Resumé tips and tricks?

[Beev]

I'm working on a resumé for a company that I would LOVE to work for. It's for a customer service position where I would be a supervisor. I have 8 years of customer service experience (the requirement is 2 years) and meet the other requirements as well.

My problem is, I've never really written a resumé before... Is it bad to use a template? What should I avoid saying? What should I make sure I DO say? Any info at all is greatly appreciated.

 

[sourceninja]

My advice, keep it short and simple. Template or no just follow that. Keep it one page, put references on another. Be consistent across the entire document (if you use a whole sentence on one bullet point, use full sentences on all bullet points.

Try to only list relevant experience or experience that shows you have been trying to improve yourself. Finally, sell yourself in the cover letter. That is where it is at. Tell them how you have done things in the past that can help this job and what you bring to the table. Explain how you can save/make them money.

 

[oddyager]

Off the top of my head. Don't use fancy fonts or fancy colored paper. Keep it short and concise. I would put Education first (if you want to a well known school) followed by Job Experience. Otherwise, reverse that order. On a separate sheet of paper jot down all of the responsibilities and highlights you had/currently have with your job then compare with the description of the job you're aiming for. HR looks for keywords so if you had any supervising experience you would obviously list that.

 

[Delita]

I would think of it in terms of it being "Beev's greatest hits" Include examples where you really created value for the company you work(ed) for.

 

[LegendKiller]

Never include objective statements.

 

[Drakkon]

http://sexyresumes.com/
just a collection I've thrown together over time

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

 

[AntiFreze]

This is the guide I used to really help my resume out:

http://www.lifeclever.com/give-your-resume-a-face-lift/

Just make sure to keep it clean.

Cover letter, resume, and references (not given to start, but with you in case they would like some or require it to begin with)

 

[Beev]

Thanks for the info guys. It's very, very helpful.

 

[darkxshade]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

Lets settle on a middleground

Objective: To secure a position in your lovely firm without having to tell you what my god damn fuckin objective is.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: darkxshade

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

Lets settle on a middleground

Objective: To secure a position in your lovely firm without having to tell you what my god damn fuckin objective is.

Wow, I'd really consider an attitude like that an asset to ANY company! :roll:

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

I have *NEVER* had an objective statement on my resume, I thought they were dumb and said exactly what I put in the *COVER LETTER* or said in a followup. They are redundant and waste space better left to actually explaining education and accomplishments.

I am not an HR expert, but I have had 6 jobs in the last 8 years (3 when I was in college, 2 internships with Fortune 50 companies), moving from Cendant, to Capital One, now investment banking. At no point have I ever had an objective, nor has any headhunter I worked with, or HR person I met, said that I was missing one.

 

[Drakkon]

Objective goes in cover letter not on a resume - my 2 cents at least

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

I have *NEVER* had an objective statement on my resume, I thought they were dumb and said exactly what I put in the *COVER LETTER* or said in a followup. They are redundant and waste space better left to actually explaining education and accomplishments.

I am not an HR expert, but I have had 6 jobs in the last 8 years (3 when I was in college, 2 internships with Fortune 50 companies), moving from Cendant, to Capital One, now investment banking. At no point have I ever had an objective, nor has any headhunter I worked with, or HR person I met, said that I was missing one.

Just because *you* haven't used one, does not at all mean that you should *never* have one.
Congrats on your success, but a powerful objective will work much like the thesis of a well-written essay.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

I have *NEVER* had an objective statement on my resume, I thought they were dumb and said exactly what I put in the *COVER LETTER* or said in a followup. They are redundant and waste space better left to actually explaining education and accomplishments.

I am not an HR expert, but I have had 6 jobs in the last 8 years (3 when I was in college, 2 internships with Fortune 50 companies), moving from Cendant, to Capital One, now investment banking. At no point have I ever had an objective, nor has any headhunter I worked with, or HR person I met, said that I was missing one.

Just because *you* haven't used one, does not at all mean that you should *never* have one.
Congrats on your success, but a powerful objective will work much like the thesis of a well-written essay.

Are you in HR, reviewing resumes? I've helped in the recruiting process at my current firm and have never seen one. As I have said, I've worked with 2 headhunters, both very well known, and never been told I am missing one.

The "thesis of a well written essay" isn't one that is needed in a resume. As I have said, and most agree, that space should be used for additional experience or educational info, not stating the obvious or stating what should be put into the cover letter. Redundancy is a killer and space is precious.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: Injury
Just because *you* haven't used one, does not at all mean that you should *never* have one.
Congrats on your success, but a powerful objective will work much like the thesis of a well-written essay.

Are you in HR, reviewing resumes? I've helped in the recruiting process at my current firm and have never seen one. As I have said, I've worked with 2 headhunters, both very well known, and never been told I am missing one.

The "thesis of a well written essay" isn't one that is needed in a resume. As I have said, and most agree, that space should be used for additional experience or educational info, not stating the obvious or stating what should be put into the cover letter. Redundancy is a killer and space is precious.

Well aren't you just a little shining star now! Again, your experience does not speak for everyone in every field. Just because you "helped with the recruiting process" at ONE place does NOT justify saying that an objective should NEVER be used in ANY field.

Saying it's redundant because it should be on a cover letter assumes for the time that you get a chance to submit a cover letter. Some online submitting tools specifically say to not include a cover letter, and you don't always get the chance to write a cover letter when you send your resumé to someone who will pass it on to other people. A cover letter should be very specific citing knowledge of the company you are submitting it to and writing a generic cover letter to be given to any company is considered bad form.

And I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that YOU aren't in HR reviewing resumés, so don't act like my opinion doesn't matter because I'm not in HR reviewing resumés.

To reiterate my point, YOUR personal experiences is specific to YOU and does not indicate that something should or should not be done for EVERYONE. I'm in graphic design. You don't use a portfolio for your job, so I probably shouldn't use one for mine, right?

 

[Beev]

This is a tip posted on the employers website:

The Cover letter: A cover letter explains why you want this particular job at this particular company. It gives the employer better insight on your desire, writing skills, and personality. A good cover letter should be one page, with three full paragraphs describing why you are exceptionally qualified for the position for which you are applying. Remember, this is your opportunity to stand apart from the hundreds of other people who are applying for the same position. A letter that seems very general will only give the impression that you are mass mailing your resume out for any job available. Also, make sure you proofread and spell-check your cover letter. Spelling and grammatical errors suggest a lacking attention to detail.

The Resume: A resume is an organized list of your skills and experience, nothing more. Several pages of fluff can frustrate an employer who is trying to find key information. Like your cover letter, you should tailor your resume to the position for which you are applying. If the job requires any special information, such as salary history or requirements, please give detailed and correct figures instead of writing "negotiable" or "average." Make sure your resume is honest, correct, and up-to-date.

A good resume will be no longer than two pages and will include:

1. Contact information (phone numbers, email address, and mailing address)
2. Objective (the exact position you are applying for, and your goals)
3. Work experience (employment dates, job titles, and concise descriptions of responsibilities)
4. Skills (C++ and Java, 3D Studio Max, Networking, Excel, etc.)
5. Education (degrees, certifications, and additional training)
6. Other relevant skills (related skills, personal notes)

It sounds like they want an objective

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Never include objective statements.

A big fat Negative.

An objective can be included provided it's not a cookie-cutter statement and is a clear, ambitious goal of YOUR'S, not what you intend to do for a company, but what the company can do for you.

To use the generic "Objective: To use my skills as a _______ to work as a _______" is a waste of time and should be skipped. The appropriate response to that is: "No shit, that's why you spent 4 years in college jackass."

Use a statement like "Objective: To closely work with other graphic designers on popular nationwide brands to advance my personal portfolio and develop the skills necessary for a management position." NOW we're talking. Now the company knows what YOU want from THEM. It shows you are ambitious, you have more lofty goals than "wake up everyday, pick up my paycheck at the end of the week" and you want to increase YOUR value as a person. This is a goal that is so important that it has been put before everything else you've achieved in your life (conveniently listed below)

Anyone qualified to hire people and any person with an ounce of sense in a management position understands that it's as important for employees to grow as it is for the company to grow. The two must go hand-in-hand for a company to have continued success. Otherwise they're grooming you to be dead weight.

I have *NEVER* had an objective statement on my resume, I thought they were dumb and said exactly what I put in the *COVER LETTER* or said in a followup. They are redundant and waste space better left to actually explaining education and accomplishments.

I am not an HR expert, but I have had 6 jobs in the last 8 years (3 when I was in college, 2 internships with Fortune 50 companies), moving from Cendant, to Capital One, now investment banking. At no point have I ever had an objective, nor has any headhunter I worked with, or HR person I met, said that I was missing one.

Just because *you* haven't used one, does not at all mean that you should *never* have one.
Congrats on your success, but a powerful objective will work much like the thesis of a well-written essay.

Are you in HR, reviewing resumes? I've helped in the recruiting process at my current firm and have never seen one. As I have said, I've worked with 2 headhunters, both very well known, and never been told I am missing one.

The "thesis of a well written essay" isn't one that is needed in a resume. As I have said, and most agree, that space should be used for additional experience or educational info, not stating the obvious or stating what should be put into the cover letter. Redundancy is a killer and space is precious.

I disagree. An well written objective can convey an understanding of what you intend to bring to a company. The section is so small that it can't hurt. Even if an HR rep doesn't care for objectives, it's commonplace enough that they probably wouldn't toss out candidates based on that alone.

For example, if I had a technical resume describing my programming background, I might want to use the objective to describe whether I am looking to write front end software or servers, especially if I know I only want to do one and not the other.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: puffff
I disagree. An well written objective can convey an understanding of what you intend to bring to a company. The section is so small that it can't hurt. Even if an HR rep doesn't care for objectives, it's commonplace enough that they probably wouldn't toss out candidates based on that alone.

If it is kept to one sentence, that's a full section, which could be worth 2 bullets in any other section. For every addtional sentence it could be more. For most "objectives" I have seen with people posting their resume online, I could easily fit 3+ bullets.

That's a lot of info.

But whatever.

 

[Throwmeabone]

Originally posted by: AntiFreze
This is the guide I used to really help my resume out:

http://www.lifeclever.com/give-your-resume-a-face-lift/

Just make sure to keep it clean.

Cover letter, resume, and references (not given to start, but with you in case they would like some or require it to begin with)

That guide was fantastic, thanks for sharing! My resume now looks more impressive than it's actual content.

 

[Shortcut]

Stick to a one-page resume at this stage of your career. Lead with your work experience section, and then follow up with your your skills and education section

For hobbies, note down that you wear and collect Diesel jeans.