how to send resumes to employers

blue_querubin thanks! just curious, why do you use different colors for your CL and resume? I always use the same color for both.Dang! Stupid me, I always mail the "regular" way so I don't have any idea what couriers are. Explain! Thanks.


no real reason why, but i use 2 colors. i just feel doing so communicates "attention to details", "organized", "tries harder". i dont know if it works or if they get that at all.

courier --- have it delivered by messenger, like DHL. more expensive but the plus is it's impressive and the secretary will unlikely hijack the mail.





#103

details on sending resumes and formats

blue querubin: when submitting a resume, is it alright if I staple the pages? a friend advised me to put it in a folder. what type/size of envelope should i used when i send a resume by snail mail? i wanted to put it in a large brown envelope so that i wouldn't be folding the papers, but then again i thought it could be a bad idea. help!

resumes : to staple it or not? fold it into a short envelope? put it in a folder then mail in big envelope?

not sure if one is better than the other. i guess its really your own personal preference. others may agree/disagree.

the other consideration of course is cost --- its more expensive to use a folder and mail it in a bigger envelope. but then again because you are looking for a job, cost should not be a consideration. its an investment.

here is one way to send a resumes out. you can make up your own mind.

• do not staple the resume. using a staple makes it kinda look cheap.
• put the name, email addy, cell number and telephone number on the header of every page.
• also put "page x of x pages" (msword is cool!). so if the other pages are separated from the main page, they would know how to put it back together and in sequence. of course, they will eventually staple it, but you don't need to do it.
• do not fold the resume. looks neater if not folded.
• stop putting the resume inside a folder. most recipients will remove them from the folder anyway.
• when putting the resume in a folder, use clear or transparent plastic folders. that way the recipient can read the document through the plastic without even removing the document out.
• use nice looking paper. the thicker variety and those with a nice feel to it.
• use white for the CL and use another color for resume. just aesthetics.
• never give your resumes as is, to security guards. the security guards will not care. put it in an envelope and address it to someone, to a name in the organization.
• if its a job you really, really like or you got a good lead, use couriers, not snail mail.

#100

portfolios for IT people

there are NO limits to what you can do, that's for certain. don't know much about the IT job market and the internet/e-business but i think the internet is one industry where SELF PROMOTION can be done easily.

its probably one of the few industries where you can actually DEMONSTRATE your skills and achievements. demonstrate i mean, you can do a show and tell (graphics designers is another). you can put together a portfolio and bring it with you to show prospective employers.

i might not know much about the tech stuff, but you can put all your work on cd, cant you? and you can put up your own website showcasing your work.

does not matter what your title is, its only a title --- as long as in truth you did it and you can defend yourself, then do it by all means.

on your portfolio, do something like a "dream" website, do a website for yourself for the sole purpose of showcasing your skills. i've seen the cd/website portfolio tack a very effective one. i've witnessed this in all the job fairs i observed in silicon valley. look at it this way --- if you put up a website showcasing your skills, the world is your audience!








#96

applying for more than 1 position

Britneys_Jugs : What's your opinion about my hanging question, abcxyz?Question: (to abcxyz or to anyone who wants to share his/her views)Is it ok to apply for several positions in just one company? I recently submitted my resume(s) in a company that has several openings, and applied for each position that I know I have the necessary qualifications to begin with. Can this be considered normal or do I look desperate enough to apply for all positions? Any opinion from any of you would be highly appreciated.

for experienced applicants, applying for several positions in a few cases might not be a good idea. kasi may kaunting "specialization" involved.

but its ok for new graduates. many companies hire new graduates as management trainees --- they get you to work in several departments for a period of time and decide later on where to put you. they will be looking for BEST FIT.







#83

it's all about selling yourself

Britneys_Jugs : These are my questions: Do you think companies would merit my part-time job as a full-time job? What do you think would be the best job description for this? Or more importantly, how could I make it sound interesting?Do you think companies would still call me for an interview even if there's a minor (hehe, I prefer it as minor) hindrance (which in my case, is inexperience)? Or do you know any instance wherein a company was looking for an experienced applicant, but, in the long run, hired a fresh graduate? Hope you could help me again. Thanks.

no, a part time job cant be seen as a full time job. part time is part time. but you SHOULD mention it still. specially if you were able to contribute something to the business or department.

but in this case as you mentioned, you didn't do much. but that is NOT A LOST CAUSE.

though you didn't do much in terms of actual work, you must have learned something about relationships at work or dealing with people. don't forget that the work place is made up of two basic components --- the work and relationships.

think this through and figure out what you learned about work relationships. let me just give you two points you can use :

1) i have learned that at work, i need to be more ASSERTIVE to ask for work because i like to work and i can do the job.

2) that people tend to behave based on the info they know about others (that info was my dad's, the boss).

work out the rest and how you can use them in interviews. i can't help you on how to describe the part time work you did. be creative and inventive about it. but when you do that, make sure you can defend it and talk specifics. if companies are purposely looking for experienced employees, its a tough for you to be called.

but IF YOU HAVE A KILLER COVER LETTER AND RESUME, you can get interviews. the reality is --- BOTH experienced and new graduates are first assessed through cover letters and resumes. another truth ---- EVEN EXPERIENCED APPLICANTS SUBMIT LOUSY COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES. what does that tell you? ---- all is fair in love and war, and jobs.





#82

no job experience - how to win

Britneys_Jugs HI abcxyz, hope you could answer my question. Several companies I've applied for are looking for someone with experience. I still sent my resume, anyway. I highlighted my strengths yada yada yada, so that I could at least have a slight advantage. Do you think my resume will be a given a second glance? I know I have a lot to offer, my resume shows it, too. But, it just depresses me that they always look for someone with experience. Hope you could help. Thanks

here's how it is from the employer's standpoint :

• you look to hire people to fill up SPECIFIC needs for the group and the company.
• these could be to (1) replace someone who resigned or someone who got promoted or (2) expansion, need someone to fill up a new position.
• when the above happens, you tend to look for someone with experience. you do that because you want the new person to hit the ground running, because you have no time for training or no time to lose. or at times, you don't know how to train.
• some companies very smartly purposely look for new graduates, those without experience. they do that because they have a corporate philosophy that says they like to develop and promote from within. they also like to nurture people, they have a distinct culture that they want their employees to have.
• also, new graduates tend to be paid less than those with experience.
• or its a company who believes fresh blood and new thinking is good for their business and future.

that is the basic thinking. analyze that and see how it applies to you and how you can go around it. these are the realities you face when you look for a job. while these are realities, they can be overcome by playing it smart.

some ideas have been posted here, but let me recap a few :

• make sure you have a well written resume.
• demonstrate real life skills and achievements, not too much theory.
• DO RESEARCH on the company you are applying for.
• do some tailor fitting SPECIALLY on the cover letter.
• pay extra attention to your COVER LETTER. the cover letter is THE FIRST DOCUMENT they will read. so in the cover letter do a lot of tailor fitting, include something relevant and unique to the specific company (that's why research is important)
• when u get an interview --- apply the same principles.
• ANTICIPATE questions on your handicap of not having any experience.

ok, ok ----- i know that seems to be a lot to do. and it seems really tough. but what can i say? that's how it is in the real world. you know your handicap and you want to overcome it, so you need to work harder than most. be tough. and don't give up.

#73

not getting the job, failing the interview

the WORST thing you can do to yourself is to BLAME YOURSELF or to feel something is wrong with you. when you don't get accepted for a job, it does not mean you are worth nothing or that you have done something terribly wrong or you failed one or all the things you did (interview, test, panel, workshop).

the truth is you hire someone using the BEST FIT principle, not as much as hire the best person for the job. now best fit could be anything, it could be budget (another applicant willing to work for less), or plain vibes (personality fits the job more) --- there's no one formula. interviewers like you are humans.

so when you don't get a job, don't be too harsh on yourself. learn from it, and move on.

now whats an analogy ---- might sound corny but this reminds me of the gf-bf thing. you can't get all the women you court to be your gf. sometimes you like the person but no chemistry so you don't get into it. sometimes the thinking part does not work but the chemistry is great so you go into it. sometimes you really don't like the person but you cant put your finger into why so, so you don't pursue. but whatever happens, you learn from the situation and you move on.






#81

master's degree and no job experience

Zzz_18 : I have an MS degree in IT from a reputable university but no work experience (aside from a 3 month OJT) . How do I package that on my resume and cover letter? Will employers (especially those seeking applicants with 1-2 years work experience) be willing to consider my MS degree as equivalent to "work experience?" Is a master's degree useless without work experience? Thanks!

your MS desgree SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

yes, package your MS degree to make it appear as something equivalent to having some work experience. how do you do that? its hard for me to say specifically how because i dont know what you did in your ms course.

having said that, here are my suggestions for your resume and during the interview :

• emphasize "case studies" you did in ms. say you enjoyed it the most because it was realistic and close to the real thing.
• use words like "close to real work experience" , "tough situations", etc
• cite one or two examples of what your case studies or anything close to work experience and mention your specific contribution to solving the case. talk about some smart idea you had.

#69

applying for an art director / graphic designer job

yayaymm : may art director or graphc dsigner ba dito or someone from creatives pano nyo pinepresent resume nyo? Kelangan b tlga kakaiba sya s ibang resume from other field? yung tipo bng kung itatabi mo s resume ng isang IT, or accounting, etc. mag-sstand-out sya artistically? kse medyo dilemna ko yun e. I'm applying s mga ad agencies e simple lng resume ko may naisip n ako actually n concept for my resume kya lng medyo kakaiba nga tlga sya bka kse di sya maging ok s hr department e bka prefer nila yung simple resume lng na mas magegets agad nila yung content kse nga d ba andun yung credentials ko kya lng I want kse a position s creatives naisip ko d kya medyo nakakahiya nmn kung makikita ng creative director na wlang ka-art-art yung resume ko kung baga I want sana s resume ko p lng makita na nila how "creative" I am hehe help naman advice lng dyan o.

----
you can do both.

do the usual resume, then attach your portfolio to the resume.

be conscious of bulk and style. it cannot be bulky that it's hard to manage. it will only irritate the person handling it and might throw it away.

make sure the style is of great appeal. don't just do anything. think it through. imagine the person handling your resume and attachment and make sure the design is fitting.

some do blogs as well also. do a blog, upload your work and also give the link to the companies you are applying to,

high school achievements in resumes

Another thing, should resumes contain high school achievements? I notice some of my friends include high school awards received way back in their freshman year (1st year HS- onwards). Is that proper? Would that clutter the resume or would that concretely show off your capabilities?

clutter on the resume is a good consideration. but the more important consideration is - will including the high school achievements help your cause? will it improve the resume on the over-all? how meaningful are they? use your judgement.

also, if there is a noticeable difference between the high school and college achievements, be prepared to explain why there is a significant difference.