# resume help? please?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 7, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738 "2013-05-07T20:13:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738/1 "2013-05-07T20:13:53Z")

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First of all, I have mod permission (twickster) to post this.

I’m looking for a new job and had to re-do my resume from scratch. I understand that current technology emphasizes scannability by a machine, rather than being formatted to look all purdy for human eyeballs, so I set up my resume with that in mind, and it looks so … spartan. Frankly, I can tell that it looks unprofessional but am at a loss to fix that.

Would any Dopers be willing to look at an anonymous version of my resume and offer critiques?

(Anyone looking to fill an office admin/customer service/Tier I & II level support position in the east Dallas area … ?)

Please PM me - I’m happy to respond individually, but I’d rather not post my resume right here in this thread.

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**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738/2 "2013-05-08T19:52:46Z")

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Thank you to those who have replied. I surf around the Dope a great deal while at my current job but, for obvious reasons, I don’t have my resume here.

I will respond once I’m at home.

Thanks again!

- **purplehorseshoe**

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**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738/4 "2013-05-29T12:50:02Z")

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Reported

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**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-please/657738/5 "2013-05-29T17:05:56Z")

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I usually send two versions. One formatted nicely for Human consumption (MS Word '97 in case they are behind thetimes - it still pulls up looking nice int he newer versions) and one in .txt format with “text” in the document title.

I also add/subtract according to what’s in the advertisement. for instance, in my case if the word “International” shows up there, I know they’ll be looking for “ITAR” as a keyword. Your ability to guess and tailor your keywords will be seen as proof of experience and knowledge.