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I Need Help Writing A Decent Resume

Matthew Fluxington

17:23 / 23.01.03

I've been spending most of my day having some real trouble coming up with a good resume for myself. This isn't because I don't know what information to put in the resume, just that I have no idea how to work this into a concise resume format. Also, I'm having a very hard time figuring out how to write a decent cover letter that doesn't sound goofy.

I feel really embarassed that I'm as old as I am, and I really don't know how to do something like this.

Any advice?

17:34 / 23.01.03

I'm really good at resumes, but I don't know how to distill it for you... there are formats and strategies at most job-finder sites. You want to find use lots of verbs, eliminate any reference to yourself except in the objective statement, and make a list of every single exploitable skill you can think of -- they're generally more interested in your skills than your work history.

My email address is listed on my profile -- you can contact me privately & I'll try to help.

17:36 / 23.01.03

I write resumes, Flux. I'm not sure that I can explain how to write them, though.... I fell into doing them, because mine came out OK & people asked me to help them & I ended up just writing their resumes for them.

If you want, I can email you some examples. Or that parachute book, that has some good examples of resumes and cover letters.

17:41 / 23.01.03

Go to the library. There's a lot of good books that deal with resumes. Then just go to Kazaa and download some resume software, and you should be goood to go. Don't get too creative. The resume is not so much an art, just something employers want to look uniform when comparing to other resumes. Kind of like submission guidelines for magazine queries, they'd like them to all follow a similar format.

17:56 / 23.01.03

And a plain covering letter is always better than a wacky one, even if it does seem boring. Had a flatmate once who used to enclose teabags with her applications, and her covering letters said 'You'll recognise me when I walk through your door - I'll be the one bringing your tea!' No, no, no, no, NO.

Matthew Fluxington

18:08 / 23.01.03

Basically, what should I say in the cover letter? I've seen a lot of examples and advice online that just seem all wrong - lots of "put an inspring quote here", "detail your massive ambitious dream here", and "tell them what a brilliant god you are there".

Shouldn't I just be saying "Hello, I'm interested in working for you as a photo printer, I believe I'm qualified for your position, my resume is attached and my portfolio is available to be viewed upon request"?

18:13 / 23.01.03

Action words. Short, precise sentences. Emphasize what makes you unique: that is, if an employer will be able to infer what your usual job duties were from your title (i.e., "Waiter"), then don't enumerate them ("Conveyed diners' orders to kitchen: supplied tables with bread, water, and crackers"): only hit the high points ("Trained new waitstaff: worked with management to institute new zone-based waitstaff assignment system").

Resist the temptation to overexplain: in fact, underexplain. An intriguing-but-cryptic line leads to a chance to shine in person ("Oh, that—that's an interesting story, actually..."). The resumé doesn't have to tell the whole story—in fact it shouldn't: it should invite elaboration in the interview.

Don't fancy it up too much, obviously, but it's all right to be eye-catching: if you have a color printer, you may want to print just your name (which should be the largest and most obvious thing on the page) in a color other than black.

18:14 / 23.01.03

Well, exactly. If you've got an ad for the job, make sure you show how you fulfil the requirements it lists... say that you are a friendly person capable of working both as a member of a team and on your own... etc. Basically I reckon the covering letter is where you tell them how the skills your CV lists qualify you for the position they're offering. I think that inspiring quotes are probably the covering letter equivalent of purple biro...

18:22 / 23.01.03

The main point of a resume is readability; a prospective employer will be giving the resumes a quick scan looking for pertinent information, not design style. Even if you are looking for a job in graphic design or a commercial art field, readability is more important than the look of the resume. (In such cases your portfolio will be proof of your design skill, not your resume.) The layout should be clean and simple.

Use a simple font, and go for 11 or 12 point type if possible. Usually employment experience goes first, then educational experience, then volunteer work or other interests.

The cover letter shouldn't be too long. Just mention who you are, where you saw the ad, and perhaps why you think you'd be suitable for the position.

ALWAYS check grammar and spelling before sending out your letter & resume! That's been the downfall of many a jobseeker who had the skills but didn't check the dictionary.

Good Luck!

18:26 / 23.01.03

Shouldn't I just be saying "Hello, I'm interested in working for you as a photo printer, I believe I'm qualified for your position, my resume is attached and my portfolio is available to be viewed upon request"?

Yup. Keep it basic and functional.

"I am writing to present myself as a candidate for the position of ___________, as advertised __________"

Mention how you heard about the position: this is useful information for an employer. Then give 'em a one sentence thumbnail of your resumé:

"I have a broad experience in ________, having worked in various poistions in ___________ over the last ___ years. I believe my background and skills make me an excellent candidate for this position."

Then the boilerplate wrap-up:

"My resumé is enclosed. Please contact me if you would like to see my portfolio, if you have any questions, or to schedule an interview. I look forward to hearing from you."

Be brief, be informative, and be gone.

On closings: it's a personal preference, perhaps, but I loathe "Sincerely," and "Yours truly" sounds dorky. I generally close business letters with "Regards": it's a little out-of-the-ordinary, a little old-fashioned, and thus memorable—ithout being ostentatiously wacky: tea bags, fa chrissakes?

18:36 / 23.01.03

I got a condom once...

You have the right instinct, Flux, and Jack's worked it out just right... the one thing I might do differently is to say "I will call you next week to follow up on my application. I look forward to talking with you then." Instead of waiting to hear from them... but then, only call one time!

Matthew Fluxington

18:48 / 23.01.03

I agree with Jack about "Regards", but I'm sort of unsure about a good salutation to open up with that would match "Regards" well. Any thoughts, Jack?

19:04 / 23.01.03

In general, Jack has you covered - and Badbh, too, about the spelling/grammar thing. I would only add that unless it is absolutely, positively, necessary, don't exceed one page in length for your resume.

Oh, and use bullets. I hear they like bullets.

19:12 / 23.01.03

There's less flexibility in an opening. You've got

Dear Mr. Reynolds,

comma, or

Mr. Reynolds:

colon. Personally, I find the second a little too cold and impudent. Surely we can pretend that the man is dear to us, just for a moment. He's dear to someone, anyway: his momma ought to love him, at least.

And it should be addressed to somebody: nothing says "bush league" more loudly than "To whom it may concern," or "Dear Managing Editor." If the ad doesn't have a name to which your resumé should be directed, call the place and find out ("To whom would I send my resumé?" "Oh, that would go to our Managing Editor, Pham Loum.").

If you're the least uncertain about anything, practice the ask-without-asking technique...

"Okay, so that's 'Dear Mr. Loum...'"
"That's be Ms., actually, and it would be 'Ms. Pham.'"
"Thank you... and that's F-A-M...'"
"L-O-U-M P-H-A-M."

And then finish off with one you already know, so you don't sound like a total idiot:

"And she's the... managing editor."
"That's correct."

And thank the person on the phone profusely and sincerely.

If you don't have the info you need and can't get it, and you're the tiniest bit unsure, use "Dear Pham Loum"—better to be a stiff than to get somebody's surname or gender wrong.

Always ask: always confirm. 9,999 out of ten thousand guys are gonna spell it "Smith," but you can't take the chance that the guy reading your letter—guy that you want to hire you—spells it "Smithe."

19:35 / 23.01.03

Resist the temptation to overexplain: in fact, underexplain. An intriguing-but-cryptic line leads to a chance to shine in person

They can also help in getting your foot through the door. "Seriously heavy repo shit" is never a bad thing to have on any resume.

Matthew Fluxington

19:36 / 23.01.03

Ah, thanks Jack - I'm glad that I asked. I didn't have the phone number, but checked the domain name of the email address provided, and found the phone number and gave them a call. Luckily, the name of the woman I need to contact was also written out on the website, so I don't have to worry that I'm spelling "Joanna" incorrectly.

Thanks to everyone - this has been a big help.

The local Goth prototype has become a run-of-the-mill example of the apocalypse.

10:15 / 17.02.03

I am also ashame to say that I need help to put together a resume. Not that I can't write one, the problem is the thing about my selling points is scattered in some obscure corners of my brain which I dunno how to dig them out. I'm not sure that I can find them anymore. Please do PM me if anyone is willing to help me out. I will always try my very best to thank you to your heart's content. I will thank you telling you that you are just the kind of person you wanted to hear. I will thank you profusely and sincerely. You can even ask me to thank you a few more times if you feel that it is not enough.

10:19 / 17.02.03

In my experience nobody ever asks to see your exam certificates, so feel free to exagerate your grades a bit. Personel won't ask for a few weeks after you get the job, then you claim they were destroyed in a house fire, and if you're doing the job well they probably won't ask again.

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:33 / 17.02.03

On closings: it's a personal preference, perhaps, but I loathe "Sincerely," and "Yours truly" sounds dorky. I generally close business letters with "Regards": it's a little out-of-the-ordinary, a little old-fashioned, and thus memorable—ithout being ostentatiously wacky: tea bags, fa chrissakes?

This side of the Atlantic, "Kind regards/Best regards/Regards" is pretty common, I suspect because "Yours Sincerely" looks stupid on emails.

If you're applying to anywhere where formal literacy is important, remember that "Yours Sincerely" is only applicable in letters to people whose names you know; if you are applying to a department or a position, Brits at least use "Yours Faithfully". although of course if the job is one you actually want, get a name.

I like "Yours Aye", but that is quite clearly taking the piss so should probably only be used from a position of strength, and thus not on a covering letter with a curriculum vitae.

11:54 / 17.02.03

It's too bad that Yr Obd't servant has fallen out of fashion...

ONLY NICE THINGS

12:04 / 17.02.03

Unless, of course, preceded by "I remain".

Don't forget also to mention somewhere in the text of the letter that you are "on the level" and "looking for a square deal"...

12:06 / 17.02.03

Prefaced by As ever, of course.

As someone that in my last job used to have godlike power over incoming CVs, a lot used to end up in file b1N for various reasons. Especially those that made their CV into a mock newspaper front page or similar. No. No no no. Also, two pages at most. And depending on what kind of job you're going for, don't make too much of your hobbies - a couple of lines will suffice usually, unless you're going for a position that you know needs a lot of "team building/spirit", in which case max up those sports, dude.

Also, don't put in your hobbies that you're a wannabe novelist or similar. I know from experience that people will just think you're a dreamer with your head in the clouds. If you've had a book published/record deal/whatever then fair enough. There are more than enough struggling writers out there for your unpublished 300,000 fantasy opus to mean diddly squat to someone wanting to employ you.

12:06 / 17.02.03

Will no-one help the widow's son?

12:07 / 17.02.03

I can never finish my cover letters with that because I've already listed "obedient servant" in my list of skills. Repetition, you know.

12:07 / 17.02.03

The freemasonry card is always a good one to play, actually. Managing directors do so like to have their palms tickled by your pinky during the initial handshake.