Resume - Thoughts - Opinions.

[countrygirl12]

The past couple of years have been rough and I am almost to the breaking point.  I lost my job when the economy tanked.
I have worked a couple of temporary jobs (which seems to be all companies hire for) (even Walmart now hires new hires in as a temp so they do not have to offer insurance or benefits).  It is very frustrating.  I have been trying to get a job with a company for some time willing to do anything and work any hours the store is open.  I finally called the regional HR manager because there is NO reason I should not be able to be hired.  Anyway, here is the thing.  The HR manager asked me if I attached a resume to the application and I said yes.  She said "you need to make sure you tailor the resume to the job you are applying for".  To me that is beyond stupid.  Your resume is you work history.  How can you tailor the resume to every specific job you apply for?  And how much brains does it take to be a freakin cashier.  Which I DO have experience with.  Have also worked in a bank which is a lot more than a simple cashier.

Anyway, my question is about the resume.  Basically it sounds like she is telling me to lie on the resume.  Make it so I am the best for the job I am applying for no matter what that job is.  Idk.

Thoughts....

[lvstephanie]

It isn't about lying on your application (which you should never do), but rather just pointing out how your previous work experience provided you with skills for the current job you are applying for. More and more, recruiters and HR personnel don't really want just a list of your job history, but are more interested in how that previous experience is applicable to the job offering. In fact some of the newer forms of writing a resume is more like a listing of skills, noting where you gained that particular skill. Here is an example of how to write a targeted resume (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/a/target.htm).

When I wrote my last resume, I too wrote a targeted one. I had a skills section at the top, just under the summary, to highlight all of the skills that the job opening was looking for as well as how those skills benefited my job at the time (so instead of merely saying that I programmed a database system, I mentioned how this new system increased the workers' productivity by 10x fold and ensuring better quality of the data being captured). Look at the job description and highlight any buzz words in your resume. If the job description mentions handling money, make sure that your skills section talks about how your experience at the bank afforded you the opportunity to handle substantially large amounts of money quickly yet accurately. Also try to imagine that you were given the job, and what skills you'd need to have to be the best at working that job, even if the job posting didn't mention it. For example, the best cashiers tend to know about their store, their products, specials, etc. so that if a customer has a question, that cashier may be able to help. So you may say that this particular store is your go-to store and so you have become very familiar with the store layout and can increase customer service by providing help to customers that don't know where a particular product is located. Sometimes those extras will put you on the top of the list; it may be a skill that they hadn't considered necessary to complete the job, but would definitely be beneficial for the company if a person in that position had. For example, I know a bell-hop that is fluent in several different languages, and one of the reasons why he was given the job was because the hotel sometimes gets foreign visitors, and they felt that his knowledge of languages would add just a little extra customer service if he were able to greet them in their home language, or could give directions to a restaurant in their native tongue.

You have to remember that with the current economy as well as the level of experience needed to be a cashier probably means that they'll have many applicants for that position. So you want to be able to stand out from the crowd. It might just be the simple fact that you took the extra time and effort to target that particular resume to that particular job opening that will set you above the others that just use a standard resume for all of the jobs that they are applying for.

[ktheodos]

It isn't about lying on your application (which you should never do), but rather just pointing out how your previous work experience provided you with skills for the current job you are applying for. More and more, recruiters and HR personnel don't really want just a list of your job history, but are more interested in how that previous experience is applicable to the job offering. In fact some of the newer forms of writing a resume is more like a listing of skills, noting where you gained that particular skill. Here is an example of how to write a targeted resume (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/a/target.htm).

When I wrote my last resume, I too wrote a targeted one. I had a skills section at the top, just under the summary, to highlight all of the skills that the job opening was looking for as well as how those skills benefited my job at the time (so instead of merely saying that I programmed a database system, I mentioned how this new system increased the workers' productivity by 10x fold and ensuring better quality of the data being captured). Look at the job description and highlight any buzz words in your resume. If the job description mentions handling money, make sure that your skills section talks about how your experience at the bank afforded you the opportunity to handle substantially large amounts of money quickly yet accurately. Also try to imagine that you were given the job, and what skills you'd need to have to be the best at working that job, even if the job posting didn't mention it. For example, the best cashiers tend to know about their store, their products, specials, etc. so that if a customer has a question, that cashier may be able to help. So you may say that this particular store is your go-to store and so you have become very familiar with the store layout and can increase customer service by providing help to customers that don't know where a particular product is located. Sometimes those extras will put you on the top of the list; it may be a skill that they hadn't considered necessary to complete the job, but would definitely be beneficial for the company if a person in that position had. For example, I know a bell-hop that is fluent in several different languages, and one of the reasons why he was given the job was because the hotel sometimes gets foreign visitors, and they felt that his knowledge of languages would add just a little extra customer service if he were able to greet them in their home language, or could give directions to a restaurant in their native tongue.

You have to remember that with the current economy as well as the level of experience needed to be a cashier probably means that they'll have many applicants for that position. So you want to be able to stand out from the crowd. It might just be the simple fact that you took the extra time and effort to target that particular resume to that particular job opening that will set you above the others that just use a standard resume for all of the jobs that they are applying for.

Yeah - a lot of good points here, thanks for this long post.

Welcome to the real world. I STRONGLY DISLIKE resumes and always have a tough time putting one together. Senior year of college, I participated in a program where I took a class/internship and was able to get help with my resume/job applications and practice interviews (though most universities have career centers that might have been able to help with this too) - made all the difference in getting my first job!

It's not about lying, but just learning how to present/"sell" yourself in a way that stands out to what the company wants. Yes, it's annoying and frustrating, especially when you know you can do the job, and when someone else "less qualified" gets it, but I suppose it's a part of life.

I would suggest looking at career places, or getting friends that you trust to help you out. Yes, you might not like what they say/suggest, and it might be an "ego" check that requires many failures before you "get it right"... but eventually, the discipline can pay off......

[southernhorizons]

I always try to tailor my resume for the job I am applying for. It's just a matter of pointing up your particular strong points for that particular job. If you feel you are qualified enough to do the job you are applying for, than use those qualifications on your resume. Every job you have gives you more skills and experiences, often more even than what the actual job is about. Also, life in general gives you various experiences. Use those to your advantage.

[6265AT99]

First, let me say - so sorry you haven't had success to date but, it seems they all want your resume "tailored" to the job you are applying for because a computer scans it and if it doesn't contain certain "key" words relative to the position - it doesn't "choose" your resume to be reviewed by a human.  Great isn't it?  Now we have "machines" telling us if we're good enough or not!!!!!!!!  I do wish you luck and hope the tide turns for you!!!!

[countrygirl12]

Odd but a couple of hours ago the regional manager called meandhad a conference call with me the local HR manager and herself.  Basically shesaidthe issue was with the interview.  Smh.  I thought the interview went really well.  I left thinking I would get the job.  I asked her if she could tell me what I could do different or better in a future job interview.  Not necessarily with you but with any interview.  She said to expand my answers to the questions asked.  I dont know how to do that.  I gave detailed answers.  It was all stupid questions like describe a time when...

Some of them are so absurd and I have never done that.  And it has nothing to do with the job.  She said I was more than qualified for the position but I did not score high enough on the interview process.

So in other words they had somebody else they wanted to hire.  Idk.  I am so frusterated.  At least FC gives me a few cents every day and they dont tell me I have to score high enough on some stupid scale they are judging me by. lol.

[msmoneybags48]

These days, it is not what you know but who you know.  It is unfortunate but it is what it is.  I have loads of experience and cannot find a job.  I have not given up.  Good luck.