By Anne Fisher
The secret, says a longtime recruiter, is knowing how to "reverse engineer" your resume. Also, if you're a new grad, must you include a so-so GPA?
By Anne Fisher
Dear Annie: I have two questions for you. First, I graduated from a top engineering college in June and have been applying for jobs all summer with no luck.
I've targeted five companies I'd especially like to work for who I know are hiring entry-level engineers. I sent them my resume online and registered on their web sites, but have heard nothing from any of them. I don't want to be a pest, but should I call or e-mail to make sure they have seen my resume?
My second question is, am I right to leave my grade point average (GPA) off my resume? I excelled in my engineering classes, but my overall GPA isn't very good (2.8), mostly because I worked my way through school by doing three part-time jobs, so I didn't have much time to study. But should I put it on my resume anyway and then hope I get a chance to explain why it's not so hot? --Wondering in Waukegan
Dear Wondering: Your resume may be getting tossed aside by the computerized screening systems that most employers use these days to winnow huge numbers of resumes down to a manageable few, says Mark Lyden, who wrote a book aimed at new grads called "Do This! Get Hired!" ($16.00; see www.dothisgethired.com) that's jam-packed with insider tips on getting the job you want -- from how to get an interview to coming out on top in salary negotiations.
"If your resume doesn't contain the exact same keywords and phrases as the job description for a given opening, using precisely the same terms, you are probably going to be invisible to these systems -- and to the people using them," Lyden says. Yikes!
Luckily, there are ways to make sure you show up on employers' radar screens, says Lyden, a veteran college recruiter at Boeing. The key is what he calls "reverse engineering" your resume, and you can do it in seven steps:
1. Pinpoint the jobs you might want.
Before you do anything else, go to the websites of the five companies you have targeted and get the job descriptions of specific openings that interest you.
2. Take your cue from the job descriptions.
Next, "mark the precise words and phrases that describe the skills and knowledge someone has decided are necessary for each job," Lyden says.
3. Rewrite your resume for each opening.
Use the keywords and phrases you highlighted when describing any relevant experience you have. Be precise. Let's say a job description reads "Must have experience with finite element analysis," an engineering specialty often abbreviated as FEA. If your resume says "Experience in FEA," you could be counted out.
"The person doing the screening may not know that FEA stands for 'finite element analysis,' so your resume may never get a second glance," says Lyden. "It sounds crazy and unfair, but it happens all the time."
Tailor each resume you submit to match those exact key phrases from the job description. If you have no training or experience in a given area of the job description, concentrate on the ones where you do have some knowledge.
4. Create a heading on each resume that says "Interest Areas."
Take all the keywords and phrases you highlighted from the job description and list them under this heading, even if they've already been mentioned in your resume's "Experience" or "Education" sections.
It seems redundant, but some computer screening systems are set up to scan the "Interest Areas" part first, so again, it's a way to not get tossed aside in the first round of screening.
5. Rewrite your profile on each web site.
When you register on employers' websites, make sure your online profile includes those same keywords and phrases -- especially if the company asks for your "interest areas."
6. Then -- and only then -- apply for the jobs that interest you.
If you've already applied for specific jobs, follow the five steps above and reapply.
7. Keep customizing your resume, and updating your online profiles.
As you apply for more jobs, repeat the process above for each one.
Now, about your second question, regarding your less-than-stellar GPA: "For some reason, employers are stuck on 3.0 as the lowest GPA they will consider," Lyden notes. "So a 2.8 cumulative GPA may be a problem for you."
Some college career centers advise students to leave a low GPA off their resume altogether, but "this is a huge mistake," he says.
Instead, since you mention you did well in your engineering courses, he suggests listing your GPA in the major. Simply list "Major GPA: 3.6" (or whatever the number is). That should help you get a foot in the door, so that if anyone asks about your overall GPA in an interview, you'll have a shot at explaining that you held down three jobs to pay for school -- quite a feat, by the way. Good luck!
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Oct 11th 2009 @ 11:53AM russ hadick
I am retired and owned an outplacement firm and a recruiting firm. In teaching people how to answer ads, we always had them research the company with the ad and target it without mentioning the ad. It's an information age and you can find out anything you want about company's, evern the managers with in the company's. You never change your resume to fit a job opening. Your cover letter should high light your experience relating to the ad. I don't know where you get your ideas but your not helping the unemployed with such crazy advice.
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 3:41PM RecruitingDiva
Hi Russ,
Most companies now want to know you can immediately make an impact in the workplace. Your resume IS your marketing tool, and if you are not tailoring your experience, skills and passion to align with each position you are applying for, you may not get a call back.
If most corporate recruiters have the volume of resumes I have, unfortunately you won’t have time to read each cover letter. I go directly to the resume to see if they have the type of experience I’m looking for. If not, no need to review.
Revising one’s resume for each position gives you a better chance of being considered.
Oct 12th 2009 @ 6:40PM Ruth
Unemployed??? Follow NYS Dept Of Labor: Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nyslabor), Twitter(http://www.twitter.com/nyslabor), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/NYSLabor). Apparently these sites can also help you find a job too.
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Oct 14th 2009 @ 1:46PM SumBunnyUnO
We are interested.
Specifically, what COMPANY or WEBSITE/ONLINE SERVICE do you work for or sign up with?
In DETAIL, what do you do to make this money?
Exactly HOW are you paid, HOW OFTEN, HOW MUCH?
What website can I sign up with to make money, without having to pay any fees?
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 2:38PM JOSQUELINE
You dont have to completly redo your resume but the advice to change it each time, add key words and focus on the job you are applying for is important and NOT crazy at all. If I dont see the specific things im looking for right away, I toss the resume and move on.
For instance: If you are applying for a welding job... I dont care that you worked the halloween season at Party City, get rid of it. If you were applying for a retail job then possibly leave it. Too many jobs in a short period also look BAD. If you worked somewhere for 2 weeks... dont bother putting it on your resume. Youd be suprised how many do it...
Please use spell check as well. In blogs and internet comments, no one really cares about grammar as we are all typing quickly. Your resume on the other hand should show youve taken time on it. Otherwise it reflects that you are lazy and make errors all the time.
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 2:40PM barbara
I have had a job listing posted for over a year with hundreds of responses; no one knows how to write a resume. How a resume goes to the bottom of the pile; 1. 20-jobs in 20 years. 2. Not meeting any of the job requirements listed 3. Telling the potential employer that they do not need a resume because "they were overqualified"; once I told her we counsel murders, sex offenders, and all other offenders; she replied sorry. What we do is listed in the posting 4. Do not cast resumes to people that you have no idea what they do or if they are hiring. I have yet to have a resume fall on my desk that net everything required in my posting. It is not that there are no jobs; there are jobs put no one knos how to find the right job and write an appropriate resumes.
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 2:54PM matthew
Where is your job posted?
Oct 19th 2009 @ 4:15PM jasmine
You said you have been running a job posting for a year , but you have not come across a well written resume . My reply to your remarks, please take your posting out of circulation . Your not looking to fill a position,but rather to count replies from job seekers , you should be ashame of your self for wasting candidate's time and effort .
Oct 19th 2009 @ 2:55PM scsmit1
This article is completely innacurate. I have been to resume/application classes held by representative of the State of Oregon Job Fair and Employment offices and they state clearly that you DO in fact need to use EXACT wording from the job descriptions. AND, you do so for each and every single position in your work history as it applies to the job you are interested in.
Here's why: many/most employment people use a filtering program that recognizes and counts the number of times that each applicant uses those "key" words in their work history. This developes a "score" that helps them determine an initial level of interest. So the more times you can show a history of performing those duties, the higher your "score".
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Oct 20th 2009 @ 8:09PM Fred J. DImperio
I am one of those people that is told they are overqualified for a job. My answer to them is "Does that mean I will do too good a job? Since that does not help, what answer should I give them?
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 4:18PM Russ Hadick
Dear Diva, Your missing the whole point. One should never send their resume to HR-NEVER. With all the responses company's are getting on line an applicant doe's not need to one of one thousand resumes being screened by someone who may not know the difference between a marketing person and a sales person. They want to send their resume to the hiring authority(the person the job reports to). It's very easy to get that name in this information age. What the person has done by sending it to the hiring manager is they have bypassed personnel, are a week to 10 days ahead of everyone else responding the to Ad, again have no chance of getting screened out by someone in HR. Their closing comment on their cover letter to the manager is that they will call them in 3 or 4 days to see if their paper work was recieved. I have taught this method of responding to Ads for over 20 years and it works extremely well. The most importand part of your letter is that you don't mention th job opening from the Ad. Your opening statement is," Dear sir/Madam, In researching your firm I understand that your a long established, mid size firm that manufactures xyz products and prompted me to wright to you. YOU'LL NOTICE THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE AD. The second paragraph is a short summary of your experience trying relate it to the job opening and the 3rd paragraph is that you will call them in a few days to see if they recieved your paper work. There is no better way to answer an Ad.
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Oct 19th 2009 @ 5:08PM LAMAR C. CHAPMAN III
HEY AMERICA!!!! As a business owner, I only hire people I am comfortable with. Training, degrees and experience are all irrelevant!!! If you want to earn one hundred thousand dollars, look like you are worth one hundred and thirty-five thousand. If you are a fast learner, say so in your resume and experience. If you have a good attitude, show it!!!! If you look like I should hurry up and hire you before my competitor hires you, I WILL!!!! Make me look good and you got the job!!!!!!
Lamar C. Chapman III
Solo Fides (Only by Faith)
Crown-of-Life Recipient 10-24-2004
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Oct 21st 2009 @ 8:51AM Russ Hadick
Dear Recruiting Diva, Your missing my point. People should not answer the Ad by going through personne. They must research the company, get the hiring managers name and send the resume straight to him/her. They don't mention the AD. They turn the their response into a targeting letter, letting the hiring manager know they researched the company by stating how long they have been in business and what their size is. Their last paragraph states they they will call the manager in 4 or 5 days to see if they recieved the paperwork. Again, I have taught this method of anyswering Ads for over 20 years and it works great.
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Nov 19th 2009 @ 7:12AM SallyJones
Hey Russ, what's the secret to finding the hiring manager's name and email address? I don't know how to do that.
Nov 19th 2009 @ 11:07AM russ
It's an informaion age. Go to any library or company websites or call the company and ask for the managers name: THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET THAT NAME...At the liberary they have directories and on-line databases (free) that will give you a company's name, what they manufacture, how long they have been in business, what their size is, what they manufacture or do and give you every managers name and title in the company.THEN YOU WRITE THE FOLLOWING: Dear mr/ms Jone,
In researching you company I understand that your a long established, small firm manufacturing XYZ products and that has prompted me to write to you. ALL THIS INFO. IS IN THE DIRECTORYS, OR DATABASIS. Second paragraph:
Give a short summary of your background matching it as close as you can to the job opening.DON'T MENTION THE JOB OPENING. AGAIN, DON'T MENTION THE JOB OPENING.
Third paragragh:
I'm not sure if you have any openings that fit my background, but I would like to call in a few days to see if you recieved my paper work.
What this has done for you is your a week to 10 days ahead of everyone else responding to the AD, you have no chance of getting screened out by someone in personnel and the hireing manager is expecting your call. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS IN ADNSWERING AN AD. AND IT WORKS.
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