The No. 1 Question Your Resume Should Answer

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I read several comments because of an interest in the response to Ms. Green's resume' advice. I read them again in total disbelief of the mangled grammar and spelling errors. Do these people represent today's college graduates? Are they what make up today's workforce? People, take English 101 again, and learn it this time. Then, use what you learned and revise your resume'. I expect that your job search will become more rewarding.

Melody of TX 1:00PM August 13, 2009

With all that said I stood out , i made the most of my oppertuninty and I still was laid off go figure thats the market as of now and may be worse latter because the best candiate will get the job at at a low ball price because of the options that are presented

so what of DE 11:59AM August 13, 2009

One easy way to draw the line between adding the job description to you resume and telling an interviewer how you are the best hire is to pick out several of the actual projects (hopefully pretty important ones) and add those to your resume. So instead of telling them "I was supposed to manage data...." or what ever you tell them "I set up a computer network that collected, organized, and archived our comanies files" or something a little more specific than a "description" Also very important note along with this is that you should also pick projects that you were passionate about. If you put down something you are asking the interviewer to ask you about it. I will sometimes put a less impressive task that I accomplished, but was more passionate about, than putting the seemingly important tasks. It is the way you talk about your accomplishments that is really important. If your job was to change light bulbs and you really sold yourself telling the interviewer how you not only changed light bulbs, but you changed light bulbs with conviction you are selling yourself, and showing the interviewer that you are determined and that you would be a valuable contribution to their team if hired.
I am not the most experienced interviewee and have never had to interview anyone, but I just graduated from college and I had several failed interviews and a few successful ones, and even though I consider myself a "nervous" interviewer when an interviewer gets me talking about some of my favorite projects I have worked on this is what I keep in mind. I graduated college in a rediculously bad economy and job market and I have two 60k+ job offers to pick from..... These are the tips and experiences that have helped me to achieve the impossible.
I hope this helps someone.

Nater of WI 11:55AM August 13, 2009

no one is hiring--it is a DEPRESSION; also the personnel depts are run by computers===round pegs into round holes, the robots use computers system to look for keywords. Hiring manager are not like those in the past, many lack thinking skills and have great difficultly matching round pegs to square holes. They rely on computers to "select" key words to hire more dolts and lackies to "interview" to fulfill EEOC requirements and then either the job did not really exist (fraudulent inducement) or they already had 1-2 sheeple in mind for the job (job posting was rigged.)
Cronyism, buddyism, nepotism, and having right last name is all that matters. Thick resume paper, grammar, and all that nonsense will NOT work in this corporate bottom-line mentality USA environ. All the happy talk and college professor idealistic talk is nonsense and should be left in those "schools." Many cannot even get a real interview, instead it is outsourced to some 3rd party H-1B visa holder with a thick accent interviewin you via telephone. Then you never hear back. They do not respond via email, telephone, letter---no accountability. They are not professional, they are incompetent, and this is who is making the decisions in the USA "work" place. Terry nickell diming your existing employees (slaves) squeezing the lemon dry from them, until yet another lay-off. Change you can believe in ===a change in employment status. Work-addicted, greedy, baby boomers will never retire. All aboard the USS Company Titanic.

Tracey of AR 11:28AM August 13, 2009

Your resume needs to stand out. If its hard to read, I will get tossed aside.

johnnylakis of NY 10:59AM August 13, 2009

i quite agree with you. but am one of those who find it difficult to draw the line between job description and achievements. you must agree there is a thin line between them. how do i achieve this because i want to change job?

gbonuka nneka 10:28AM August 13, 2009

Sell yourself at an interview. Sell yourself like a product that works and that you believe in. Be confident and controlled. Pretend your selling a great product on the market and let it sound believable to the interviewer. Make it sound like he has to have you and that you are the best candidate for the position, without being cocky or arogant. If you believe in yourself then other people will too!

Nerissa of NV 10:15AM August 13, 2009

Thank God that you are no longer a teacher! Your post was purely nonsensical babble, a hopeless run on sentence, and I won't even go into the spelling. I'm impressed that you managed to be hired for any job at all and I would love to see your resume for laughs. I hope that you taught yoga or pottery or anything other than school children!

grammer please of VA 10:00AM August 13, 2009

The author is absolutely correct. Interviewers want to know what makes you special for the job - WHY are you the best candidate? The most complete information I ever read about writing a resume together with samples of a chronological and a functional resume, I found in a book called Much of What You Know about Job Search Just Ain't So. And it's true. There are so many myths about writing a resume it's hard to separate what is best from what is commonly said. I found the book while searching for job search books on Barnes & Noble - bn.com. I was convinced after reading the first chapter free online. Good luck.

Bea Rocco of FL 8:58AM August 13, 2009

the resume is supposed to be the specification of yourself that you do not have to elaborate when you're in front face to face with your boss to be...now,it is still a presumable fact that at first glance you have to impress a person who 's trying to scutinize you...but show what you got in your resume..prove! be confident to defend the itemized details in your resume...in short:be impressive and courageous enough that the job is intended for you.

annod of NV 8:38AM August 13, 2009