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 →
stop telling me that you work well independently and in groups by Alison Green on March 21, 2014 This was originally published on June 4, 2012. If you’re a recent grad, there’s a 50% chance that your resume or cover letter includes a mention that you “work well both independently and in groups.” Announcing this is like announcing that you show up for work on time. It’s expected that you’ll do it; it’s […] Read the full article →
can you leave your home address off your resume? by Alison Green on February 27, 2014 A reader writes: I was wondering if you agree with the advice to keep your home address off if your resume? I do look at addresses on resumes, to see if it’s realistic for someone to get to the job or assess whether they will be needing a relocation package. In general, I think job […] Read the full article →
how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties by Alison Green on February 5, 2014 If you’re like most people, your resume lists what you were responsible for at each job you held, but doesn’t explain what you actually achieved there. Rewriting it to focus on accomplishments will make it way more effective (i.e., “increased email subscribers by 20% in six months” instead of “managed email list”), because that explains […] Read the full article →
6 small resume changes that will have a big impact by Alison Green on February 3, 2014 If you’re sending out resumes and not getting many calls to interview, there’s a good chance that your resume is the problem. If you’re like most people, your resume could use some work – and like most people, you’re probably not sure where to start. But you probably don’t need to start from scratch. You […] Read the full article →