CONDENSING
Q: (ERRORS INTENDED) I am a new grad, and resume writing has been a difficult part of finding a job for me. My resume includes 2 pages because it is in the medical feild. The first page just basically gives and overview of my education where i attended and what major it was in. I also have my job information as well as some clerical and clinical skills listed. I was told by my school career serv. cons that the second page should require all of my clinical skills from micr to urinalysis. What do you think? Need a Job
A: Oh, Need, You need more than that! An email with misspellings, typos, numbers, abbreviations and grammatical errors indicates that you CARE LESS about the process of constructing your resume. That is, you COULDN'T CARE LESS.
Who's going to hire you, someone whose first language isn't English? Are you kidding? That person probably writes better than you do.
Now, my dear. It's no wonder that your resume is two pages long. It's a resume of lists. This means that you're regurgitating everything without digesting it. Shift to concepts:
If you still have more than a page, cut anything your career doesn't depend upon. mlc
REVIVAL
Q: I love working in my industry, but it's in trouble. I knew that when I graduated, but I thought I could get by. Other industries seem boring. Help! Refusing to be Dull
A: Dear Refusing, If you've found an industry for life, make it a LIFE! Get on the telephone; go face to face; ask people where there's growth. You want to be on the side of the expansions, not the contractions.
Next, determine your point of difference in that area of the industry. What arrow in your quiver makes you stand out? Figure out how to package it.
Find out what you have to learn to do to be successful there.
Then, pick up the telephone and promote! Get everyone's attention: mention your point of difference first. Take a deep breath while your listener absorbs it. If he doesn't respond positively, get off the phone and give someone else a chance. You may or may not be looking for one bus. Keep watching for a possible combination of buses to give you and your career that ride. mlc
**blogTip**
At a loss about career direction? Look down at your feet. Fashonista Meghan Cleary, author of "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say about You" (Chronicle Books, $12.95), says that footwear tells all (www.missmeghan.com).
Do you see sneakers? Guy or girl, you belong in production.
Barefoot? Meaningful work required. Go, girl, to a nonprofit, or, guy, to activism or resort management.
Girl with pumps? "Hone in on a prestigious law firm or investment bank, a top-tier media company or your own business," Cleary says. Guy with wingtips? Climb the corporate ladder, say, in banking or accounting. Or wear them as an academic where you can stand out, say, in creative writing.
A guy who isn't in the fashion industry but has a shoe fetish might like this book. A guy whose girl has 100 pairs of shoes might give it to her. A girl outside of the fashion industry might be amused and gift her sisters, sorority sisters, 17 best girlfriends, the fashion maven at the local ewspaper and, gee . . . who else?
(E-mail your job-hunting questions to syndicated columnist Dr. Mildred Culp at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2005 Passage Media.)
