Advice for job hunting?
Feb 15th 2016, 6:48 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: Advice for job hunting?
It is overly general, but here are red flags that immediately have me concerned when reading a candidates resume.
Any unexplained gaps in career.
Several explainable gaps in career.
Inappropriate email address on resume "[email protected]", for example. I kid you not, I've had some real eye opening email addresses.
I always look up candidates online. Social media page showing you drunk out of your mind or sucking on a pot filled hookah pipe isn't going to cut it.
Don't send a resume that contains only work experience that is not relevant to the position. Recently when hiring registered vet techs with 2 years ER experience a prerequisite I got numerous resumes with people who thought they were qualified because "I love animals" or "as a little girl I really wanted to be a vet".
Don't include irrelevant information. We don't care that you speak 5 languages, unless the job calls for bilingual.
Leave out personal interests/accomplishments. You won spelling bee aged 7, I don't care. If you are applying for a job as a fork lift driver and won fork lift driver of the year, then of course include that.
Hobbies, so what. You play 5 aside football on Saturdays, big deal. You just wasted my time reading that.
Don't stuff your resume with power words and phrases, they make us nauseous.
Also, if the objective section is like a page from corporate jargon BS. You'll turn me off if you start some rambling nonsense of buzz words that has no real depth.
Keep your resume brief but informative (600 to 700 words). Employers get hundreds of resumes. We just don't have time to read a 6 page life story.
Include a brief cover letter telling me why you are suitable for the job.
Be polite. Don't be cocky. Don't appear desperate.
Good luck!
EDIT:
Don't have a blanket resume you send out. Really personalize the resume for each job, highlighting the bits that fit and removing the bits that do not.
Any unexplained gaps in career.
Several explainable gaps in career.
Inappropriate email address on resume "[email protected]", for example. I kid you not, I've had some real eye opening email addresses.
I always look up candidates online. Social media page showing you drunk out of your mind or sucking on a pot filled hookah pipe isn't going to cut it.
Don't send a resume that contains only work experience that is not relevant to the position. Recently when hiring registered vet techs with 2 years ER experience a prerequisite I got numerous resumes with people who thought they were qualified because "I love animals" or "as a little girl I really wanted to be a vet".
Don't include irrelevant information. We don't care that you speak 5 languages, unless the job calls for bilingual.
Leave out personal interests/accomplishments. You won spelling bee aged 7, I don't care. If you are applying for a job as a fork lift driver and won fork lift driver of the year, then of course include that.
Hobbies, so what. You play 5 aside football on Saturdays, big deal. You just wasted my time reading that.
Don't stuff your resume with power words and phrases, they make us nauseous.
Also, if the objective section is like a page from corporate jargon BS. You'll turn me off if you start some rambling nonsense of buzz words that has no real depth.
Keep your resume brief but informative (600 to 700 words). Employers get hundreds of resumes. We just don't have time to read a 6 page life story.
Include a brief cover letter telling me why you are suitable for the job.
Be polite. Don't be cocky. Don't appear desperate.
Good luck!
EDIT:
Don't have a blanket resume you send out. Really personalize the resume for each job, highlighting the bits that fit and removing the bits that do not.
Make sure you use US spellings, and terms/phrases. Job applications aren't the time to assert that UK spellings and terms are 'correct'.
Make sure the style/structure of the resume follows the US style (which I can't even explain any longer, but as an example, no need to say 'clean drivers license').
If you are sending your resume electronically (rather than filling out forms online), create a PDF version of it, and make sure the layout is US Letter and NOT UK A4 size. I used to get resumes from Brits and when I printed them out, the damn shared printer would back up waiting for me to change paper. If you are sending a paper resume in an envelope, make sure it's on US letter sized paper.
Hit up every contact you have.
Good luck!
Feb 15th 2016, 1:52 pm
#32
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Advice for job hunting?
Creating a PDF also effectively locks the content, unlike say Word docs, which can be edited or corrupted by the recipient.
Last edited by Pulaski; Feb 15th 2016 at 2:42 pm.
Feb 15th 2016, 2:28 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: Advice for job hunting?
Time for me to take my own advice - and that of others.
I got canned at the end of last week!
I got canned at the end of last week!
Feb 15th 2016, 2:53 pm
#35
BE Practitioner (Level 2)
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,403
Feb 15th 2016, 6:00 pm
#36
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Advice for job hunting?
Maybe it's different for students...
my eldest is currently applying for US based internships for the summer months. The advisors at her university told her to put at the end of her resume, "eligible for work in the USA" since they are asking for details of education to date and some of hers is in EU and she has been in the USA for less than 3 years. She said that she has been asked specifically how she is authorised to work in the USA.
On the other hand, a fellow international student whose ability to work is v limited was told not to mention anything at all until he was asked.
my eldest is currently applying for US based internships for the summer months. The advisors at her university told her to put at the end of her resume, "eligible for work in the USA" since they are asking for details of education to date and some of hers is in EU and she has been in the USA for less than 3 years. She said that she has been asked specifically how she is authorised to work in the USA.
On the other hand, a fellow international student whose ability to work is v limited was told not to mention anything at all until he was asked.
Feb 15th 2016, 6:55 pm
#38
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Advice for job hunting?
Maybe it's different for students...
my eldest is currently applying for US based internships for the summer months. The advisors at her university told her to put at the end of her resume, "eligible for work in the USA" since they are asking for details of education to date and some of hers is in EU and she has been in the USA for less than 3 years. She said that she has been asked specifically how she is authorised to work in the USA.
On the other hand, a fellow international student whose ability to work is v limited was told not to mention anything at all until he was asked.
my eldest is currently applying for US based internships for the summer months. The advisors at her university told her to put at the end of her resume, "eligible for work in the USA" since they are asking for details of education to date and some of hers is in EU and she has been in the USA for less than 3 years. She said that she has been asked specifically how she is authorised to work in the USA.
On the other hand, a fellow international student whose ability to work is v limited was told not to mention anything at all until he was asked.
Feb 15th 2016, 7:44 pm
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: Advice for job hunting?
I'm in IT - desktop support, I guess is the best description. I'm not a programmer and I'm fairly weak in corporate networking (setup, mainly - I can handle active directory and the desktop end).
It should be fairly easy on paper, but we live in rural Georgia and most people think a computer is what they use to calculate the tax on a whole hawg!
It should be fairly easy on paper, but we live in rural Georgia and most people think a computer is what they use to calculate the tax on a whole hawg!
Feb 15th 2016, 8:46 pm
#40
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Advice for job hunting?
As for the buzzword bingo. I think it depends. If you're sending your resume to an actual person, then yeah, not so import and great to get rid of it, but if it's being sent as a online application where it'll be filtered well before it gets to a person, you're going to want the buzz word bingo so that it isn't automatically going to get rejected.
All that to say, different jobs/industries/experience levels, going to need different approaches.
One thing that will be common through out, networking being king.
Feb 15th 2016, 9:05 pm
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Watford
Posts: 1,147
Re: Advice for job hunting?
I like resumes to be clear and concise, linkedin is big in the US, use that for your rambling historyIf a resume is more than 2 pages, I give upEveryday I get a pile dumped on my desk, it has already been vetted by HR, they look for keywords specific to the role, it may be a drag but customize yours to the job you're applying for, always include a cover letter, relevant experience, why you think you should get the rolePutting 'eligible for work' is a waste of time, they will check anywayThe assumption is you ARE eligibleWe only hire production workers through agencies, so if they are good we then hire directlyAlways remember there are a lot of unsuitable people applying for jobs, work hard on your resume/cover letter to get past a bored HR clerk
Sorry about formatting, not sure what is happening
Sorry about formatting, not sure what is happening
Feb 15th 2016, 9:52 pm
#42
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: Advice for job hunting?
In general I would not mention eligibility to work in US; but if OP's experience is all clearly in the UK, then there may be an assumption that this person is from UK and not eligible to work here, so I don't think it would do harm to throw in one line about eligibility. All depends on exactly how your resume reads.
Feb 15th 2016, 10:40 pm
#43
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Advice for job hunting?
In general I would not mention eligibility to work in US; but if OP's experience is all clearly in the UK, then there may be an assumption that this person is from UK and not eligible to work here, so I don't think it would do harm to throw in one line about eligibility. All depends on exactly how your resume reads.
Still didn't stop one company from paying to fly him in for a final interview for a job that was only open to US Citizens, mind you...
Feb 16th 2016, 3:44 am
#44
BE Practitioner (Level 2)
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,403
Re: Advice for job hunting?
I like resumes to be clear and concise, linkedin is big in the US, use that for your rambling historyIf a resume is more than 2 pages, I give upEveryday I get a pile dumped on my desk, it has already been vetted by HR, they look for keywords specific to the role, it may be a drag but customize yours to the job you're applying for, always include a cover letter, relevant experience, why you think you should get the rolePutting 'eligible for work' is a waste of time, they will check anywayThe assumption is you ARE eligibleWe only hire production workers through agencies, so if they are good we then hire directlyAlways remember there are a lot of unsuitable people applying for jobs, work hard on your resume/cover letter to get past a bored HR clerk
Sorry about formatting, not sure what is happening
Sorry about formatting, not sure what is happening
Feb 16th 2016, 3:45 am
#45
BE Practitioner (Level 2)
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,403
Re: Advice for job hunting?
In general I would not mention eligibility to work in US; but if OP's experience is all clearly in the UK, then there may be an assumption that this person is from UK and not eligible to work here, so I don't think it would do harm to throw in one line about eligibility. All depends on exactly how your resume reads.
Landed a great gig, so worked for me.