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Resume Feedback
Give and receive constructive criticism on your resume, profile, or bio.
Effectively everyone on this site is a writer or marketeer of some sort, so we should be able to generate some great feedback.
If you want people to look at something of yours, just post a link to it.
Network Leader: Mike Darga
Seth Martin
So, I just finished putting together my website: http://sethmartin.net Critiques? My Resume is also up on my website at: http://sethmartin.net/my-resume
Sahar:
I do believe that this certain blog was ever most useful in my adventures of blogging. Ever more I think everyone should know and learn the ...MoreI do believe that this certain blog was ever most useful in my adventures of blogging. Ever more I think everyone should know and learn the information posted.I enjoy reading a post that will make people think.http://caraurutzakar.blogspot.com
4 weeks ago
4 weeks ago
Clay Forsberg
Thoughts on the most idiotic interview question ever! "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" http://bit.ly/utMg3T - Please input either here or on the blog post.
11 weeks ago from Job Resources and Career Coaching, Resume Feedback, Career Changers, Professional Development and Entry-Level Young Professionals3 more
jlp1976:
I have answered in recent interviews that it's impossible to know where you're going to be at such a distant time. So much can happen in that ...MoreI have answered in recent interviews that it's impossible to know where you're going to be at such a distant time. So much can happen in that time. I have said that I hope to be in a productive stable job where I can learn and grow. Not sure if that's a good answer, though.
4 weeks ago
4 weeks ago
Danielle Wolfrom
Hi everyone! If you have sometime please stop by my website and let me know what you think. My resume is on there too if you have any tips for improving it. Thanks so much! www.daniellewolfrom.com
Linda A. Hamilton:
Hi Danielle: Your web site is simple and clean, but I'm not sure what you want me to do once I'm there. The Home page displays the sliding ...MoreHi Danielle: Your web site is simple and clean, but I'm not sure what you want me to do once I'm there. The Home page displays the sliding pictures, but is your intention for me to click your Portfolio, do you want me to check out who you are, and why should I contact you? I would add some copy below the picture that remains stationery and introduce who you are, what you do, and invite people to browse your site. And I'm not sure what you want me to gain from the sliding pictures? Are they your design or just pictures you think are interesting?
Your Portfolio is interesting, but again, I'm not sure what you want from me once I'm there. Again, I'd add some copy and not assume I will know what you want or that I will know to click on the panels to see your work displayed within.
On your resume, I would list your Skills at the top of the document so I know what you can do. I would also add your name and contact information so it's immediately available and I don't have to do another click to find it. Also, the font is light and I can't read it well. If I had vision problems or was color blind, it might all blend and I would be able to read it at all. I'd also add a few achievements, awards or accomplishments to the chronological listings to give me an idea of how you'll add value or contribute to my company.
Your contact page is nice. It's simple, your contact information is easy to see, and from it I might send you a message for more information. One thing I would add to each of your pages is your social media connections, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. If you are available through those, that will be additionally helpful to you.
I hope this is helpful. I belong to a freelance writer's group and we've recently critiqued each others' blogs and websites. The feedback I got was extremely helpful and has truly made a difference. I hope I was able to provide some similar tips for you. Good luck!
11 weeks ago
Your Portfolio is interesting, but again, I'm not sure what you want from me once I'm there. Again, I'd add some copy and not assume I will know what you want or that I will know to click on the panels to see your work displayed within.
On your resume, I would list your Skills at the top of the document so I know what you can do. I would also add your name and contact information so it's immediately available and I don't have to do another click to find it. Also, the font is light and I can't read it well. If I had vision problems or was color blind, it might all blend and I would be able to read it at all. I'd also add a few achievements, awards or accomplishments to the chronological listings to give me an idea of how you'll add value or contribute to my company.
Your contact page is nice. It's simple, your contact information is easy to see, and from it I might send you a message for more information. One thing I would add to each of your pages is your social media connections, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. If you are available through those, that will be additionally helpful to you.
I hope this is helpful. I belong to a freelance writer's group and we've recently critiqued each others' blogs and websites. The feedback I got was extremely helpful and has truly made a difference. I hope I was able to provide some similar tips for you. Good luck!
11 weeks ago
Noel Rozny:
Looks great! One thing to note -- the resume text is on the smaller side, which works if you have great eyesight, but you might want to increase ...MoreLooks great! One thing to note -- the resume text is on the smaller side, which works if you have great eyesight, but you might want to increase it a font or two for those who don't.
10 weeks ago
10 weeks ago
Shraddha Thakur
Hi Guys, Can you please review my resume. Any help will be appreciated. https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8Pzm0R_7-7bNDUyZTQwYjMtYWU0MS00ODVmLTk...
TOP IDEA:
Casey Brown
I've added changes to my website (specifically for standing out in the job search). I'd really appreciate feedback on it (including the blog) the site is caseydbrown.info
19 weeks ago from Atlanta Professionals, Randstad and Resume Feedback1 more
Lisa Clark:
Looks great. Love it! My only suggestion is that if I click skills to have button to click back to another section instead of having me click the ...MoreLooks great. Love it! My only suggestion is that if I click skills to have button to click back to another section instead of having me click the back button or clicking drop down at top. Great idea and great site.
19 weeks ago
19 weeks ago
Milton Lawrence Jr:
Hello Casey
As a technical recruiter and internet marketer my main observation would be to:
1. add your photo to your home (landing) page (a ...MoreHello Casey
As a technical recruiter and internet marketer my main observation would be to:
1. add your photo to your home (landing) page (a direct to camera video would be even better
2. Add a tagline / headline that speaks to my problem as a recruiter or potential hiring manager. Ex: Lynchpin and An Extension of You
Those that are looking for an admin assistant are looking to free up time, organized there life and to be more productive. So speaking to those pain points will make them want to read more. Think --- I need to pull my prospective reader into the site.
3. Your site reads as if your needy. It sounds like your just getting started. Even if that is the case, you still want to position yourself as an authority.
Quick tip: Use the past performance accomplishments or positive reviews from previous employers to establish authority.
I hope this has served you. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me via this thread or via inbox.
Milton Lawrence Jr
www.miltonlawrencejr.com
17 weeks ago
As a technical recruiter and internet marketer my main observation would be to:
1. add your photo to your home (landing) page (a ...MoreHello Casey
As a technical recruiter and internet marketer my main observation would be to:
1. add your photo to your home (landing) page (a direct to camera video would be even better
2. Add a tagline / headline that speaks to my problem as a recruiter or potential hiring manager. Ex: Lynchpin and An Extension of You
Those that are looking for an admin assistant are looking to free up time, organized there life and to be more productive. So speaking to those pain points will make them want to read more. Think --- I need to pull my prospective reader into the site.
3. Your site reads as if your needy. It sounds like your just getting started. Even if that is the case, you still want to position yourself as an authority.
Quick tip: Use the past performance accomplishments or positive reviews from previous employers to establish authority.
I hope this has served you. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me via this thread or via inbox.
Milton Lawrence Jr
www.miltonlawrencejr.com
17 weeks ago
Kathryn Smith
Just a quick resume vent since I've looked at some bad ones today -- if your resume says "Self-employed" or the equivalent anywhere on your resume, you still need to add extensive detail about the projects you worked on, the skills you used, and the results you achieved. "Self-employed" with no details looks like "unemployed" to me.
Gary Brown:
@Kathryn - ah, now we're talking! I totally agree a couple bullet points are a minimum. I've always encouraged those bullets to have "CAR" ...More@Kathryn - ah, now we're talking! I totally agree a couple bullet points are a minimum. I've always encouraged those bullets to have "CAR" (Challenge, Action, Result) statements which succinctly say what skills were used. I probably mistook your original post that said the resume needs 'extensive detail' which I didn't agree to. Just to explain, my encouragement for people here to 'have a heart' came from the venting about spelling and use of upper case letters, and it's great to know that good recruiters like you still call people with so-called 'bad' resumes! Sad but true that some of the most skilled people I've hired in the past couldn't produce a well-written resume if their life depended on it. I like to think good recruiters and hiring managers can look beyond the resume with a 15-second glance. Cool, we're definitely on the same page...
19 weeks ago
19 weeks ago
Kathryn Smith:
Yeah, I can see where you might have gotten that from my initial post. When offering critique on resumes, I tend to err on the side of asking ...MoreYeah, I can see where you might have gotten that from my initial post. When offering critique on resumes, I tend to err on the side of asking candidates to add too much detail rather than not enough, which is why I said "extensive" - in the end that will usually just net me 3 bullets anyway :) I'm an agency recruiter, so the more you give me to work with, the better. I'm a big fan of "War and Peace" resumes for the version posted on a job board, so I can quickly gain a good overview of your skills/background and present you with as many options as possible. For applying to a specific position, I work with the candidate to trim it up and take unneccessary detail out to make it more targeted before we send it to the client, but if it starts out sparse it probably won't end up looking as polished and targeted as it otherwise might have. (Disclaimer: I am an agency IT recruiter, and my opinions may not be the same as other recruiters' opinions.)
19 weeks ago
19 weeks ago
Matt
Hi guys, I'd love any and all feedback on my drafted resume. Advice on formatting, structure, content, etc would be much appreciated. As a student I've little employment history, so I think I might be over-representing extra-curricular activities to try and make up for it.
http://www.yourfilelink.com/get.php?fid=711262
Kathryn Smith:
Disclaimer - I'm in the US and I don't know what the standards are in Wales, but here goes:
I would recommend adding your expected graduation ...MoreDisclaimer - I'm in the US and I don't know what the standards are in Wales, but here goes:
I would recommend adding your expected graduation date.
Your resume should really only be one page at this point.
You could probably get rid of the entire extracurricular section unless there's something you feel particularly strongly about. if you really want to advertise that you were the captain of a team, put that with the school it was at under education, not as experience.
I wouldn't provide references until/unless they are requested
I would remove the "Interests" section
I would combine your Bachelor's degree and your Diploma under the same heading since they're both at UNSW - it will save space.
If you post again after that I'll try to look at it again, but that's some stuff to start with.
20 weeks ago
I would recommend adding your expected graduation ...MoreDisclaimer - I'm in the US and I don't know what the standards are in Wales, but here goes:
I would recommend adding your expected graduation date.
Your resume should really only be one page at this point.
You could probably get rid of the entire extracurricular section unless there's something you feel particularly strongly about. if you really want to advertise that you were the captain of a team, put that with the school it was at under education, not as experience.
I wouldn't provide references until/unless they are requested
I would remove the "Interests" section
I would combine your Bachelor's degree and your Diploma under the same heading since they're both at UNSW - it will save space.
If you post again after that I'll try to look at it again, but that's some stuff to start with.
20 weeks ago
Kareem Johnson
Hi all: I"m looking for feedback on my resume: http://kareemjohnson.us/resume/ There's a PDF link as well. I'd appreciate it (Good or Bad). Thanks!
Kareem Johnson:
I just updated it again on Wednesday. I'm not really certain how to "quantify my impact." My impact was from the work I did (writing, editing, and ...MoreI just updated it again on Wednesday. I'm not really certain how to "quantify my impact." My impact was from the work I did (writing, editing, and producing)—I'm not sure how that should be placed in a resume.
24 weeks ago
24 weeks ago
TOP IDEA:
Casey Brown
In response to a question posted about how to stand out in the job market or in general career wise, I started a website kind of similar to a resume posting site but of course more personal and I control what information is shared and can add more things, different versions of resumes, a blog etc. Anyway I'd really appreciate feedback especially on the site itself or on the blog. The site is http://caseydbrown.info
27 weeks ago from Resume Feedback, Ask Penelope Trunk!, Ask A Coach and Atlanta Professionals2 more
Casey Brown:
Will do! These points pushed me to be specific and remember some strong examples of my work. In the next two days I'll be updating the site as ...MoreWill do! These points pushed me to be specific and remember some strong examples of my work. In the next two days I'll be updating the site as well as my Brazen and LinkedIn profiles to include the things I've come up with. Thank you all very much for you support and feedback it means a lot to me and i'm so grateful for professionals like you who take the time to show you care to help. Good luck to you all!
27 weeks ago
27 weeks ago
Kathryn Smith
I look at Engineering/IT resumes all day, but that doesn't mean I couldn't use some constructive feedback on mine :) I've got a BA Economics and am pursuing my MS Applied Econ. I would love to somehow leverage my recruiting experience to get into Labor Market Analysis, but since those positions are lacking in Atlanta, any Research Analyst role would be ideal. I'm not sure my resume is conveying enough Research and Analysis. Feedback very welcome!
Rebecca Thorman:
Much better! You're really getting there. Focus on making your bullets AMAZING though.
30 weeks ago
30 weeks ago
Kathryn Smith:
Thank you all for your great feedback! In my opinion, this is the best resume feedback resource on the web today. I think my resume turned out ...MoreThank you all for your great feedback! In my opinion, this is the best resume feedback resource on the web today. I think my resume turned out pretty well in the end, but ultimately I got a call from a company based on LinkedIn and mutual connections. I hadn't even posted the new version yet, although it is the version I handed over in the interview. I'm a strong believer that your resume should be impressive and polished for when it's needed, but the best opportunities will come along without having even seen your resume - at that point it's just a final touch that gives the hiring manager a better understanding of your background as well as any other professional traits that can be inferred by a resume (professional, concise, polished, good written communication, organized, etc). Build and maintain excellent professional relationships everywhere you go so that these opportunities find you. I haven't made it all the way to research and analysis yet, but this position will open up more doors and it's a great step in the right direction.
28 weeks ago
28 weeks ago
Ji Hyun Lee
If you have a job and career-related question, pls send them my way. I'm launching an advice Q&A on my website and a certified career coach and I will answer your questions. Pls post them on my Facebook page and we'll do our best to get to all of your questions. | http://on.fb.me/e6hrsV
Francesca Lyn
I have my resume here: http://www.indeed.com/me/francescalynresume and would love to know what people think.
Juliana Brodsky:
Hi Francesca,
I agree with Edward and Linda about using a different format. You will need at some point to email a copy to someone instead of ...MoreHi Francesca,
I agree with Edward and Linda about using a different format. You will need at some point to email a copy to someone instead of sending a link to the indeed page, and you'll want to be able to control what it will look like when it's printed out.
Second, I would remove the link to your blog at the bottom because it's too personal. The top-most entry is full of things I would never want a potential hire-er to read about me. If you want to have a blog to add to your professional skills, create a separate one that has something to do with the industry you are applying for.
Third, I would recommend sending Linda an email and get her advice!
29 weeks ago
I agree with Edward and Linda about using a different format. You will need at some point to email a copy to someone instead of ...MoreHi Francesca,
I agree with Edward and Linda about using a different format. You will need at some point to email a copy to someone instead of sending a link to the indeed page, and you'll want to be able to control what it will look like when it's printed out.
Second, I would remove the link to your blog at the bottom because it's too personal. The top-most entry is full of things I would never want a potential hire-er to read about me. If you want to have a blog to add to your professional skills, create a separate one that has something to do with the industry you are applying for.
Third, I would recommend sending Linda an email and get her advice!
29 weeks ago
Ben Donahower:
To add to the 'job accomplishments' piece, it's okay to add something like what you are talking about but be very very specific.
Instead ...MoreTo add to the 'job accomplishments' piece, it's okay to add something like what you are talking about but be very very specific.
Instead of:
Assisted with X
Try this (example):
Checked report for spelling and grammar errors
Filed the report with X
29 weeks ago
Instead ...MoreTo add to the 'job accomplishments' piece, it's okay to add something like what you are talking about but be very very specific.
Instead of:
Assisted with X
Try this (example):
Checked report for spelling and grammar errors
Filed the report with X
29 weeks ago
Tamilla
Hey guys I would love some constructive feed back on my resume. I just graduated with Economics and Russian. I have extensive experience in event planning, nonprofit sector and social media. I am looking for a job in both private and public sector that utilizes these skills. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30191174/ResumeMay
Dana Leavy
We get thebest results from job searching and career transitions when we have a carefully planned strategy to work from, one that also allows us to track our progress. I describe it as 'diversifying your search strategy', really looking at where it makes sense for you to be expending your energy, time and efforts, working smarter instead of harder. I'm speaking more about this and offering some great tips in an upcoming webinar on July 12. http://aspyresolutions.com/upcoming-events/
31 weeks ago from Brazen Careerists in New York City, Resume Feedback, Networking Tips, GenYJourney: Tips, Insights, Experiences For Young Professionals and I am Gen Y3 more
Hossam aboueissa recommended this
Rebecca Latourell
I would love to get some feedback on my current resume, it can be found here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/34591185/Rebecca%20Latourell%20-%20Resume.doc I'm also interested in peoples thoughts on the most appropriate file names when sending cover letters and resumes by e-mail. Thanks!
Rebecca Thorman recommended this
Edward Antrobus:
@Leona, I agree with avoiding docx, but I can only think of one word processing application released within the last 15 years that didn't have the ...More@Leona, I agree with avoiding docx, but I can only think of one word processing application released within the last 15 years that didn't have the ability to open, edit, and save doc files. And do you really want to work for a company that's using Wordpad?
30 weeks ago
30 weeks ago
Leona:
@Edward - Sorry, I just meant that some organizations run the old Microsoft Office suite, so they can only view and use .doc documents.
30 weeks ago
30 weeks ago
Inez
I've just published my resume here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1026938/CV_Inez_Korczynski.pdf Would like to get some feedback :)
Rebecca Thorman recommended this
Juliana Brodsky:
Well, I don't know very much about CVs, but I think in the US it's frowned upon to put a photo or age/birthday on your resume or CV. Other that, ...MoreWell, I don't know very much about CVs, but I think in the US it's frowned upon to put a photo or age/birthday on your resume or CV. Other that, I'm curious about how you are presenting your work experience. Is it normal to use full sentences? (i.e., "At this position, I work closely...") If it is, note that the description for BS4 doesn't match the format of the other jobs.
I think there's a lot of tightening up that you can do to make your job descriptions really pop. Reading the first entry, I have a whole bunch of questions:
"Working closely with company business and product team" what does working closely mean? Do you supervise them, or are you a team member? What is company business? Are you a part of the product team?
"to deliver high quality projects and frameworks for the rest of developers in company." What's up with the grammar--it's halfway between a full and complete sentence and an abbreviated bullet-point format. Pick one, right now you're sending the message that you have an excellent vocabulary but can't be arsed to fix obvious grammatical mistakes. (Harsh, but nobody reading this knows you and they're most likely not inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.) The rest of developers in the company--are they a different kind of developer from you? Do you outrank them in position or experience? What sorts of projects and frameworks? How has your work benefited the company? Are there projects that had a shorter development/lead time because of your involvement? Did you save anyone any money? Did you develop a project that no-one else could?
"I also train US developers in area of PHP and Javascript programming" Once again, I see that you are obviously aware of English grammar but choosing not to use it. What does that tell me about you? If I'm an HR person in a bad mood, it makes a bad impression. Remove the word "also", it implies that everything after it isn't really important. PHP and Javascript programming is a definite area, so kill "area of". Now that you "train US developers in PHP and Javascript programming." what does that mean in terms of your experience and level of authority? Who are these developers that are entrusted to you? How does your training bring a net gain to the company--do these developers work better because of you?
I think that in this two-sentence description of what you do, you have the opportunity to present yourself very strongly, and you're not doing that right now. For the purpose of this example, I'm going to assume that you head a development team, and you save your company a considerable/significant expense by training their guys. So a re-write might read:
"I guide my product team to create and deliver high-quality [type 1] and [type 2] projects and [type 3] frameworks for other development teams. Our work allows these other development teams to [increase their project output by x%] [decrease their project lead time by a factor of x]. In addition to these crucial projects, I train in-house [type of] developers in PHP and Javascript programming, increasing their [work abilities] and back-end productivity."
It's the same information, but you sounds like someone who really does something that's vitally important to your company. You are a SENIOR software developer, so make sure all of the things that you do that differentiate you from any old software developer is there in black and white. Even if a CV doesn't usually contain that sort of self-marketing, you will be up against people using American-style resumes, and resumes definitely are a selling tool.
On a different topic, there are things you can do with layout and whitespace to create a really smooth reading experience for the reader. You have all of your information arranged in a way that allows the reader to find the same types of information in the same place, which is good, but your layout can be improved. Your education section could stand to have the info moved around to improve legibility. Try moving the university listings to the right-hand side, at the end of the line from the degree listing. This will get rid of the block-o-text effect you have right now. You should also have the dates your degrees were awarded (month and year).
Watch the whitespace. You have the right amount between the end of the career section and the header for Open source projects. But Career History is all scrunched up against the bottom of the Education section. People will say that they don't notice these things, but they won't realize they are noting it--and they won't know why your CV doesn't stand out, and a big part of that is appearance. Make sure your headings match: you've capitalized all of the words in "Personal Details" and "Career History" but not "Open source projects" and "Programming languages" etc. I would try making your headers in all caps--that will really pop without changing the font.
The header for "Certificates" is hanging out all by its lonesome at the bottom of the page, separate from its section. That's the sort of attention to detail (or lack thereof) that's communicated through layout.
One thing that I've seen on longer resumes and CVs is to put a footer with your name and page number on it, in case it gets printed out and the pages lost.
I know that "Hobbies and Activities" is normal on a CV, but it does look strange to my American eyes. If you're going to keep it, use the bullet-point format you set up in Skills, Programming Languages, and Certificates. Each hobby gets its own bullet point.
I hope this is helpful and not too nit-picky, but I didn't want to risk giving you any advice that might go against accepted CV practices.
Good luck!
31 weeks ago
I think there's a lot of tightening up that you can do to make your job descriptions really pop. Reading the first entry, I have a whole bunch of questions:
"Working closely with company business and product team" what does working closely mean? Do you supervise them, or are you a team member? What is company business? Are you a part of the product team?
"to deliver high quality projects and frameworks for the rest of developers in company." What's up with the grammar--it's halfway between a full and complete sentence and an abbreviated bullet-point format. Pick one, right now you're sending the message that you have an excellent vocabulary but can't be arsed to fix obvious grammatical mistakes. (Harsh, but nobody reading this knows you and they're most likely not inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.) The rest of developers in the company--are they a different kind of developer from you? Do you outrank them in position or experience? What sorts of projects and frameworks? How has your work benefited the company? Are there projects that had a shorter development/lead time because of your involvement? Did you save anyone any money? Did you develop a project that no-one else could?
"I also train US developers in area of PHP and Javascript programming" Once again, I see that you are obviously aware of English grammar but choosing not to use it. What does that tell me about you? If I'm an HR person in a bad mood, it makes a bad impression. Remove the word "also", it implies that everything after it isn't really important. PHP and Javascript programming is a definite area, so kill "area of". Now that you "train US developers in PHP and Javascript programming." what does that mean in terms of your experience and level of authority? Who are these developers that are entrusted to you? How does your training bring a net gain to the company--do these developers work better because of you?
I think that in this two-sentence description of what you do, you have the opportunity to present yourself very strongly, and you're not doing that right now. For the purpose of this example, I'm going to assume that you head a development team, and you save your company a considerable/significant expense by training their guys. So a re-write might read:
"I guide my product team to create and deliver high-quality [type 1] and [type 2] projects and [type 3] frameworks for other development teams. Our work allows these other development teams to [increase their project output by x%] [decrease their project lead time by a factor of x]. In addition to these crucial projects, I train in-house [type of] developers in PHP and Javascript programming, increasing their [work abilities] and back-end productivity."
It's the same information, but you sounds like someone who really does something that's vitally important to your company. You are a SENIOR software developer, so make sure all of the things that you do that differentiate you from any old software developer is there in black and white. Even if a CV doesn't usually contain that sort of self-marketing, you will be up against people using American-style resumes, and resumes definitely are a selling tool.
On a different topic, there are things you can do with layout and whitespace to create a really smooth reading experience for the reader. You have all of your information arranged in a way that allows the reader to find the same types of information in the same place, which is good, but your layout can be improved. Your education section could stand to have the info moved around to improve legibility. Try moving the university listings to the right-hand side, at the end of the line from the degree listing. This will get rid of the block-o-text effect you have right now. You should also have the dates your degrees were awarded (month and year).
Watch the whitespace. You have the right amount between the end of the career section and the header for Open source projects. But Career History is all scrunched up against the bottom of the Education section. People will say that they don't notice these things, but they won't realize they are noting it--and they won't know why your CV doesn't stand out, and a big part of that is appearance. Make sure your headings match: you've capitalized all of the words in "Personal Details" and "Career History" but not "Open source projects" and "Programming languages" etc. I would try making your headers in all caps--that will really pop without changing the font.
The header for "Certificates" is hanging out all by its lonesome at the bottom of the page, separate from its section. That's the sort of attention to detail (or lack thereof) that's communicated through layout.
One thing that I've seen on longer resumes and CVs is to put a footer with your name and page number on it, in case it gets printed out and the pages lost.
I know that "Hobbies and Activities" is normal on a CV, but it does look strange to my American eyes. If you're going to keep it, use the bullet-point format you set up in Skills, Programming Languages, and Certificates. Each hobby gets its own bullet point.
I hope this is helpful and not too nit-picky, but I didn't want to risk giving you any advice that might go against accepted CV practices.
Good luck!
31 weeks ago
Kent:
• I would definitely encourage you to remove your photo and personal information (date of birth, nationality). Savvy HR personnel will not even ...More• I would definitely encourage you to remove your photo and personal information (date of birth, nationality). Savvy HR personnel will not even consider resume that include this kind of information.
• I would also encourage you to rewrite your resume in Implied First Person (http://bit.ly/qLl5UQ). The approach you are taking can be perceived as "junior."
• Lastly, keep the resume to two pages. You are almost there!
31 weeks ago
• I would also encourage you to rewrite your resume in Implied First Person (http://bit.ly/qLl5UQ). The approach you are taking can be perceived as "junior."
• Lastly, keep the resume to two pages. You are almost there!
31 weeks ago
jlp1976
I just posted an updated resume to my profile. Would love to get some feedback!
jlp1976:
I made the link public. It should work now.
MoreI made the link public. It should work now.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HOBrspRMcLXBeQ9movhyKr2YHwaFI1LL9yvV...
31 weeks ago
MoreI made the link public. It should work now.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HOBrspRMcLXBeQ9movhyKr2YHwaFI1LL9yvV...
31 weeks ago
Anoop Kansupada
I co-founded a startup at Baltimore Weekend. I want to keep my resume relevant and always up to date. I changed it a lot based on previous feedback I received here.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
http://bit.ly/jsQXZ8
Juliana Brodsky:
Rebecca beat me to it! But now I'm curious as to what sorts of positions you're applying to. Do you want to stay in the start-up world and use ...MoreRebecca beat me to it! But now I'm curious as to what sorts of positions you're applying to. Do you want to stay in the start-up world and use your startup to continue on? A couple of thoughts on that: 1. We see a start-up halfway through the process of being successful. You've generated buzz, arranged meetings, and then what? Was this a successful business? It feels like the cliffhanger at the end of the 2nd book of a trilogy, or the season end of a TV show.
2. A friend of mine won a Facebook Hackathon and she leveraged the hell out of that win to get into UI/UX. The prototype her team came up with never went anywhere, and won't become the basis for a start-up company, but it was the win that was important. Can you use your Startup Weekend Baltimore to get what you want without having to create a startup and then sell it or IPO? No matter what, make that third-place win prominent.
Also, I agree with Rebecca that you should remove the numbers from the social networking results. It's directly contradictory to the usual advice, but we don't know how those results stack up against expectations, especially in the startup world. I think results from meeting with fashion retailers will be stronger, since it shows how your business is moving forward from a startup concept to a money-making operation.
I too can't tell what your company did/does. Since we don't know what sorts of firms you're going to send this resume too, I don't know whether or not that's applicable, but it can't hurt to wedge in a quick description. "built out working fashion-merchandising prototype", something like that.
It looks like everything on your resume has to do with getting the word out there, setting up meetings, scoping out new markets, adjusting products to meet market needs, that sort of thing. I see the same skill set in your startup work, but it's not emphasized enough. You were the team leader, so be really blunt about that, and how you've expanded market perception of your company.
I feel like, compared to the other job listings on your resume, you are selling yourself short with the startup. You created this thing from scratch--use some really strong verbs! "took on role as project manager" vs "created and implemented business plan, supervised team members, ensured successful and on-time completion of all strategic tasks". Then you can change the job title to "co-founder, project manager." A project manager ultimately works for someone else, a co-founder is the decision-maker, so show your strength as a leader. This startup should be a natural progression from your previous jobs to a point where you are a confident leader.
Also, what are trying to accomplish with this resume? I'm curious now :)
32 weeks ago
2. A friend of mine won a Facebook Hackathon and she leveraged the hell out of that win to get into UI/UX. The prototype her team came up with never went anywhere, and won't become the basis for a start-up company, but it was the win that was important. Can you use your Startup Weekend Baltimore to get what you want without having to create a startup and then sell it or IPO? No matter what, make that third-place win prominent.
Also, I agree with Rebecca that you should remove the numbers from the social networking results. It's directly contradictory to the usual advice, but we don't know how those results stack up against expectations, especially in the startup world. I think results from meeting with fashion retailers will be stronger, since it shows how your business is moving forward from a startup concept to a money-making operation.
I too can't tell what your company did/does. Since we don't know what sorts of firms you're going to send this resume too, I don't know whether or not that's applicable, but it can't hurt to wedge in a quick description. "built out working fashion-merchandising prototype", something like that.
It looks like everything on your resume has to do with getting the word out there, setting up meetings, scoping out new markets, adjusting products to meet market needs, that sort of thing. I see the same skill set in your startup work, but it's not emphasized enough. You were the team leader, so be really blunt about that, and how you've expanded market perception of your company.
I feel like, compared to the other job listings on your resume, you are selling yourself short with the startup. You created this thing from scratch--use some really strong verbs! "took on role as project manager" vs "created and implemented business plan, supervised team members, ensured successful and on-time completion of all strategic tasks". Then you can change the job title to "co-founder, project manager." A project manager ultimately works for someone else, a co-founder is the decision-maker, so show your strength as a leader. This startup should be a natural progression from your previous jobs to a point where you are a confident leader.
Also, what are trying to accomplish with this resume? I'm curious now :)
32 weeks ago
Anoop Kansupada:
Thank you for the amazing advice Rebecca and Juliana. My old business and government professor would always keep a fresh resume and a resignation ...MoreThank you for the amazing advice Rebecca and Juliana. My old business and government professor would always keep a fresh resume and a resignation letter in his bag. Whenever he got fed up with work, he would just pat his bag and remind himself that there were always other options. Because of that, every two months or so I update my resume and make sure I am always ready. Even though I am running my own startup right now, it just makes me feel better knowing that I am always ready to make a move.
Rebecca, your right, I should keep an elevator pitch or a bio at hand as well. I'm not necessarily applying to a job, but if a company were to have the perfect position, I would take it, and need that resume to boot.
Juliana--- I am still in the process of working on this startup. I'm glad it sounds like the second book, because I am still going strong on it. We've had problems with other co-founders and have slimmed the team down from 7 to 2, so its been an interesting learning experience to say the least. I like everything you say in the second point, I will definitely try leveraging the accomplishment more. How would I go about doing that on my resume more then I already do?
I apologize for not explaining what the company does at all I will add that for sure. Wedging in a quick description sounds ideal.
I am very much the business development person on the team, so everything I do is related to meetings, getting infront of VCs, talking to CEOs at fashion houses, and running the Twitter/Facebook. Since I am the one scheduling everything, I have to make sure everyone has their work ready for me to present, so I think project manager and co-founder go hand in hand!
Thanks again for all your help. I'm going to make sure that the resume showcases my position at Dapprly!
(My ideal position is going to be a business development head at a startup that I absolutely love--- Dapprly is awesome because I came up with the concept, but I dont know if its gaining enough traction as of now)
If I were to do
32 weeks ago
Rebecca, your right, I should keep an elevator pitch or a bio at hand as well. I'm not necessarily applying to a job, but if a company were to have the perfect position, I would take it, and need that resume to boot.
Juliana--- I am still in the process of working on this startup. I'm glad it sounds like the second book, because I am still going strong on it. We've had problems with other co-founders and have slimmed the team down from 7 to 2, so its been an interesting learning experience to say the least. I like everything you say in the second point, I will definitely try leveraging the accomplishment more. How would I go about doing that on my resume more then I already do?
I apologize for not explaining what the company does at all I will add that for sure. Wedging in a quick description sounds ideal.
I am very much the business development person on the team, so everything I do is related to meetings, getting infront of VCs, talking to CEOs at fashion houses, and running the Twitter/Facebook. Since I am the one scheduling everything, I have to make sure everyone has their work ready for me to present, so I think project manager and co-founder go hand in hand!
Thanks again for all your help. I'm going to make sure that the resume showcases my position at Dapprly!
(My ideal position is going to be a business development head at a startup that I absolutely love--- Dapprly is awesome because I came up with the concept, but I dont know if its gaining enough traction as of now)
If I were to do
32 weeks ago
Norman
I'm in a situation and could use some resume advice. Due to one job ending and not having another one yet my family is moving. Beginning tonight my internet access will be spotty at best.
I have two job possibilities which need resume or cv as soon as possible. I have worked on my resume and uploaded it to Dropbox. The link is http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3920798/Norman%20resume%20June%2023%202011%20wor...
Advice on improving it and creating a cv will be appreciated.
Norman:
More on Norman's amazing bouncing resume. The file is here: MoreMore on Norman's amazing bouncing resume. The file is here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3920798/norman%20resume%20cv%20beta%20version%20...
Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, support etc.
Norman
Now for those interested in modern micro-epic journeys. Since my last posting I have left one son in the town we just left (he's staying with a family friend to finish the baseball season) the older son and I traveled 10 hours through some of the worst weather I've traveled in to my parents where he and the cat will stay for the summer. I'm now in Ida Grove, IA we are staying in a little two room apartment while I look for work.
There that relieves my need to share this adventure and should entertain this group of a little while.
32 weeks ago
Thank you to everyone who has offered advice, support etc.
Norman
Now for those interested in modern micro-epic journeys. Since my last posting I have left one son in the town we just left (he's staying with a family friend to finish the baseball season) the older son and I traveled 10 hours through some of the worst weather I've traveled in to my parents where he and the cat will stay for the summer. I'm now in Ida Grove, IA we are staying in a little two room apartment while I look for work.
There that relieves my need to share this adventure and should entertain this group of a little while.
32 weeks ago
AJ Gage:
Norman, I'll help you out and create a little widget that will make you stand out. I'm not a resume writer; rather, I like to think outside the ...MoreNorman, I'll help you out and create a little widget that will make you stand out. I'm not a resume writer; rather, I like to think outside the box and think of ways to be innovative. I could create for you something like this: http://ajgage.com/resume/player.html and give you the link so that you can use it as you'd like in your job search and networking endeavors. Mine provided job offers from Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and FBI in 2009. Let me know if you're interested.
32 weeks ago
32 weeks ago
Kent
Does your resume include interests and hobbies?
When it comes to this kind of information, make sure the approach aligns with the culture of the company to which you are applying: http://bit.ly/iQasYT
Marc Scoleri
If you list an internship under employment but do not mention it was an internship on the resume, is that lying?
Rhonda Sarmento:
I don't it's flat out lying, but more so misleading. If a student wants to be more specific than "intern," they can say something like "Leadership ...MoreI don't it's flat out lying, but more so misleading. If a student wants to be more specific than "intern," they can say something like "Leadership Development Intern" or "Operations Research Intern."
33 weeks ago
33 weeks ago
Chervil Tatum:
YES, you should always tell the truth, regardless if its a intern you still have the experience, I had a supervisor tell me regardless if it was a ...MoreYES, you should always tell the truth, regardless if its a intern you still have the experience, I had a supervisor tell me regardless if it was a short term still put cause you do have the experience.
33 weeks ago
33 weeks ago
Mona Abdel-Halim
How many people use online resume builders vs. Word?
Kate Davids:
Jim, would you share those resumes that are so awesome? Good exemplars are always useful.
34 weeks ago
34 weeks ago
Ben Donahower:
I use Word to build my resume but I also have a number of other resumes floating out there created by different services, social resumes, etc.
34 weeks ago
34 weeks ago
Ji Hyun Lee
Was that a Job Interview, Or a Drive-by Shooting? | http://bit.ly/lLBpTz
Kent
Stop wasting valuable space on your resume: http://tandemresumes.com/AiZb
