Is there something wrong with my resume?
February 222010
In the past month, I have sent out about 80 resumes. Despite all this effort, I have only received one request for an interview. I’m wondering if there is anything I can improve on my resume that may help me stand out to prospective employers. Pasted below are the "objective", "experience", "education", and "skills" portions of my resume. Please keep in mind that I am straight out of school and fairly young, which is why I do not have much experience listed. In addition, the gap in my employment between last June and now can be explained by some personal family issues, moving 500 miles across the state, and getting married. If anyone is wiling to take a look and give me some constructive criticism, it would be greatly appreciated.
Objective
To obtain a long term position in an office setting where I can interact extensively with patients as well as run front desk functions and further my professional experience.
Experience
File Clerk, XXXX Chiropractic, Riverside, Ca.September 2007-June 2008
My duties included various accounting and billing tasks, answering phones, scheduling appointments, creating and maintaining patient files, maintaining various retail products available in the office, and light housekeeping.
Chiropractic Assistant, XXXX Chiropractic, Vallejo, Ca.June 2007-September 2007
This job entailed running the front desk of a busy chiropractic office, which included assisting patients, maintaining retail and files, scheduling appointments, some billing, and occasionally performing therapeutic ultrasound for patients.
File Clerk, Dr. XXXX DDS, Fairfield, Ca.February 2007-May 2007
The tasks I performed in this position were creating, maintaining, and organizing files and office forms, duplicating dental x-rays, and light housekeeping.
Customer Service Associate, XXXX Co., Fairfield, Ca.June 2006-October 2006
As a Customer Service Associate, I assisted customers in locating merchandise and completed point of sale transactions as well as organizing and replacing merchandise on the sales floor.
Central Aisle Cashier, XXXXX & Co., Fairfield, Ca.October 2005-June 2006
In this position, my main duties entailed performing point of sale transactions for customers as well as soliciting credit card applications.
Education
XXXX High School, Fairfield, Ca.
International Baccalaureate Diploma with concentration in Computer Skills, History, French, and Biology.
University of California- Riverside, Riverside, Ca.
Coursework included French, Spanish, Arabic, English, Linguistics, History, Philosophy, Archeology, and Anthropology.
XXXXX Therapy Wellness Center
Massage Therapist Certification, achieved on 3/26/2009.
Skills
I have many specialized talents that will be very helpful in the workplace. Technical skills include advanced computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Photo Editing and some web design.
My life skills are just as diverse. I am very organized, flexible and adaptable as well as a hard worker and a quick learner. I am bilingual in French and English and also speak basic Spanish.
I also have a passion for massage therapy and would enjoy a position where I can ease clients’ pain and help them relax using spa and medical modalities.
first: you’ve got good experience and are quite "job worthy" for the type of position you appear to be applying for.
it feels a bit too informal. don’t just say "i have many specialised skills" actually list all of them. you need to use less paragraphs. have it set up with headings, sub headings then discuss it in point form eg:
Employment
* 05/01-11/01 worked at xxx as a ???. duties were ***, ***,
* (you get the idea)
do the same with skills
keep it SHORT and straight to the point. no one wants to read too much
good luck!!!
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Keep it simple. I know you would like to say a lot, but you must NOT write sentence after sentence, No one has the time or patience to read through it all. They normally just quickly read it. Use dot points. I use dot points and it works.
You should also attach a cover letter. My cover letter is very different as it starts with a sentence which isn’t about me. It makes them want to read on as it is interesting. (keep it relevant though) And each resume should be personalised to the place you are taking it to so it doesnt look like you have printed 80 and sent them out (which you have) .. Take the time to write the workplace, their address and throughout the cover letter you should use the name (ie. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I could be a part of the team at Coles)
You should also drop your resume off in person (never post it), and follow it up a week later to show you are keen.
Good luck.. You should google some sample resumes for some ideas xx
References :
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
first: you’ve got good experience and are quite "job worthy" for the type of position you appear to be applying for.
it feels a bit too informal. don’t just say "i have many specialised skills" actually list all of them. you need to use less paragraphs. have it set up with headings, sub headings then discuss it in point form eg:
Employment
* 05/01-11/01 worked at xxx as a ???. duties were ***, ***,
* (you get the idea)
do the same with skills
keep it SHORT and straight to the point. no one wants to read too much
good luck!!!
References :
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:34 pm
I know exactly why no one is calling you back, it looks like you havent held a job longer than 7 mths. Employers are looking for stability and commitment, even if they decide not to commit to you. Another thing is there are too many words, employers don’t like to read: For example….. this is what you have on your resume:
Experience
File Clerk, XXXX Chiropractic, Riverside, Ca. September 2007-June 2008
My duties included various accounting and billing tasks, answering phones, scheduling appointments, creating and maintaining patient files, maintaining various retail products available in the office, and light housekeeping.
The format is nice: But instead, let it look like this:
File Clerk,xxx Chiropractic, Riverside, Ca. September 2007-June 2008
Duties:
accounting
answering phones
scheduling appointments
maintining files (and etc.)
and bullet your duties, so that they are easy to read.
Your best bet would be to go to a medical staffing agency, they specialize in "getting your foot in the door" Your skills are impressive, but employers are looking for experience. A staffing agency will be able to bridge that gap for you. Honestly I would delete the last three jobs from my resume and just start from scratch. If a job does consider you, they’ll change their mind, because they’ll think your not going to stay, verses some one with no experience, that has education but just needs to be trained. If they ask for the reason for the gap in employment………. you were attending school. If you want to sell yourself you have to make yourself look good. Your resume is a reflection of you. Good Luck, I wish you well.
References :