Alrighty, y’all.
Some of you may remember a while back I said I was a stay-at-home mom planning to go back to work. Well, a position for library clerk has opened up and I’m very interested in it. They want me to submit a resume, oh dear.
I’ve put one together and it is pathetic. I mean just pitiful. The scrawniest most lame looking resume in history. Dopers, can you help a gal?
I don’t have a helluva lot to work with, but I’m very open to any advice. The only other jobs I’ve ever held were things like Stop-n-rob cashier(8 months) and nurses aide (less than a year, too). So I’m not really anxious to include those. But its so nekkid, there must be something more I should put there. Maybe Zette’s chili recipe?
So just, you know, if you feel like it, would you take a look here and share your thoughts on how I might improve this?
Feel free to point and snicker.Or blow this off entirely. It really is awful.
Take out the typing speed. If someone wants a typist they’ll want more than 30wpm.
Take out excellent spelling, or include it with excellent written and oral communication abilities.
Put in your other jobs. Honestly. Firstly, because having just one job looks a little sparse, and secondly, because I’m sure you picked up valuable experience. Like what? Well, maybe you could say that working as a cashier is a position of responsibility (i.e. handling money), where you have to permanently have a customer focus, even if they piss you off, and where you have to be patient, helpful and tolerant at all times. Emphasise that it taught you to get along with people of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds. The nursing job could be even better; teaching you to act appropriately around people who are injured or upset relatives. Any position that involves any kind of responsibility is good stuff.
Do you have any hobbies you could include? Clubs, physical activities, charitable work maybe?
If it’s remotely true, mention anything relevant to the job - even just saying under hobbies that you enjoy reading!
If you want any suggestions for headings / subjects, you’re welcome to use the ones on my resume/CV. If you’re interested it’s a Word doc downloadable from my site.
Include everything, including volunteer work you have done, community involvement, etc. These are all important factors. It shows you are dedicated and flexible.
Definitely include your nursing job. (maybe exagerate the time on the job)
Put some references down to beef it up.
I don’t think you should put that you “plan to continue education”. I’m not sure though.
Oh, and why not include homemaker/mother as your last job? The fact that you have experience with kids might help.
BTW, it’s not that bad. Make sure you call up and check after you drop off the resume. If you get an interview, then that’s your chance to dazzle, they won’t care to much about the resume if they like you in person.
List any qualifications you have under a separate heading, eg type of driver’s licence, professional qualifications, tertiary degrees, trade certificates, first aid certificate etc.
Also list a couple of names of people who can be phoned readily for a verbal reference. Written references usually are worth a pinch of shit, because they are so easy to invent.
Here’s my resume recommendation. First, steal a nice format off Matts resume or some other online one. If you have Microsoft Word, use their resume template. If you need help with that, e-mail me and I’ll send you a nice format. Here’s my dressed up version of your resume. excuse the formatting, as it’s done in a raw text format.
(PS- I’ve never interviewed at a job and not had it offered to me, even if I was completely unqualified. The key is to get them to interview you.) If you can, get dressed up nicely and drop the resume off in person. That way, the interviewer may be right there and want to talk. If anything, it will put a face to the name on the resume for the person who DOES take it, and may help your chances of getting called. Call back two days after you drop it off and follow up.
Objective:
To use my customer relations and communication skills in a challenging enviornment.
I am a self motivated individual who enjoys new opportunities to learn.
Prior Employment:
Employment
October 1997 - September 1998
April 1994 - September 1996
Lab Technician at Wal-mart Photo Center
* Provided proffessional and courteous
customer service
* Operated and maintained developing equipment
* Assisted in training of new employees
* Kept track of delinquent orders and
contacted customers to resolve account issues
* Maintained an accurate cash drawer
XXXX date-XXXdate
Nurses Aid, XXX Hospital
*Provided compasionate care and service to patients and their families
*Assisted nurses with the following duties: (list them all)
*Used my communications skills in dealing with patients and their families
*List any and all computer programs used here
XXXXXdateXXXXdate
Stop and Rob Convenience store
*Provided professional and courteous customer service
*Assisted in maintaining inventory [stocking shelves]
*Kept an accurate and organized cash drawer
*Assisted in new employee training
Self taught skills
Ability to acquire new technical and computer
skills quickly
Strong written and oral communication ability
Able to prioritize workload
Easily manage multiple tasks
Personable and articulate
Good typing skills
Motivated and organized
Basic knowledge of spreadsheets
Proficient in use of Windows 98, Word, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator
I enjoy learning and applying new skills, and look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.
It’s hard to get around not having any experience in a given area, but I think one good selling point of this resume is the confident tone, and the way you are able to come up with skills you have that can be applied to the job. You can’t really hide the spottiness of your work history (I have this problem myself) but your attitude can more than make up for it. Do include all your work history, it’s better than nothing, and you can put a positive spin on it. Also, leaving it out doesn’t look good, if they do any kind of background check and see that there were things you left things out. If you can put across a positive capable attitude and your excitement about the work, you are more than halfway there. The best policy is to be honest and enthusiastic.
Zette, I’ve created (emphasis on create) resumes for folks who’ve been locked up for 15 years. so:
Format I like is : name/address stuff THEN Skills/abilities THEN Experience and IF relevant EDUCATION (if you’ve got a degree or something impressive, move it up, otherwise, near the bottom - include any /all training such as CPR etc.
Personally, I don’t like “objective” line at all - first thing out of your mouth as it were on the resume is what YOU need??? Nope, I like leading with skills. Put the relevant ones first, like specific computer programs you know. also can add skill category like: Child Care, supervision of up to x number of children ages blank to blank. including daily tasks, learning activities, meal planning and preparation, field trips.
Loose the education line totally. If they ask on the application you can tell them you’ve got a GED. while it’s a GOOD thing that you got it, it doesn’t add anything to the resume
List "Experience, and include, in chronological order ALL experience, including all volunteer work, and yes, including your stay at home mom - especially if you did some baby sitting for others at the same time. you can even put it as “Zette’s Substitute Mom” or make up some name.
As an employer, I tend to downplay (read not believe) statements like “I’m a hard worker, quick learner” Everybody and their brother says that. use, instead, in the interview Specific EXAMPLES of times when you were the first to learn a new tast, and taught others or that you were the one the church always could count on for whatever.
None of this is intended as critiscm I do resumes as part of my job, and for folks with lots less experience than you. Think about all the things you KNOW how to do and put them there. trust me, you can fill a sheet.
good luck. if you need further help, post here and I’ll e-mail ya.
wring has a really good point there. When I was looking for work earlier this year (I’m unemployed, but about to start a job this month), I went to see a professional career counsellor (my parents’ idea). She told me that you should never say anything on a CV that you can’t back up with a specific example; e.g. don’t say “I’m a fast learner” when you can say “Doing temp work in Sydney on my travels meant I had to be able to pick up skills quickly and “fit in” fast”.
I agree with the thought that you may want to put down your other jobs, even if they don’t seem related. One thing I learned from a few potential employers is that they want to see a complete accounting of at least the last 5-7 years. If there are a bunch of holes in time, they get suspicious of what your were doing then, if you kept getting fired from a sequence of jobs or what. I’m not entirly sure on the protcol of it, but I would put the mom time down as well, if at the very least as an accounting of the time.
A slight hijack, but possibly still on topic and helpful:
matt, did you find the professional career counselor to be a good idea? Do you think that would help threebunnymama punch up her employability? (now that I’ve made it thread-relevant…) I’m wondering if my husband would benefit from that. He’s ending his consulting relationship with his employer in October and isn’t sure he wants to take their offer to keep him on. But he’s not sure what’s next for him, how to respond to headhunters who ask for salary requirements, etc. Did you find it to be a helpful think for you?
Wow, Zette! I dunno who that girl is, but she sounds qualified,lol . Actually, that’s just this is just the kind of advice I was hoping for. Translating it into jobspeak, etc. . Half the problem was that I didn’t know how to word it.
mattk - I’ll take the typing speed out if you think I should; the only reason I put it in is the ad said 'typing speed of at least 30 wpm". If its not neccesary, I’ll trash it.Will definitely get a good format.I do have Word and Works, I just forget they’re there.
I neglected to mention that the ad wants me to e-mail my resume to the county. I’m thinking of e-mailing them one and taking a paper copy to the library itself.
And I never thought ‘self taught’ skills counted. I’ll definitely include them.
Thank you all so much. I really do appreciate you taking the time to help out.
oh, and wring - criticism is perfectly alright, in fact its valuable(sp). If I didn’t want honest opinions, I wouldn’t have asked. Just so long as nobody accuses me of the ‘f’ word.
Do you have Microsoft Word on your computer? If you don’t and you need your resume typed and e-mailed, I’d be happy to do it for you. I’m off work today and have some free time, and it would only take a few minutes. Let me know!
Zette
three bunny mama, there’s a lot of good advice above. Your current resume is raw enough that you may want to revise and repost it and get a second round of reviews here.
Also, if this is the job you really want, you may want to interview at a throwaway job or two to get those interview skills in shape. If that’s not feasible, practice interviewing with someone you know who could help. Or folks here can post typical questions that you should have good answers for.
I mean this in a positive way, but your current resume and description of your situation leads me to think you could use a little practice for the real thing.
Okay . . . I’m going to state this calmly. You said in your resumé that you have excellent spelling, and then you go and misspell professional . . . this caused me to laugh for a bit. No offense here . . . but if you make the claim that you are good at spelling and then misspell a word . . . um, yeah
I’d put the people skills together and toss out the “basic knowledge of spreadsheets” and instead put in the name of a spreadsheet prog you know how to use.
Also, do list every single job you’re ever had, and list that you have kids, because sometimes libraries are looking for people who know what kids like . . . for the kids’ section (duh). Of course, the job might not require it . . up to you. Just a thought.
Okay, incorporating a bunch of stuff here, 3Bunny, but your resume is GREAT for experience but needs fine tuning.
As background, I’m director for a public library, worked up through front-line public service. I KNOW whereof I’m speaking.
As to the document: check, double check and triple check spelling and grammar. Libraries require precision, not to be fussy but to get the work done. It’s information handling, both of books and patron records. A “small” mistake translates into huge problems. Believe me, errors of spelling, etc. are red flags. If someone isn’t careful applying for a job, will they do better on the job when access and financial issues are on the line?
Don’t for one second sell your experience short. Frankly, your background is tailor-made. Know what we look for in front line positions? Someone who has a proven track record for handling the public. Skills and computer systems can be taught. Someone who can keep their cool, manners and service ethic in the face of The Public is pure gold.
So…be a demon on spelling, etc. Guesses and “almost right” don’t cut it; they mean screaming, upset customers, failure. Libraries are the last bastions for true knowledge: you don’t have to know, just know you don’t know and be willing to look it up and get it right.
Second, the job is about people. True fact; I’ve rejected PhD’s in favor of folks who had a proven track record for being able to handle “people” in all their sometimes unlovely forms.
If you’d like to email me, please do. It’s a great profession, and work worth doing.
. Actually, that’s just this is just the kind of advice I was hoping for. Translating it into jobspeak, etc. . Half the problem was that I didn’t know how to word it.