tips for finding a job

I’m going to bump this because I think it’s important for yourself and any other person who is having trouble seeking a job in this economy.

You might laugh at me because I’m younger and don’t have a degree yet. However, I would like to label myself as a legitimate source as I am getting paid more than most fresh college graduates and I’m only a summer intern. Aside from that I was offered a job this past weekend in Washington DC, but they hadn’t realized that I am still in college.

I certainly feel like others may have helpful tips to offer you from the senior level management side but I can offer you tips from my experiences dealing with big businesses in a competitive field.

One thing I would like to say about Psych is that it’s not the easiest major and I couldn’t do it myself. What you have to do is make yourself unique. Look at this whole thing like the weight loss program many of us are members of MFP for. Make a goal, what do you want out of your job and what would you like to do FOR a job? When it comes to loading resume’s, put only things that are relevant or applicable to what you might be doing. I worked as a cook at an amusement park in high school and volunteered to help at an elementary school but I don’t put that on my resume. Sometimes the hiring agent will ask “are there any other volunteer or work related experiences you could share with us?” and that’s when it comes out. Put yourself in an employer’s shoes, who goes through several resume’s per day; what can you do to make yours stand out?

Also, if anybody has ever told you to keep it to one page tell them to blow because you can make your resume as long as you’d like as well as it’s relevant. (Mine’s 2 pages). I can’t say much on formatting, but I formatted my resume so uniquely that I get calls just because they’re interested in the creator behind it.


So NOTES:
- Make a goal, where do you want to be or where would you like to see yourself?
- Work on your resume a bit more, what can you do to make it shine?
- Remove anything that has no relevance… I see too many people put down “I was a cub scout!” or “I was on varsity sports in college!” (doesn’t matter)
- Relevant coursework, any courses that you could apply to your job
- What else can you do to make yourself a more competitive candidate?
- If you can specialize, do it.

This may all sound elementary to you, but I’m somebody who is able to get a job in a tough economy without having received a degree yet. I’m a technical major, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard for people like us to get jobs too. Just think of yourself as a product and you’re your own sales representative. What more can you do to make you sound like the world’s greatest investment?

This reply wasn’t meant to come off as arrogant. If I can find a job that might suit you at my company, I’ll send you a message.

^^^ Exactly plus networking....try getting yourself up on Linkedln

^^^ Exactly plus networking....try getting yourself up on Linkedln

X2.

If the charity / voluntary sector is anything like it is here in the UK it is a bit of a closed shop. It's as much about who you know as what you know. Sadly, nepotism is still rife for anything which isn't fully exposed to market forces and relies on competition. However once you are IN a job, getting others tends to be a lot easier. You just have to grit your teeth and keep going.

ps: I think having your CV with your work history and name up on a public forum is not the greatest idea in the world. Please consider editing out some if not all of the detail.

Add some numbers -- numbers tell a bigger story sometime. Such as "increased ____ by __% and maintained ___% retention rate or whatever a relevant metric might be. Managed $10,000 budget or whatever.

This makes the results that you've acheived seem a little more real and a little less subjective.

I also have to second the motion that you EDIT down to one page. It's the only accepted standard -- you have to pick out the experiences and qualifications that are MOST relevant to what you're looking for...even if that means several versions of your resume that you use for applying for different types of positions.

Networking is a definate must in these times.

And from working in HR areas in the past, keep it to ONE page! For each position I have ever applied for, I have changed my resume to show the work experience that I have that pertains to the job I'm applying for. The other bits and pieces many times don't matter to the employer...they just want to know what you can do for them and if you are good at it. So my advice is to condense your resume for the job you are applying for....and that may even mean changing your resume up a bit every single time. It's not for everyone, every employer is different, but it's what has gotten me many of the jobs I've applied for. And also check the websites to make sure they don't require online submission of resumes and such...

And have patience! The right job is out there for you! :flowerforyou:

Delete the profile and summary of qualifications. Most of that stuff will be assumed or discussed in the interview. If you want to add a "skills" section at the bottom of the page, you can use that to list any computer programs you're proficient with, any languages you speak, etc. Don't make this a major thing; include only what you think is relevant for the job you're applying for.

Always start with your education. If the first thing on your resume isn't when and where you went to school and what degree(s) and certifications/licenses you hold, it's a red flag.

You don't want to delete your job descriptions. Prospective employers want to know what kind of work you've done, not just where you've done it and what your title was. It's also a good idea to quantify what you've done. For instance, if you helped raise money for fundraisers, say how much. Don't just put that you were a fundraiser. If you monitored websites, how many? If you managed a team of people, how many? If you organized events, how many?

Delete the quotes from letters of reference. It's better to actually send the letter of reference or list of references with contact info. That makes it verifiable and doesn't waste valuable space on your resume. The employer may not choose to contact the references, but the fact that you've given them a letter or contact info shows that you aren't lying or hiding anything.

I tend to agree that resumes need to be kept to one page. That's what I was always taught in college. The people responsible for sifting through resumes just don't have time to scan multiple pages. Besides, it leaves an impression that you're not able to determine what's most important or tailor things so that they fit the present need.

And you can always play around with margins and font sizes to make everything fit. Of course you don't want to use a font size that's so microscopic a person needs a magnifying glass to read it or use margins that are so narrow that your resume looks ridiculous, but 12-point font and 1-inch margins are not entirely necessary, either.

Disagree 100% about not keeping the resume on one page. I interact with recruiters and hiring managers all the time. One page is all they want to see. If you can't make a strong case for an interview on one page, then you are not what they are looking for anyway. The stuff you can not fit on to one page will give you plenty to talk about during an interview.

Your lack of success is most likely due to the economy and the overwhelming competition you are facing in your job search.

Be persistant.

Depends on what you're applying for. But if you're cutting yourself short by reducing it to one page then you might be missing out on great opportunities. Many times, it's that EXTRA page that gets you the step above your competitors for a given job. I've spoken to many recruiters too, I've had recruiters tell me that they were really impressed with my resume on several occasions (I'm not trying to make myself sound good).

My advice: don't surrender great opportunities over a single page. What recruiters PREFER to see is not what they LIKE to see. Tailor your resume to the job, not the general audience.

I also read a recent post right below this comment box who brought up a very good point. Some people just don't interview well. The whole point of a resume is to showcase yourself without too many words. If you’re shy under pressure, how can you expect to offer up information without being asked about it? I, myself, am not so much of a talker than I am an “answerer.” Ask me the question and you’ll get a good answer, if it’s within my realm.

I stand by with what I said.