Off-Topic

[WaitTilNextYear]

re: Off-Topic

Lots of short-term jobs can hurt in the long run, but if that's all I can get, what other option is there? For Long term jobs, will it matter the type of position it is, or will they just care about the fact that it's long term? Like a long-term job unrelated to anything I've gone to school for or the type of job I'm applying for in the future, would that be better than something more short term that is actually more related to my field?






What's the point of internship/volunteer spots if they don't help so much? I've viewed those in the opposite way. Showing that you're willing to take unpaid things in a specific field to show you do care about the experience/skills gained over just the money.


Everyone has their own opinion I guess. Hearing people(not here specifically,just in general) on one side of the fence about short term jobs and internships, and then people saying something completely different relating to long term jobs and paid positions. That's what makes it more confusing, people got valid claims on both sides.

Will probably just come down to finding the 1 person/company with the right opportunity available. Until then, just gotta hope that day actually happens.

In some ways the system is a little bit rigged, too. And you are correct in recognizing that. Maybe "rigged" isn't the right word, but there's a definite positive feedback loop (which helps explain why so many top executives can fail upward in this country and probably your country also, lol, but I digress).

You need experience to become a good candidate for a good job. But you sort of need that good job first to get the good experience to become a good candidate. It's cyclical.

Volunteering can be a great thing, especially if you can explain how it has enhanced your skills in certain areas. But volunteering is only a supplement to your jobs and work history, not a substitute for working a paid job at a given point in time (there are certainly some exceptions like when you go on multi-year missions/trips/projects out of the country and can't really work while doing that).

Everyone needs some sort of breakthrough or someone to take a chance on them at some point in time--a lot of times this happens when you're fresh out (just getting out of college or grad school and whatnot). Or maybe there's a friend of a friend/family member/professor/colleague to help get you in the front door. Of course you can stack the deck in your favor as well by having really well-thought-out application materials and interviewing well and having a plan of attack, but you need to even get to the interview in the first place to be able to ingratiate yourself.

All we're saying is that having a track record of being steady/having worked at some places for many months/years communicates a lot to a potential employer about you. Fairly or unfairly. You still could be a terrible worker but have held the same job for a while, but that's usually not the case. That longevity is something that people who are considering making an investment in someone (HR, salary, benefits, training, important responsibilities) really want to dream on when trying to find the right person. Nobody wants to hire someone, then poof this person is terrible and now gone, and have to start the hiring process all over again in 3 months.

Some positions are short-term by design. But you don't want to fill up on those alone. Unless you've got absolutely no other options due to your location and lack of relevant jobs in the area. Some people in this boat move. Others change industries. Others try to fight through it for a few years before hopefully it paying off. Short-term is preferable to having nothing especially if you need to put food on the table! But, yes, in some ways taking a job in a slightly different field to establish some good work history is better than bouncing around and going temp thing to 4 week thing to 2 month thing. And to be honest, these short jobs aren't necessarily going to be any more relevant to your career anyway, right? I'm guessing some have been pretty random? Like the one you said is a one day job? Going out of your field a little bit is something that you can easily explain in an interview, but being able to put Job X - 1 year, Job Y - 18 months, Job Z - 3 years (great resume I have here, huh?) says a lot to a potential employer about you.

Ultimately it's your choice what you apply to and how to go about it and all the advice in the world isn't gonna change that.

[youvalss]

re: Off-Topic

If you are not so strict about telling the truth, I would say that if you aren't going to need references from certain jobs where you worked for a short period of time, you can eliminate these from your resume - and extend the time you worked at your next job. Unless someone calls them, who would know? You can easily make 18 months into 2 years. I've done that and had no issues. I even told an employer I was still working at my last job while I had been actually laid off from there. Up to you.

I say that unless the truth looks perfect, it's fine to lie here and there, as long as you know what you are doing. The guy from the previous poster's avatar taught me this.

So I started this horrible job on Friday...finally a job with acceptable salary. I know I have to get out of there ASAP, so I've already started to look for a job again. But it's better doing this while you have a job, so you don't feel the pressure to take the first job you get.

I was unemployed for a year...and just made it to read freelance/self employed (pretty common in my field) on my resume. The only problem is when they ask why I left my previous job of 6 years to do that. I tell them I wanted to explore more areas in my field, to network and to grow professionally...which I wasn't able to do at the last place. I Assure them that I'm looking to go back to a full time permanent job now and take advantage of everything I've learned the past year. Something like that. Sometimes it works.

The owner, who interviewed me for this job actually knows well many people from my last job. So he asked for a permission to call the boss there (I have a reference from there, but not any of the bosses). I said "You sure can, however I do have my own reference from there". Apparently he called...I was hired the same day. Never had such as quick hiring process.

In 4 days of working there, I have already met my previous boss and the senior sales guy. They do business with this company and come over to pick some products sometimes. But I think they decided to stop by to see how I was doing (and maybe wonder why I left a much better job for what would eventually be this place...which I can't really explain).

But I do know this about myself: If I get depressed at work, I have to find another job. It's really hard for me to keep working for a long time feeling like that. And that's what I'm feeling now, so hopefully by the end of the summer I will find something better. Or I am going to need to take some pills to help me make through the day (hopefully being high enough to not care about anything).

[Majingir]

re: Off-Topic

If you are not so strict about telling the truth, I would say that if you aren't going to need references from certain jobs where you worked for a short period of time, you can eliminate these from your resume - and extend the time you worked at your next job. Unless someone calls them, who would know? You can easily make 18 months into 2 years. I've done that and had no issues. I even told an employer I was still working at my last job while I had been actually laid off from there. Up to you.

So I started this horrible job on Friday...finally a job with acceptable salary. I know I have to get out of there ASAP, so I've already started to look for a job again. But it's better doing this while you have a job, so you don't feel the pressure to take the first job you get.

Moral of the story...lie?

I want to keep the jobs I had on my resume, but maybe adding some long term jobs just in random areas like retail(I've never actually worked in retail, I've tried avoiding those types of jobs since I hate dealing with shoppers)? Might even just exaggerate volunteer position I had. I don't have a contact from most of my prior employers anyways(minus my most recent one which I did leave on great terms), so I guess saying that lasted longer than the few months it actually did might look better?

In some cases, I believe they can use your SIN/SSN and see where/when you've worked? Not like I'm going for some high up position where background checks are so important, but all it takes is someone checking and finding out the lie. Even worse if it happens while you're employed there.

There's 1-2 main gaps I need to fill (make up fake retail positions?), and 1 job I'd probably exaggerate how long I was there. Background check would ruin my chances, but telling truth seems to ruin it too lol.

Just don't know which retail location to put. Just want to make sure they don't actually contact someone from the store asking about me. I thought about putting a retail chain that has closed, but can't think of any around the time I need to fill the gap. Best I can think is putting a store I know is still around, but their location has moved. So best I can say is "I worked there,but they have moved so I don't know their number anymore"

[ProfessaPackMan]

re: Off-Topic

Moral of the story is to learn how to play “the game” so you aren’t constantly looking for work.

Once you learn, then it becomes much easier to find work.

[countryboy]

re: Off-Topic

It's not a lie, if you believe it.

[jeremym480]

re: Off-Topic

[WaitTilNextYear]

re: Off-Topic

Moral of the story...lie?

I want to keep the jobs I had on my resume, but maybe adding some long term jobs just in random areas like retail(I've never actually worked in retail, I've tried avoiding those types of jobs since I hate dealing with shoppers)? Might even just exaggerate volunteer position I had. I don't have a contact from most of my prior employers anyways(minus my most recent one which I did leave on great terms), so I guess saying that lasted longer than the few months it actually did might look better?

In some cases, I believe they can use your SIN/SSN and see where/when you've worked? Not like I'm going for some high up position where background checks are so important, but all it takes is someone checking and finding out the lie. Even worse if it happens while you're employed there.

There's 1-2 main gaps I need to fill (make up fake retail positions?), and 1 job I'd probably exaggerate how long I was there. Background check would ruin my chances, but telling truth seems to ruin it too lol.

Just don't know which retail location to put. Just want to make sure they don't actually contact someone from the store asking about me. I thought about putting a retail chain that has closed, but can't think of any around the time I need to fill the gap. Best I can think is putting a store I know is still around, but their location has moved. So best I can say is "I worked there,but they have moved so I don't know their number anymore"

No, you shouldn't lie. That's not good advice to follow. Not worth the risk of getting caught even if it's very unlikely to ever be discovered. You should never write down you worked some place you didn't.

However, sometimes you can be strategic about how you present information. For example, instead of using month/year format like October 2016 - January 2017 (which implies 3 or 4 months) you could just put 2016-2017 if you didn't have anything else to show in that same time period. If they ask you point blank how long were you there, you could say "just so many months" which you'd be honest about but it at least looks better on a piece of paper with no context. You would never want to put January 2016 - December 2017 if you didn't actually work all those months there. There are lies and then there is "formatting" which is the most politic way I can put it. Avoid lies, but sometimes formatting can be helpful in smoothing over small gaps or other imperfections.

Moreover, sometimes I feel like people try harder to scheme and expend so much extra energy trying to be clever that would be better spent just pursuing a decent and perhaps boring job/career/niche. The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line, not a meandering, circuitous, tortured path. It sounds so exhausting with all the gymnastics that are going on sometimes, lol. I try to keep it as simple as possible in my own career, personally speaking.

[Majingir]

re: Off-Topic

Likely will just decide to make up something right now, and assuming I apply for a job in the future while still employed at the other company, remove the fake stuff for the next job. Eventually that recent 5 or so year history on resume won't include that gap time anyways.

If you worked December 2017-January 2018 at a place, sure, you could say you were there from 2017-2018 which is true, but I'm sure hiring people are smart enough to know if someone says something like that, its likely because they don't want to mention the months.

[kehlis]

re: Off-Topic

I too would echo that I don't recommend lying or making anything up.

You honestly never know who may know someone at the place your adding to your resume. Sometimes it's a smaller world than we think. Or if you add a place and its a place that has say a system or procedure that they know that place has and then ask you about it and your clueless. Showstopper.

That said, it's easy to say there is nothing to lose and you can just move on to the next place, but I don't know how good of a suggestion that is.

[DieHardYankee26]

re: Off-Topic

Maj, you're a Friends fan. I know you know what happened to Joey when he faked speaking French on his resume.

[kehlis]

re: Off-Topic

Maj, you're a Friends fan. I know you know what happened to Joey when he faked speaking French on his resume.

Or when he faked being uncircumcised when he wasn't lol.

Or being able to dance.

Sure there is more.

[l3ulvl]

re: Off-Topic

Or when he faked being uncircumcised when he wasn't lol.

Or being able to dance.

Sure there is more.

I forgot when he faked being uncircumsized that scene killed me


also when he faked being a 19 year old

Spoiler

sup with the whack playstation sup?

[WaitTilNextYear]

re: Off-Topic

Likely will just decide to make up something right now, and assuming I apply for a job in the future while still employed at the other company, remove the fake stuff for the next job. Eventually that recent 5 or so year history on resume won't include that gap time anyways.

If you worked December 2017-January 2018 at a place, sure, you could say you were there from 2017-2018 which is true, but I'm sure hiring people are smart enough to know if someone says something like that, its likely because they don't want to mention the months.

Not necessarily. If you worked at a place for only a short period, then the months matter more. If you stay in a job for, say, 8 years, who cares if you started in Jan. or July? Relatively speaking, it makes little difference in the total amount of time spent.

But, yeah, if you use month/year format on your resume for some previous positions and not for others, it will totally tip someone off as to what you are trying to do (or that you have a bad eye for detail/haven't rigorously proofread your own resume, which could be even worse depending on what you're applying for). Whatever format you go with, I'd be consistent with it.

[Majingir]

re: Off-Topic

Experience aside, any advice on format of resume/cover letter? I got my template from someone who works in career services who also does some HR work for a private company, so the template is probably fine. But in terms of actual content on it I might be able to fix. If anyone is really good at this type of stuff or just wants more specifics, I could DM you.

My new cover letter is an opening paragraph mentioning the job applied for and my educational background. Next one mentions the major details of stuff I did at my prior position. Next paragraph is basically space to customize stuff geared towards the position I'm applying for. I also have a generic ending paragraph to wrap up the cover letter (with 1 sentence customizable to each specific company)

Resume is broken down into a few categories and spans 2 pages. Summary/Highlights, Experience (a few bullet points explaining responsibilities at each job), Education, Certificates. Final 3 I'm fine with, but that summary one I just have a few bullet points highlighting experience in a certain field, knowledge about certain softwares/systems, and some points with generic "buzzwords" like detail-oriented, self-motivated, team-player and so on.

Maj, you're a Friends fan. I know you know what happened to Joey when he faked speaking French on his resume.

[WaitTilNextYear]

re: Off-Topic

Experience aside, any advice on format of resume/cover letter? I got my template from someone who works in career services who also does some HR work for a private company, so the template is probably fine. But in terms of actual content on it I might be able to fix. If anyone is really good at this type of stuff or just wants more specifics, I could DM you.

My new cover letter is an opening paragraph mentioning the job applied for and my educational background. Next one mentions the major details of stuff I did at my prior position. Next paragraph is basically space to customize stuff geared towards the position I'm applying for. I also have a generic ending paragraph to wrap up the cover letter (with 1 sentence customizable to each specific company)

Resume is broken down into a few categories and spans 2 pages. Summary/Highlights, Experience (a few bullet points explaining responsibilities at each job), Education, Certificates. Final 3 I'm fine with, but that summary one I just have a few bullet points highlighting experience in a certain field, knowledge about certain softwares/systems, and some points with generic "buzzwords" like detail-oriented, self-motivated, team-player and so on.

For the resume, obviously there are tons of ways you can structure it. Chronologically, by certain functions/skills, or combinations of those methods. It's not so important what font you use or what size it is (you don't want to come off as a serial killer cutting out letters in magazines though, or have a messy jumble of many different styles, or have a resume that is too many pages because the font is so big). What's more important is that you are presenting the (most accurate) best version of yourself and in a way that fits the position to which you are applying. You want it to look clean, be easy to read, and be extremely over-proofread. Give it to friends and colleagues and see what they think. Some feedback might not be useful, but you might get some ideas by "workshopping" it. Like you said, there is basically an infinite number of examples on the web to look at, but it sounds like you have a pretty standard organization from your description.

For the cover letter, I'd try to keep it to one page (two at most). Make sure to properly and specifically address the person doing the hiring (you can usually find this info pretty easily from the job posting). Be succinct. You can probably edit all your paragraphs down by at least 1 sentence. Pack it in tight. Use the body of the letter to address any bullet points/lists/skills the job posting mentions or deems important--some people even re-write the items into their letter to show how they are literally addressing specific needs. This strategy can be effective, but it's not as unique as it once was. Maybe one paragraph can be about how you've done a lot of work with specific computer programs that the posting mentions (just for example...programs or other skills would be relevant to what you know and what the job wants). Maybe another paragraph can touch on a different criterion in the job posting--you have management experience or you've worked in an allied field etc. Here you are basically selling yourself in a way they'd be crazy not to buy. Also, maybe you use a paragraph to mention how obtaining this position fits an interest you have and/or furthers a career goal for you--how it fits into the larger narrative in your work life. The best matches between employer/employee are mutually beneficial in ways beyond just getting a check. You also don't just want to reproduce your resume in paragraph form for the cover letter. You want to highlight those specific things about you that seem really critical in the job posting; try to think like the hiring manager/committee would be thinking if you were in their shoes. If they want to know the basics, they will just look at your resume so it's fine not to touch on everything in your resume.