Hi Tory,

Thanks for all your help. I hope I am not too late in this discussion.

I just got my undergraduate and I am looking to land an entry-level PR/Communications job. Like others, it's pretty difficult to land a job right now.

I am sending out my resume to many places now. The only bad part is I don't have a lot of "company" experience, just a lot of "freelance" kind of experience.

Do you have any general advice for me as I apply, for my resume, cover letter, etc?

I have been emphasizing how I have used skills during these freelance opportunities/internships/etc. that they are looking for in this job.

Thanks!

Make sure you visit your career services office to get them to help with the formatting and content.  College information can be placed at the top until you get your first position. Good luck!

Tori, what do you do when 3 of the past companies I worked for have gone chapter 11, been laid off once, and now have a resume with numerous jobs within an 11 year period. 

Don't include the college graduation date.  You can include the last 10 to 15 years of experience.  Prior to that isn't as relevant unless you did something very closely related to what you want to do next.

If you quickly submit something, I can try to look at it before this ends.  Submit the top 1/4 of the page -- minus your personal contact information -- and I'll look at it here.  Usually all it takes it that much to see what's right, what's wrong, etc. 

I sent my resume earlier.

 

overview

 

A highly motivated professional with a verifiable record of accomplishment. Highly creative, recognized as a results-oriented and solution-focused individual. Areas of strength include:

·     Accounts Payable

·     Organizational Aptitude

·     Microsoft Word Knowledge

·     Microsoft Excel Experience

·     Analytical/Problem Solving Skills

·     Communication Skills

·     Time Management Proficiency

·     Research Abilities

·     Multi-Tasking Abilities

·     SAP & Oracle Trained

 

education

 

Bachelor of Science: Business Administration

2003

 

St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO

·     Minor: Marketing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Accounts Payable/Vendor Reconciliation Accountant/Customer Operation Specialist (Today’s Staffing Temporary Agency)

2007-Present

World Wide Technology/Monsanto, St. Louis, MO

·     Collect and organize data used to identify reconciling differences

·     Execute clearing actions to comply with company requirements with analysts, instructing them in the appropriate actions to be taken to clear items.

·     Verified, matched and posted all account receivables of company clients.

·     Maintained accurate customer information and sustained the customer pipeline for my specific territory.

·     Investigated and corrected concerns and needs associated with customer account inquiries and orders.

·     Provided exceptional service to Chemical and Seed customers and Chemical and Seed sales force.

 

 

Senior Communications Consultant

2004-2005

Sprint/Nextel, St. Peters, MO

·     Made management decisions consistent with company policy.

·     Supervised twelve employees as well as trained new outstanding employees.

·     Performed customer credit reviews and built customer accounts in the billing system.

·     Performed inside/outside sales, and outbound marketing to attain sales goals.

·     Educated Customer about equipment technology and account options.

 

 

Customer Service Professional

             1999-2002

Knight’s Limited, St. Louis, MO

·     Managed client objections and concerns properly, while reducing the rate of returned merchandise.

·     Organized and conceptualized new procedures for dress in company office, raising the level from casual to business-casual.

·     Increased company effectiveness by assisting in the training of new employees on company procedures.

Submit the top 1/4 of the page -- minus your personal contact information -- and I'll look at it here.  Usually all it takes it that much to see what's right, what's wrong, etc.   Also lean on your colleagues in HR to help too.  Join my group (women for hire) on linkedin and connect with other HR professionals.

How can you improve on "successful sales track record" in the top and specify that success? That will help a lot.  Don't just tell the reader what you did; go further and tell how well you did it.

Don't get mad -- get to work!  If you have daily goals and you have realistic expectations, you can do it.  It often takes 6 months to find a job now.  You won't find success overnight, so prepare for that and don't beat yourself up.  Set mini daily goals and go after them with gusto.

Hello Tori,

Would you please review my resume and provide your feedback.

Thanks!

Mark

Add a professional summary to the top.  Don't just use the bullets to tell me what you did, go a step further and explain who well you did it.  Instead of only using responsibilities, focus on accomplishments and successes!

The first sentence tells me nothing -- from reading it, I don't know if you're a mechanic, a teacher, an engineer!  Avoid all generic language and be specific about your skills and strengths.  You can list the temp agency you've worked with -- along with the full dates of employment and then specify the nature of the assignments.  As long as you make it clear that it was a temp assignment, you don't risk looking bad because of the moves.  Employers understand the nature of temp work.

Submit the top 1/4 of the page -- minus your personal contact information -- and I'll look at it here.  Usually all it takes it that much to see what's right, what's wrong, etc. 

For career fairs -- have a couple versions for the categories of positions...ie a sales resume, a marketing resume, etc.  Use what's appropriate for each employer. Also use fairs as a chance to meet employers and to get answers about the hiring process.

There are many paid resume services.  Pongo is one of them.  You can also ask the school if they'll refer you to someone locally.  At my Women For Hire career expos -- one in Philly on 9/25 -- we offer FREE resume critiquing, which is very popular.

David -- your resume is great. I bet your problem is that it's not getting seen by enough people. You should be working with agencies and directly with employers.  You gap works against you.  Can you do consulting work while looking for the perfect thing?  Are you on LinkedIn -- and are you active in groups, etc?  Lots of hiring at your level is done through that site.  I would focus more on getting to the right people and being seen. Good luck

thank you very much for your response! 

i meant looking for free resume review - i hardly have enough money for gas!  the county college workshop isn't until 9/24 - while there's a career fair in philly on 9/17.  i can bounce ideas off my friends till the cows come home, but i guess my best bet right now is to just try and apply to a few places and ask what might be wrong with the resume if they don't like me.  ;P

Dear Tory,

this is my 3rd try to post my questions....sorry....I think something got messed up

Short synopsis....2 weeks ago, laid off....have been working with local college on resume writing, interviews, etc. Last 9 years copy editor/proofreader, before that accounting (specialized in payroll and taxes).

Was told by college and assorted classed to DELETE objective on resume, so I did. However, w/o it, I can't seem to get resume looked at. I'm not sure I want to stay as Copy Editor/Proofreader, may want to return to payroll/accounting, or move on to an analyst role (want a new challenge).

Was told that because my accouting/payroll experience is over 10 years, I shouldn't use functional...however, I need to include that if I want to show ANY experience in this field.

Here's my attached resume, I'd appreciate any suggestions you can offer (and I hope that the third try is really the charm!!!!)

Thanks,

Ellen

Leadership Program Development

Business Solutions Consulting ~ Project Management

Accounting & Business Analysis ~ Customer Service

 

SKILLS

Needs Analysis: Interviewed clients and associates to determine their needs/desires and explore which solutions/products best met their needs.

Project Planning: Led several projects, teams, and major rollouts. Developed timeframes/guidelines and scheduled manpower and duties, ensuring completion of projects in a timely manner.

Accounting: Proficient in payroll, tax preparation, receivables, payables, general ledger, and collections.

Business: Skilled in customer service, problem solving, sales, marketing, telemarketing, purchasing, several software packages, training associates and clients, and devising business plans and methods.

Teamwork: Skilled at keeping team focused on goal while also serving as advocate, and using detail-orientation to probe different sides of potential problems.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

THE DAVID GROUP, CLEVELAND, OH     1999-present

Copy Editor/Proofreader

•           Write, edit and proof copy that is used in clients’ collateral.

•           Ensure the marketing/HR collateral maintains clients’ branding image and style, resulting in a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.

•           Trained associates, resulting in 22% increase in artwork acceptance.

•           Created training/do###entation manual for associates, resulting in increased productivity and shortened training time.

•           Recognized for performing work in accounting and production departments, resulting in receipt of multiple corporate recognition awards.

 

THE PAMPERED CHEF, N. RIDGEVILLE, OH       1996 - 2008

Independent Kitchen Consultant/Director

•           Trained team of consultants, resulting in increased productivity, 10% increase in commissions and accelerated advancement.

•           Instructed clients on the benefits and features of our entire product line.

•           Consistently achieved sales in the top 4% of cluster.

 

OLSTEN STAFFING SERVICES/CHARTER ONE BANK, CLEVELAND, OH     1999

Interim Payroll Supervisor

•           Supervised a department of 5 payroll processors, ensuring that 10,000 employees received accurate and timely paychecks.

•     

I'm disappointed that this wasn't organized better.  Obviously, there are so many people who need help and responded to this opportunity, and one person cannot get to so many people.  GMA, in the future, I hope you have enough people on hand to address all the questions.  Also, this really should be called a live forum, not a live chat.  Thanks anyway!

Good luck, everyone!

I am an elementary school teacher.  I have 12 years of experience and I am National Board Certified.  I have just recently relocated from NC to IL.  I am having an extremely hard time obtaining a teaching position.  I talked with someone in the education field here and they told me it was who you knew not what you knew.  If you have a second would you please look over my resume and give me feedback as to how to make it better and offer any other advice that you have.  Thank you!  Nicole

 

Nicole Greene

 

 

Objective        To obtain a classroom teaching position

 

Education       University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

                         Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, December 1994

 

 

Licensure        North Carolina Teaching License K-6, December 1994

 

                         National Board Certified, November 2002

 

Teaching        Pitts School Road Elementary School, Concord, NC

Experience     Certified Teacher, Grade 2, August 2005-present

·        Plan and implement the North Carolina Standard Course of Study

·        Assisted in implementing the Response to Intervention program

·        Use Differentiated Instruction based upon student needs

·        Motivate students using positive reinforcement

·        Collaborate effectively with my 2^nd grade team

·        NCAE Representative, 2005-2006

·        Mentor to new teachers to our school

·        Provided workshops to beginning teachers in the area of classroom management

 

Wolf Meadow Elementary School, Concord, NC

Certified Teacher, Grade 2 and Grade 4, 1996-2005

·        Plan and implement the North Carolina Standard Course of Study

·        Differentiate instruction to meet the needs and abilities of students

·        Motivate students with positive reinforcement

·        Member of Cabarrus County Math Team—rewrote the K-2 Assessments

·        Grade Chair for 2^nd grade

·        Cooperating Teacher to a Student Teacher

·        Provided county workshops for our new math curriculum

·        Sponsored Student Council  For Grades 3-5 (1998-2001)

·        School Improvement Team (SIT) Member

Go to my website womenforhire.com and send it to me/