Does anyone here work in Human Resources?

[sonambulo]

I'm trying to get an honest opinion why the hell I can't land an interview to save my life. If anyone here works in HR and is willing to look over my resume/work history or maybe some of my cover letters and tell me what it is that I'm doing wrong I'd really appreciate it.

 

[WannaFly]

I don't, but my SO is graduating in may with a MS in HR and change management, she just started looking for jobs....I hope she doesn't have a problem!

On topic, Isn't HR a really general field, thats like saying "Why cant I get an interview in IT?" Are you specialized? How many applications have you submitted? ANY call backs?

 

[sonambulo]

Specialized...no. I've been applying for basically 'grunt' jobs all over...at least 50 apps put in. I'm in Boston proper and posted my resume up on a few sites and did manage to get quite a few calls just based on that for jobs outside of the city and even got offered two different supervisor positions. I've never technically been a supervisor but I did oversee groups of up to 30 temps in an old job during the busy season (7+ months out of the year). I did manage to land a part time job at a grocery store here but I want something better. The idea is to find something that's going to pay at least ten bucks an hour and give benefits so I can work full time and go to school on top of that.

What I don't understand is why I can't even get a callback for some shit ass jobs like housekeeping at a hospital or shelf stocking at grocery stores. Every time I call or go in to these places I get the same 'if we're interested we'll contact you' line and I'm starting to get pretty damn frustrated. Thus, I'd like to understand what happens when someone in HR receives an app what they do with it, how much pressure I should apply when I call HR, and why people don't even give the professional courtesy of 'not interested' when I don't fit the bill.

The thing that really fucking kills me is that one of my old managers in VT found out that I'm without work here in Boston and has called me to let me know that all I have to do is show up and he'll give me a job as soon as I come back. I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong here.

 

[Zenmervolt]

What is your work history? If you are applying below your level of experience, many places will assume that they cannot meet your salary requirements and will simply ignore your resume. There is such a thing as being overqualified for a position.

ZV

 

[Vette73]

Also you should make a resume for every job you apply for. That way if fits that job. Generic resumes are just that, generic.

I do "HR" work for the Fed Gov (State Dept)

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm here to tell you I've never worked in HR.

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
What is your work history? If you are applying below your level of experience, many places will assume that they cannot meet your salary requirements and will simply ignore your resume. There is such a thing as being overqualified for a position.

ZV

GED. Strong background in manufacturing as a production grunt that eventually moved up to the point where I was filling in for the supervisor on her days off but my technical title was 'floor lead and SOP trainer.' Left there and went to be a lab grunt where I eventually became a trainer and 'specialist' whatever that means. After that I went to work as a lift driver and loved the job but eventually left because of a terrible new manager and a company-wide policy of no raises or OT except, of course, for management. Left there and went to work in the cleanroom at IBM and did unheard of things with my numbers. For the duration of that time I was also working at a family owned gas station for extra cash under the table and the owners loved me to the point I would drink with them on the regular.

Right now I'm putting boxes up on a shelf four nights a week. I was offered more hours but I'm loathe to go full time because it's a union job and I won't see benefits for three years or a raise for at least six months.

 

[Bacstar]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Also you should make a resume for every job you apply for. That way if fits that job. Generic resumes are just that, generic.

I do "HR" work for the Fed Gov (State Dept)

QFT.

When I initially applied for my job, they couldn't offer the job directly to me without going through the "proper" channels. The best advice they gave me to ensure I was given a decent chance of getting through to the interview phase was to try to cover every point in the initial job posting.

Also like someone said earlier, you don't want to go overboard so you price yourself out of the job position

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Also you should make a resume for every job you apply for. That way if fits that job. Generic resumes are just that, generic.

I do "HR" work for the Fed Gov (State Dept)

Thanks for the tip. I've been writing very specific cover letters for all my different apps but haven't tweaked the resume proper for any of them. I will work on this.

 

[TwiceOver]

I did hiring at BK when I was in college... Am I qualified to look at what is sure to be your craptastic resume?

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I did hiring at BK when I was in college... Am I qualified to look at what is sure to be your craptastic resume?

If you think you can actually help me, then by all means shoot me a PM.