Comments on: The Wall Street Journal’s Tips for Tricking Employers http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers The insider's edge on job search & hiring™ | Copyright © 2011 North Bridge Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Thu, 17 May 2012 01:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nick Corcodilos http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers/comment-page-1#comment-5902 Nick Corcodilos Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:59:48 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=284#comment-5902 Phil, I don't like resumes being used as a crutch either by a job hunter or an employer. I don't object to people using resumes when an employer needs to know what you've done. Your use of a Working Resume is good, but you don't need to tie it to projects you've done in the past. Why not just outline how you will do the tasks for the new job? Why do people think they have to justify everything with their past? Your ideas for doing the new work should have enough integrity to stand on their own, and to stimulate discussion (an interview). Leave your history on the traditional resume. Use the Working Resume like a business plan, eh? Phil,

I don’t like resumes being used as a crutch either by a job hunter or an employer. I don’t object to people using resumes when an employer needs to know what you’ve done. Your use of a Working Resume is good, but you don’t need to tie it to projects you’ve done in the past. Why not just outline how you will do the tasks for the new job? Why do people think they have to justify everything with their past? Your ideas for doing the new work should have enough integrity to stand on their own, and to stimulate discussion (an interview). Leave your history on the traditional resume. Use the Working Resume like a business plan, eh?

]]> By: Phil Singer http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers/comment-page-1#comment-5898 Phil Singer Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:37:36 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=284#comment-5898 ....instead, try this: Functional resumes are an old trick that any smart manager recognizes is intended to mislead the reader. I’d never use one. Stick to a chronological format,... O.K., I know you don't like resumes. But, you do agree that people have to be able to provide one on demand (too many folks insist on one before they will talk to you). And, you agree that an acceptable resume is "the working resume", where one describes, in the resume, how one would "do the job in question".? So, in trying to construct a "working resume", I imagine developing it something like this: Top 4 tasks required by the job: T1, T2, T3, T4. Evidence that I can do those tasks: T1: Project from 1 year ago (and a prior employer) T2: Projects from 3 years ago (and another prior employer) T3: Projects from 6 months ago t4: What I am working on now How does one pull out the main points from a career of more than 5 years without it looking like a functional resume? ….instead, try this: Functional resumes are an old trick that any smart manager recognizes is intended to mislead the reader. I’d never use one. Stick to a chronological format,…

O.K., I know you don’t like resumes. But, you do agree that people have to be able to provide one on demand (too many folks insist on one before they will talk to you). And, you agree that an acceptable resume is “the working resume”, where one describes, in the resume, how one would “do the job in question”.?

So, in trying to construct a “working resume”, I imagine developing it something like this:

Top 4 tasks required by the job: T1, T2, T3, T4.

Evidence that I can do those tasks:
T1: Project from 1 year ago (and a prior employer)
T2: Projects from 3 years ago (and another prior employer)
T3: Projects from 6 months ago
t4: What I am working on now

How does one pull out the main points from a career of more than 5 years without it looking like a functional resume?

]]> By: Nick Corcodilos http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers/comment-page-1#comment-5606 Nick Corcodilos Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:37:00 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=284#comment-5606 Anna, I know this is hard and you're turning to agencies for help. But the best way to land your first job since you're back is through personal contacts. Rather than rely on agencies, start cultivating contacts with people who can introduce you to others in the companies you'd like to work for. Sorry to make it sound goofy (I suggest this to guys, too), but it's like trying to get a date with someone you know about but have not talked with yet. You figure out who their friends are and try to work your way toward them through the friends. Some of the articles on the web site will help you with this -- check http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/articles.htm. Anna,
I know this is hard and you’re turning to agencies for help. But the best way to land your first job since you’re back is through personal contacts. Rather than rely on agencies, start cultivating contacts with people who can introduce you to others in the companies you’d like to work for. Sorry to make it sound goofy (I suggest this to guys, too), but it’s like trying to get a date with someone you know about but have not talked with yet. You figure out who their friends are and try to work your way toward them through the friends. Some of the articles on the web site will help you with this — check http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/articles.htm.

]]> By: Anna http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers/comment-page-1#comment-5576 Anna Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:49:02 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=284#comment-5576 I had to sell my home so my daughter could attend college. I took a chance and moved from the northeast to the southwest; the real estate and taxes were so much cheaper! I did not, until I moved there, realize how different the work styles and ethics were; after four difficult years I came back home. My work history, which was great, now shows 3 jobs in 4 years. I apply online to great jobs (executive assistant), but I just know in my gut that I am being passed up because of this. And, of course, this is the first thing employment agencies mention. I am open to any advice.. Thank you. I had to sell my home so my daughter could attend college. I took a chance and moved from the northeast to the southwest; the real estate and taxes were so much cheaper! I did not, until I moved there, realize how different the work styles and ethics were; after four difficult years I came back home. My work history, which was great, now shows 3 jobs in 4 years. I apply online to great jobs (executive assistant), but I just know in my gut that I am being passed up because of this. And, of course, this is the first thing employment agencies mention. I am open to any advice.. Thank you.

]]> By: Greg http://corcodilos.com/blog/284/the-wall-street-journals-tips-for-tricking-employers/comment-page-1#comment-5565 Greg Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:59:51 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=284#comment-5565 On the "Previous Employers" section of my resume, I keep it brief and fill in any holes some time during the interview. For example, I worked as a contractor for a client for 4 years. The contract was bought four times, although I stayed with the client the entire time. During that four year period, I list the client as my employer so it does not appear that i am an annual job-hopper. I then explain that technically, I had four employers, but the client wanted me to say on. I list the individual employers on a reference sheet. On the “Previous Employers” section of my resume, I keep it brief and fill in any holes some time during the interview.

For example, I worked as a contractor for a client for 4 years. The contract was bought four times, although I stayed with the client the entire time. During that four year period, I list the client as my employer so it does not appear that i am an annual job-hopper. I then explain that technically, I had four employers, but the client wanted me to say on. I list the individual employers on a reference sheet.

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