Am I the only one who is petrified at doing a resume?

[donheld]

I've been a Computer Operator for 13+ years and have done many different things, but I have no Idea how to put it all on paper.

Just venting. :crazy:

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. All kinds o' resume help online

Start here: http://resume.monster.com/

And good luck. :hi:

[donheld]

2. There is no hope online for the

Gut wrenching fear I have of doing it. :-( Thanks for the luck, I need all I can get.

[Deja Q]

3. Resumes are easy. Interviews are hard.

On paper, be pithy and write down as many technical accomplishments possible and say how you're adaptable.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. You can do this donheld. We'll be here to bounce it off of if need be.

I know the feeling. MrG's tummy gets all twisted up in knots at the mere thought of freshening up his resume.


:hug:

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. No way.

Summing up a career of work on a single page is frustrating. As others have said, you can always post your res at let people offer constructive comments.

[BlueIris]

6. I always was until I found these two AWESOME books on that:

They're cheap and available at Borders.

"The Resume Handbook," by Arthur D. Rosenberg and David Hizer, and "Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work," by Wendy S. Enelow and Lousie M. Kursmark.

It's that second one I think could really help you, even if you are not returning to work after a period of absence. I swear, even though the authors didn't acknowledge this, it was written for people with phobias about resume writing or self-presentation generally. Those two manuals are very user-friendly, unintimidating and best of all honest about the kind of job market we're still dealing with, (namely, a sucky one) but honest in a way that won't leave you totally discouraged and going, "My resume is horrible!!! I'll never be hired again!!!" They also both incorporate a broad range of resume types, from the ones people should use when looking for entry-level retail work, through the formats most advisable for systems analysts, machinists, and ex-pharmaceutical company employees.

I truly do recommend buying both, so you can cuddle them to you at your desk or workspace while you're trying to put your c.v. together, just like you would a teddy bear. Especially because the first one has a few things on basic facts about resume building that even "Expert Resumes" doesn't, (it acknowledges a few of the unfortunate prejudices employers still have against many job-seekers and how to well, minimize your chances of getting hit by any that on your resume) and contains this lovely pearl of wisdom: "Even a good resume will have minimal impact on your job search. Still...a good resume is an invaluable work of art...a bad resume is an almost unparalleled envoy of self-destruction." So true. And before I discovered both of these books, not only was I terrified every time I had to update and reassemble my resume, I...I've never had a bad resume, but I've distributed a lot of boring ones that could have been more effective. This is despite having taken several classes in college on resume building and job searching, as well as a couple professional development seminars which focused on c.v. construction and the interview process. Now, my resume is quite effective and attractive if I do say so myself. Two books. Who knew?

[BlueIris]

7. I'd also like to recommend the lesser known "e-Resumes: a guide to..."

"...successful online job hunting," by Pat Criscito. It's also cheap (it's a Barron's book) and user-friendly (I think Border's has it). With your background, I doubt submitting a scannable resume will be difficult, but if you need to "fact check" the "style" of your content for any scannable resumes you may be building, it's a great resource.

[NewWaveChick1981]

8. Just take your time and get all the details in order.

Do it one piece at a time or you'll be overwhelmed. Once you do it, you'll have it and can modify it any way you need. I have several different versions of mine, and I've built on it over the years. As you gain new skills, you can put them in, always keeping the resume up to date. :)

The other DUers have recommended some great resources! :) Good luck!

[BlueIris]

9. Kick.

[donheld]

10. Thank you all for all your input

I just need a boost of courage. Thankfully I don't need the resume yesterday.

[BlueIris]

13. You can do it!

Once again, for strategies to quash the anxiety about completing a resume, I really recommend getting the "Expert Resumes" book, but if you can't run out to Borders today, well, here are some tips I can recommend to calm down so you can get this done:

1) Clean off the desk where you are trying to work on it. Nothing contributes to stress like a messy workspace. Also, the time you spend cleaning before you start will give your brain time to shred the initial "cold sweat" reaction to dealing with the resume, and sorta "brace itself" for the task.

2) Start slow and try not to rush yourself. Worrying about any deadlines you have will just make the time pass faster and heighten your anxiety.

3) Do the "easy parts" first--heading, contact info, the "design" of your resume. This will help you feel as if you are finally making progress, and like the desk cleaning before your work session, it will help lessen any growing nervousness you may have.

4) About the design--I'm sure you know to keep it as simple as possible. Simplicity is the essence of good style. Then again, it really helps me to use a font I like, and do something a little bit distinctive with the heading--but only a little bit. That always helps me feel more confident about finishing what I've started. Still, especially for a first draft, keep it as streamlined as you can. Nothing exacerbates stress like worrying about extraneous details and minor matters.

5) Take it line by line, but type up the information about your work history that you feel conveys your strongest qualities before you tackle any areas you perceive to be less desirable. That will help you build on the confidence you secured in steps 3 and 4, which further serves to eradicate fear.

6) Don't overdo it. This advice could apply to many parts of this process, but mainly, as I'm sure you know, it means: a resume is 1 page. 1. O-N-E. Well, alright, except for a few select folks in this world, and the 1 page rule means some different things when we're talking about scannable resumes or resumes built to exist only online. Seriously, though, don't try to cram too much information on that single page, and don't go over that limit. Also, avoid doing anything creative with the margins just to get more information on your resume--1" margins. Trying to finagle your way around these problems will only bring the stress back (plus, it can result in your resume looking over-written).

7) Take breaks. If you're doing this for more than 2 hours at a stretch, take 15 minutes or so off every 2. Do something fun in between work sessions. I recommend making it as enjoyable for you as possible, and making it something that allows you time to stretch and unwind a little. As I'm sure you're aware, another way to let stress about un-fun tasks build up is to sit in uncomfortable positions during the un-fun tasks or experiences...like crunched up in front of a computer screen. Believe it or not, though, trying to force yourself to work on a resume or anything else you're reticent to work on through solely negative reinforcement (making yourself feel guilty or weak) isn't going to help you. And in terms of resume-writing--trying to do that while feeling incompetent isn't the best idea; you don't want to exaggerate your skills or credentials, but you do want to present them with confidence (harder to do if you're actively undermining your own confidence).

8) After you finish, again, do something fun. It's over! You did it! You should reward yourself.

[fujiyama]

11. Hey it's even worse writing an entry-level type resume

I graduated from college recently. It's frustrating how many places want related experience for entry-level type positions. How do you get experience before getting a job?

[mzteris]

12. You focus on

what you have done. What you can DO.

Surely you did something - even if it wasn't paid work. You can spin even a minimum-wage fastfood job with the right words.

Also - most recent grads use CV's - not "resumes".

What to focus on:

What are your skills?
What are your qualifications for the job for which you are applying? (In this day and age you should not have "a" canned resume - you can have a boilerplate which you can tweak to match the job for which you are applying. Lose the OBJECTIVE line. Your Objective is whatever job for which you are applying. :) )

Did you do volunteer work? Club leadership positions?

Look for the qualities they need in the job - and highlight those things in your past that point to that. DON'T go back to highschool - unless it's something really stellar.

It's not what "job" you had - it's what you can DO. Companies are looking at recent grads with a little bit of a different lens. They want to see reliability, trainability, and some personality - a willingness to do the job.

[Haole Girl]

14. I feel your pain

It's something I've been procrastinating about for almost 10 years. It's time for me to do one too...hang in there. You'll feel a sense of satisfaction and relief when it's all in order, I'm sure!

[Tyrone Slothrop]

15. Kicking

As I'm working on my resume later this weekend and need some tips...