Resume writing advice

[The Dog]

I have been passed over for promotion for the last time. I'm getting the hell out of here.

No, it has nothing to do with my posting on HornFans nor my little rant on Delta on Quacks.

It has occurred to me that my resume' sucks ***. I have great experience, good education, and lots of skills, but I don't know how to organize in order to really get attention.

Any advice? Anyone know of resume advisors or works in HR who could look at it? I'd appreciate any help. PM me if you like instead of posting here. Thanks.

 

[Hornin NYC]

This resume is an example of a resumetrical work of art.


PROFILE: Work and academic background encompassing sales, marketing, operations, complex project management, and PR, as well as experience in event planning & culinary arts. Known for diligence, creative problem solving, persuasive presentation skills, solid business judgment, excellent project management, tenacity & pride in every piece of work. Graduated with honors from NYU in 3.5 years while working 25-30 hours per week, and attending a certificate program at The New School University in culinary arts.

EDUCATION:
12/2001 New York University’s Stern School of Business. Concentration in marketing.
12/2001 New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Concentrations in media studies and food studies.
5/2001 The New School University’s School of Culinary Arts. Master Certificate in Culinary Arts.
12/2002 IBM Global Sales School. Completion of IBM’s very intense, word class, cutting edge sales competency training.

EXPERIENCE & EMPLOYMENT
1/2003 - Present Client Representative to Media & Entertainment Clients, IBM in New York, NY
In this customer-facing sales leadership position, I analyze clients’ business initiatives and how they map to IT needs – including software, hardware, services and eBusiness strategy. On a large media company’s account, I partner with a Global Client Executive to carry out world-wide sales activities, from relentless planning to hard selling. Immensely effective interpersonal skills & vigorous energy are my most valuable tools. Deals are negotiated using a consultative selling approach and signature selling methods. Several significant wins – ask me!

6/2002 – 1/2003 Leader of Industrial Sector Opportunity Center, IBM in New York, NY
I worked with the Offerings Development Team in IBM’s Industrial Sector by creating & leading the sector’s Opportunity Center. The Center was comprised of sales operations support programs that increased customer-face time for sales reps by over 70 days, and uncovered tens of millions of dollars in improperly coded revenue that would not otherwise have been assigned to team. Additionally, I developed a proposal factory and an opportunity jumpstarting program whereby leads were facilitated into real deals.

1/2002 – 6/2002 Project Manager & Marketing Leader, Global Solutions Development, IBM in New York, NY
For IBM’s Integrated Technology Services’ Global Solutions Development group, I coordinated market intelligence and its projects & sub-projects. I oversaw the development activities for new integrated infrastructure services offerings, created messages and marketing materials for outside clients, internal education & web distribution. Developed and managed Solution Development Review Process.

5/2001 – 1/2002 International Deal Support Management, Integrated Technology Services, IBM in New York, NY
When an Integrated Technology Services Customer has locations in several countries, an International Deal Support Manager is deployed to conduct client interface and handle the complex issues of multinational business. Daily, I dealt with the pleasures & pains of international commerce: divergent languages, contrary cultures, dissimilar laws, payment & taxes in multiple countries, more.

5/2000 – 5/2001 Associate Client Project Manager, IBM in New York, NY
This position introduced me to the management of complex projects. Coordinated & controled IT ‘process implementation’ consulting engagement for IBM at JPMorganChase & Co. during the merger. Handled project administration, managed public relations & internal marketing, tracked project deliverables, maintained critical project records.

6/2000 – 6/2001 Chef’s Assistant, Gourmet Gal in New York, NY
For Executive Chef Karen Burman, I assisted in procurement, preparation and presentation of dinners for a private family in their home.

8/1999 – 5/2000 Client Manager & Event Planner, The Culinary Loft in New York, NY
I sold event space & event planning services for The Culinary Loft, which hosts food and wine events. This included extensive client interface from the discovery of a sale opportunity to the contract negotiation to the planning and execution of the event. From this position, I culled invaluable experience in marketing & promotional writing for a small business.

10/1999 – 11/1999 Production Assistant, CBS News Saturday Morning, CBS in New York, NY
Production assistance including script preparation, research for writers, and guest management. Ask me about accidentally taking John McCain’s fruit spread during his presidential campaign press blitz.

10/1998 – 5/1999 Assistant to President, International Center for Journalists in Washington, CD
Telemarketing, public relations, material writing & design, embassy interface, liaison for intergovernmental organizations, fellowship participant application review, fundraising coordination, event planning.

10/1994 – 8/1998 Radio DJ & Assistant to Music Director, 90.5 FM WBER in Rochester, NY
Four-hour weekly formatted radio show. Air-time documentation, program formatting, voice talent for broadcast promos, editing press releases for air, logging station airplay, guest and studio preparation for interviews.




INTERESTS & PASSIONS: Excelling at whatever I choose to take on, being with family, maintaining exemplary fitness & health, personal and personal learning, enjoying cooking and dining, listening to music, exploring New York.

ACHIEVEMENTS & SKILLS
• Excellent computer skills, both PC & Mac
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office & Lotus Suite of productivity tools
• Fluent in French
• Traveled through US, Europe, Mexico, Canada & Israel

May 2000 Dean's List, NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Feb. 1999 1st Place in Prose Interpretation & 2nd Place in Poetry Interpretation, College Speech & Debate Association
March 1999 Certificate of Appreciation for Significant Contributions to National Capital Area Lutheran Social Services
Nov. 1998 Invitation Only participation in University Student Council Emerging Leaders Conference
June 1998 Laura Lisy Award for Versatility
Michelle Vaeth Award for Diligence
Chris Mayo Award for Excellence in Speech & Debate
June 1998 High School Principal’s Leadership Award. School principal chose one student out of the graduating class of 600 for a
nationally acknowledged leadership recognition
May 1998 1st Place Original Oratory at University of Pennsylvania’s national Speech & Debate competition
May 1998 2nd Place in New York State Ceramics Competition by New York State Women's League



I suggest you emulate it.

 

[Smurfette]

I inmterviewed thios morning and the principal told me that my resume really caught her eye. I'm not entirely sure why, but appearently I did something right. I'd be glad to email it to you if you like, I pretty much just used the standard business form.

 

[Gardner Barnes]

I think the most important thing is to be brief, but under your employment section, make sure you highlight actions AND be able to quantify results with acutal numbers.

This second part is very important as companies are hiring someone that can add value. Those results on your resume show, in no uncertian terms, where you add value.

for example

XXXXX Corporation
Title
• Developed proprietary CRM tool to segment and manage client-contact database producing 12% increase in client satisfaction within 120 days after implementation.
• Facilitated healthcare team that generated $2.3MM growth in new engagements and earned top ranking among nine US regions through several high margin JD Edwards implementations.

 

[ReyDelSol]

Do not use the phrase, "empowering the proletariat".

 

[tropheus]

GB is right on the money and you could pay serious bucks at a career counseling service that would tell you essentially the same thing.

 

[The Dog]

thanks folks.

 

[RedHookem]

Hornin -- thanks for resurrecting that classic.

 

[grinder]

Keep it to one page. Or else.

 

[Woland]

My wife paid $200 over the internet to have her resume written for her. She used only 3 out of 500 resumes printed before she landed an awesome job. I re-used the formatting for my own job search. Its a damn good looking resume.

 

[Black Scholes]

Woland - you should share in a non-specific way, if you don't mind. I'd be interested as I've always used the same format which has been well-received but I'm thinking of refreshing.

I've always agreed one page or less, but the school of thought on that is more liberal now; i.e. it's not an automatic ding for some. I still stick to the one page format. If you go to two, you better have a good reason.

Gardner's advice is dead-on, except on a kind of minor point I would tell GB that "facilitate" has become one of those words that is kind of tired and carries some negative baggage. It's on almost every resume as well. You could argue it's just a freaking word, but you have one page to market yourself as best you can and each word counts.

That reminds me, I need to take it out of mine as well.

 

[HenryGandorf]

My goal is to never have to make a resume in my entire life. So far, so good.

I will say that there's a website a former co-worker found that had a list of "good" and "bad" resume words. Like others have said, some represent action and value while others kinda sit there. Find a list like that for extra touch.