As I related in other blogs, I was a late bloomer when it came to being serious about a career. I was like my Company Commander in boot camp. He was an E-6 who excelled in his rate which is why he was chosen for the job. He told us, his recruits, that he spent his first enlistment as if it were a giant party though. He got married; however and realized that partying doesn’t pay bills. He then got very serious and advanced from E-1 to E-6 in almost record time.
I remembered his story later because I mirrored him in how I shaped my career I realized later. I didn’t graduate from college until I was 31. I spent my late teens and early twenties in one big party. I guess that’s why I had a Navy experience because after I left college at 21, I needed a place to go that paid my bills.
At any rate, after the Navy and working other jobs, I then went back to school and I received a BA in English from Slippery Rock University. Like other new graduates, I then sent out cover letters and resumes to various potential employers. I was lucky because I had experience, so my resume was good; so good that I am going to write about it with a little side story that is relevant.
I got a call for an interview one day. When I got to the interview, I found out it was for a position that didn’t exist yet. The owner of the business was so impressed with my resume that he was going to create a position for me to train on until a management position opened up.
He told me that his business had had a problem with dishonest managers which had even made the news. He had cleaned house because of this and wanted someone like me to join his company. I didn’t take the job in the end because I decided instead to take a few more writing classes to hone my skills.
So what impressed the gentleman that interviewed me? For one thing my resume had a feel of honesty to it. This is because I stayed away from words that have become so trite in the resume writing.
For instance, the word “networking” is a very good word for me to use to convey an idea when I advise you but don’t use it in a resume. It is like the sound of scratching down a blackboard on a resume. It too is overused and sounds arrogant; plus computers network, not people. (When you “network with people” you are meeting and conversing with them).
Impact is another bad word to use. If you can’t use the word affect or effect properly, look them up and practice using them. Asteroids impact, people and situations affect other people.
To continue, show you take command on a resume with short effective sentences. This shows you respect the person reading your resume because you are not wasting his or her time with extra words. In your sentences use strong verbs like managed, supervised, directed, and investigated to name some.
Don’t forget to add a Linkedin and a facebook page. Also remember when you go on the web, every stroke you type is preserved somewhere which can haunt you later. And erasing your computer’s memory doesn’t get rid of them either from the other eyes.
Why do you think facebook and Google do things for “free?” They sell your information. If you don’t believe me, do a search on “Dockers” and see how long it takes that shoe company to e-mail you about a shoe sale.
So use caution. Have fun on facebook, but don’t be wild. Keep everything you put on-line or in an e-mail even as if your Mom and Pop were in the room with you because a prying detective company can get your e-mails or web visits to do a report for a future employer on you.
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