Writing a resume

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Annie

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It used to be that you wrote what you had done on your resume. It was sort of assumed that if you had done it for longer than a few weeks that you probably had the personal qualities or skills to do it.

Now it seems like you have to write down that you are friendly and capable of greeting clients in a manner which will keep rather than alienate them. Etc.

I have to admit that I am not really happy having to write stuff like this, especially since in some areas of my life I am better at things than in other areas. Like my work desk is always neat and organized while at home things are messy, mostly because I have an entire life at home and my work desk is limited to stuff for work.

Anyway, is it ok from a Catholic point of view to write this stuff? I see people who have gotten jobs who seem to so barely have the qualities necessary (DMV, anyone?) that it seems like resumes are a bit of a scam. I could write anything on it.
 
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Where do get the idea that people need to write their personality traits in their resume? What jobs are you applying for?

If being good with clients is an important part of a position, then that part of it will be decided on past work experience, and/or an interview. A hiring board, or a hiring manager, isn’t going to take the fact that an applicant has written on their resume that they’re “good with people” as anything meaningful.
 
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Choose a good job search site…they have resume assistance apps that will help you construct a good one, critique it, and even market it.
 
Why do think you have to say things like that? I dislike that kind of stuff on resumes; it is fluff. I would stick to outlining experience. I was always told you only say those kinds of things (‘highly motivated’ ‘highly organized’) if you don’t have enough relevant job experience to fill out the page. It is ok to rewrite your resume a couple different ways for different jobs - say change the order of your duties listed for a former position to emphasize more relevant ones for a particular new application. (coordinated groups, teams as opposed to day to day duties, etc.) I think the most important thing is to stand out, be clear, honest and brief. So many resumes come in for positions. It gets tiresome to read them. You have to be able to answer to the resume in the interview. It should reflect you as a professional, not what others tell you to put on it.
 
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Annie said:
that you are friendly and capable of greeting clients in a manner which will keep rather than alienate them. Etc.
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This is kind of waste to put into a resume. I mean who is going to put down that they are not friendly.

The prospective employer would determine through references, previous employers, and the interview process your personality.

IMHO resumes should be short and to the point.
 
Your resume should have your work experience, dates employed and include tasks or skills in which you are proficient. Friendliness is not a skill
And should be not included. :relaxed:If you did something for a few weeks that does not mean you are proficient. I don’t know where you got this info but when someone puts things like this on a resume, it knocks down credibility.

Any hiring manager can tell from the way you interact with them if your personality will be a good fit.

It should also have your education credentials, and references.
 
Just stick to the jobs you’ve had and the length of time you were there Unless they ask what you can bring to the job you’re applying for, there’s no need to add the rest.
 
Thanks everyone 🙂 I have been a SAHM for 20+ years… So I am reading a huge number of “How to Write a Resume” articles… It’s s tough because I have a lot of experience, but none of my old employers are around anymore… On top of my previous work having been subsumed by the internet.

Nice to know that if it seems like fluff, I don’t have to put it in!!!
 
Annie said:
Thanks everyone 🙂 I have been a SAHM for 20+ years… So I am reading a huge number of “How to Write a Resume” articles… It’s s tough because I have a lot of experience, but none of my old employers are around anymore… On top of my previous work having been subsumed by the internet.

Nice to know that if it seems like fluff, I don’t have to put it in!!!
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Hi Annie,

You can also find resume templates out there, too.

If you have Word Processing software, resume templates are usually included with the software.

Your local library usually has resume and cover letter books with templates in them too, to give you some different ideas on what’s available for different styles of cover letters and resumes. They’ll have examples in there for you.

Also, your local job center should also have information available for you as well, and sometimes a job center will have a person available who helps people with their resume, too.

Sometimes people think that their job center is just for people who are on unemployment, but it’s also a really great resource when you’re also looking to go back to work, too. 🙂
 
Old Grey Mare, oh the idea of the job center is fabulous! The people I have looking at mine now are either telling me it’s great or horrible, so I am very confused!!! I am definitely going to check out the job center 🙂 Thank you!
 
Annie said:
The people I have looking at mine now are either telling me it’s great or horrible, so I am very confused!!!
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Are these the people you are seeking a job from, or folks like us here at CAF?
 
I have, on a few occasions read through some resumes from people applying for work in my husband’s office. The amount of fluff out there on the part of people applying is sometimes enough to stuff a pillow.

We actually found some of them amusing. People saying they would be a great asset to the company, (even though they are applying blindly) people telling us what great problem solvers they are, (no problems to solve, just do the job) or that they don’t have the skills or knowledge asked for, but “are fast learners.”

Resumes with typos, spelling mistakes, or ones that have horrible gaudy typefaces are not good signs either. 😳

Just be honest about your skills and experience.
 
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