Not the abbreviation I would have chosen in the title: Legal Ass. needs work cheap.
Continue ReadingTypos In The Ad
We posted about typos in resumes back in September and mentioned a significant survey result: Eighty-four percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo could be the deciding factor. Time to turn the tables on these executives. I just read a sales ad from a sizeable company that had this typo in the description: …seeking an outstanding individual for Territory Account Manger Perhaps Christmas is still on their mind, but this error leaps from the page. Obviously from the survey mentioned above, typos on resumes are… Read More
Continue ReadingCover Letter Threat
I’m having more fun today digging through online resumes and came across this intro to a cover letter: SPECIAL NOTICE:I ONLY accept 1099/C2C/Freelance Web Development assignments. No other offers of any sort or job description will be considered beyond what is stated below. Anything else will be considered SPAM and dealt with accordingly, up to and including reporting the offender to proper authorities. I’ve never seen anything of this sort in my lifetime. Nothing like indirectly threatening potential customers/employers!
Continue ReadingEthics Beatdown
BusinessWeek offers this article – Should I ‘fess Up to Lying on My Résumé? This one is going to leave a mark and I couldn’t agree more with the author. Some excerpts: From your point of view, stating that you majored in philosophy when you didn’t wasn’t a “big lie,” but your employer almost certainly won’t share your view. Why should they? Your résumé reflects who you are, what you value, and how much you have achieved. If you lie about something as important as your résumé, what will come next? Lying to a potential client to get his or her business? Lying to your boss about how things are… Read More
Continue ReadingAnother Cover Letter
Destined for the circular file: I am currently seeking full time employment with a company that I have the possibility to expand my resume. The statement seems innocuous enough, but reread the last part. “Expand my resume” speaks volumes to their self-focus and little to what contribution they will make to the company.
Continue ReadingHow NOT To Open Your Cover Letter
To Whom it may concern: I would like to have a great job without being layed off! Seriously, that is how the cover letter opened. And from the title on another resume: Professional Job-Seeker Not the type of title that inspires a long-term employment relationship.
Continue ReadingCover Letter of the Month Club
The email covers are like Clark Griswold’s Jelly of the Month Club membership – they are the gift that keeps on giving. Scanning through recent resumes led me to this cover email statement: I currently am the best sale personality i have ever met. However i’m not loving my postion right now. I think this was supposed to be a joke. At least I hope so.
Continue ReadingYouTube Resumes
Posting Your Resume on YouTube To Stand Out From the Competition. First, the gist of the article: …young job hunters are starting to make a video clip part of their job application, sometimes even posting them on sites like Google Inc.’s YouTube… It seemed like this day would be coming. But the author does bring up a good point that crossed my mind: Many employers and third-party recruiters remain wary of the concept of video resumes. Those who oppose it say that turning down candidates for interviews after seeing what they look and sound like on video could leave employers open to discrimination lawsuits. When job candidates send in photos… Read More
Continue ReadingSales Advancement or Job Hopping?
I just reviewed a sales management resume I received from a gentleman. The resume contains a handful of spelling and grammatical errors which is a concern. But this is what caught my eye, for the past 10 years, he has changed companies every 2 years. This employment pattern is always a red flag for us. Sales is a difficult position to successfully hire as most people know. A main problem is that bad salespeople often use their good rapport-building skills to subtlely, but emotionally, persuade a hiring manager to hire them. We refer to these types as schmoozers. They look like John Wayne in the interview and perform like Elmer… Read More
Continue ReadingEmail Cover Letter Advice
BusinessWeek.com with an article written for me – How to Write an E-Mail Cover Letter. If you have read The Hire Sense for some time, you know I have a weakness for poorly-worded cover letters. This quick Q&A article provides a good intro answer: Skip the cover-letter attachment, and turn your e-mail message into a cover letter. A great cover letter shares a bit of your background but mostly talks about the company’s need (for a marketing research manager, an actuary, or whatever) and describes why your experience is perfectly suited to the opportunity. One paragraph is the perfect length. I couldn’t agree more with that advice. However elementary this… Read More
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