My mom has worked for the same company for close to 40 years. I think if she went job searching NOW it would make the interviewer question why she hadn't ever explored her options with other companies, and why NOW she is deciding to jump ship. But, let's face it, it's a rarity that anyone works in one place for even ten years any more. I don't think it would be a red-flag either. It would be a good question to ask during the interview and the answer would make or break it.

poseidon · #10 02-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

magenta321 said

I do not list every job I've had since graduation from college, nor any of the jobs I had before graduation. Generally your last 2-3 jobs are enough to show your level of responsibility, and highlight any skills that might be aplicable to the job. I've never had anyone ask why my resume didn't go back to the year I graduated. I think it's normal for them to ask at an interview why you left previous jobs, however. I don't think it means you are red-flagged. It's just a standard interview question.

I see Jeff's point about staying one place too long. My mom has worked for the same company for close to 40 years. I think if she went job searching NOW it would make the interviewer question why she hadn't ever explored her options with other companies, and why NOW she is deciding to jump ship. But, let's face it, it's a rarity that anyone works in one place for even ten years any more. I don't think it would be a red-flag either. It would be a good question to ask during the interview and the answer would make or break it.

Exactly. I was ready to explain about how I was promoted several times and, how I was happy at the company (until the final years when things started to change drastically and the company had to cut back). However, the career coaches that I met with all said this was a negative and wouldn't matter.

I don't enjoy looking for jobs. I'm in a position that I love and I'm being compensated with an ownership stake in the company. This company is ready to explode and become a huge deal.

I'd be a fool to stick around for a year or so and then take off for something else. I want to really watch what we all suspect the future will hold for us.

We expect one such explosion this week sometime. Our second largest retailer is expected to become our largest retailer, and we expect them to increase our business five to six times over.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #11 02-10-2008, 06:36 PM

I wouldn't put the year of graduation in the first place.

poseidon · #12 02-11-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

mjfrombuffalo said

I wouldn't put the year of graduation in the first place.

Again, my situation was a bit different. I just graduated in August and I took two years off of work to do it. But, I understand your point.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #13 02-11-2008, 01:16 PM

That wasn't pointed at you, Jeff - it was in response to Margaret and Wormie's posts referring to going back to graduation.

Magick1 · #14 02-13-2008, 09:04 AM

Nowadays, with the online application process, they want you to complete, basically everything, by typing it in & they want you to attach a resume.

Depending on what site you are on, is how many years they want to go back. It's been very interesting to say the least!

Magick1 · #15 04-15-2008, 12:30 PM

Well, hubby was able to secure a position with another large company. Since he has started they have backed out of 3 things they told him in the interview (when they offered him a position on the spot). He had a couple of interviews like this where by the end they had an offer letter for him...that was an ego boost.

But, the company said that he would have paid holidays, his hours would be set as per their agreement and that there is potential for him to move up quickly, especially with his skills.

They have now told (everyone in the company) in the first week of his training that there will be no holidays, everyone will work them.

He's been told now that he likely won't be able to move up, as he will be locked into a position and that they probably would not let him go from that position.

He's been told he will work possibly split shifts (8 - 11 and then have to come back later and to 4 - 9 pm) or something similar.

Can you put in a resignation for being hired under false pretenses without jeapordizing possible positions with that company in the future?

Or, would you be blackballed by HR instantly if you put in notice only 3 weeks after starting?

Anyone else experience junk like that before?

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #16 04-15-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Can you put in a resignation for being hired under false pretenses without jeapordizing possible positions with that company in the future?

Or, would you be blackballed by HR instantly if you put in notice only 3 weeks after starting?

I guess I would want to know why you would care if you are blackballed by a company that tells you one thing in the interview and something else on Day 1. I personally would walk away and wouldn't be enticed back for any position if that's the ethical standard and operational process of that company.

**jgibson2**[$] · #17 04-15-2008, 02:19 PM

What MJ said. I don't suppose he has any of the interview stuff in writing, does he?

Magick1 · #18 04-15-2008, 04:06 PM

No the offer letter did not really break this information out. It was a bit vague.

One consideration with the big company is that they may some day be one of the only companies in this market and as they always say, don't burn your bridges behind you.

It makes it really tough when all of these large financial institutions are buying out others. Soon, there are only going to be 1 or 2 to work for in this area. Unless you go to the mom & pop operations, which likely are much better for family, location, reputation, etc, but they certainly cannot afford the benefits and salaries like the big conglomerates can.

Just some thoughts from my perspective.

**jgibson2**[$] · #19 04-15-2008, 04:48 PM

If he is professional in the way he submits his resignation it shouldn't be too big a problem. If they merge to that degree and they still need his skills, they'll need to consider that they screwed him over the first time they hired him, too.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #20 04-15-2008, 07:40 PM

I once worked for a retailer in Buffalo - worked there for several years, and then quit suddenly and totally inappropriately when a new regional manager came in and jerked my boss around. I was on the Do Not Rehire list. I came to Long Island, applied at the same chain, got hired. My presentation and experience made the manager disregard the Do Not Rehire flag and she never even asked why I had that flag until I'd worked for her for a few months.

Depending on how low in the organizational chart this position is, leaving it (even badly) may not matter in the future. Going through a formal process and putting the reasons for leaving ("promised benefits did not materialize") in the resignation letter can help in the future, if he reapplies and they dig out his old file.

Leslie2k · #21 04-15-2008, 07:47 PM

Working in HR, I would ask a few questions. Has he gone to HR about the issue? Often times a hiring manager will say things about a position during an interview/offer that was never passed along to HR. Also, if he goes through HR, then decides to leave the company based on their failure to follow through on their hiring committment, HR should have the concern documented. That way if he does decide he wants to go back there some day, the hiring manager/HR can look in his file for information regarding why he left.

Non-rehireable status is always negotiable, but at the same time is seen as a red flag when setting up interviews. It's almost always better in the long run to try to resolve the issue and document, document, document.