This is excellent advice and I totally agree with the comments regarding the ‘objective statement’. These are so often no more than a collection of meaningless statements because they are not proven or supported in any way and have no authenticity as there not founded in reality.
Laurie Housley1:37AM February 02, 2012
Typo and spelling mistakes are quite common. That is why you should read your resume again and again. Ask you friends or family to check it for you.
Eelynn Lee2:04AM November 22, 2010
Bill,
Umm, okay... try to get over your bitterness! Millions of people earn their employment every day, so try joining them instead of complaining.
Aren
Arenof NV11:33PM October 01, 2009
This advice is priceless,
Considering the fact that employers will only look at a potential candidates resume for no more then 10 seconds and decide if it goes in the good pile or the recycle bin. The author of the article made a good point, if your colleagues could write a resume containing the same thing, your in big trouble. I advice my clients to write resumes that focus and include personal accomplishments and achievements. This is the key to a successful resume in our changing competitive world.
My firm has reviewed and critiqued hundreds of resumes, I will be happy to review yours for free. www.togoresume.com/resumecritique.html
Thanks!
Y.K
Yuriy Kof CA9:40PM September 28, 2009
I think this article is pretty good. It's really true what she says about everyone pretty much using generic descriptions to describe what they did in a job.
I also came across another really good resume advice column.
It talks about five other resume blunders people make. This author caught none of the ones in the linked article.
Katie L.of AZ10:31PM September 07, 2009
Also, to follow-up the obsessive nature regarding spelling, coverletters, grammar all well in good in those conformity factories (school) are meaningless in the real world when it comes to getting (not earning) a job. Jobs are gotten by knowing someone. Rarely they are earned. It is simply knowing someone and then getting your foot in door, and them giving you a job to see how it goes. Have the right last name and your all set. You can be just short of an imbecile and remain employed. That is USA--hiring based on nepotism, creonims, last names, gender, race, and other non meritorious factors. Welcome to the USA workforce--any wonder why this country is a sinking ship? Make sure you get that extra thick resume and coverletter paper so they can make a paper airplan out of it as it is thrown in the basura.
Bill Tarrof CA11:30PM June 15, 2009
THe only that matters is who you know. Period. Having the right last name, connections, nepotism, creonism, etc.... The resume, CVs whatever are a complete JOKE. All that matters is networking (who you know) period. The rest is utter nonsense.
Bill Tarrof CA11:23PM June 15, 2009
This job market is so bleak that I'm going to out myself. Thankfully I don't have a wife and kids to take with me too. I'm depressed.
Mr. Depressionof FL10:41PM March 30, 2009
Since you state most reumesmerely reflect wht your peershave also done, isn't the cover letter a way to differentiate yourself? Or are they even read?
Mark Blackmanof NY9:42PM March 15, 2009
News reports over the years claim around 70% of jobs are due to networking. In the 30% of jobs that actually consider total strangers, the resume is the instrument to get your foot in the HR doorway. Having been on both sides of the hiring process, different "filters" are used to eliminate resumes to leave fewer potential candidates for a second read. It's impossible to know beyond the basic criteria such as one's resume showing skills, experience and education meeting the minimum criteria just what hiring managers really want as it depends on their organizational goals. Sometimes, one's experience is overkill and overqualified for what the company is considering the position is worth. Other times, they need people who are more team-oriented than self directive or they may be looking for a lynchman to chop heads in a troubled department. I think in the end, like most things in life, it's mostly a crap shoot and totally a numbers game - more resumes equals more interviews equals higher chance of landing a job. I've sent out as many ast 400 resumes leading to 10 interviews before getting hired during bad economic times. When the economy was good and companies were looking to hire, I've gotten hired after only 20 job applications. Go figure.
Reader Comments
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Laurie Housley 1:37AM February 02, 2012
Eelynn Lee 2:04AM November 22, 2010
Aren of NV 11:33PM October 01, 2009
Yuriy K of CA 9:40PM September 28, 2009
Katie L. of AZ 10:31PM September 07, 2009
Bill Tarr of CA 11:30PM June 15, 2009
Bill Tarr of CA 11:23PM June 15, 2009
Mr. Depression of FL 10:41PM March 30, 2009
Mark Blackman of NY 9:42PM March 15, 2009
Tony Lee of CA 9:46PM March 09, 2009