WorkWise Q&A: Wholesaling, hopping, swimsuit

NON-RESPONSE

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I am searching for a job and am stumped because I sent out over 500 resumes this summer and no one called. Heres my resume -- whats the problem -- I'd love to know. I've had numerous HR people give me conflicting advise on what to change on my resume. The one I'm sending you now was the one she said looked great. Any info would be appreciated. Wholesaler

A: Dear Wholesaler, You're starring at shipping your background wholesale through the Internet and mail system. Job hunting is about finding people on both sides of the desk. It's not about moving information. Change your strategy! Back off from your computer. Most jobs come from networking, but try everything to see what makes your number come up.

Also, a PR job requires a clean act. Do you consider your writing inviting to readers? It's careless. Identify all of the errors in your e-mail to me. Then look at your resume. You've even omitted an objective and the dates of your most recent employment.

Your resume makes you appear to be a name-dropper. It has lots of titles and features. You’re missing results throughout and subject matter when you guest-lectured.

Your presentation is thrown together. Targeting technology is a death knell. mlc

LISTS

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, When my resume is viewed, I'm perceived as a "job hopper" and while I will admit that some of my moves were due to "growth" by salary, size of company, etc. other moves have been due to "circumstance" such as position getting eliminated, abusive boss, not using skills, etc. I have worked as a marketer for the architectre, engineering and construction industries for the past 14 years and seem to hit a roadblock when I look for a job outside those fields. Career-Changer A: Dear Career-Changer, You and Wholesaler have a lot in common. Check errors in your e-mail to me. Pretend your resume is a traffic light. Which direction are you taking? Your resume says, "0No clue." That conflicts with what you’ve e-mailed, that you’re looking for a job outside of your previous fields. Your resume is a chronological regurgitation of what you’ve done on the job. Like Wholesaler, you have no results. Present your experience with a little imagination. Downplay dates. Exclude irrelevant information. Use a combined functional/chronological format. Your cover letter is much too long. It’s meant to tease the reader into reading your resume. Saying less there, as on your resume, is more. Give yourself a chance. mlc

Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2009 Passage Media.