Résumé Writing, what I am learning. Part three-fiths

This installment is all about fonts, and what size fonts to use on your resume. As I said before I am from the school where standard is key... Well what ever the blank template of the Resume template in Microsoft Word that I was using at the time.

7. Be constant with fonts for everything on your resume. Do not (as I thought once) use 3-5 different fonts for the different sections you have. It will only confuse the person reading it and if the HR person or recruiter doesn't have that particular Comic Cat font, their computer will substitute it for something else and then your time was all for not. My advice stick with New Times Roman (Font) as everyone has that on their computers.

Example (New Times Roman in MS Word):

Amanda Peterson

140 Anywhere Ave

San Francisco CA 94555

Cell: (415) 555-5555 

Email: avp003@gmail.com 

8. Font size is another area you want to be consistent with. I was always cutting and pasting from different places on the different resumes I had and it made my resume look like something out of a bad novel. I would suggest for your Header 12-14 font size and as above bold and italicize your name that way it can stick out a little more. For the rest of your resume size 10 would do for everything including titles like Summary, Experience and Skills. For the titles make sure you BOLD them to set them apart from the rest of the text.

Example:

EXPERIENCE:
Any Company, San Francisco, CA                                                                                                                                         11/11-12/12

Counselor of Industry

Any Company, San Francisco, CA                                                                                                                                         10/10-10/11
Jack of all trades

I can hear you pondering, "What about my eye sight? Wouldn't it be better in size 12 so recruiters and HR Persons could read it?"

I would say yes if that is what you want to do, however since now most resume's are uploaded and read by computer programs that place everything in size 12 font for them, its not a big necessity unless when at an interview they suggest it once they see it in person.

Tomorrow Cover letter or No Cover letter? My biggest question of them all. Also feel free to suggest a topic for me to ponder as well!

Résumé Writing, what I am learning. Part Duex

Part two of this series focuses on the questions that I had/have about what to put on the Résumé especially when you are trying to add or subtract something that you may or may not feel that is important to a HR Representative.

5. Putting my skills on a resume are a tricky thing for me. What I think might be something understood or not important could be key in landing the dream job I wanted, and I thought since I have Certificates of Advance Social Media on my resume, it was understood. I was wrong! I told a recruiter that I have lived in the Social Media world for more than 5 years, she wanted an updated resume as soon as I got home from the interview, so she could market me to a couple of clients that were waiting in the wings and I could be employed faster.

If you are into Social Media, examples Pinterest, Twitter, Blogging, Linked-In, Facebook, and any other's that are in the news and you are on the radar for put it on your resume! You do not have to put your user names on it, however the length of time for each is a bonus.

My Example:
I have been Blogging for 5 years (both personal and professional) and have run successful giveaways with Product Relations groups; Facebook, Linked-In, Pintrest and Twitter for 3 years.

Some websites on the World Wide Web can tell you exactly how long you were on the Social Media map. So Google it!

6. Another tricky part about Resume writing is the length of one. I am from the old school thought of one page is best and staples and other attachment devices are a big NO NO! Well again that is an old school thought in the new age of working multiple pages is acceptable. I was told in one interview that 10 years worth of job information or at least 4-5 jobs in your resent past is a good way of showing what your qualifications and diversity of what you are willing to do in the future.

With me I thought I could drop off what I did in my retail position at the PlayStation Store San Francisco in 2002 because I had a very long and current job from 2008-2012. However that retail position could show a potential employer that I have retail experience and can stay at a job long term by that job I stayed at for four years. So, best to put at least 10 years of your work past or show that you went to finish a degree in the time spent out side the work force.

Next post is all about fonts and how mat fonts your Resume should be. Also if you have a question about any resume questions please post them in the comment section and I will try to answer them.

On Friday I have a Guest Poster about job hunting so stay tuned!

Résumé Writing, what I am learning. Part One

It's not news that I am looking for a job. However I am learning a lot on the spot of the do's and don't of résumé writing.

So, here is the start of my list:

1. Do not place "References Upon Request" on the résumé. A recruiter told me it was not required since they always ask for them and it takes up valuable space on the resume.

2. Make sure EVERYTHING lines up correctly. The eye goes to the offset and it does look bad if you are trying to line up that dream job and the HR person sees that extra space or zig zag and they pass on you. If it has to be then make sure it is as minimal as possible.

Example:

Wrong:
San Francisco Sate  BS in Social Media Marketing May 2008
University of San Francisco Masters in Social Media Marketing May 2010

Right
San Francisco State               BS in Social Media Marketing                       May 2008
University of San Francisco    Masters in Social Media Marketing               May 2010

This also applies to job details as well. If you are unsure if everything lines up take a straight edge (ruler, book or another piece of paper) and draw straight lines so that you have physical proof that things are lined up correctly.

3. Be consistent! I put "attention to detail" on my list of qualifications, yet I had the wrong tenths, periods in one job description and none in the others. What I learned is that in the job descriptions NO PERIODS are the correct way.

4. Pretend to be your own wing person and sell yourself on paper! Cover your name and ask if in a social environment how would you sell the person to a potential date (job) and put ideas on paper and even ask your friends how they would market you to a potential person of interest. Then write the highlights on your résumé.

Next post I will talk about what skills you should put on and also how many pages do you need for your new résumé.

Day 11 of January

Wow steady blog posting now for almost a week is a record of mine. I hope that it becomes more and more of a habit due to my new awesome glasses. I have hopes that it will help because now I can look at the screen more with less tired eyes and no feeling in my head that it will explode after 20 minutes of looking at "normal" fonts on the internet.

I don't know what this year will give me however I hope to post more on a regular basis now that I have more sight and things to actually craft and show the world. I am thinking of things yet I don't want to bore you reading the same old same old. I may follow a more bohemian approach to blogging than the more formulaic and popular blogs out there, however I am going to try to make this blog an interesting one. 

I can see!

I got new glasses yesterday. They are tagged with the Chanel brand so I feel I treated myself. They have the CC's on the side and look dashing on me. They are also bi-focal. The second I put them on I could see with out my head exploding.

I don't know when I am going to get my next pair so I need to treat them with the utmost care. Next year I may get sunglasses if there isn't a reason why I should get a new pair or even if I get new insurance.

Looking for a job is...

Harder than finding a liberal in Texas.

I have been looking for a few months and it feels like years. I have hit up every employment agency in the area, dropped my resume off at every place that I could think of and more. I have also tried to go into business myself with little success. Hence the Etsy shop and I am gearing up to do the Makers Fair and a few local farmers markets this year. Hopefully to pay for some of the debt I am in.

However craft fairs and farmers markets are not a steady source of income, so I am still looking for a more stable job. I know its going to take time however I thought it would be instantaneous because of my credentials. Though I think half the nation right now is saying the same thing.

Any more leads that I haven't thought of?

Ouch! My first pin cushion and tutorial

There are many times when I need a helping hand for straight pins and having two little active girls at my feet I can't have a standard pin cushion because small hands get into so many things.

Two nights ago I took a scrap that I had made a month ago and added some elastic took me less than 10 minutes. It is a little loose because I didn't measure the elastic correctly and the first one always comes out wonky.

What you will need for this project:
1. Two pieces of  scrap material 8 inches long by 4 inches wide
2. One piece of scrap interfacing or batting (thickness is up to you) with the same measurement as above
3. One piece of elastic (I have the 1 and 1/4 inch pictured above) this measurement isn't precise due to it needing to fit your wrist. Just make sure to make the elastic is not cutting off your blood supply when you put it on!
4. Thread, Sewing Machine and pins

Start by making a sandwich of the cut scraps and interfacing making sure that the two scrap patterns are facing each other and the interfacing is on top of one of the pieces of material.

Pin it in place and then sew with a 1/4 inch seam around the piece leaving a 2 inch gap on one side of the long side denoting by two pins where to start and finish. Back stitch a bit to lock the stitches in and clip the corners and turn out and iron down the sandwich for the nice edge and seam for the top stitch.

Next top stitch the sandwich closed.

Wait wait I hear you are saying "what about the elastic?" I am getting to that point so hold on.

With the sandwich closed fold it half the long way and add the elastic and pin it to the sandwich ends and sew the elastic to the ends and back stitch (the first end will be easier than the second end).

If you want you could close the open side, however I left mine open so I could have some where to stash a safety pin or two.

All done.