what verb tense should I use on my resume? by Alison Green on February 16, 2015 A reader writes: I was updating my resume today and was wondering about what tense to use. For my current job, do I use present tense and the rest of the resume past tense? Or should it all match, like all past tense or all present tense? The simple rule is that you should use […] Read the full article →
should you list a fun but fake fact on your resume to intrigue an employer? by Alison Green on February 4, 2015 A reader writes: I am currently job searching and have heard that sometimes people put one fun thing on their resume that normally wouldn’t belong, which might seem to make them more interesting to a job recruiter who would want to know the rest of the story. One such suggestion was to list that you […] Read the full article →
how do I sell myself on my resume when I don’t feel like a great candidate? by Alison Green on February 2, 2015 A reader writes: I’m not looking for a job, but I want to update my resume, which is really out of date. But I’m really not sure where to start. How do you write a resume selling yourself and your skills when you suffer from Impostor Syndrome? I had my annual review recently which went […] Read the full article →
resume “tricks” that will backfire on you by Alison Green on January 26, 2015 When you’re putting together a resume, you might find yourself looking for ways to disguise a spotty job history, get around resume-screening software, or even avoid showing your age. And if you go looking for help, you might be encourage to employ some resume “tricks” to bypass these challenges. The problem? Hiring managers can see […] Read the full article →
should I use wording from the job ad in my resume or cover letter? by Alison Green on October 17, 2014 A reader writes: I am a recent graduate and have a question concerning tailoring your resume/cover letter to the job. I read online that hiring managers dismiss candidates who copy large amounts of wording from the job posting into their resume or cover letter, and I wonder if I have been falling into this pitfall. […] Read the full article →
5 signs that your resume is holding you back by Alison Green on September 29, 2014 When you’re searching for a job, nothing is more frustrating than sending out scores of resumes for jobs you know you’re qualified for but not getting any interviews. If that’s happening to you, the explanation might be your resume is holding you back in some way. Of course, in a tight job market like this […] Read the full article →
how can my resume demonstrate initiative, problem-solving, work ethic, and other qualities? by Alison Green on September 23, 2014 A reader writes: I’m currently a college student studying engineering. I keep on reading lists with titles like “Top 10 Skills and Qualities Employers Seek in College Grads.” All of the skills listed there are fairly subjective. For instance, a list might include words like teamwork, leadership, written communication, problem-solving, work ethic, initiative, and other […] Read the full article →
resume weirdness, #271 by Alison Green on July 1, 2014 Y’all, if your work experience doesn’t start until the second page of your resume*, this is a problem. Employers care what you’ve done. That’s your work experience. All that other stuff taking up tons of real estate is (a) way less important and (b) really, really, really not something that should be pushing your work experience […] Read the full article →
don’t start your cover letter with “my name is” and other rules by Alison Green on May 29, 2014 Some random thoughts from hiring work recently, in no particular order: * Do not start your cover letter with “My name is…” unless you are under the age of 10. This does not make you sound like a grown-up. * When a job posting asks for something like 2-3 years experience and you have 10+ […] Read the full article →
how to create a resume from scratch by Alison Green on May 14, 2014 Wondering how to write a great resume that will show off your skills and experience and get you interviews? Here’s a beginner’s guide to how to craft a resume that will catch a hiring manager’s eyes. Your resume should be composed of the following sections: Contact info. This is pretty straightforward – this is the […] Read the full article →