KennyR wrote:
I have an honours degree, but everyone else applying for jobs I'll be applying for will have the same.
Thats true Kenny, how many graduated with you with your same degree?? You need to let them know why you should be one of the 4 or 5 new grads they should interview for the job openings they have. Your sample one below isnt likely to get you an interview unless noone else applies so it needs work.
I'm not really well suited to exaggerating my abilities, which are very few but very specialised. That's why I can't write this buzzword bullsh*t that employers want to hear. I don't work well in a team and can't pretend I do. I don't do anything dynamic or upwardly mobile. None of my interests or hobbies (which I don't have much of) will cast a very positive light on me, in fact they'll probably stereotype me.
First of all writing this buzzward b***S**T is most likely easier then any day you will ever have at work, so you need to get over it. Your negativity is likely to kill you in an interview as well. Teamwork is pretty important at most jobs, why don't you work well in teams??? What jobs are you applying too that you think won't require you to work in a team atmosphere. Interests and hobbies, people always underestimate the appeal of this section. In the past I have gotten interviews because I:
1) trained dolphins and the guy was a fan of flipper
2) Rock climbed and the interviewee was a spelunker
3) Scuba Dive (I get alot of hits on that one)
4) travel (they wanted someone with a passport to replace the guy who was afraid to fly)
5) Bowl (they wanted me for a league)
I'm not sure what interests or hobbies you have Kenny, but most non destructive ones can be spun positively.
When it comes to new grads, the personal section always is the tie breaker, you need to put something there, or be prepared to lose each tie.
Do I lie my ass off and say I'm a fun person who's great to be around, hard working and devoted, I enjoy playing squash and working voluntarily for the samaritans? Or do I miss this part out completely?
Kenny I guess my comment is that if you really believe that you are not fun to be around, not hard working and not devoted, why exactly do you think someone should hire you?? I mean do you really think your technical knowledge is so good that as a new hire you can be an asshole, slack off and not show up on days you dont feel like it???
Work History: none.
References/referees: none.
Personal details: I'm very literate and...*grind* *tax brain* *groan*...I give up.
I hope you are just playing negative here and this isnt really the truth. Have you really never had a job of any kind??? Thats a question thats going to get asked even if you clean up the rest and get an interview. Also more importantly, what do you mean by no references?? Are we talking noone will tell people that hiring you is a good idea?? Not a professor, a family member, a friend, anyone?? Almost any job is going to require a contact number to verify your place of residence etc, references none, is never a good idea. If you aren't sure who to use, list references available upon request, that way that section isnt a negative. Also I would go with I am very literate if you really think you must list it that way actually I would instead list reading as a hobby, knowing that they are going to ask you a favorite book. Be sure its one you have at least read. You arent' old enough to choose Sun Tzu or Machiavelli, fair warning from someone who is that old. Also I guess my other issue is, you graduated in Autumn of 2003, why exactly have you waited till now to work on your resume??? I had nine interviews and eight offers before I left school, I am sure someone is going to ask what you have been doing for the last 6 months.
-Tig
