How to make an effective resume? -

[Ruin]

Alright so I graduated three days ago and for the first time in my life I'm out of a job. I usually got my jobs through the University so I'm a bit lost on how to present myself professionally on a resume. I know it's a stretch to ask a website that specializes in mocking retards but I'm hoping some professional Kiwis can give me some tips/things to avoid.

Inb4 include a picture of your tits.

 

[autisticdragonkin]

I heard that you probably should mention your thesis and its content in it and an interview but I have far less experience in this than you do

 

[Wallace]

It's going to depend on your background and the job you're applying to. You need to figure out what your company's needs are, and then sell yourself as being someone who can meet those needs.

Though I wouldn't rule out sleeping with the hiring manager either.

 

[Anchuent Christory]

Cater it to the position you're applying for, you don't need to rewrite the whole thing each time, just don't try a one size fits all approach. The fact that you're just starting makes things a little simpler.

In the cover letter/about me space, avoid generic terms like "team player" and "hard working", it's like writing "I'm a nice guy" on a dating profile. Remember, employers get tons of resume's through the door, try to make yours stand out.

 

[pickleniggo]

Congrats on graduating! (I just got my Bachelors last week after a long hiatus in my education - feels good.) I'm surprised your University didn't help you establish a resume, and I wonder if you can locate a service there still? I was lucky enough to have someone edit mine for me through my major.

Honestly, I suggest keeping it short and sweet - if you think it's rambling, it probably is. The person interviewing you can always ask to elaborate on points and then hey! You'll have something more to discuss with them and they'll get a feel of who you really are.
A cover letter should express genuine interest in the place you are applying to: research facts and statistics and express the desire to be a part of it all.

Also the posters above me have made good points, so consider those as well.

 

[Sperglord Dante]

Spoiler: Resume Sample

I, Christian Weston Chandler, Birth name: Christopher, born on February 24, 1982 in Charlottesville, Virginia, am an artist with vast experiences in multiple art classes with multiple media throughout my whole lifetime from Green County Primary School to Piedmont Virginia Community Collge, with a diploma from Manchester High School and a degree and certificate in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) from PVCC.

Since the inspiration and conception of Sonichu, theElectric-Hedgehog Pokémon on March 17, 2000, I have grown further in his stories, plots and adventures in a series of hand-drawn and computer-edited comic books. I also have had and passed two HTML classes, and created from notepad scratch, CWC’s PokéSite 2!, El PokéSite de R.W.C. (Ricardo Weston Chandler was my Spanish nickname given to me during my two years of Spanish in Manchester High), and most importantly, the First and Original website dedicated to Sonichu, Rosechu and their adventures, CWC’s Sonichu Site.

I was also noted twice later in the periodicals of Nintendo Power magazine and PVCC’s The Forum for being the original creator of Sonichu and all. (See Periodical References below)

With the Sonichu Stie originally located at http://sonichuchandler.tripod.com/cwcson.htm, it stayed online from about 2000 until early 2009, whereas my Sonichu and Rosechu fanbase has grown massively over the years; there were also internet bullies and trolls. And the trolls hacked into and compromised my original Tripod webhosting account. I’ve had to pull the plug on the Tripod account and move on to another webhosting site. The second webhosting account suffered the same fate as the first, and then I moved to GoDaddy. It got hacked too, and so I pulled the plug on all my websites late May, 2009. I stayed off for about two months, then a gal-pal of mine about that time set up for me a start of what is now the New Original CWC’s Sonichu and Rosechu Site; the wikipedia-styled Cwcipedia at http://cogsdev.110mb.com/cwcipedia/index.php/Main_Page. As I have done on the previous site, I have re-uploaded my Sonichu comic pages, and I am steadily expanding further with more stories and character bio pages.

I would like to be paper-published with a comic book company like Archie, Marvel, DC or Dark Horse comics, complete with Official Sonichu and Rosechu Merchandise I can personally sign-off on to follow for my Worldwide Fanbase.

Accept no imposturous substitutes who claim to be me or have any rights on my Sonichu and Rosechu stuff; I stand strong with my continued use of the Copyright © symbol on each of all my books and original singular art pieces and the date of creation of March 17, 2000. I have eye-witnesses at Manchester High of Sonichu’s conception and creation on that date. It also bothers me that the trolls are even selling bootleg copies of my Life DVD, Christian Weston Chandler. Yep…I’m On T.V., which was originally intent solely for family and close friend distribution. Trust one of the trolls to snag a copy and rip the vieos from the six-hour DVD-R.

I became famous without having to leave my house or go out-of-state or city.

After recent realization, on about July 17, 2009, of what I want to do, I wish to make it all official; get me paper-published with a comic book company like Archie,Marvel, DC or Dark Horse comics, with continuing work as a comic book artist and story creator/editor, good pay, eventual official Sonichu and Rosechu merchandise that I can personally and officially sign-off on and further enforce my nine-year-old copyright with a more peaceful future.

“Christopher” Christian Weston Chandler, August 11, 2009

© March 17, 2000 by “Christopher” Christian Weston Chandler.

 

[Ruin]

Spoiler: Resume Sample

I, Christian Weston Chandler, Birth name: Christopher, born on February 24, 1982 in Charlottesville, Virginia, am an artist with vast experiences in multiple art classes with multiple media throughout my whole lifetime from Green County Primary School to Piedmont Virginia Community Collge, with a diploma from Manchester High School and a degree and certificate in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) from PVCC.

Since the inspiration and conception of Sonichu, theElectric-Hedgehog Pokémon on March 17, 2000, I have grown further in his stories, plots and adventures in a series of hand-drawn and computer-edited comic books. I also have had and passed two HTML classes, and created from notepad scratch, CWC’s PokéSite 2!, El PokéSite de R.W.C. (Ricardo Weston Chandler was my Spanish nickname given to me during my two years of Spanish in Manchester High), and most importantly, the First and Original website dedicated to Sonichu, Rosechu and their adventures, CWC’s Sonichu Site.

I was also noted twice later in the periodicals of Nintendo Power magazine and PVCC’s The Forum for being the original creator of Sonichu and all. (See Periodical References below)

With the Sonichu Stie originally located at http://sonichuchandler.tripod.com/cwcson.htm, it stayed online from about 2000 until early 2009, whereas my Sonichu and Rosechu fanbase has grown massively over the years; there were also internet bullies and trolls. And the trolls hacked into and compromised my original Tripod webhosting account. I’ve had to pull the plug on the Tripod account and move on to another webhosting site. The second webhosting account suffered the same fate as the first, and then I moved to GoDaddy. It got hacked too, and so I pulled the plug on all my websites late May, 2009. I stayed off for about two months, then a gal-pal of mine about that time set up for me a start of what is now the New Original CWC’s Sonichu and Rosechu Site; the wikipedia-styled Cwcipedia at http://cogsdev.110mb.com/cwcipedia/index.php/Main_Page. As I have done on the previous site, I have re-uploaded my Sonichu comic pages, and I am steadily expanding further with more stories and character bio pages.

I would like to be paper-published with a comic book company like Archie, Marvel, DC or Dark Horse comics, complete with Official Sonichu and Rosechu Merchandise I can personally sign-off on to follow for my Worldwide Fanbase.

Accept no imposturous substitutes who claim to be me or have any rights on my Sonichu and Rosechu stuff; I stand strong with my continued use of the Copyright © symbol on each of all my books and original singular art pieces and the date of creation of March 17, 2000. I have eye-witnesses at Manchester High of Sonichu’s conception and creation on that date. It also bothers me that the trolls are even selling bootleg copies of my Life DVD, Christian Weston Chandler. Yep…I’m On T.V., which was originally intent solely for family and close friend distribution. Trust one of the trolls to snag a copy and rip the vieos from the six-hour DVD-R.

I became famous without having to leave my house or go out-of-state or city.

After recent realization, on about July 17, 2009, of what I want to do, I wish to make it all official; get me paper-published with a comic book company like Archie,Marvel, DC or Dark Horse comics, with continuing work as a comic book artist and story creator/editor, good pay, eventual official Sonichu and Rosechu merchandise that I can personally and officially sign-off on and further enforce my nine-year-old copyright with a more peaceful future.

“Christopher” Christian Weston Chandler, August 11, 2009

© March 17, 2000 by “Christopher” Christian Weston Chandler.

Rates nice meme

 

[DZ 305]

Build a time machine and get work at internships in your industry. Otherwise you'll be hitting the glass wall of "requires 3-5 years of experience" for entry-level positions

 

[Cthulu]

@Ruin Follow these guidelines. Make a cover letter with general highlights. Something to grab attention but not 4 pages long. A simple paragraph or two. Then go into a resume. Some general tips.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2014/08/27/resumes/#4b553e85507b
Since you just graduated stress what you bring to the table. How can you help them.

 

[Doc Cassidy]

Honestly, just lie. Most companies won't actually verify what you put on your resume. I've always lied on my resume and in interviews and I've never had any trouble getting or keeping a job. Just make sure the lies are believable, don't say you have 10 years experience as an astronaut or something.

 

[XYZpdq]

Spoiler: A different and equally totally real example of what you should do

Seriously though, until you have more impressive stuff at least list the jobs you've had even if they're stupid burger flipping shit. Showing how you show up and do your damn job is a big thing even if it wasn't the job you're now going for.

 

[polonium]

Start from where you left off and your resume will be very effective.

If you want help with your résumé, that might be a little harder.

 

[BatNapalm]

I heard that you probably should mention your thesis and its content in it and an interview but I have far less experience in this than you do

Unless it's a project that is directly related to that particular job you're applying to, it's best to leave it off the resume.

 

[Fascist Ferret]

If I should start my own thread, lmk! But...

I'm in a similar position to what the OP was.

If you have a cover letter, should you also have an "about me" section in the resume paper...? I know the resume itself shouldnt be more than a page, and atm I have "skills" "experience(2)" "education" at one page already.

The annoying thing tho is that my "experience" isnt actually in the fields I will be applying to, but there are skills I employed there that will be useful.

In the education section, I'll have a list of notable courses in addition to my majors and minor... does anyone know how many I should put, or how much is too much?

Since I dont have experience in the industry, should i attach a portfolio although they dont ask for one? Or is that silly?

Thanks for any advice...

 

[ThinkThankThunk]

If I should start my own thread, lmk! But...

I'm in a similar position to what the OP was.

If you have a cover letter, should you also have an "about me" section in the resume paper...? I know the resume itself shouldnt be more than a page, and atm I have "skills" "experience(2)" "education" at one page already.

The annoying thing tho is that my "experience" isnt actually in the fields I will be applying to, but there are skills I employed there that will be useful.

In the education section, I'll have a list of notable courses in addition to my majors and minor... does anyone know how many I should put, or how much is too much?

Since I dont have experience in the industry, should i attach a portfolio although they dont ask for one? Or is that silly?

Thanks for any advice...

I'm two weeks late to this question so you're probably a Fortune 500 CEO by now but since your questions and this thread as a whole really would have helped me while I was trying to rebuild my resume over the last few months I'll dump what I learned myself.

First, cover letters are obsolete and will get your resume tossed out. Reason is almost every place at this point will feed the resume through a scanner, have some program read it for keywords, and sort applicants autonomously. If you applied online or through a job site it was already fed through such a program before even getting to the employer. Unless you get lucky and find a place run by a manager old enough to care about a personal introduction all it does is bloat your word count and bump you down the ladder. If you want to have one on hand anyways for when you drop your physical copy off try combining it with your references sheet.

Second, it's always better to list skills over experience. Like before it's better for for the machine scanning, but it also looks better to anyone who ends up reading it. Things like "General Laborer", "Pipefitter" or "Court Jester" entail a lot of duties, and someone would rather you just list what you're bringing to the table rather than guessing based on the rest of the resume. If it comes down to saving space, crunch the experience and focus on skills unless you have serious time in a relevant industry you want to highlight.

Third depends on the job you're applying to. Academic positions like to see detail in education, so that section should list as many potentially relevant courses as far back as possible and should be almost as long as the skills and experience section. Trades and commercial grunt work on the other hand don't care - just list the most recent stuff you've done. Those jobs care about certs and tickets, no matter how small, much more than actual coursework so remember to list everything from vehicle licenses to safety courses.

Finally don't bring a portfolio unless asked. It bothers the managers and won't be nearly as important as the actual meat of the resume.

Looking at what I wrote it all looks really obvious but it took me a few months to really get my own resumes updated enough that I was consistently getting calls back. Good luck; hopefully some of what I learned will help you or someone else.