Resumes, aren't they fun?

[nadinbrzezinski]

Well decided to see if I can find a teaching job in a Junior College, so started doing one of these things, and suffice it to say I hate them.

But this is not about whether you enjoy it or not. Many of us are in the middle of doing this. So this is about the process. And sharing with you how writing doesn't change regardless of what is the document you are writing.

So here is what I did....

Pre-Writing: I knew that I needed to target this. But I also knew I've not done this for a while. So I sat down and wrote the skills that apply to this setting that I happen to have. I had a list, informal, dirty... nothing to be presented to anybody. But it helped to organize my thinking on this.

First Draft: Well it is just a dirty version of that resume. Let it simmer for a couple of days.

Revision: Yes, I am betting you made spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, and perhaps forgot something... (I did).

Second Draft: Same deal, revise, make sure all makes sense, and chiefly revise for clarity.

Again revise it.

Oh and print the damn thing again, and look for things like punctuation... and other matters you might miss on the screen.

One lesson I learned a long time ago is... never ever turn in a first draft.

Sharing this, in hopes that it helps you get through the pain. Oh and yes, I find writing one of these painful.

Alas I will go tomorrow and turn it in and cross fingers. Hopefully will get a job, teaching part time...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I knew a guy.... seemed he worked just about everywhere, I'd ask

him when he was done making his phone book would he give me a copy... that's how it seemed but on a small scale you know... he wasn't amused.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. This is so damn targetted that

it came down to one page... which was my goal

Now if I make one for the English Department, that will per-force, be longer due to the publications list. I figured history did not require articles published in gaming mags.

[haele]

17. Actually, publishing in gaming mags might work if you have a particularly good article

one that shows research, analysis, and descriptive prose. Especially if your article was ever referenced by another article.
Good luck. I have a "master resume" of over 40 pages of 10-pitch with footnotes, incidents of note and references that I break down every time I have to send in a resume; you never know what they'll want to look for.(And if it's for a government or semi-government job, you really don't know what they might want...)

Haele

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. I'll have to look for the one I wrote on TJ

and the cartels in the not so distant future.

[Political_Junkie]

2. Thanks,

I have never successfully finished one.
Good luck and fingers crossed. :hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Break the process down into

small sections...

If need be, make a list of those sections and cross them as you complete them.

[Synicus Maximus]

3. Always remenber that resumes is Latin for "pack of lies"

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. You know what was scary

for the life of me, I could not remember what year I graduated. Thankfully I got both diplomas at home and thesis is on line.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Nothing wrong with a little embellishing

:hi:

[realisticphish]

9. it's a beautiful dance

the applicant knows the definitions of words are bent enough to be related to Gumby. The interviewer knows it too. Yet, like peacocks in a mating ritual, they must continue the ceremony.

There's nothing like those bullshit questions:

Why were you terminated from job X? Any answer to that is probably a lie. Or a bend. After all, you can't say "the manager hated me," even it's true.

What's your biggest weakness? Why the FUCK do they even bother asking this? The answer WILL be a lie. Though I guess it filters out the total morons.

Would it be ethical to take office supplies from work? Again, weeds out the morons, I suppose.]

Why do you want to work for this company? Because I want money, and you're the only place I applied that granted an interview. This will inevitably just be ass-kissing, and everyone knows it.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. That just about sums it up

:rofl:

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Or the ever so popular, why a gap in work history?

I can tell the truth though. I married into the Navy and ran my business...

[realisticphish]

13. I have the "wanted to focus on grad school" excuse

total BS, all the classes are at night and meet once a week each, but it's a respectable answer

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

14. A lot of it is about setting up traps. I think the stuff you list is really a test to see if

you're smart enough to recognize it as a trap and if you're able to control yourself. I haven't been on a lot of interview panels, but in the few I've done it was surprising how many people didn't understand this and started blabbing.

[realisticphish]

15. the one that ALWAYS gets me

is the weakness one. I always have an answer prepared, and I always fuck it up. I stumble over it, or something. Luckily I interview well otherwise.

[petronius]

16. People also forget that the ride to/from the airport, or the dinner after the

formal interview, are also part of the process. Your future coworkers aren't your friends until the contract is signed (if even then)...

[liberal N proud]

7. Have someone else read it

You can look at the thing so many times, you keep missing the obvious or less than obvious.

Grammar will catch you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. There is that... I tend not to since I have been self

editing as a fiction writer for so many years that I got a knack for finding things like that comma, or my favorite, seat vis sit.

No I don't do that with DU posts...

But you are correct, most folks should do that, and I still do that when I get close to a final draft of anything.

Alas cannot ask hubby to do that...

[haele]

18. Check your PM

Haele