Updating My Resume

[hmhaines]

For the first time since 2011, I'm looking for a job. I started The Big Purple Barn while still working one of my first jobs; host at the local Outback Steakhouse. Before that, I'd been a contractor's gopher, a dishwasher at a restaurant on the local golf course, and an overnight stocker at BJ's.
My resume doesn't look great.
"Oh, you ran a business for five years, but not well enough to afford moving it to another city. And before that you helped people to their seats in a chain restaurant." Oi. Not looking forward to those interviews. Definitely need to get some welding certifications once I move to Minneapolis.
I do plan on including my letter of recommendation from Red Wing Shoes, 'cause they're HUGE in Minnesota. Wish me luck, folks!

 

[stickframer]

Good luck buddy!
I'm sort of in the same boat, and will be updating the ol resume and looking at making some employment changes shortly.
Who knows what opportunities await you in Minnesota? I've noticed, personally, things have a habit of panning out when I least expect it, as long as the leg work is put in of course!

 

[pitchfork]

What kind of job are you looking for?

 

[hmhaines]

Right now, one that pays. I'm applying first to a ski resort that one of Shannen's friends works at out there. It is a winter-only job, but they like people to come back every year. I'll have to get a summer job too, or a second year-round job, but this is a good start. We'll see.

 

[pitchfork]

I'd say you're in good shape with experience working both for yourself and for others. You could link to your website (I looked it up =) ) -- it looks really professional.

 

[randelli]

I would be willing to review your resume if you want a second pair of eyes.
Good Luck!

 

[hmhaines]

Thanks pitchfork, you too randelli!
Took a long time to get my website looking like that. I built it using Squarespace. So simple, man, I love that service.
I'll let you know if I need a review, the offer is much appreciated!

 

[gmjabsky]

Reflect for a while on your "customer service" and "retail sales" skills honestly built in your experience. These are a different way to present the same thing that's a little more sophisticated. In folks I interview, I'm often impressed their ability to create with what they've got, having seen some who could do very little with great education and qualifications.
Oh, and I guess you're also "web contributor" reviewing niche market products and imports!
Don't sell yourself short, do great!

 

[pagan]

You just describes a divers skill set and ability to adapt to new tasks and work environments, don't cut yourself short man

 

[yohanan]

Wishing you the Best of Luck on your job search.

 

[jvnshr]

Good luck, sir. Update your linkedin account as well, or create if you don't have one. They post lots of vacancies there as well. And check jobcv.me, you can create a free resume there.

 

[mso489]

hm', wait a minute. An employer isn't hiring this group of random jobs you've held over the years. He/she is looking to solve his own problems, and every business, small and large, has a bunch of them. So take every one of those jobs and list four or five important skills you learned on them. Even dishwashing requires steady methodical organization of work flow. (Yeah, jazz it up a little. Conceptualize a little bit.) The Red Wing shoes involved assessing customer needs, and addressing the relationship between the footwear and their work -- do they need steel toes, or slip-on shoes, or high work boots. Each job, pick out the kinds of skills that are adaptable to other employers' needs and wants. The fact that you take time to match up your previous work with the prospective employers needs will impress him or her. They might discover that some of your experience is just what they need although they hadn't realized it until now. They're hiring you as a problem-solving package. Not a welding job? Knowing about welding might be useful information in other sales or retail situations. Get creative. Brainstorm. Research the employer a little. Knowledge is power.

 

[shutterbugg]

I only had one job out of college for about a year and then went on my own, so I don't have much experience writing resumes, but I have close to 40 years of reading them. Or maybe glancing is a better word. The first thing that hits me is the number of jobs they've held w.r.t. their age. If they've held a lot of jobs for relatively short periods, it sends up a red flag. I don't care if they were fired or quit. Either way they can't hang onto a job or are always on the move, both bad things from my perspective as an employer. Second thing I look at is what kind of job(s) they held. Even if it's in different fields, I look for continuity of some kind. Otherwise I figure it's someone who can't seem to find themself. I'm not unsympathetic, but it's business and I'm hiring someone to do a job, not fostering a kid. I'm also not interested in seeing what jobs they held when they were in school. So my advice to someone writing a resume is prune the dead branches.
If you're applying for a job, even if there won't be an interview (but especially if there will be), learn as much as you can about the company, its history, business model, and the specifics of the business, and what your specific job will entail. The employer doesn't want to hear what your personal goals are, or how responsible you are, or what a nice guy you are. He wants to know what you will bring to the job, not what you want the job to bring to you. The best way to show that is to go in there knowing your sh*t.

 

[randelli]

That is true - employers want to hire problem solvers. Review your experiences and find how you solved problems; and how you can use that experience to the benefit of your new boss.

 

[hmhaines]

Yeah, my girlfriend taught me the benefit of flowery language on resumes when we were working on her PHD applications.

 

[tuold]

I sat in on a few interviews for new applicants over the years. What we were looking for most is somebody eager to tell us what skills they had that they could bring to our organization and make it better. Customer service and communication skills were always high on our checklists. Then we would like to know how adaptable this person is and if they are fast learners. Only after all that did we ask about prior experiance, education, etc. .
Good luck!

 

[hmhaines]

That's good to hear; I taught myself how to weld and recycle glass. All of my big projects have been crazy challenges that I've tackled pretty well. Plus, my five year plan is entertaining.
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"Little house, a kid, happy marriage. In the middle of building the world's largest kazoo."
Hmmm. Maybe I'll keep that to myself.

 

[styler]

From my experience doing interviews, I always looked for people who were good with self discipline. Really sell the fact that you taught yourself those skills. No one wants to hire someone who is going to do the bare minimum or who always needs to be motivated/'ridden' to do a good job. They want an employee who is 'fire and forget', when that person is given a task then their employer can be sure it will be carried out.
Be sure to find instances where you've performed well on your own and as part of a team. People usually want to hire 'team players' as opposed to lone wolves. You want to show that you are capable of working solo when required though, or else it looks like you might have been carried by the aforementioned team.

 

[bigpond]

I was partner in an HR firm in Boston a few years back. I don't know much about your particular industry, but I can say with confidence that employers today generally do not read resumes rather they scan them looking for very specific buzz words and phrases. If your resume was submitted electronically it will be scanned for a keyword search. Our agency used a suite of analytic tools to examine workspace productivity and found recruiters spent an average of 8 seconds per resume for a position with a salary less than 70,000 usd. It was rare to spend 20 seconds on a resume for a position below management level.
My advice is to break down your skills in to keywords. There are two ways to use keywords to find the right job. The first is to enter your keywords in to a job search. Doing so can reveal that you have value to employers outside of your primary area of interest thereby expanding your range of opportunities. The second method is obvious, find the jobs you want and match your keywords to the position as precisely as possible. The higher the match percent the more likely you will make it to the second stage.
As far as florid language is concerned, don't do it. Both people and algorithms appreciate writing that is clear, and to the point. The simpler you can illustrate your skill in action the more likely that illustration is to be legitimate and repeatable.
Good luck, and never overlook the value of relationship. Maybe your girlfriend knows a guy that knows a guy who's uncle is hiring. This is always the best way to get your foot in the door.

 

[pappymac]

I can attest to the fact that some people just skim over the resumes. When I decided to enter the civilian job market after 21 years in the military, one of the first places I contacted said I didn't have enough work experience on my resume because I had only listed working for one company. I had to explain to the person that only one was listed because it had lasted for over 21 years and then went into detail on what I had done had each unit. A couple of weeks later they offered me a job but I turned it down.
In the 10 years I worked for a printing company, I reviewed 5 or 6 resumes a month on average when we were not actively hiring and almost all of the resumes when we were hiring. One of the first things I always looked for was how many jobs had been held and for how long. If I was still interested after that and it went to an interview, I also asked about why they had so many jobs and why they left. They were free to not tell me but I appreciated the honesty when they did. People moving on because of a better position or more pay doesn't bother me as much as those who just said personal reasons.
Good luck in the job hunting.