For the job hunters out there, what advice are people giving you?

[SeerSGB]

Okay, since I'm pushing for more contracts and sniffing around for some part time work, I'm getting a shit-load of free advice on what to do with my resume and the like. Figuring I'm not the only, what are other folks hearing?

What I've heard lately:

-- Men have a harder time getting a job right now cause employers think men want more benefits and hours, so be willing to give up both.

-- Avoid mentioning how long you've had experience in a particular field, drop off any job history that's older than 5 to 7 years. 1) Cause employers never check back further than 7 years; 2) You don't want to look to old or like your skills are out of date.

-- Volunteer, it gets you free job training, plus it keeps you used to working during the week, and you develop contacts and leads.

-- Unless it's an online portfolio never admit you use social-networking sites (this one I already knew)

-- Use your cell-phone as your primary number and your land-line as your secondary. (that one is new to me).

 

[Plecostomus]

The cellphone one stems from the fact employers have thousands of applicants ready to go, if you don't answer the phone they'll call the next person. The days of going home and checking your messages are obsolete.

I was told not to list my degrees. That around here at least having a degree was a liability in the fields I was looking in, but however play up my trade certifications.

Also, don't mention any job where you were a member of a union, because companies don't want anyone even remotely connected to a union on board.

Don't list Temp Work as it makes you look like a job-hopper, instead list the agency the phone number and detail some of the assignments you have done without referring to dates.


...this all comes from the folks at the New York State Department Of Labor so take it as you will.

 

[tomalak301]

One advise I got was go back to school and join Beta Alpha Psi, which is the business accounting Fraternity. You know, I was looking into joining Accounting Association, but I kept being told that those two were the same things. Then I got this advise in the last quarter when I was about to graduate and that's that.

 

[wamdue]

do what im doing, apply for a job in Job Centre, still waiting for the paper work to clear, but hopefully in two weeks time I should have a job.

 

[Josh Kelton]

Don't list Temp Work as it makes you look like a job-hopper

Being a job-hopper doesn't necessarily seem so bad. Someone in that situation has atleast kept themselves busy, rather than having employment gaps on their CV, and probably gained a lot of transferable skills from doing a range of different jobs.

 

[Cali]

And what about those of us who can only get temp work at the moment? Although, granted, my temp contract where I am now is for a year.

 

[SeerSGB]

Don't list Temp Work as it makes you look like a job-hopper

Being a job-hopper doesn't necessarily seem so bad. Someone in that situation has atleast kept themselves busy, rather than having employment gaps on their CV, and probably gained a lot of transferable skills from doing a range of different jobs.

Being a job hopper looks bad because it looks like you can't commit to a job for any length of time. That's why you use the name of the temp-agency instead of listing the individual employers the agency got you the job through.

That's also the reason, as it was told me, behind volunteering when you're out of work: It doesn't look like you sat on your ass and did nothing, you stay in the habit of having to get up and go to "work" and you learn new skills. Plus volunteer work is suppose to look sweet on a resume, makes it look like you're willing to give of yourself.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Use the right tool for the job.. say a .38 caliber instead of a .22