Resume help

[wannabee]

hey guys...
Just looking for some people who may have some experience in dealing with resume's and recruiting etc

Basically i've handed out a brief resume to alot of places, and had a few interviews but nothing seems to come of them.

Im looking to expand my resume and want to know a few tips/tricks or common mistakes people make so as i can avoid them.
Thought this might also be helpful to others as the holidays have started and the coming of the new year with people looking at applying around the place

I've got a couple of places I'd like to place my resume, and really want to put the best foot forward because they are a couple of dream jobs, so any help would be much appreciated

(and yes, i have googled and read a bazillion pages on "turning your good resume into a great one" and such, but just looking to PSB in case theres anything they want to add, even if its simple stuff! )

Cheers,
Wannabee

[Thomas Crown]

I'm no expert, but I've got a few free minutes if you wanted to email it for somebody else to cast an eye over.

cam at camjones dot net

[Maxo]

Keep it short, neat and embellish.

But for the love of god don't write it in the third person as some sort of fucking weird narrative(unless you want your prospective employer to pass it around the workplace as a joke).

We had some recruitment types on here that i'm sure could help.

[Aphex]

The fact you're getting interviews is a start. Perhaps it's the way you present in an interview that's stopping you.

[Thomas Crown]

The fact you're getting interviews is a start. Perhaps it's the way you present in an interview that's stopping you.

Farting and turning up a radio to cover it up perhaps.

[Aphex]

My advice would be a diet heavy in curry, eggs & garlic for a few days pre-interview. The interviewer will be putty in your erm.. hands.

[wannabee]

Cheers cam,
ill send my brief one through in a sec

The fact you're getting interviews is a start. Perhaps it's the way you present in an interview that's stopping you.

Im really not sure as to what happens with them...
I think the main contributing factor is that im looking for day work, but im not willing to give up my night shifts at the bar. Im looking for something to work around my bar work, and alot of places want me available, even if they aren't going to roster me on for those hours.

My last interview for JB hi-fi, the manager blantantly said he would not hire anyone that worked in a bar, because of the way others have turned up after they've worked the night before etc

It's gotten to a point where im applying for jobs lifting boxes out the back in a store room... Which quite honestly doesnt need much of a resume for...
So i know it's a little self centred, but i sorta feel im a little over qualified for a lot of the stuff i've put it in as...

[Maxo]

tried australia post?

[Aphex]

Im really not sure as to what happens with them...
I think the main contributing factor is that im looking for day work, but im not willing to give up my night shifts at the bar. Im looking for something to work around my bar work, and alot of places want me available, even if they aren't going to roster me on for those hours.

My last interview for JB hi-fi, the manager blantantly said he would not hire anyone that worked in a bar, because of the way others have turned up after they've worked the night before etc

It's gotten to a point where im applying for jobs lifting boxes out the back in a store room... Which quite honestly doesnt need much of a resume for...
So i know it's a little self centred, but i sorta feel im a little over qualified for a lot of the stuff i've put it in as...

Ahhh.... Personally, I'd probably say the same if you were applying for a full time position or casual position where you'd be expected to start in the morning. Employers expect you to perform at your best at all times saving a few minor hick ups along the way. Working nights in a bar is not really conducive to firing on all cylinders the next day regardless of you're having indulged in after work drinks or not.

[Roger Explosion]

Don't get too disheartened. Your resume, although everything can be improved, is probably doing ok if you are getting the interveiws. That is what they are for.
Maybe you should be looking into how you present your self for the interview, and work on that. Apply for everything and anything. Even if you don't want the job, it is good practice for your interveiwing skills.

[timelesschick]

i always have mine printed on really good thick paper and have it bound it only costs a couple of bucks and interview every time. lots of people have also commented on how good it looks.

[Stoneville]

Resume Expert wanted
post #16

Resume help

Good luck with it, I dread the day I have to do one, it's bad enough with the yearly reviews!!

[Mr_FJ]

I would have to agree with the above comments.

Without blowing my own trumpet here, every job that I have obtained an interview for, I have been offered a position of employment for.

The only role of the resume is to secure an interview. It shows the employer that you are worth taking into consideration. From there the big clincher is what type of person you are. You cant get that from a Resume.

As an employer myself, I would look for the right attitude in a person over their qualifications (with in reason of course) You can teach a person with the right attitude anything, but you cant work with a highly skilled professional if they have the wrong attitude.

Maybe you are divulging too much information at your interviews which is painting you in an unfavourable light to your prospective employer !!!

[Morgs]

Ahhh.... Personally, I'd probably say the same if you were applying for a full time position or casual position where you'd be expected to start in the morning. Employers expect you to perform at your best at all times saving a few minor hick ups along the way. Working nights in a bar is not really conducive to firing on all cylinders the next day regardless of you're having indulged in after work drinks or not.

I am afraid I am with Aphex on this one. I might interview you based on your resume, but if you came in and said you weren't prepared to give up your bar work, I would be unlikely to employ you.

Having said that, I am talking about full time employment, if it is for casual work without a guaranteed number of hours, I might be a bit more flexible.

What you could do, is say that you are prepared to give up the bar work if the job gives you enough hours.

It would be up to you what you did after you got the job.

[The Saint]

i always have mine printed on really good thick paper and have it bound it only costs a couple of bucks and interview every time. lots of people have also commented on how good it looks.

You bind your resume?

How long is it?

[Aphex]

i always have mine printed on really good thick paper and have it bound it only costs a couple of bucks and interview every time. lots of people have also commented on how good it looks.

Stars & ribbons do not a good resume make.

[wannabee]

Ahhh.... Personally, I'd probably say the same if you were applying for a full time position or casual position where you'd be expected to start in the morning. Employers expect you to perform at your best at all times saving a few minor hick ups along the way. Working nights in a bar is not really conducive to firing on all cylinders the next day regardless of you're having indulged in after work drinks or not.

I am afraid I am with Aphex on this one. I might interview you based on your resume, but if you came in and said you weren't prepared to give up your bar work, I would be unlikely to employ you.

Having said that, I am talking about full time employment, if it is for casual work without a guaranteed number of hours, I might be a bit more flexible.

What you could do, is say that you are prepared to give up the bar work if the job gives you enough hours.

It would be up to you what you did after you got the job.

At current, Im just looking for part time.
I've been made aware of a couple of full time jobs, i'd be happy to give up my bar work for, but when someone tells me they need me available for a friday and saturday night, but cant guarantee me work every one of those, then i feel it's a little stupid on my behalf to give up a job that can guarantee me money during those times.

I understand the viewpoint, and its completely understandable that people would think that you cant work to your full potential, but some people (like yours truly) can seem to pull it off.
I've just finished up working over 6 months, in which i got maybe 2 hours sleep during a weekend if i was lucky, and not once during that time did i receive a complaint from either job i was working, in fact i actually moved up in both.
Some people can do it, others cant.

[Aphex]

At current, Im just looking for part time.
I've been made aware of a couple of full time jobs, i'd be happy to give up my bar work for, but when someone tells me they need me available for a friday and saturday night, but cant guarantee me work every one of those, then i feel it's a little stupid on my behalf to give up a job that can guarantee me money during those times.

I understand the viewpoint, and its completely understandable that people would think that you cant work to your full potential, but some people (like yours truly) can seem to pull it off.
I've just finished up working over 6 months, in which i got maybe 2 hours sleep during a weekend if i was lucky, and not once during that time did i receive a complaint from either job i was working, in fact i actually moved up in both.
Some people can do it, others cant.

Most can't, those that can typically burn out.

[Thomas Crown]

I just replied, made some quick and dirty edits to the CV for improvements and attached mine so you can see what I mean when I mention fleshing it out.

With a resume, less really can be more. You don't want something over two pages long, three at an abso-friggin-lute stretch.

i always have mine printed on really good thick paper and have it bound it only costs a couple of bucks and interview every time. lots of people have also commented on how good it looks.

Are you applying for some sort of position that requires flower pressing? Heavy stock paper isn't an awful idea (in the scenario where you are actually presenting a dead-tree resume.. I haven't in years), but binding? Really? Stop doing that.

Interview panels enjoy substance. Flowery fonts or binding that doesn't stack well with the 40 other resumes we'll dig through just makes people cranky.

[wannabee]

Cheers Cam

Given me a few good ideas to roll with!
Hopefully be able to expand it a bit more along those lines