Resume Writing Tips

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

Spelling is important in your résumé. Even in the modern world there are still people out there who will bin a résumé that doesn't have the acute accents on both e's. Spelling is still used as a measurement of general level of education by many even though such a measurement is not usually accurate. You could have ten years of education and experience, but some employers won't even let you in the door for a first interview if you spell "separate" with three e's.

If your spelling is not top-notch, do not rely on a spelling checker, either for the résumé itself or the covering letter. Many spelling checkers are not able to tell if a word is used correctly, thus they will let through incorrectly-spelt words that happen to match the spelling of another word. For example, spelling checkers cannot distinguish which of "weather", "whether" and "wether" is the right word to use in a particular sentence. Spelling checkers are also limited by the contents of their dictionary and may not recognise some technical terms even if they are spelt correctly.

I suggest that you have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

In IT, a sound grasp of spelling is important if you are writing applications that are sold to the general public, or are writing library functions that are going to be used by others. It is less important for system administration, although it helps to have a dictionary on hand if you need to write a Message of the Day or emailed memo.

A good post, but he mistakenly underemphasizes one section. He says, "suggest" when the right word is "insist". Having a different set of eyes read this material, including the cover letter, is **compulsory**.

Omit this step at your peril.

[Kingswood]

Originally Posted by BigV

A good post, but he mistakenly underemphasizes one section. He says, "suggest" when the right word is "insist".

I would have written "insist" if I was a Cellar regular with half a gazillion posts, rather than an infrequent visitor who visits occasionally.

On re-reading it splashed over half a screen in humongous red letters, I realise that I should have omitted the superfluous clause and simply stated without any qualification: "Have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation."

See? It is good advice to have someone else read something you've written. Even if everything is just spiffy as far as spelling, grammar and punctuation are concerned, there may nevertheless be something not quite right about the writing itself that you may not notice but that someone else can mention.

[BigV]

Yes, Kingswood, be subtle, understated and modest, if you wish. Keep in mind who your audience is, though. I was being complimentary in my remarks about your post. In fact, *all* I could add was the small change noted above.

Your post was excellent.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

I would have written "insist" if I was a Cellar regular with half a gazillion posts, rather than an infrequent visitor who visits occasionally.

On re-reading it splashed over half a screen in humongous red letters, I realise that I should have omitted the superfluous clause and simply stated without any qualification: "Have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation."

See? It is good advice to have someone else read something you've written. Even if everything is just spiffy as far as spelling, grammar and punctuation are concerned, there may nevertheless be something not quite right about the writing itself that you may not notice but that someone else can mention.

bold mine

If I WERE a Cellar regular...subjunctive mood.

Just messin'...

[smoothmoniker]

There is a resume that has been making the rounds here in LA, being emailed back and forth to audio engineers and producers, studio owners, etc.

It's from a kid who was graduating from an audio recording technical school, and looking to find a position as a runner at a studio. That's the guy who fetches lunch and straightens cables. It's the absolute bottom rung (aside from intern), but it's where everyone starts.

So, for starters, he puts a huge picture of himself in full whitey-gangster getup, with the one pegged leg on the custom jeans, gold dangling everywhere, you know the vibe. He's sitting in front of a huge mixing console, the same console that we all know because it's in every promo picture for the school he went to. (Hint - ego shots of big studio boards are not impressive if you're paying 16k a year to sit at that board).

Then, he proceeds to list this massive, monumental credits list of projects he engineered, or produced. They were mostly the "critical darlings" of the engineering world, projects that we all love, but that have never sold a million copies. He claimed to have won industry awards, been nominated for grammies in production, platinum selling albums, etc.

Ok, so, nobody with that kind of credits list is applying for a gig as a runner.

Then, and this is the kicker, HE EMAILED IT TO ALL OF THE ENGINEERS WHO HAD RECORDED THOSE SAME RECORDS! Talk about balls! The same thing happened like 50x over, where some intern or assistant was trolling through a stack of resumes, saw this one, brought it to the engineer, and said, "Um ... I thought YOU recorded Jeremy Enigk's Return of the Frog Queen."

Needless to say, with one swift move, this kid ensured that he would never get a gig in any major studio in town.

[lookout123]

That is ballsy. Reminds me of a non-resume related story. A chick and her stud stole my checkbook when they broke into my car. About two weeks later I'm getting daily calls from the bank because they passing checks all over town. They were finally caught when they passed the check to the wrong person. They were trying to buy a bunch of camera equipment. From my girlfriend. At the store I managed. No shit. Talk about blowing an opportunity by not checking out the intended audience.

[Kingswood]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

bold mine

If I WERE a Cellar regular...subjunctive mood.

Just messin'...

It's one reason why I like "talk like a pirate day". You can just use "be" instead of the inflected forms of the verb in all sentences. Avast! It be less messin' around.

[Flint]

I'm shaking the dust off my year-old resume and putting it back into circulation. I've got to make a move, geographically if necessary.

[Cicero]

I am going through the same thing. I hate the cover letter!!!!

It's really just a formality to see how well you can kiss their ass. If they read the resume they can tell if you are qualified by the end of the summary of qualifications.

And another thing:
The other day I signed an application that said they were allowed to contact a reporting agency to get information, outside of 5 other things they listed, about my "good character".

Is there a reporting agency for this? An agency that confirms the state of your character? wtf?

I can see it now: everything came back clean and according to all this research and the recommendations, she is perfect for the job....but the team over at character research inc. says she is a bad person- so it is a no-go.

[plthijinx]

without back reading....too far anyway, has anyone heard that the use of "team player" in your description is a no no? i read it somewhere a few weeks back but then i'm looking at an engineering company (oil & gas) and they have "team player" described as to what they're looking for. now granted the website/news story i read was an "up to date/with the times (paraphrasing)" type of buzz word type of how to slut yourself to the job market. anyway, comments on the "team player" deal?

[plthijinx]

ah here it is......

cnn report

[plthijinx]

a tad more explanation....i work as an electrical designer (commercial pilot is a side gig) and there are a bunch of people working on say a compressor station. well you have to be able to get along and work with others. maybe i'm old fashioned but i don't see anything wrong with saying your a team player

[xoxoxoBruce]

Instead of... "Team player with cross-functional awareness"

Try... "Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients."

Both the star quarterback, and the water boy, are team players.
They're just saying don't use it as as a shortcut because it doesn't tell them anything about you're experience, actually explain how you were a team player.

[Cicero]

Collaborated etc...I like that...

Stealing it!!

I really never thought of the team player bit. I used to think it was assumed I guess.. but maybe it is not..

[Radar]

A recruiter just gave me a couple of tips for my IT consulting resume. I've been finding it a bit tough to find work in Florida. I'd have found a job months ago in Los Angeles.

He told me to change my job title at my last job from IT Director, to Senior Network Administrator because the title scares some people and makes them think you're after their job.


My resume also has all of the software, hardware, operating systems, protocols, etc. that I've worked on over the years in one section so I don't have to repeat it over and over with each job. I did this so I could cut down the number of pages on my resume.

They want me to go back and add each technology I used at each job even if it increases the number of pages on my resume by 2 or more pages. I was always under the impression that an employer is looking at dozens if not hundreds of resumes and doesn't have all day to read a book. They want to know what you know and where you've worked.

I guess times change.