Ignore The Numbers. Get a Job.

There is much good information here. It is very important that job candidates see the needs of the employer as they see it so they can present themselves as the best person to fill those needs. I have interviewed hundreds of people in the construction and real estate fields for jobs. Here is a list of some of the more important and crucial items the employer will focus on. Remember the purpose of the resume is to get to the next step, a telephone interview or even an in person interview.

1. Is this person trained in this field so they can do the job. Do they have the experience necessary to do it now or will we need to train them further and to what degree? Does this person appear to be the type of person that presents the image of our firm that we want to convey?

2. Does the job seeker have a confirmable tract record to back up item number one if we take that next step? Excellent references with nothing missing are the key here.

3. Is this a credible person whom we can trust and depend on to be part of our firm

and build a worthwhile lasting relationship with so we, as a firm, can move ahead and not have to do this all over in the foreseeable future?

4. What might be some of this person's weaknesses that might hinder them from filling our needs.

5. Perhaps the most important but maybe the most difficult to determine is the character of the individual particularly with regards to certain types of jobs. If the person is not honest and trustworthy why would I want to hire them? From the beginning they are a liability, not an asset.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. If you do not feel you can reasonably meet these requirements I would strongly suggest that you change your life in positive ways so you can start looking backwards and be able to say I am making progress and I am leaving a track record I am proud of. We can all do better and we need to set that as our goal. In the mean time get a job where the above is not so important and make yourself the best employee of your group. Be the most valuable to your employer. Ask him/her: what they need, how can I help, make their life easier, be 100% reliable, make excellent communication with your boss number one, be eternally gratefull for your job, it is the first step to your next job and your future. Work for excellent relationships with everyone you touch. When you look backward you want to be able to say that you did everything right as best as is possible, you made a serious effort, you put the employer's needs first. This is not a coverup attitude, it is for real. You will begin to feel like the person you should want to become. In time you will attain all your worthwhile goals.

Also, please keep in mind that almost all of new jobs come from small businesses and small business needs are often overlooked by those educating people in business and in job seeking.

Alfred Lunde of VT 9:11AM September 24, 2010