Resume Help Episode II - Return of the Layoff

[s0me0nesmind1]

So - layoffs are coming, everyone is at risk in my department. It's time to dust this thing off even more - although I have been applying for approx. 2 months. The thing is that I need to keep tweaking this until I get it right. So if I could get some more help I would appreciate it

Question #1: For my profiencies in computer skills - I find myself saying that I need to expand some more - and this is my problem. There is SHIT that is a direct correlated program that have the same skillset- but because you didn't use that brand - you don't meet the requirements.

Example: I have experience using SAP. Many jobs use Oracle instead. Yet they are the exact same as far as the purpose and functionality goes. Do you think I should slip things like that in? Because this is a big problem that is keeping me from applying to some positions.

Question #2: Is my Objective Sentence good? Change it?

Question #3: Key interpersonal strengths: Are these good - or do I need to expand further?

Question #4 - my manager is now willing to fully support me. Is there any way that I can emphasize this to employers? Maybe slip it into the cover letter?

Question #5 - Any other improvements? Any comments are mucho appreciated!

 

[SunnyD]

Question #5 - Any other improvements? Any comments are mucho appreciated!

Free ipodz?

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Not getting enough help on HardForums?

 

[Ns1]

#1 - I'm not sure why you would slip in shit about Oracle if you have no actual Oracle experience

#2 - There are 2 camps, objective/no objective. I'm part of the no objective camp cuz 1. your objective is to get a job and 2. anything that needs to be said in an objective can be said in a cover letter

#3 - no comment

#4 - letter of recommendation to be provided upon request IMHO

#5 - i hate your objective

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

#1 - I'm not sure why you would slip in shit about Oracle if you have no actual Oracle experience

It's like saying you worked with VMWare for virtualization, but the job says specifically Microsoft Virtual PC - You have the skills for that system and the understanding, it's just a different GUI? Agree? Disagree?

#2 - There are 2 camps, objective/no objective. I'm part of the no objective camp cuz 1. your objective is to get a job and 2. anything that needs to be said in an objective can be said in a cover letter

#3 - no comment

#4 - letter of recommendation to be provided upon request IMHO

#5 - i hate your objective

Objective - I know I know - But what else is there to put? You have to appeal to the sense of people that want pretty sentences and big words instead of just directly mentioning skills, right? HR is stupid like that, agreed?

Any tips on objective instead of just hating it?

- One thing - my manager can answer the phone but he can't write anything about it as per company policy =/


Thanks I really do appreciate any critique regardless of how harsh it is.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Not getting enough help on HardForums?

Gotta get multiple perspectives instead of just 1!

 

[Ns1]

It's like saying you worked with VMWare for virtualization, but the job says specifically Microsoft Virtual PC - You have the skills for that system and the understanding, it's just a different GUI? Agree? Disagree?

No comment. Your resume

Objective - I know I know - But what else is there to put? You have to appeal to the sense of people that want pretty sentences and big words instead of just directly mentioning skills, right? HR is stupid like that, agreed?

Any tips on objective instead of just hating it?


If you're using the standard 1 page resume, you should have enough bullet points in the experience section where you don't have room for an objective.

- One thing - my manager can answer the phone but he can't write anything about it as per company policy =/

You're screwed unless the company calls your references (mine called)

Thanks I really do appreciate any critique regardless of how harsh it is.

responses in bold.

 

[PenguinPower]

It's like saying you worked with VMWare for virtualization, but the job says specifically Microsoft Virtual PC - You have the skills for that system and the understanding, it's just a different GUI? Agree? Disagree?



Objective - I know I know - But what else is there to put? You have to appeal to the sense of people that want pretty sentences and big words instead of just directly mentioning skills, right? HR is stupid like that, agreed?

Any tips on objective instead of just hating it?

- One thing - my manager can answer the phone but he can't write anything about it as per company policy =/


Thanks I really do appreciate any critique regardless of how harsh it is.

I'd help...but HR is stupid. I forgot all of the helpful things I was going to say.

I remember one thing...that is a horribly bad resume in a multitude of different ways.

Let me have a glass of wine tonight - calm my hurt feelings down - and I might consider providing some helpful tips.

 

[Cattlegod]

So much wrong with this there is too much to count.

Get rid of skills and objective sections and put some substance in ACR or STAR format for your experience. If a skill is worth mentioning, put it in association and change the label to additional.

I suggest you start from scratch.

Edit: didn't realize you graduated in 2010, thought it was when your work history started. Didn't mean to be so harsh but the feedback still stands.

 

[Ns1]

Get rid of skills and objective sections and put some substance in ACR or STAR format for your experience. If a skill is worth mentioning, put it in association and change the label to additional.

 

[TuxDave]

I don't really understand what you do, but without much reading comprehension I suggest:

w/ 5 years of experience, your "skill" pile is too long. Shorten it to at least things you learned AFTER high school. (get rid of the first two) and put your strongest skills first (the SAP/SQL stuff? I dunno, it's all voodoo to me)

 

[Cattlegod]

Action context result

Situation task action result

I prefer and always use acr

 

[TecHNooB]

So much wrong with this there is too much to count.

Get rid of skills and objective sections and put some substance in ACR or STAR format for your experience. If a skill is worth mentioning, put it in association and change the label to additional.

I suggest you start from scratch.

Edit: didn't realize you graduated in 2010, thought it was when your work history started. Didn't mean to be so harsh but the feedback still stands.

do u work in hr?

 

[Ns1]

Action context result

Situation task action result

I prefer and always use acr

interesting, I learned something today

+reps for you


(I need to dust off my resume soon)

 

[Cattlegod]

do u work in hr?

Nope, but I do interview about 30-40 ppl a year and screen probably 100-200 resumes annually.

 

[Zeze]

You have a long way to go on your resume.

No 'impact' sentences or 'hooks' that grab the resume's reader. You just listed bunch of things you know like an excel spread sheet.

That STAR advice is good (now I know there's a name for it). My resume is filled with it.

-Did XXX in XXX and accomplished XXX.

Use 'impact' words like 'accomplished' 'achieved' 'imitated' 'oversaw', etc.

I'm going to give you a best advice that you can immediately improve your resume with:

Do a google image search of resumes (of your industry) and/or search linked-in profiles of your desired positions. If you see something well-written, COPY that template/format, and modified it to yours.

 

[Ketchup]

Putting a "my" or "me" in the objective line is a turnoff. That is the most important part of your resume (not counting the cover page, which they may or may not look at). Make sure you mold it to something that applies specifically to each company you send your resume to.

Skill section is too long. Put the skills that are most applicable to the job you are applying for at the top, getting more general at the top. (It's 2012, it's assumed you can use Office.)

Put more detail in the Education section. If somebody makes it that far down in your resume, make sure you are covering everything that makes you stand out.

 

[Ns1]

Put more detail in the Education section. If somebody makes it that far down in your resume, make sure you are covering everything that makes you stand out.

Disagree. It's down on the resume cuz nobody gives a fuck about education after you get experience.

Here's my education line (obviously lose some formatting due to post). Still batting 1.00

EDUCATION

University, School of Accounting Los Angeles, CA Bachelor of Science in Accounting, emphasis in Accounting Information Systems May 2007

 

[Ketchup]

Disagree. It's down on the resume cuz nobody gives a fuck about education after you get experience.

Depends on the job a guess. I got a pay grade higher than the others who first entered my department, due to my degree. But my experience is what got them to look down that far, so it was a combination, for me at least.

 

[Andrew111]

So much wrong with this there is too much to count.

Get rid of skills and objective sections and put some substance in ACR or STAR format for your experience. If a skill is worth mentioning, put it in association and change the label to additional.

Agreed....the skills and objectives sections of your resume made me face palm....don't include it...unless you want to amuse some bored HR personnel before they chuck your resume in the trash. Highlight what you've done and what sets you apart....using STAR as others have mentioned. Did you get your current job using that kind of resume? If so, I'm not surprised they are going under. Sorry to be blunt but that's what I'm seeing.

 

[Andrew111]

Disagree. It's down on the resume cuz nobody gives a fuck about education after you get experience.

Here's my education line (obviously lose some formatting due to post). Still batting 1.00

EDUCATION

University, School of Accounting Los Angeles, CA Bachelor of Science in Accounting, emphasis in Accounting Information Systems May 2007

Yep, unless you were summa cum laude or something else spectacular there is no need to add extra shit to the education section. I didn't even get all the way down to the education part of your resume....those bullets need to go. Do you think HR are that stupid that they need to be told you took computer classes when your degree is in computer information systems?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Ok - so what is the consensus on the Key Interpersonal Strengths section?
-Toss that junk entirely
-Revise it to make it more savvy?

I'm guessing to toss it completely - but I can't really tell. I've been told as stupid as simple statements are - you notice how in every damn job application there is always long mention of social items. Things that can only be proven in an interview - not a resume - yet I have been told to address shit like that in your resume. What do you guys think?




 Successfully manage account portfolio of over $50 million
 Established major retailer relations e.g. Best Buy, Office Max, and Staples
 Facilitated internal/external account dispute, research, coordination, and settlement
 Consistently performed credit analysis for customer risk assessment and evaluation
 Demonstrated portfolio management including discrepancy and customer tracking via SAP system
 Upheld account financial audit compliance
 Controlled legalities concerning contractual obligations for account closure

Ok - onto STAR formatting. As far as I can tell, I am already do this in that all of my items above are mentioning an "accomplishment". Am I wrong? Anyone want to point to specifics?

Also, add more to the experience of my 1 job - or is it already long enough?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

So much wrong with this there is too much to count.

Get rid of skills and objective sections and put some substance in ACR or STAR format for your experience. If a skill is worth mentioning, put it in association and change the label to additional.

I suggest you start from scratch.

Edit: didn't realize you graduated in 2010, thought it was when your work history started. Didn't mean to be so harsh but the feedback still stands.

Harsh? I'm a very thoughtful person. Unless your review/critique says "UR STUPID!!!" than I consider it useful information. There is no such thing as bad criticism - only not using the criticism correctly.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Agreed....the skills and objectives sections of your resume made me face palm....don't include it...unless you want to amuse some bored HR personnel before they chuck your resume in the trash. Highlight what you've done and what sets you apart....using STAR as others have mentioned. Did you get your current job using that kind of resume? If so, I'm not surprised they are going under. Sorry to be blunt but that's what I'm seeing.

Nope - thats the thing. Any and all research of my previous resume doesn't apply because the last one was for my first job ever. Now it's no longer about school & projects. It's about experience. So it's a totally different ball-game for me now.

Resume Changes so far:
-ACR / STAR formatting (help/suggestions appreciated :'()
-Include more actual numbers (Eg: Goals met for current AR, Aging, etc)
-Re-do Objective statement ENTIRELY (help/suggestions appreciated :'()
-Get rid of key interpersonal strengths
-Re-arrange skill list - get rid of some (Are you guys sure about this? I'm applying to business and IT jobs, when it comes to business there are plenty of old people - and old people are always questionable for things like M$ Office )

 

[Zeze]

Ok - so what is the consensus on the Key Interpersonal Strengths section?
-Toss that junk entirely
-Revise it to make it more savvy?

I'm guessing to toss it completely - but I can't really tell. I've been told as stupid as simple statements are - you notice how in every damn job application there is always long mention of social items. Things that can only be proven in an interview - not a resume - yet I have been told to address shit like that in your resume. What do you guys think?




 Successfully manage account portfolio of over $50 million
 Established major retailer relations e.g. Best Buy, Office Max, and Staples
 Facilitated internal/external account dispute, research, coordination, and settlement
 Consistently performed credit analysis for customer risk assessment and evaluation
 Demonstrated portfolio management including discrepancy and customer tracking via SAP system
 Upheld account financial audit compliance
 Controlled legalities concerning contractual obligations for account closure

Ok - onto STAR formatting. As far as I can tell, I am already do this in that all of my items above are mentioning an "accomplishment". Am I wrong? Anyone want to point to specifics?

Also, add more to the experience of my 1 job - or is it already long enough?

Bullts are too short and too many. I would condense into 4~ of them with more meaningful stuff:

* Established major retailer relations e.g. Best Buy, Office Max, and Staples and successfully managed their account portfolio of over $50 million.

This is a bad example.