How-To: Write A Resume

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|Chaz|

|Chaz|

Well-Known Member
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So I'm working on writing a resume. As of right now I don't have much for education, I'm also lacking in the experience department. Before posting this I read through the Interview thread.

There are a few jobs I want to apply for. Mostly beginning level jobs, but they do ask for resumes. I had a resume on my laptop, but when it died I lost it. All the retails places I've applied at haven't given two shits if I've had a resume or not so I just haven't bothered.

At this point I don't know what "I want to do when I grow up." I just know that working retail sucks. I need a decent full-time job.

I'll post a rough draft of a resume I worked up using a resume that was posted in the Interview thread as a template. Anything I can add to make it look less... empty? Or should I avoid adding fluff to it? I didn't know if I should include that I graduated high school or not, so I did.

Any suggestions or help that is provided is appreciated.
 

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yes. Add stuff to fluff it.


personal interests. ie. Helping the homeless. Church camp. Retard school. Etc.


Also personal skills. Like 2nd language. program skills, wpm, areas of expertise.


also personal. strengths. Team oriented. Independent. Organizational skills. Etc.









At that. Its best to add legitimacy to a resume. Always remember less is more. Be clear and concise. Succinct and specific. Etc.
 
Use things that would catch a employers eye they normally dont read those things they look for key points
 
Having no higher education and no job skills, you will need to cater your resume to EACH job you're actually applying for.

Is it CSR type job? comment on computer knowledge (office, words per min typing, etc), inter-personal skills, etc and anything relating to the field (ie, if insurance, mention that you are familiar with insurance terminology (of course, educate your self on some basics first)
Is it a labor job? comment on X lbs you can lift, etc

and so on... it will need to be case-by-case to highlight what you can do FOR THEM, not what you can do in general.


Screw references. They will likely ask for them on an application if they want them.
ALWAYS keep passive voice. "worked" not "work". your resume mixes tense.
 
agree with B on the references.

If they have an interest in hiring you they will ask for them, having them listed on the resume makes no difference in whether they call you or not.
 
B said:
ALWAYS keep passive voice. "worked" not "work". your resume mixes tense.
Click to expand...

That was the FIRST thing I noticed too. You have to make your descriptions consistent. Mixing tenses makes it read really awkwardly.

When do you need this by? I'm busy setting up the Christmas tree right now, but I'd be happy to work you up a quick sample later tonight like I did for Taco...
 
I'd say put education first and add an objective. Change the objective for each job you apply for.
 
B said:
ALWAYS keep passive voice. "worked" not "work". your resume mixes tense.
Click to expand...

PAST tense. yes. It happened in the past. conjugate the verbs to the right form and make them align.










Never ever write in passive voice. Passive voice is when a subject receives the action.It is process intensive and not subject invensive. It makes it weak.
 
screw objectives. waste of space. 'no shit!? you're looking for a job in our nbiche? no wonder you applied!'
 
B said:
screw objectives. waste of space. 'no shit!? you're looking for a job in our nbiche? no wonder you applied!'
Click to expand...

For a professional job, you write an objective or a cover letter - thats just professional format.

Given the look of your resume, I would add a project section where you can demonstrate more of your skills through prior projects/presentations/etc., that you may have worked on in high school/college/work.

All descriptions should be made using action verbs.

I revised my friends. I wish I could post the before and after versions on his behalf. You would really see what a high school or unguided college student's resume looks next to a professional resume.

Here's an old version of mu resume when I was graduating college. You should be able to create something similar at this point in life.
 

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Objectives are a waste of space. But he has space to fill. My resume doesn't have one because it's already full.
 
I challenge most all of you to see your resumes.

From the personalities I've read on here, not one person has had enough experience to ditch all fillers and put together a solid resume from what I've seen.

I can fill my current resume, but some of the strength is lost because i only worked for one company for a historically significant portion of time and have had only had one promotion.

People who are older, or who have bounced around a bit or have worked with a lot of different projects or charities fill up the most solid resumes.
 
totalburnout said:
Here's an old version of mu resume when I was graduating college. You should be able to create something similar at this point in life.
Click to expand...

See I just don't see the point of an "objective" section at all really, unless maybe you're sending out customized resumes with a job-specific objective statement to every single prospective employer. But even then, if it's a professional job, then you'd best be accompanying your resume with a well-written cover letter telling them your employment objectives and why you'd be a good fit anyway.

I've yet to see a resume where the "objective" was anything but a super-generic, "look at me, I'm professional and ambitious!!!!!" type of statement...
 
BrutalB83 said:
See I just don't see the point of an "objective" section at all really, unless maybe you're sending out customized resumes with a job-specific objective statement to every single prospective employer. But even then, if it's a professional job, then you'd best be accompanying your resume with a well-written cover letter telling them your employment objectives and why you'd be a good fit anyway.

I've yet to see a resume where the "objective" was anything but a super-generic, "look at me, I'm professional and ambitious!!!!!" type of statement...
Click to expand...


The objective will take the place of a cover letter and should be changed depending on the functions of the job to which you're applying.

Some places specifically note no cover letter.

If I had my heart set on an employer and they allowed a cover letter, i'd ditch the objective and fill out a cover letter.

At this point in his career, however, his resume is like Wyoming - wide open space.
 
objectives are garbage. plain and simple. everybody knows the objective, get a fucking job.

never use adjectives. don't say that you are ambitious, motivated, hard working, dedicated, etc. it's a bunch of bullshit that can't be proven. plus, your objective should change for each job. it's extremely obvious if it's vague and not made specifically for the job you are applying for. give facts and numbers, or other simples lies.


dont' post references. most jobs dont' need it. careers do. but they will ask for them at a later date. i've had several interviews where i send them via email at a later day.

dont' use fancy fonts or colors.

and always remember, hiring managers spend 10-20 seconds on each resume. time yourself and see what you read. don't waste top space on bullshit. make it the important part.
 
Thanks for the advice guys, when I get home I'll get on my laptop and work on the resume using your suggestions.

I titled this thread specifically so if someone ever searches resume it'll pop right up.
 
If your lacking work history, put anything that you may have done for other people that is apart of the job your applying for.

Like mine, Right out of college I didn't have any IT Jobs, but I had done numerous projects for my family. So I had listed them on there. We talked about them in my interview, more then anything.
 
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