Jul 11

Ignore These 10 Outdated Pieces of Career Advice - On Careers (usnews.com)

squee-gee:

10. A few days after you submit your resume, call to schedule an interview. Job-seekers don’t get to decide to schedule the interview; employers do, and it’s inappropriately pushy and not good salesmanship to pretend otherwise. These days, with hundreds of applicants for every opening, if every applicant called to follow up, employers would spend all day fielding these calls. Believe me, they don’t want to.

^^^

I disagree with #6 — I always bring three copies of my resume into the interview with me (so I can hand them to the people interviewing me in case they didn’t print it out, or if more than one person is looking at it). Having it on nice paper lends a fancy touch.

As for #2, I still hear HR people say they prefer a one-page resume. Saying “or two pages, whatever” kind of leaves the gates open for someone to mention their summer job waiting tables and their ability to speak conversational French. Too much space is not a good thing.

This is cool… comments:

On #2 - I think 1 page is appropriate for entry level jobs and for people who are doing a skills-based resume for entering into a new field. I keep two types updated and my chronological resume is two pages, my skills-based is one.

On #3 - less is more, sometimes. I hate when people detail every single job they’ve had down to “get coffee for the boss.” Use broad strokes and list key accomplishments. Make it interesting so the hiring manager gets a general idea of your skill set, and also so they want to hear MORE about you. And please don’t list “administrative duties” on more than one job. If you cover it on one, you dont need to include it on another.

General rule: Your cover letter should guide the hiring manager to your resume, which should guide them into the interview. The interview is where you tell them all the details.

On #6 - ABSOLUTELY bring fresh, crisp printed copies with you to your interview. And bring a printout of your references as well.

On #8 - Just be honest. I’ve told interviewers about how I get into “work-mode” and become short with people. I’ve told them that I have a procrastination problem, etc etc. The important thing is that you tell them what you do to overcome, and how you’ve been successful regardless.

On #9 - Cover letters. INSERT YOUR PERSONALITY. Show them that you are passionate about the job opening and the company.

Source: robot-heart