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I don't have much experience so my resume sucks but don't know what else to put on it.
Should I lie like my older sister?
Everything she wrote on her's is fabricated/copied, no experience AT ALL, didn't even graduate H.S but she's able to get interviews like crazy. Not only is she's pretty and bubbly, she's talkative, confident, extroverted, funny, and can lie like crazy. She jumps from job to job in a few months but still get hired somewhere in just a few weeks doing nothing.
All my sisters are like this, except for my little sister she a little more introverted like me but she's pretty too and can get a job easily but won't.
I am truthful but I get no bites. I was putting down no work history and some volunteer work on various fast food/retail paper applications and some job boards. 1 interview from Goodwill and Walmart. Then I start lying.... Interviews! Yippie!
But unlike them I am not a very confident person, I am prone to depression, anxiety and shyness, I'm not very enthusiastic and sociable, prone to get antsy easily around people. I don't know how I turned out this way.
I try to be confident, not to show this side in interviews but I think they can see right through this facade.
I don't know what to do. I finally deiced to go to community college for welding
and I'm volunteering at this place close to home but having no job hurts, it hurts badly.
Can anyone give me some advice please?
Your tips on getting interviews, resume advice, cover letter advice, interview tips, being more confidence, anything?
I was so excited before; and yes I know am still young with no responsibilities even so..it makes you feel worthless.
And yes before lots of people said to get some counseling but really I can't afford it nor can my parents. They are reluctant to give me bus money; let alone money for counseling.
Well, her resume was broad and showed accomplishments and resumes like this usually stand out from the many date/title chronological types. My question is was everything made up? Employers will verify these so I am curious how this would work. What did you change on yours that got you interviews?
You are quite young, and just need to get a foundation going to get started by getting work history. Were you a member of any acedemic clubs in school or anything else? Your second post states you are learning computers better, a good start.
At interviews, are you able to sell the skills you listed? How much do you talk when responding? Were you able to focus ok to give a response or do you think you appear nervous or disinterested?
The wording in her resume is more refined and looks more professional; her resume looks and sounds like she put time and effort into it whereas your looks like you simply took a few minutes to make a bulleted list.
As far as changing the wording, you need to make yourself look over the top. For example, you weren't just a cashier, you were a customer service representative that supported the needs of your local community. Get what I'm saying?
Life can be tough for us introverts, but I wouldn't advise you to lie like your sister. I couldn't imagine jumping from job to job every few months. New environments and co-workers every few months would be nerve-wracking. Instead, focus your energy and pursue what you enjoy ( I can't tell if you want to weld, do office/administrative work, or develop/code websites.)
Your resume doesn't list any skills! Highlight your skills instead of the mundane tasks in some high school workshop. I think employers would be more interested in knowing that you're familiar with OOP concepts and have the skills you outlined in this post over what you have detailed in your resume.
How comfortable have you been in your web developing experience? If you enjoy it, I would advise you to build a personal website using your html/css/javascript skills. When you are ready, buy a domain and upload your site. That will provide you with more skill development, confidence, and self-marketing. I would rather improve myself than work at Wal-Mart (and from what I understand, you are young and not in dire need of money right now?)
I don't have much experience so my resume sucks but don't know what else to put on it.
Should I lie like my older sister?
Everything she wrote on her's is fabricated/copied, no experience AT ALL, didn't even graduate H.S but she's able to get interviews like crazy. Not only is she's pretty and bubbly, she's talkative, confident, extroverted, funny, and can lie like crazy. She jumps from job to job in a few months but still get hired somewhere in just a few weeks doing nothing.
All my sisters are like this, except for my little sister she a little more introverted like me but she's pretty too and can get a job easily but won't.
I am truthful but I get no bites. I was putting down no work history and some volunteer work on various fast food/retail paper applications and some job boards. 1 interview from Goodwill and Walmart. Then I start lying.... Interviews! Yippie!
But unlike them I am not a very confident person, I am prone to depression, anxiety and shyness, I'm not very enthusiastic and sociable, prone to get antsy easily around people. I don't know how I turned out this way.
I try to be confident, not to show this side in interviews but I think they can see right through this facade.
I don't know what to do. I finally deiced to go to community college for welding
and I'm volunteering at this place close to home but having no job hurts, it hurts badly.
Can anyone give me some advice please?
Your tips on getting interviews, resume advice, cover letter advice, interview tips, being more confidence, anything?
I was so excited before; and yes I know am still young with no responsibilities even so..it makes you feel worthless.
And yes before lots of people said to get some counseling but really I can't afford it nor can my parents. They are reluctant to give me bus money; let alone money for counseling.
Do not lie. It will only get you into trouble. Don't envy your sister's job hopping. It could come back to bite her.
I think you could probably expand on some of the bullet points on your resume. You were a cashier, so you probably also did customer service, right? How did you obtain funding for your school? Expand on that. Add specifics.
To me, it looks like you have more experience than most recent HS grads. Have some confidence!
As far as changing the wording, you need to make yourself look over the top. For example, you weren't just a cashier, you were a customer service representative that supported the needs of your local community. Get what I'm saying?
That's right. In interviews, pretend like you developed the cure for cancer.
I was eating lunch one day and a guy was interviewing at the table next to me. It was hilarious listening to him talk. You would think he was some kind of superhero by the way he talked up his "accomplishments" and skills. What the interviewer does is select the person who does the best job of BSing. It's all so fake.
That's right. In interviews, pretend like you developed the cure for cancer.
I was eating lunch one day and a guy was interviewing at the table next to me. It was hilarious listening to him talk. You would think he was some kind of superhero by the way he talked up his "accomplishments" and skills. What the interviewer does is select the person who does the best job of BSing. It's all so fake.
I so agree. Unfortunately introverts fit into one of HR's lists of broad baseless stereotypes that they are antisocial, poor communicating, nonteam players so they are discriminated against like crazy by employers. I really have very little sympathy for American companies whining about poor employees.
Do not lie. It will only get you into trouble. Don't envy your sister's job hopping. It could come back to bite her.
I think you could probably expand on some of the bullet points on your resume. You were a cashier, so you probably also did customer service, right? How did you obtain funding for your school? Expand on that. Add specifics.
To me, it looks like you have more experience than most recent HS grads. Have some confidence!
DECA is government...edit: Confused for a minute whose resume was whose.
I'm surprised she gets interviews when she starts off with, "Dynamic". What a load of horse puckey. It sounds like she cut/pasted some template from the internet.
Ok, you say you "built robot". Is this the legit resume? Instead of telling them how you used measuring tape, put more technical stuff about building that robot. What did it do? What part of the team were you? What part did you build, or did you help with the planning, blue prints, etc? It doesn't really explain what you did.
Instead of "playing exercises", tell them what you accomplished. Took part in x studies, was team leader or won several debates about x or whatever.
Fund raiser...not about working with two classmates, what did you DO to raise that money?
As mentioned, you can get a lot more...important sounding if you change "cashier" to something fancier. It's still cashier but geez, look at job postings, they even do it. "Customer Service Rep Tier 3" is a fricken cashier in some places. Inventory specialist, not "stocked shelves".
Volunteer work: You didn't just "pack and label cans" you were an important part of an organization that brought food to many hungry/homeless families all across x inland empire or community or city...
It's how you word the resume. You be truthful, but don't be afraid to get fancy schmancy with your words.
If you look at job postings, even jobs you don't want...read what they say. Then read between the lines. They make a receptionist look like a legal secretary.
Last edited by Three Wolves In Snow; 02-05-2013 at 09:05 PM..
Hang in there! You're at a tough age, and are obviously showing some smarts by reaching out to others for advice. Give yourself some confidence in acknowledging this. And keep searching for information -- maybe pick up a book or two on job hunting, interviewing tips? Is there a workforce commission in your town? They often have classes on resume writing and interviewing. A community college or church may be another source for classes.
This is a mish-mash of ideas, but here goes:
-Identify achievements and outcomes for your resume (others have mentioned this earlier). Did you decrease shelf stocking/ inventory times? And so forth.
-Focus on a particular skill (was it customer service? budgeting?) and highlight this in your resume
-What kind of job are you looking for? What are your best skills? Identify and then memorize this. Make a short statement to verbally share with people as you meet them. Having a "prepared" statement may help when you meet new people or potential hiring managers.
-Make sure you have a firm handshake and look people in the eye. This sounds silly, but not everyone can do this and it can be a deal breaker.
Hope these help!!! Hang in there, be kind to yourself and keep searching.
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