do you need multiple versions of your resume? by Alison Green on January 29, 2014 A reader writes: I’ve had a few people ask me if I have more than one version of my resume. I have tried to draft completely different versions, but have found it daunting and so have stuck with the same version, save for minor tweaks to the wording of the brief objective statement. I have […] Read the full article →
check the name of your resume file by Alison Green on January 24, 2014 This is a small thing, but if you’re sending out a resume with a date like “resume2013,” please go update it right now. Otherwise, fairly soon you’ll start looking like your job search has been a lengthy one (which, rightly or wrongly, can turn some employers off) — and like you’re not paying attention to […] Read the full article →
resume paper is obsolete by Alison Green on November 27, 2013 A reader writes: What are your thoughts on “resume paper”? Considering how many retailers stock it (and have stocked it for decades), I imagine many people use it. Is there any value to it? What do hiring managers think of it, if they even notice? I am going to hereby free you from any reason […] Read the full article →
this is a resume and cover letter that work by Alison Green on November 14, 2013 A reader recently shared with me the resume and cover letter she used to get a new job, and I liked them so much that I got her to agree to let me share them here. Note: Do not steal these and make them your own. The reason they work is because they’ve so customized […] Read the full article →
when should I move education to the bottom of my resume? by Alison Green on November 13, 2013 A reader writes: I graduated from college 2-1/2 years ago and have held 2 positions since then, one of which I worked at throughout college. Those 2 jobs and 2 internships are included on my resume. I’m looking for new positions and am wondering, at what point do I move my education to the bottom […] Read the full article →
should you add IQ or Myers Briggs to your resume? by Alison Green on September 20, 2013 It’s Flashback Friday! Here’s an old post from February 2009 that we’re making new again, rather than leaving it to wilt in the archives. A reader writes: Applicants always want their resume to stand out. Well, I know that a few of the companies I have worked for know of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type test. […] Read the full article →
5 red flags in your job history – and how to combat them by Alison Green on September 18, 2013 When employers screen job applicants, they might spend as little as a few seconds scanning your resume before moving on to the next. If they see red flags during that initial look, you risk that they’ll just move on to the next candidate – so it’s important to make sure that any red flags in […] Read the full article →
stop telling me you’re a great writer by Alison Green on August 9, 2013 It’s Flashback Friday! Here’s an old post from March 2009 that we’re making new again, rather than leaving it to wilt in the archives. It’s not a great idea — nor is it necessary — to brag about your writing skills in your cover letter or on your resume, via subjective assessments of yourself like […] Read the full article →
should you post your resume on online job boards? by Alison Green on July 15, 2013 A reader writes: I have a job I really enjoy, but with a few critical caveats. My boss is a little . . . recession-conscious (salary in bottom 5-7% of salary range for my industry and area), and also a tad nutty. Ok, very nutty. (Cameras installed throughout the office so he can monitor conversation, […] Read the full article →
get the words “core competencies” off your resume by Alison Green on June 26, 2013 If you have a section on your resume called “core competencies,” please call it something else. You do not need that horrible piece of jargon on your resume, and its presence there instantly makes hiring managers’ eyes glaze over. Call it a profile, call it a summary or highlights, I don’t care — but no […] Read the full article →