Résumé 101: New Résumé, New Year

Hey Mitch,
There is no such word as "irregardless". The proper english is "regardless". Maybe that's why your job hunt is fruitless.

Hi, Aimee,
I am an RD and understand how you feel. It seems not that long ago I was in your shoes. Hopefully you find something useful here!

During the internship, do you have access to a free career center? Are you able to ask your internship director to bring in professionals or recruiters who can offer insight on resume writing and with what employers look for when hiring? Have you solicited your preceptors for suggestions?

As far as the resume itself, some people with limited employment history choose to have a section called "Supervised Practice." This is where one can break down the internship rotations like employment entries, stressing patient populations and clinical and transferable skills. Searching on-line for resume/cover letter tips and examples has provided me with many useful suggestions. Without plagiarizing, on can take ideas from what she finds and combine them to make her own stand-out resume.

Congrats for all you have achieved! Best of luck to you.

"Now that’s we’re in a new year, we want to make sure that you’re armed with best information so that you can land a job ASAP."

Seriously, do you have an editor -- because you need one. If you can't afford one, try spell/grammar-check. People are reading this and take it seriously? I guess this proves that most people are just like pigs in a chute, and will really believe anything in print -- especially if it's on the Internet.

Your opening sentence is atrocious -- read aloud, it sounds as if English is not your first language. (I'm reading aloud now with my best "Boris and Natasha" accent, and really it sounds more believable that way.

I get SSI. I'm 48 & I don't like DVR. I need some training. I do any job that is open right now.

extra steps -

larger number into smaller - 18.04%

Make sure you get someone with a CERW to write your resume. I have a great one that did mine. Anyone without this, you'll get what you pay for.

You must have a fly on my wall the other day because I said almost the exact same words to my girlfirend. I am a mechanical engineer too. It makes absolutely no sense for HR to do the hiring outside of what they are competant in, in which engineering and many other jobs fall outside their level of competance so they don't know what to look for and they follow the silly 1 page and 20 sec rules because that is what they been trained to do not to mention they don't do their job much of the time and just toss the resumes just because they tired of looking at them. Good post!

resume writing tips

To Lauren & Barbara: I like to list the volunteer or at home work right in with the paid work; i.e. I would list Household Manager as job title, My Last Name Residence as the workplace with city and state and then write:

Established and maintained household budget; provided a safe, clean and healthy environment for family; coached and encouraged children to promote healthy bodies and minds; planned and prepared nutritious meals; established rules and regulations of the household; scheduled appointments and recreational events; planned and participated in quality family activities; also worked a temporary part time position at Walmart.

Home Health Care for job title if you cared for sick relative or Child Advocate if you tried to get services for a special needs child or Community Volunteer if you worked around the neighborhood. You can make it work. Just plan what you will say. Good Luck.

I am a dietetic intern. I have no real work experience (with the exceptrion of a RD assistant) as I am completing my internship this spring. I will be sending out resumes as an upcoming graduate. Any suggestions?

You recommended CBR Resume, but they do a lousy job. I sent a resume in to check it out. From the feedback I received, I don't think they even read it from their comments,

As with the post from Lauren, I am confused as to the best way of explaining my lack of "paying" position in my profession. I too have been doing volunteer work and low paying retail clerk work just to keep busy and to have some income coming in until the economy and job market improve. I am always asked as the interview as to what have I been doing all this time and explain that to them, but they never seem satisfied and I automatically get the feeling that my resume is put in the "no" pile when I leave. Any sugestions?

The article suggests including your dates of graduation. Only do this if you want perspective employers to know your age. If they can conclude you're over forty, you run the risk of being discriminated against and you may not even get an interview.

For technical people (and I'm not talking computers or software, ha!) I'm talking people who have travelled and actually accomplished real things in life and career..(Offshore Petroleum, Nuclear Power, Dams, Bridges, complex Manufacturing Facilities, etc) writing a short resume by the standards of modern youngsters and those "HR" people is impossible.
One cannot reflect one's experience from one employer in 2 or 3 sentences.. it just becomes a gross understatment of one's capabilities.
The Resume of a senior engineer or project manager must be two full pages excluding education and it's going to take more than two minutes to read and consider. What's worse employers insist on using these rediculous HR people who haven't a clue about the real world. I submit to employers.. if you want capable technical people (irregardless of career level) who can go out and accomplish technical assignments, advertise for the job with replies coming directly to you - NOT HR.. let HR hire clerical staff only!

I have a quick question that pertains to education. I attended a university but had to leave for financial reasons (no degree). I then attended a local state college, and again had to leave for various reasons without a degree. During the time I was attending classes I did not work. How is the best way to express my educational background? With no degrees and no full time work in the last three years I am afraid that any potential employers will see my resemue and think that I will not be a reliable/responsible employee.

My resume is listed by job/chronologically... I was unemployed the entire 2009 year, but kept busy with various volunteer and travel opportunities. I don't know how to update my resume after I was let go from my last job. Do I leave it stating my last job ended in 2008? Or, is there something else I should do?

Hi, Ms. Zupek,

I am just trying to help you out. Don't take this as a criticism. Thank You!

The percentages on today's (01/04/10) article
are a wee bit wrong.
For example:
You write: 1. Oral pathologists
Current salary: $188,577
Last year: $159,759
Percent increase: 6.83

An percent increase from 159,759 to 188,577 is calculated as follows :
188,577 - 159,759 = 28818
28818 / 159,759 = 0.1803 = 18.03 %

Likewise with the others. If you want me to check your math, I'll do it for free. Because
I don't have any idea how to get a job through the HR interview process. Math is easy, people are a mystery.

My current contract ends in Feb. I need a new contract in March. Please send me any details how I could secure another good contract.

Thanks
ENID