Resumes?

[Raziaar]

So most of you are going to school and shit and won't have too much trouble with this hopefully.

I'm wondering a little what I should do in my situation. I have pretty much no formal education other than a recently acquired General Education Diploma.

I have very little actual work experience... working a data entry job for a few months in 2003, and a couple weeks in a warehouse job at zales in 2007. Other than that, there's pretty much nothing.

I don't have any 'work acquired and proven' skills, though I am very good with a computer and I have excellent typing skills.

I'm really disheartened about the whole resume aspect of job searching. I'm more content to just say '**** it', and go without a resume since putting my terribly splotchy and limited work history on a piece of paper and my limited professional skills along with very basic education credentials won't be very impressive.

Last time I had somebody try to work on a resume for me, she put in stuff that was way, WAY too overblown and it got me into an interview for an IT job that was beyond my abilities.

Wish I could be a sheltered bum all of my life, but sadly that cannot be the case. Actually, I do not wish that, since all the free time I have sucks ass when I can't spend it playing new games or doing cool things with stuff I have purchased. Just wasting time, with the days passing by without me even knowing it. I sort of want to get a job just so time stands still.

 

[CptStern]

everybody pads their resume. Even employers pad their want ads to make it sound harder than it actually is. All job postings are based on the "ideal" candidate but rarely do they find someone who fits all their requirements. So you applied to a job you couldnt do? no harm done, even if you got the job you could fake it for awhile (although tough to do in IT)

anyways I wont lecture you like I have in the past but get off your ass and get her done. lie on your resume, the interviewer expects it, just dont lie too much


oh and the point of having a job is not so much so you can afford buying games but rather than you feel self-worth as a contributing member of society

 

[Raziaar]

oh and the point of having a job is not so much so you can afford buying games but rather than you feel self-worth as a contributing member of society

Wrong! The point of having a job is so you can buy things you both want and need, supporting yourselves and others.

I find the idea that having a job simply to be a contributing member to society a tad bit offensive!


As for the rest of your advice, I am taking it into consideration. At least now I have a cheap ass pair of uncomfortable 20 dollar wal-mart dress shoes I can wear to interviews instead of my sneakers.

 

[CyberPitz]

I've never truly padded my resume...maybe that's why I don't get call backs so often. I pretty much just over-glorify what I HAVE done, though.

 

[The Monkey]

I have bigger problems with the personal letter that you have to write to the employer. Do they expect to brag on for a page or two about how great I am in every way and how good I am at everything? I can't do that.

 

[xcellerate]

It's a lot better to have something on your resume than nothing. If you don't have one they assume the worst, if you had a 3.7gpa and left that out, they figure you had a 1.01. Resumes can be anything, so you worked in a warehouse...did you ever supervise anybody for any reason? Did you talk to your boss about inventory layout? Did he trust you to be by yourself, lock up at night, handle expensive materials, etc.

You can definitly talk about computers, can you build one? Repair one? Set one up on a network? Ever been paid for computer work(freelance!)? The problem I see is people try and always talk about their job strictly is, and they leave out character traits.

Like if you worked at gamestop, it's very important if the manager trustee you to count the cash and lock up at night, yet plenty of people might leave that off.

 

[CptStern]

Wrong! The point of having a job is so you can buy things you both want and need, supporting yourselves and others.

no it's not, that's at best secondardy. why do people bother getting an education if you can make as much as a teacher just riding around on the back of a garbage truck or delivering mail? like it or not your career is an extension of you, it's your status symbol, it's your worthiness as a human being. the money is just the here and now but 20 years into a career you wont see it the same way you did when you first started ...which is why so many people switch careers at least once in their lifetime

I find the idea that having a job simply to be a contributing member to society a tad bit offensive!

right, people respect the homeless and unemployed. which is why they have nicknames like "bum" "lazy" and "useless". this isnt my pov, it's society's. people WILL judge you by what you do in life. just ask any mechanic, garbage man, doctor or rocket scientist

As for the rest of your advice, I am taking it into consideration.

I've given you similiar advice in the past ..since you're still asking the same questions .....

 

[Raziaar]

I've given you similiar advice in the past ..since you're still asking the same questions .....

It's an iterative process.

 

[repiV]

The key to a good CV (we don't call them resumes ) is to think about what it is you're actually trying to achieve, rather than trying to adhere to a set of rules. Formatting is the exception here - you want to keep it in a standard, professional format that you will be able to find any number of templates for online.

Ask yourself what job you're going for and then what skills, talents and experience you have that is relevant to the position in question. Then find ways to express this concisely within the framework of your CV. Highlight aspects of your previous jobs that demonstrate competence or experience in key skills that are necessary in future jobs, even if they are only a small or seemingly irrelevant aspect of what you actually did there. And you want to highlight what you achieved, not what your job function was. Everyone knows what a data entry person does, they want to know what you did while you were there.

Also, prospective employers will spend a maximum of ten seconds reading your CV before deciding whether or not to take it further. So don't waffle. Furthermore you must bear in mind that the CV is not a tool to get you a job, it's just a device to screen out wholly irrelevant candidates. It's the way you come across in interview that will get you a job, and in these times you'll need to give it 100%. Not to be a doom monger, but you have to do it properly and persistently and really want the job, or there's really very little point in bothering in the first place.

Good luck.

 

[Raziaar]

It's the way you come across in interview that will get you a job, and in these times you'll need to give it 100%. Not to be a doom monger, but you have to do it properly and persistently and really want the job, or there's really very little point in bothering in the first place.

Good luck.

Ugh... interviews. That's a whole other story right there.

I ****ing hate interviews. I'd rather cut myself.

 

[CptStern]

It's an iterative process.

slow down Speedy, you might accidentily get er done by 2020

Ugh... interviews. That's a whole other story right there.

I ****ing hate interviews. I'd rather cut myself.

this might be part of the problem. it's all about confidence in your skills/training/personality

 

[repiV]

Ugh... interviews. That's a whole other story right there.

I ****ing hate interviews. I'd rather cut myself.

Not much anyone else can really help you with in that department I'm afraid. And I would wager that no amount of "interview technique" is going to really solve the problem in your case. Rest assured, it is possible to go from being a nervous and shy person to being supremely confident, but it will probably be the hardest thing you ever do - and by far the most rewarding and valuable.

Several years ago I was so insular that I barely communicated with anyone at all, even my family. Now I'm completely the opposite. You just need to get out there and forcibly put yourself way outside your social comfort zone again and again and again and again.

Having social skills and confidence will determine your life chances, the quality of your relationships, your happiness and your wealth. It's the most worthwhile investment you will ever make.

 

[Septih]

I too have very little work experience on my cv. What I tend to do is explain what I've done with that time instead in a cover letter, I think for first proper jobs, it's more important to them that you've been making use of your time than exactly what it was you did.

 

[Sloth]

If you don't have much work experience, either highlight what work you have done - or link in other things you do outside of work. Say what clubs, probably best not to include HL2.net, you are and have been part of. More meaning on a sporting or community level.

Sometimes you learn more things in places that aren't really working environments.

 

[Vegeta897]

CV? I prefer MIDI.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Ugh... interviews. That's a whole other story right there.

I ****ing hate interviews. I'd rather cut myself.

Time to suck it up. A CV is an advert for yourself to get you to an interview room where you sell yourself in person. That's the process. Getting an interview is where the job is won or lost. You must start opening up to these ideas and being more receptive to these basic processes of job seeking before submitted a CV for a job. Recruitment consultancies and agencies won't touch someone who isn't going to help them.

I worked in recruitment for 2 years and this is my experience from dealing with the situation on a day to day basis.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

You just sort of are thinking about this the wrong way.

A job is to contribute to society. If you think of it as just a way to make money to pay for games, more than likely you will be miserable because it's "just another stupid job". Find something you enjoy doing and work towards it. Try to go out and achieve your dream job if you want something that you can be proud of. Nothing is stopping you but your own ambition and the way you think about.

Make an honest resume, but be sure to use lots of actions words and find anything that you can throw on a resume. Things like even managing a clan for Counter-Strike will help as it shows you have potential to be a manager. Yes, it's silly to think about at first, but always put things like that on a resume if you don't have experience.

Also, it's true interviews aren't fun, but do you really think the other person wants to waste their time with someone who isn't interested? If you go to interview, be enthusiastic and show that you want to be there and that you want the job.

 

[hool10]

Bro your not the only one: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/40977 All of my friends who graduated with me in college have all gotten laid off (including me). ;( The first people to get a job are the experienced people "aka the shitty ones who have been at a company since Jesus". I called up some company 2 weeks ago and the guy was like:

• Guy: Have you done any 6G pipe welding?
• Me: Yes I have, but only in college. I took a code welding course and we did 6G code welding.
• Guy: Well we need people with actual field experience. Sorry but thank you for your interest.

Lately I have been really irritable and I'm the type of guy who says the "glass half empty/half full" is just different wording aka "I don't give a **** and I'm pessimistic, anything other than that your lieing to yourself". I wanted to yell at the guy for being a **** tard and smash the phone to bits. I wanted to cry that I lost a job opportunity after more than 3 months of waiting. America is just screwing itself over for the next generation and it's already starting as of now. Oh and btw my unemployment checks have run out after 30 companies. Good thing I still live with my parents, have no girlfriend, plays too much games, and is 21.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

I'm in the same boat as you Raz, work experience wise. Only had a job as a cashier for about a month a couple years ago.
And when you say "lie on your resume." What can you lie about?

 

[hool10]

My work experince is like:

1. 5 months at Jiffy Lube.
2. 3 weeks at a crappy welding shop.
3. 1 month at a machine shop to help them during college Summer break.
4. 6-7 months at my last welding job.

The rest is school just like you guys.

 

[PvtRyan]

Tip: don't pad your CV by saying you're a WW2 war hero.






Especially not a nazi war hero.

 

[Sheepo]

Tip: Speak American!

Just threaten the interviewer until you get the job.

 

[Krynn72]

**** resumes. Just get a friend or family member to hook you up with a job. When first starting off, thats really the only way you can get work, and the only way to get legitimate experience.

My job here I got because of my friends who work here. My friend told the HR guy to hire me instead of someone else he was looking at, then he made him watch my reel once through (which you wont need, since you're not going into an art field, as far as I can tell) and then he called me and said "Hey, Ryan says you're good. Want a job?" and I was all like "fuuuuuuck yeah!" and he was like "K, be here in 2 weeks."

 

[Kula Meenur]

CV? I prefer MIDI.

Lol. Just plain lol.

 

[Raziaar]

Okay so I'm making a rather shitty resume.

Should I put my GED scores on my resume?

This is what I have so far... ignore the formatting and shit that I just put on here to make it look nicer for forum reading.

I blocked out some of the personal information in case any of you are intent on finding and murdering me. The things that look unusual like "Company Name" and "City" as well as the whole personal information page, actually have legitimate stuff in there.




This is my name
This is my street
This is my address
This is my telephone
This is my e-mail
_____________________


Objective

Seeking a position as a data entry clerk with a strong, forward thinking company.


Summary of Qualifications

Lifetime of exposure to computers, high level of familiarity with hardware and software maintenance and use. Proficient with a variety of software including WordPerfect, Microsoft Office(Excel, Word, Access, Outlook), Visual Studio, SQL Server and more. Knowledge of computer programming with the C# Language and .NET Framework. Some website development skills with HTML, xHTML, and Cascading Style Sheets using Dreamweaver and Visual Studio.

8000-10000+ keystrokes/minute 10-key.
100 words/minute Alpha-Numeric with 99.9% accuracy.

Professional Experience

Company Name, City, TX
Data Entry Clerk, 2003
Efficiently verified accuracy of customer order data. Inspected and processed returns of damaged or faulty merchandise.

Company Name, City, TX
Warehouse Clerk, May 2007
Accurately and rapidly processed customer orders, seeing them to fulfillment.



Education
General Education Diploma, 2008
Name Name Education Center, City, TX

*Pretend the following is formatted properly. Stupid forum*

Subject Std. Score % Rank for U.S.
Language Arts, Writing 680 96
Social Studies 640 92
Science 800 99
Language Arts, Reading 660 95
Mathematics 600 84







How can I improve the resume? I have absolutely shit-all to put on it.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Wrong! The point of having a job is so you can buy things you both want and need, supporting yourselves and others.

I find the idea that having a job simply to be a contributing member to society a tad bit offensive!

But it's true.

Tell the employer about your interests, your plans, your ambitions, experiences. Your life doesn't consist solely of your work life, and the employer knows that.

I have bigger problems with the personal letter that you have to write to the employer. Do they expect to brag on for a page or two about how great I am in every way and how good I am at everything? I can't do that.

Why is everything either or with you? You don't have to be an airhead, just step up abit from being a self-loather,

CV? I prefer MIDI.

badum-tish

The secret for getting through a job interview: Actually believing you're a good candidate for the job. And dress okay.

Raziaar, I don't know how you do things in the US, but your resume looks like a robot wrote it. Be abit more personal. Start out strong and straightforward. Also try to be original, they have to sift through alot more than your CV.

 

[Raziaar]

Raziaar, I don't know how you do things in the US, but your resume looks like a robot wrote it. Be abit more personal. Start out strong and straightforward. Also try to be original, they have to sift through alot more than your CV.

A robot did write it.

I thought the resume is supposed to be entirely technical and concise, whereas the cover sheet is supposed to be personal. Can somebody else please clarify?

Anyway, this is what it looks like in Word right now, obviously cropped.

 

[Solaris]

Thats not bad, you certainly appear a strong candidate.

 

[Raziaar]

Thats not bad, you certainly appear a strong candidate.

The most difficult thing for me, the reason I hate the idea of resumes, is that I have pretty much NO job history. I have worked some, but I have years and years of gaps in my job history. And that makes me upset.

 

[Phobie]

My CV is pretty yawnsome. I've got a lot of work experience though, which looks good. I also put on it "other notable achievements" where I put all my SUPER AWESOME LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS YEAH.

I actually did my CV with a recruitment agency who got me my last job, so it's better than it would be if I'd done it myself I think.

 

[Jintor]

The most difficult thing for me, the reason I hate the idea of resumes, is that I have pretty much NO job history. I have worked some, but I have years and years of gaps in my job history. And that makes me upset.

Don't worry about that shit. If you don't make resumes because you have gaps in job history, you're going to end up with another, larger gap in your job history.

 

[Raziaar]

My CV is pretty yawnsome. I've got a lot of work experience though, which looks good. I also put on it "other notable achievements" where I put all my SUPER AWESOME LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS YEAH.

I have a SUPER AWESOME LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS section. It's just blank. lol

Don't worry about that shit. If you don't make resumes because you have gaps in job history, you're going to end up with another, larger gap in your job history.

True, true.

 

[No Limit]

Did you attend high school? If you did just put that on there, remove the GED part. Even if you didn't complete it put on your resume 4 years anyway, nobody will check.

Do you have any university experiance at all, even a single class that you took?

Also, you have a big gap between your data entry clerk position and the warehouse job so just be prepared to have an excuse for why that is (a good excuse, saying I wanted to play video games for 4 years won't work).

Good luck finding a job, once you do you'll be much better off.

And on a side note, dude, you got a ****ing 800 in science? Isn't that a perfect score? If that's true why will you not consider some form of higher education for yourself? You're obviously cut out for it.

 

[Raziaar]

Did you attend high school? If you did just put that on there, remove the GED part. Even if you didn't complete it put on your resume 4 years anyway, nobody will check.

That seems like incredibly bad advice to me. Why would I put high school on my resume, if I didn't receive a diploma, rather than my GED which I did complete? I mean ****, am I supposed to be ****ing ashamed of this GED or something? Why should I have even gotten it if I'm supposed to hide it whenever possible?

I didn't attend one day of high school though. I can understand the merit of putting it on there if I did attend though, but I would certainly still include the GED portion.

Do you have any university experiance at all, even a single class that you took?

No.

Also, you have a big gap between your data entry clerk position and the warehouse job so just be prepared to have an excuse for why that is (a good excuse, saying I wanted to play video games for 4 years won't work).

Severe procrastination and frequently changing hobbies is the truthful reason. I actually haven't played very many videogames over the past four years. I stopped playing videogames for the most part period in the past couple years. I mean, I'll still play occasionally, but it typically only averages like a couple hours per week, if even that.

But really I can just throw an excuse out there that I've used the time for personal growth and pursuit of various artistic and logical hobbies. Studying a new language, 3d modeling, programming... all sorts of stuff really, and that's all true. It's just unreasonable that I spent so much time on it.

Good luck finding a job, once you do you'll be much better off.

Yes, I know.

And on a side note, dude, you got a ****ing 800 in science? Isn't that a perfect score? If that's true why will you not consider some form of higher education for yourself? You're obviously cut out for it.

Well... between you and me, I studied a shitload of science stuff during my GED studying. I crammed for all sorts of stuff. For a while, I was even reading college level books for biology majors and shit until I was a couple chapters in and realizing that the books were college level and like 1000 pages.

But the real reason? The science portion of the test was easy. Most of the shit I studied for wasn't even covered, and couldn't be covered in the number of questions they had.

I also studied really hard for the math portion too... and I should have and could have done better, but I froze up a lot early on during it because I suffer from severe mathematical anxiety that I've been overcoming. Which is funny, because right now, I'm studying for more advanced math... stuff that I don't have to study for anymore. It's because I'm trying for personal improvement and because I'll be able to use it in my programming pursuits.


I will probably use my cover letter in a good way to explain some of the reasons why I have such gaps in my work history, getting that point across as well as letting me show my personality and stuff as well.

 

[No Limit]

That seems like incredibly bad advice to me. Why would I put high school on my resume, if I didn't receive a diploma, rather than my GED which I did complete? I mean ****, am I supposed to be ****ing ashamed of this GED or something? Why should I have even gotten it if I'm supposed to hide it whenever possible?

I didn't attend one day of high school though. I can understand the merit of putting it on there if I did attend though, but I would certainly still include the GED portion.

It's not that you should be ashamed but the first thing an employer will think about when they see GED is why did this guy not finish high school? Were you home schooled? If so I don't really know how that works in terms of a resume.

No.

I probably already suggested this to you before but community college is cheap if you have one in your area can actually be a lot of fun. You might want to take a course that you are interested in if possible (c programming for example). Would look good on your resume, you'd meet some new people, and you would probably learn something useful.

Severe procrastination and frequently changing hobbies is the truthful reason. I actually haven't played very many videogames over the past four years. I stopped playing videogames for the most part period in the past couple years. I mean, I'll still play occasionally, but it typically only averages like a couple hours per week, if even that.

But really I can just throw an excuse out there that I've used the time for personal growth and pursuit of various artistic and logical hobbies. Studying a new language, 3d modeling, programming... all sorts of stuff really, and that's all true. It's just unreasonable that I spent so much time on it.

I was kidding about the video game thing. As stern said you are expected to stretch the truth on your resume and in your interview. Just make yourself look very good in those years that you had a gap in. If you have any work to brag about from learning that programming and 3D modeling mention it on your resume. IE: Developed custom application that makes fart noises...whatever.

But the real reason? The science portion of the test was easy. Most of the shit I studied for wasn't even covered, and couldn't be covered in the number of questions they had.

I never took the GED so I have no clue how hard it is. But the percentile seems pretty impressive so obviously it wasn't easy for everyone. Something that seems easy to you might not be so easy for others.

Also, how good are your computer skills? Do you think you'd be able to support someone that had a virus or other computer problems? Smaller companies have a need for wide skill sets that you seem to have. So if you are applying to answer phones for a small company you can emphasise that you can do a lot of other things, like support their employees with their computer problems, develop a simple web site, or write a simple application to make their lives easier. Larger companies will laugh this off, but smaller companies will find it useful. So do some research on the company you are applying to before hand to see how your skills can help them.

 

[Dan]

On a related question, where would you include life experience kinda stuff like traveling. I want to explain that I did a big bicycle trip, and went to Mexico, in that gap after school and I wasn't just lying on the couch.

 

[Raziaar]

It's not that you should be ashamed but the first thing an employer will think about when they see GED is why did this guy not finish high school? Were you home schooled? If so I don't really know how that works in terms of a resume.

Wasn't home schooled, no. That was actually the goal, but it never happened(at all, not one iota). So my quest for education was purely on my own shoulders.

I probably already suggested this to you before but community college is cheap if you have one in your area can actually be a lot of fun. You might want to take a course that you are interested in if possible (c programming for example). Would look good on your resume, you'd meet some new people, and you would probably learn something useful.

I thought about it. If it's something I want to end up doing, I'll need to do it some time when I have my own job and income so I can afford to pay for it myself, and live in my own place or at the very least pay rent to my dad and still live here.

I was kidding about the video game thing. As stern said you are expected to stretch the truth on your resume and in your interview. Just make yourself look very good in those years that you had a gap in. If you have any work to brag about from learning that programming and 3D modeling mention it on your resume. IE: Developed custom application that makes fart noises...whatever.

lol... my very first ever visual application was one of those penis applications, asking if you have a tiny penis and wouldn't let you select no... laughter sound effects after clicking yes and all.

I have made quite a few applications though of various types though. I suppose I could put it on my resume, but I do wonder what point exactly that will accomplish when my goal is not a programming job at all(at least not yet).

I never took the GED so I have no clue how hard it is. But the percentile seems pretty impressive so obviously it wasn't easy for everyone. Something that seems easy to you might not be so easy for others.

I suppose.

Also, how good are your computer skills? Do you think you'd be able to support someone that had a virus or other computer problems? Smaller companies have a need for wide skill sets that you seem to have. So if you are applying to answer phones for a small company you can emphasise that you can do a lot of other things, like support their employees with their computer problems, develop a simple web site, or write a simple application to make their lives easier. Larger companies will laugh this off, but smaller companies will find it useful. So do some research on the company you are applying to before hand to see how your skills can help them.

I'd like to think my computer skills are fantastic. I know all sorts of things about computers that your typical moderately skilled computer user wouldn't know. Things pertaining to hardware and software. Though, honestly my hardware knowledge when it comes to building computers and stuff, diagnosing issues and maintenance is a tiny bit rusty since It's been so long since I have been able to use my skills and have a reason to keep them honed.

I mean, obviously I'm not a computer genius by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have a sort of "jack of all trades, master of none" thing going. Some things are more rusty than others due to some lack of use, but it's all like riding a bicycle really, and I am also a fantastic and quick learner.


Anyway, thanks for the responses No Limit. Back to Matrix Algebra with me! And then bed.

 

[No Limit]

But if you can troubleshoot basic computer problems you already know more than anyone else at most of these companies. Small businesses can not afford to have anyone on staff dedicated to IT so having basic knowledge to help with computer issues is a huge plus. So in your interview that might be something you would want to bring up when they ask you what your strengths are.