Suggestions???

[sfblue]

I have 2 pages.

I have had 5 jobs in 7.5 years with 1st company since I got my MBA. And 2 jobs with my current company of 3 years. I also worked briefly between my undergraduate and graduate school.


I think it is OK to have 2 pages.

[flygirl813126]

My resume is two columns...one page. The first column is extremely thin. It includes quotes from my recommendations. Each interview I have been on has mentioned it. I am in education, though, so I am not sure if it is appropriate for a different setting.

[the_woman_99]

I have hear conflicting opinions on the 1 page thing. I just hope that when I am finished with mine that it is 1 page. I don't think that it will be a problem but from a lot of people I have talked with they say to keep it down to 1 page.

[SeatClutcher]

Originally Posted by Amanda

I have been speaking to some friends who are HR professionals and was told that depending on your age or if you have a lot of experience, it is OK to have 2 pages. Of course 1 is better, but if the 2 pages is necessary it won't "count against you".

True? False?

Glad you asked that - that was my question, too.

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by the_woman_99

I have hear conflicting opinions on the 1 page thing. I just hope that when I am finished with mine that it is 1 page. I don't think that it will be a problem but from a lot of people I have talked with they say to keep it down to 1 page.

Well I am 37 years old and have been working since I was 15- I have had A LOT of jobs!

I think it is different if you don't have a lot of job experience and you are younger!

Of course I only have the last 3 companies on my resume (goes back to 2005).

....Plus my jobs were in different industries and I want them on there! My HR friend saw my resume recently and she says it doesn't look too good (she's a true friend- very honest!). If I don't get the job I just applied for, I HAVE TO find a new job. Anything that will make me lessed stressed and sick!

[the_woman_99]

Okay so I am almost done with mine. I think that I need one more bullet point for my current job and then I need to add my education/experience. Once I do that it will be over 1 page. I have taken out all of the spaces and it is only a 12 font size. So it isn't like I am trying to spread things out to make it look like I don't have has much experience as I do. I have been working in the financial industry since I wass 19 and with only 3 different places so it isn't like I have a ton of different companies to put down. I just really hope that everything is okay. When looking it through today I noticed there were things on it that I didn't like so much so I have to go through and change things up.
It is hard because on my current job I have my experience more as a sentence instead of on my previous ones I have listed bullet points. I didn't really elaborate on them like I did with my current job. I think that I need to go back through and see if I can word things different so my last two jobs don't look out of place. I am asking some people to look it over and see what they think. I guess I will just have to wait and hear whatever feed back they give me. I wish that I knew someone who worked in an HR capacity so that I could have them look at it but I feel kind of funny asking the person where I am currently working to look over it. You are lucky Amanda to have someone who you trust to look over yours and give there honest opinion.

[UKcats06]

I have another resume question!

I went to a University for 1 year and then transfered to a community college and got my associates degree. What do I write uner the University bullet, or do I list it at all since I only went there for one year? I feel like it says I HAVE my bachelors degree and I don't, but if you look at the dates I was obviously only there for one year. I don't want it to look like I'm trying to be dishonest, but I don't want to obviously write "did not finish" or anything like that. I have it listed like this


Lexington Community College 2003-2006
Associates of Science degree in dental laboratory technology
University of Kentucky 2002-2003
bachelors degree in merchandising, apparel and textiles

I have it formated better and a litte more detail on the community college one, but I feel like I should specify I didn't graduate. Or should I just not list it at all?
Thanks!

P.S. The job I am applying for has nothing to do with either of them, if that matters haha.

[roz]

LOL--my resume is three pages and I'm in HR. We don't look at the number of pages. We look at content. And we discard any with spelling errors! Use different fonts, small caps and bolding to draw attention to items. You can't see it here because the fonts are not coming over properly, but I use small caps for the letters after the first large cap in my employer's name. The same for the headings: Profile, Professional Experience, Education, etc.

You need to format the resume for electronic submission. I suggest saving it as a rtf document as that can be opened by most applications. Most companies are going toward electronic applications and you either paste in your resume or upload it. So the formatting must be perfect. Paper resumes are really a thing of the past. You might bring a nice copy with you to the interview, but it's usually not necessary. You might want to bring a copy of your references on a nice resume bond to the interview--it shows your'e on the ball!

Oh, and don't forget the cover letter! I hate resumes without cover letters--it's like you couldn't be bothered to tell me why you are perfect for my job! Even electronic applications have a place to submit a cover letter. Again, you can paste it in or upload it. Be sure to address it to the right company! You'd be surprised how often we get cover letters addressed to a different company. It really makes us feel like they want to work for us!

One mistake people often make is to list the company, then the job. It's the job that was important, not the company--so list the job first.

For example:

My Name Here, SPHR
122 Easy Street
Anytown, PA 19103
215-555-1212
fakeemail@yahoo.com

Profile:

Self-directed individual with strong analytical and interpersonal skills. Complete Human Resource Director with progressively responsible experience linking HR initiatives to organizational strategies. Multi-state corporate experience in the following areas among others: policy development and administration; employee relations; legal compliance; training and development; staffing; compensation and rewards; management of diversity; benefits and payroll administration; information management; finance; mergers and acquisitions; and organizational development.

Professional Experience:

VP, Director of Human Resources, The Rversi Cversi 9/05 to Present (this is all on one line--it's not formatting correctly here)

And use action verbs in your description of what you do--here are a few from a previous job:

Oversaw Human Resource department with responsibility for facilities serving at-risk youth in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware.

• Designed and implemented performance measurement system using HR Metrics.
• Oversaw the HR piece of JCAHO accreditation project; oversaw an organizational job analysis/performance review project.
• Developed and implemented policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws.
• Coached and counseled managers in employee relations issues, performance management and supervisory skills.
• Managed EEO complaints, conducted investigations and worked with counsel for resolution.
• Developed and conducted performance management and compliance training for managers and staff.
• Managed the training process for all staff as required by licensing and regulations.
• Oversaw the Worker's Compensation program to manage risk.
• Oversaw payroll and benefits administration.
• Oversaw recruiting; revised process to enhance retention; instituted succession planning.

Now as far as education goes, you list the source of your degree. When we verify education, the school will confirm the year of the degree and type. They don't say that you transferred in. A transcript will, but we don't ask for that. It's not dishonest to just list the final institution that conferred the degree. If you only attended a school but didn't graduate, you would list it under additional coursework.

Now, it's the same with education--list the degree first, then the institution. I leave out dates because it can lead to discrimination.


Education:


Master of Business Administration, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Additional Coursework:

• Professional Human Resource Management (Villanova University)
• Seminars in legal compliance; EEO, COBRA administration, ERISA, HIPAA Privacy Act, and retirement plans
• Seminars in leadership skills, presentation skills, labor relations, union avoidance, negotiating and employee relations skills

[roz]

Originally Posted by Amanda

If I don't get the job I just applied for, I HAVE TO find a new job. Anything that will make me lessed stressed and sick!

Is it with the same company? What type of job? I'm pulling for you!

Also, it's the resume that gets you in the door. But the interview seals the deal. So, I suggest everyone read Knock 'em Dead.

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by roz

Is it with the same company? What type of job? I'm pulling for you!

Thanks Roz! Yes, it is with the same company. I just can't afford to leave after being there for 8 years- I get 5 weeks vacation and better than ave medical and retirement plan benefits.

I decided to apply for a supervisor job. The hiring Manager really likes me and I have been told that I am qualified for the position. I am very nervous about the 9/13 interview but I am prepping as much as possible. All of the questions are behavioral based (of course!).

If I don't get this one then it's a sign I need to look elsewhere!