>I believe leaving dates or gaps in your employment history is another "no
no".
I guess I just want to address the gap in employment issue. Is it
considered a gap if you are in school at the time? I have some gaps that
may stick out, most of which are while I was in graduate school (or
undergraduate) and I was working to pay the bills at the time. I am not
hiding anything other than my waitress and temping experience that simply
cannot fit on my already 2 page resume. I have chosen to include my
Smithsonian volunteer work and exclude the waitrees time (this seems to
follow the arguments that resumes should be relevant to the position)
Also I want to ask, how bad is it to have a series of short term jobs? Is
there a way to make it clear that it is not from my flightiness but from
availability and budget constraints on the museum's part?
>I would be interested in knowing the statistics of other job seekers...and
how
>many jobs they are interviewed for per the total number of jobs they
>applied. I am also interested in "age" and "education" -- if that is having
>anything to do with being "over-qualified" and not getting interviews.
I am 28, with a Master's and a decent amount of experience. I have been
unemployed for over a year. (Though 4-5 months of that I halted the search
due to family illness/death) I have had two paid short term gigs (since
graduation) and a long volunteer job, plus several internships while in
school. I have applied to well over 100 jobs and had 5 in-person
interviews, three I have travelled for and several more phone interviews.
Now dedicated to full time searching and applying....
Elizabeth Walton
www.clothelinejournal.com/resume
At 01:03 PM 10/2/02 -0600, you wrote:
>I agree that spelling mistakes should be avoided, but also not to leave gaps
>and dates off the resume. You also need a nice flow of material and have a
>good format. Then NEVER have your resume under one page. Also, knowing who
>to send it to is important -- BUT FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES ON THE JOB AD -- IF
>IT STATES SEND IT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT -- DO SO! Do not upset
>the chain of command, and try to find the hiring employer. Your resume may
>end up in the round file.
>
>As mentioned, you only have a minute or less to catch their attention.
>Leaving such off sends up a red flag: "What did that person do during that
>period of time?" or "What is this person trying to hide?" That sends your
>letter/resume to the round file....way before spelling mistakes.
>
>If they only ask for a BS, I still leave on my MA degree..though I'm
>thinking it dates me. I do leave the date off my BS, because the MA is more
>current and important to the position(s).
>
>Many people I have talked with who hire, do not even read the resume over
>totally (they don't have the time!) First, they look for key words they
>want .... so make sure you have those KEY words are in your resume/cover
>letter in relationship to what the job is asking. Format comes next, then
>spelling mistakes closely thereafter (if they want to read more).
>
>A few good examples of resumes and formats would be in Yana Parkers, "The
>Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples," and in Block & Betrus, "101 Best
>Cover Letters."
>
>To account for spelling mistakes...find a good format. Then present your
>cover letter and resume to a friend to review for mistakes, in fact, a few
>friends or profession people you know.
>Let them go over it and spot any mistakes or things that stand out.
>
>Then send it out (after you REVIEW it again after you make the corrections
>from your friends reviews). When another job comes up, use the same
>resume/cover letter. However, watch it that you don't use the same address,
>names, employer, etc. There are many software programs that allow you to
>do so, and keep files/track of all the jobs you have applied for quick
>access.
>
>I also categorize my jobs in my files in my Word program such as "EX DIR XYZ
>Museum" or "Curator ABC Museum". Then when another Executive Director
>position comes up, I go to my files and pull up that resume, change the
>address, job bullets and other key points the employer requires...read it
>over again...and even send it out again to another person to review. I have
>a cousin who does this for me all the time. You would be amazed how you
>miss even a period or comma and the spell-check does not pick it up or you.
>
>By using the same resume/cover letter, you cover possible mistakes. You
>also speed up the process for you. I then also look at other
>resumes....and fine tune my skills...adding things that I think fits my
>resume that will make it more sharp for the employer's attention.
>
>TOO! I change only the necessary paragraphs around to FIT the job ad and
>qualifications...nailing what they want with showing my qualifications and
>background. I change the bullets on my cover letter to each point they ask
>for.
>
>In the first paragraph I tell them what job I am applying for. Then I have
>4-7 bullets of skills. I always change the 2nd and 3rd short paragraphs to
>hit exactly upon the experience and skills they are asking for. I then have
>a few paragraphs going more into how I am a match for them. My last few
>paragraphs I can add "salary history" if asked, and close off with my
>interest in the position.
>
>I also keep my cover letter at one page, though my font is at 10---it is a
>squeeze!
>
>I also add "attachments" at the bottom if it goes out by FAX or E-mail, and
>"Enclosure(s)" if it goes out my snail mail. I use a quality bond 25%
>cotton, white paper. I NEVER fold my
>resume and cover letter, but send it in a size envelope to fit the paper. I
>make sure my postage is correct! I don't guess, but let the post office do
>that. I also keep track through an EXCEL program of the job I applied for,
>the date, when it closes, when it was "rejected" (I hate that word..but only
>other word I could think up at the time), the title, the pay (if listed)
>cost to mail the letter, gas for getting to the interview, airfare, rental
>car (all that for tax purposes you know?), the source of where I found the
>job, and anything else important for me to remember about that job. It is
>VERY simple to update..but lets me sort all the jobs I have applied for by
>city, job title, date of submittal, closing, etc. If there is "no contact"
>back, I put that in the "rejection" column, letting me know either to get
>back with them or to never put in a job for that place again. (smile).
>
>I hope this helps?
>
>A side note: I have applied for over 160 jobs in the last year, with about
>25 interviews. I don't know if this is that great, but told it was. I
>would be interested in knowing the statistics of other job seekers...and how
>many jobs they are interviewed for per the total number of jobs they
>applied. I am also interested in "age" and "education" -- if that is having
>anything to do with being "over-qualified" and not getting interviews.
>
>The unemployment office here stated told me that companies/employers want
>the younger folks..and basically have their pick of who they want to hire.
>Even though you may have the qualificaitons, the younger folks will be with
>them longer...plus take less pay. However, in the "museum" field, I believe
>it is based on experience, since often higher degrees and educational
>background is what they are looking for. Please correct me if I am wrong or
>have my head up in the clouds. Thanks in advance.
>
>Best,
>
>John Martinson
>http://www.geocities.com/jpmart1/
>
>"Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history."
> Abraham Lincoln, Annual Message to Congress, December 1862
>
>*****THIS POSTING HAS BEEN RAN THROUGH THE SPELL CHECK*****
>
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