Yes, Matilda! I fix broken resumes!
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Last month, February 1, 2007, I wrote How to write an application letter. This time, I would like to follow it up with resume.
First, having worked in mid-upper management for many years, I had the opportunity of being involved in the hiring process. I was involved in the screening of resumes, application letters, interview and have a word as to who to hire. I may not have the final word, but for the most part, they rely on my assessment.
Second, we know what we’re looking for. So, when I go through the resumes, I look for keywords. These are the keywords for whatever position that we’re looking for. In other words, if we receive 20 resumes, we will knock that down to let’s say 5, and we will just simply concentrate on those 5 people. Easy, isn’t it?
Well, times have changed. There are sophisticated software that do this job now. Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com have those. In other words, it’s fair game out there. But is it? All I know is that, if your resume does not have the necessary keywords for the job, then your resume won’t even get to see dawn of light. It will just remain hidden under the database.
So what do you do? Keywords. Who defines the keywords? The position itself. Read and understand what they are looking for. Sometimes, it’s a given for that particular position. Don’t just simply submit your resume for a position. You must read the ad for that position and and if you must re-design your resume based on what you are applying for, then so be it! Got me?!
Here are two sample resume’s that I worked on:
JULI KENNEDY’S RESUME
The 1st thing I noticed on her resume was the email address. I told her, don’t put some funky email addresses. Make it simple. Make it professional. Use your name. Straight and simple.
The next thing I noticed was the objective. Get rid of the executive objective. What happens if the person who is interviewing you is also aspiring for some executive level position? You think he’s going to hire you?! Ah-uh! Get a number girl!
Next, too much wording on the paragraph. If I am going to be the one screening this resume, I will throw it away. Why? You have to make it easy for me to decide that you are the best candidate. Why? I’m busy. I don’t have all the time in the world to read what you wrote. Got me?
Overall impression? Juli’s resume is not a well-thought out resume. She is giving me a lot of work to decipher what she’s worth, what she can do and what it is that she can contribute to our company. This is how her original resume looks like.
I called Juli and I discussed her resume. I asked her in detail what she does. I was surprised to find out that she does more than what she had written. Although she was very eloquent on the phone, I don’t see it on the resume.
So, I thought I would revise her resume, create a summary to prepare the reader as to what she can do and I thought I would highlight her strenghts. This is how her revised resume looks like.
LISSA ERIC’S RESUME
Lissa was the one who was let go last Friday. She also called me up for some assistance. So I asked her to send me her resume so I could take a look. The first thing I noticed was that, I noticed nothing. Ok, I mean, I was not impressed at all. I thought, this resume will end up nowhere. Here’s her original resume.
Lissa spent a number of years doing internship and I thought it was not given any importance on the resume. Next, I can’t seem to reconcile the dates on Education with the dates on the Internship. After talking to her, I found out that she was in school at the same time doing her intern. Also, she wanted to emphasize that she speaks other languages, but don’t know how to show it.
So, I thought, I would revise her resume and similar to the one that I prepared for Juli, I thought I would prepare the reader by putting some summary, introduce her work experience then emphasize her many years in internship.
This is how her revised resume looks like now.
If you would like me to review and rewrite your resume, send it to me at ofwcenter@gmail.com. It’s free but I accept donation!
UPDATES!
(03/04/07)
Juli called the other day! She was screaming! I thought she was going out of her mind! She continued screaming and laughing and screaming and laughing, it’s crazy! Why? She is now a DIRECTOR, and the screaming continued!!!
Popularity: 1% [?]
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 pm
hay salamat naman.. pwede ba pakireview ng resume ko? para naman makahanap ako ng magandang trabaho… send ko na lang sa email mo. ;))
tsaka nga pala.. thanks for visiting my blog.
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March 3rd, 2007 at 4:53 am
AngHELIKA. Me sasabihin ako sayo. Magaling na ang ADD at ADS nang Reyna. Purihin ka ba naman ni Kuta nang sampung dosenang balikbayan box eh! Iba na ang sakit ko ngayon. He He He Gagawin ko resume mo… kaya, sekreto to ha? MUKHANG PERA NA AKO NGAYON! he he he Padala mo anak! AAYU$IN ko… he he he
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March 3rd, 2007 at 6:07 am
Bago na nga sakit mo - diagnosis: Dolarisium Hungrytosis! Description: It’s a state of manic depression due to lack of vitamin $$… the type that can be extracted from green leave$$$… More contagious than the previously diagnosed ADD and ADS…
Sorry di na kaya ng powers kong magbigay ng libreng dosage this time…*tago*
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March 3rd, 2007 at 6:09 am
Magpapa expose na lang ako sa Dolarisium Hungrytosis mo para mahawa na lang ako…ala na akong libreng gamot na wedeng ipamudmud para sa sakit na ito…SAMA SAMA NA TAYONG MAGKASAKIT, WEEEEEEE!!!!!
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March 3rd, 2007 at 6:49 am
kuta i miss you!miss mo ba ako?huwag mo akong popogotan ng olo!bate tayo!pis**kisskiss**
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March 3rd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
parker! ano ba yan? kelan to sumulpot?!
nagpadala nang liham si ANGHELIKA, fix ko daw resume nya. donate daw sya pag na-hire na sya. pede ba?!
AT PANO NA ANG GAMOT KO SA DOLARISIUM HUNGRYTITIS?!
*hawak manyika at perdibli*
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March 4th, 2007 at 2:40 am
ok guys: to those of you sending your resume to be reviewed, when i edit resume’s here in the US, I always make it a point to interview these guys and I ask very detailed questions.
So, if you are sending your resume for review please take note:
First - Pengeng Pera. He He He
Second - Give me a detailed description of exactly what you do and what you did in your current and past employment. The more detailed it is, the better it would help me create a strategy suited for you.
Ok?
Finally - Pengeng pera sabi eh! Hmppt!
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March 15th, 2008 at 12:10 am
[…] How to write an application letter. 2.) Yes Matilda, I fix broken resumes. 3.) Do I specify my asking price sa resume?! 4.) The 10 biggest interview […]