help with a resume

[gorwell]

 

[GTaudiophile]

What kind of help do you need?

 

[gorwell]

I had hit the 'enter' key on accident. I recently graduated from the University of Washington. Currently I'm working at a computer store, but am in search of that first "real" job. My major was in Business Administration with minors in Accounting and Information Systems.

Here's a link to my resume.
Resume Link

Thanks,

Chris

 

[GTaudiophile]

Your objective is a little vague and your formatting is off. Maybe use a two-column table in Word: put the dates in the left column and content in the right. Maybe put the names of the companies you worked for in bold instead of your position. You can see my resume at my web list listed in my signature.

 

[KevinMU1]

An objective statement is probably the hardest thing about a resume to write, because it's really the only thing not based on FACT. But, your objective should definitely be longer--you need to identify a specific type of job and what skills you can put to use in order to benefit the company.

I also noticed that your Computer Lab Technician job doesn't have any dates, which looks a bit inconsistent.

Also, you should have a list of references and put "references available upon request" at the bottom, just so someone looking at your resume would know that they are available.

Do you have any non-computer skills?

Those are just some high-level suggestions, I hope that they help.

 

[teknoid]

Some fairly decent resume advice here: 10 Resume DONT'S

 

[newbiepcuser]

You might try monster.com and their resume builder. Also isn't their a job placement on your campus. The counselors might be able to help you there. There is also a good resume bookd called Knock Em Dead Resumes for less than 20 bucks at Barnes and Nobles. It has a lot examples of good resumes of different fields.

 

[SCSIfreek]

I was lucky enough to met a friend who works at a HR department hehehehe... She gave me a big folder of resumes sent to her so i picked out the 10 best and made my own resume. Also do check out other people's resume, you'll find lots of knowledge there. Last advice is to read your resume word by word 5 times before sending it out. <----trust me there will be errorss. If you can ask someone to review it for ya.

A resume is like a product description but instead the product is you. Its gets you to a interview much easier than a lousy hand-written half-a$$ resume. After you got picked for a interview you'll have another chance to sell yourself infront of the people who's hiring you.


Good luck.


--Scsi

 

[dullard]

Some random thoughts about your resume.
1) Put a colon after email since you had a colon after phone.
2) There should be a comma after Silverdale not a period in your address.
Ok some of these are minor, but if your resume shouts sloppy, you might not be hired.

3) Poor spacing between the columns: ex on the education line between 'Administration' and 'University'
4) Objective seems a bit short. Is there anything about you that you can brag? Try a statement similar to this: I excell at ...... so I'd really like a job doing ...... since it will utilize my skills. Ok you can improve that, but it is a start.
5) I'd remove the plural verbs. Use 'generate' instead of 'generates'.
6) 'September 1999 to September 2001' is not right aligned. As a web designer, you don't want them to think you can't place items in a good location.
7) It would look neater if you abbreviated the month names.
8) If you have a decent GPA, I'd list it. Do you have any awards or honors? Your whole education part looks a bit skimpy - makes it look like you are hiding poor performance.
9) I noticed later on you used past tense, this is better than the plural 'generates' you used above. Whatever you do, be consistant.
10) I don't think 'Internet' needs to be capitalized.
11) What is a student helper III? Is it better than a student helper II? I'd leave off the numbering if it isn't perfectly clear.
12) With all your proficiencies listed in line one, it is assumed you know how to use simple programs like Office and Word Perfect. Usually it can be omitted. However, your resume doesn't even reach one full page, so you might want to keep it in.
13) With your email address sticking out so far, it clashes with your name. Either move the email to the end of the address section, or move your name to the far left.
14) In the Mervyn's line, Silverdale doesn't align with the columns above.
15) You put periods after all lines except two: 'Assisted....selections and sales' and 'Took concentrations...and Accounting'
16) If possible, show some web pages you designed.

 

[MaxDepth]

Proper formatting, layout and consistency will place your resume near the top of the pile because it say that you spent the time to make it look polished.

However, it is best to have an excellent cover letter to your resume. say why you want that job and how your skills, education and life experiences have prepared you for placement into that particular job. If it isn't for any particular job, write about what job you would like to have and use the same material to back up your assertion.

But nowadays you apply for jobs more than employers ask for your resume.

 

[gorwell]

Thanks to all of you for your help on my resume. I'm going to re-post once I get all the suggestions implemented to see if I'm going in the right direction. Thanks again.

Chris

 

[bigdog1218]

I have a quick question, i was looking at that 10 resume don't list and the last one says not to include any personal information on the resume including hobbies,

the interviews that i have been on have consisted of 75% talk about my hobbies and my personality, and 25% about technical qualifications for that job, i always thought that putting interests on your resume helps that company see what kind of person you are and how well you would fit in,

i'm just looking for some thoughts on whether i should dump the hobbies part or keep it

 

[gorwell]

I'd keep my hobbies off the resume. Interviewers are looking at several resumes when they're searching. The more you put on there about why they should hire you, the better. The talk about hobbies at the interview is probably just to see if you "play" at all, in addition to working. They don't want a workaholic going nuts on them

 

[dirtboy]

I like to think of a resume as a sales letter for yourself.

A resume has one objective and one objective only -- to get the prospective employer to call you for an interview.

So try to picture yourself as a prospective employer... you may have 20 to 50 resumes in front of you and you only want to interview 5 to 10 people.

Will someone see your resume and say, I want to talk to this guy?

I personally don't like the traditional resume format. I go for more along the lines of this is what I have done and I can do the same for you.

Here are some samples from my resume...

Qualifications
Computer Systems Management - Managing 3 computer systems serving 75 clients in 6 locations
Internet and Intranet Developer - Creating content, databases and online training for 100+ users

System Administration
subheading Network Administration
Managed 2 network systems utilizing NT Server 4.0 and 1 web server utilizing Linux 2.2 with over 75 clients.
subheading System Management / PC Support / User Training
Solved difficult user problems such as operating system and software errors.
subheading Database Design / Programming
Designed an inventory management database with Access 2000 and created an interactive, web-accesible front end.

Employment History
Network Administrator, Muncie Public Library 1999-2001

Obviously under Qualifications, under all the subheadings and under Employment History I had many things listed. 3 total qaulifications; 14 under the various subheadings; and 4 under employment history.

When someone sees my resume, they see what I can do and they immeadiately think one of two things: either this guy has the skills to do things we need or this guy does not. Hopefully if I applied for the right job, the first applies.

I never put an objective. I frankly think they are stupid. My objective is to obviously get the job I applied for. If they want to know where I want to go with my career, and believe me they will ask if they like you, you tell them during your interview!

Same with hobbies. They'll ask if they want to know.

As for education, that I don't have, so I don't list it. If I had a 4 year degree, I'd put it on there.

I also don't believe in listing my entire job history. For example, you listed you were a cashier for Mervyns. Now I'm guessing as a web developer for Snowdogs you won't be using a cash register, right? Take it off...it is totally irrelevent.

Believe me, if you stun them with your abilities, your lack of education or work history won't hurt.

Good luck!