Resume question. What should or shouldn't I include?
 

Ok so I haven't ever had a "real" job. Just always worked for dad at the Sign shop. Well my hours at school don't jive well with that so I have been living off of savings(very few toys) and going to school... Anyways a guy I know has put in his notice at his job. He works at a pharmacy part time as a clerk/delivery driver. He says they want his replacement to be a pre-pharmacy major here in town(Hey thats me!). Anyways he said to bring a Resume by and talk to the owner.

Mine is pretty scant. Good grades in school 29 on the ACT
Eagle Scout '09
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Cadet Lawman Academy Grad '08
Philmont Trek '07
Served on staff at the Cub Scout Day Camp
On the academic team in school
In CLUB SCRUB which was a program at HS for kids intending to go into medical professions. I got to do ~30hrs of observation at 2 different Pharmacies.
Active in the PCA and a Board Member in the WBR region.

Thats all I can come up with for now.... As far as references... I know work probably won't be one they would use b/c its my parents. I have several other ppl I know will give me a good reference. Who would you choose?

Former Scout master, went to Philmont with me
HS science teacher/ CLUB SCRUB advisor
HS Principal
Former Committee chair in scouts, I served on staff with him at the Day Camp
One of my dads best Customers. Has been on several jobs with me. He gave me a recommendation for my Eagle Scout. His family owns the 3 local McDonalds.

If I think of anything more I will add it. What should I put on there... Its not like its a major position but I want my resume to jump out at the guy.


Thanks Guys. SmileWavy


Oh I typed all of that in under 10 mins.... Guess I can put good typing skills and very Computer proficient. I am posting from a laptop I hacked and put Snow Leopard on....

Considering that you may be driving some good drugs around, I'm sure they would like an honest, clean person... I think you fit that bill. If it's truly a delivery job, then I would not worry about the fact that you have not had a previous 'real' job.

I think you'll have a pretty good chance. :)

Sid,

IMO for being 18 or 19 your resume is everything anyone could expect it to be and more. You just need to go talk to the guy and be normal and "reliable", and you're a shoe-in. Good luck!

Considering its driving I probably shouldn't mention my favorite high speed hobby should I? :D

I would present that as "able and willing to deliver products in an efficient and timely manner, consistently". :)

Good luck.

Nah, remember, he drives a 944. :p ;)

Hey now!

You'd be surprised how good a 944 can be. It's admittedly not the fastest car in the world, but it's faster than most of the modern-day econobox junk and if driven well/properly can do really well in traffic. Maneuverability is a big plus. And it's a Porsche. :)

A 951 would be the weapon of choice though, I agree. I find myself missing mine occasionally. It was sickeningly, almost stupidly fast.

I would include all activities except the PCA. People can take that a lot of different ways, and you've got some other great stuff on there. Put the sign shop job to show that you're willing to work, and make sure you highlight your 30 hours of observation at a pharmacy. Don't let it grow to more than one page, and don't include references on your resume. You can provide if asked, in which case I would use people that are professional affiliations like the customer you deal with.

I've been reading a lot of resumes lately - I'm not the one who's doing the hiring, but just reading them casually. I really hate seeing "I'm interested in this job to further my skills and I feel I can be a real asset to the team". These are people applying for $10/hr detailing jobs, not corporate execs. If you can breathe and understand simple instructions, you're qualified. Don't oversell yourself with a bunch of feel-good bs - it makes you look stupid. On the flipside, don't undersell yourself. If this is an entry level job in the field you some day want to make a career in, frame it that way. Say something like "while my qualifications more than meet the requirements for this position, I feel this is a good introduction to the field of [xxx] which, as you can see by my current educational activities, is where I intend on building a career".

FWIW, I just paid someone to do mine. Granted, I've been working professionally for 16 years out of college.

But I came to the conclusion that it would have taken me a LOT of time to come up with the version that I paid for. In fact, I don't know that I ever would have done as good a job as the pro did.

I understand your budget is likely very limited, but it might be worth checking for someone in your area.

Focus your resume on what you are trying to do in a career. Better to have a few gaps in employment than put "played piano at the local bordello for 3 months" on the resume... unless you are trying to get a job as a piano player.

I used to do part of the hiring for a very large operation. Over 600 flight crew and I helped with a good portion of them. You would not believe the number of guys who had "worked at Sams pancake house" or something silly that was just not needed on a resume of someone looking for a job in aviation.

If needed have several resumes, each one focused on certain careers. Modify them to fit the company you are looking at.

Also, remember to do some research on the companies you are looking at so you know about them if called in for an interview.

If I were on the hiring end, I would have stopped reading at "Eagle Scout '09" and hired you.

The owner is going to get more out of talking to you when you drop off the resume than what is written on that page. Just be yourself and take to heart Christien's advice. I hate reading resumes with feel good BS. Don't be Eddie Haskell (look him up if you have to).

Good luck!

I don't know, Joe, that might make me want to hire him even more! Great stories, and definitely points to someone who doesn't walk the beaten path.

I don't think he was commenting on the 944's speed as much as the reliability. ;)

J/K guys. :D

Dude,

You are just starting out. No one expects you to show a century of experience.

If it was me, I would go to a format like this:

SUMMARY - Three sentences. Tell them where you want to go with this job and your future plans.

WORK EXPERIENCE - Bullet list. Tell them your duties for your dad and the day camp.

OUTSIDE EXPERIENCES - Bullet list. Tell them about your non-work expericences that are relevant to the job. Leave off PCA. Scout stuff, after school clubs, committees ect are good..

EDUCATION - tell them where you are at school.

REFERENCES - Will furnish on request. All the ones you have would be ok. They will only need 2 or 3. Tell them if you got the job, you will give them the contacts. The reason for not right away is you do not want the employer to waste their time on a fishing expedition.

Thought of another guy I can use as a reference. He had sons in the scout troop when they lived here. He was the Chairman of the Pharmacy school here. He took his retirement and went to help start a private pharmacy school. He and I always got along very well and he told me to call him if I ever needed anything like that...

good luck kid! you're early in the game. worry about grammar, spelling, and sounding intelligent. get a proof reader, not me...i type like a fool. :D

again, good luck

You might want to make a brief reference to your driving record; i.e., no moving violations in last 2 years, no accidents, etc. Especially if you will be delivering in omne of their vehicles. If you will be driving your personal vehicle, you might want to mention having reliable transportation, insurance etc.

Find out when the person making the hiring decision will be at the pharmacy and hand deliver it. If he gives you an interview follow up with a legible, brief, handwritten note thanking him for his time the next day by snail mail.

If you do have an interview, just be honest sincere and let him know you need/want the job. Probably a plius if you lead him to believe you likely will be around for the summer so he wouldn't have to start looking for someone in another 4 months.

Yes somehow I have NO moving violations in the last 2yrs... (warnings don't get recorded :D)


Only semblance of an accident is some azzhat backed into my 944 while I was INSIDE subway getting dinner....


I'll talk to my buddy and see who I need to talk to there and when the best time to catch them is...

Keep it brief. To the point. Only include relevant information. No body gives a s**t that you were an eagle scout.

You shouldn't have a problem...

You just proved that you know NOTHING about scouting.... That is the absolute ONE THING that I would NEVER leave off of my resume.... That is a very important thing to most people.. Tells them that I am a motivated, trustworthy, strong leader, etc....


Research what it takes to get that... It ain't easy...

Also...line up your references today....call them and let them know you may be using them. Have Them typed out on a separate document so if he looks over your resume and wants references you can hand them to him on the spot.

I disagree wiuth serge...I think if nothing else being an eagle scout shows you are goal oriented. If he asks why you want to work at a pharmacy, just tell him you want the first hand experience as that is you major and you hope it will benefit you having it oon your application to pharmD program as well.

Yes, this is HUGE. I forgot all about that. Nothing turns me off a person faster than seeing grammar and spelling mistakes. Typos are one thing, but get your you're/your, there/their/they're and its/it's correct.

The problem is that not everyone who is doing the hiring knows the slightest thing about scouting.

If you are looking to get a job in Dallas with the scouts then fine but many people, especially women unless they have sons, have any idea what a scout is, nor an Eagle Scout. It means a lot to YOU, and a lot to people who know what it is but usually stops there.

Human Resources, who is usually involved with hiring, is usually highly staffed with women, so keep this in mind.

You are wrong sir.

Nobody gives a s**t if you are a Cub Scout, or a Boy Scout.

Eagle Scout is a whole 'nother ball game.

So he should omit something that could carry considerable weight to people who are not idiots, because idiots may see it?

And no, I am not an eagle scout.

Sid, absolutely on the Eagle Scout. That one achievement speaks volumes about your character. And I know you know it.

If there is any way that you can find someone (responsible!) who knows you and also knows the person hiring to present your resume that would be golden, too.

Good luck. We're all pulling for you.

Never said that he should omit that he was a Eagle Scout, but just remember that there are a LOT of people who do not even know what one is.

Joe it may be the largest private pharmacy in town... But still not big enough to have an HR department..... I have a good feeling I will be talking to the guy that owns the place...

I agree. Eagle Scout counts for a lot. So does military service. So do a lot of things. I like to see things on resumes that tell me something about a person other than a work history summary, which is boring, largely pointless and going to come up on an interview anyway.

You are talking to the owner. Be direct. Do not waste his time.

Show up early with a decent haircut, nice clothes (suit and tie if you have one, or slacks and tie if not). Be sure your shirt is pressed and your shoes are shined. Sounds silly but it makes a good impression to let him know YOU mean business.

Be sure you hit all of your good points. These include: You are Pre-phamacy, being an eagle scout, working for for your dad, have a clean driving record, your activities in CLUB SCRUB and anything else that makes it clear that your a concientious, honest and hardworking.

Before you go, work up a 30 second comeerical for your self. Something like: Hi, I am Harry. I am really intersted in your postion as a clerk/delivery driver. I am currently in pre-pharamcy at school and this position will give me a better idea of what it takes to do the job. Lets talk about what you need me to do.

Listen to what he is asking you and answer honestly. Be sure you hit all of your good points. These include: You are Pre-phamacy, being an eagle scout, working for for your dad, having a clean driving record, your activities in CLUB SCRUBm being a Camp counselor, and anything else that makes it clear that your a concientious, hoenst and hardworking.

If you want the job, towards the end of the interview TELL him you want the job and when will you hear from him about your starting date.

Best of luck.

One more thing, if you can, practice your introduction speech and questions and answers with someone you trust.

Alright... Went by and asked for the guy... Shook his hand and introduced myself. Left him a resume... He asked about my schedule and then told me he'd call in the next few weeks...

OK. This is when you need to be aggressive without being a pain.

You should write him a letter thanking him for his time and letting him know of your interest in getting the job. Highlight something about yourself that would help him to decide to hire you. In the closing of the letter tell him you are looking forward to speaking again with him soon.

Wait about 7 days after you mail the letter and call him (if has not contacted you). Ask if he had a chance to look over your resume. As appropriate, ask him if he needed any more information. Before you stop the contact, set a time for your to touch base (in about 2 weeks) and follow up.

Good luck.

How long should this letter be? Hand written?

Typed is fine. Nothing overly wordy. Three or four sentences tops.

Dear Sir,

I wish to thank you once again for taking the time to meet with me on [date] to discuss the delivery driver position with your company. In wake of our discussion I am convinced that I am an ideal candidate for this position and wish to once again express my interest. I look forward to hearing from you in the coming days. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Speed Racer


Summin' like that.

NEVER hand-write a business letter. It makes you look either very young or completely out of touch with the modern world. In any case, it's unprofessional. The only handwriting on a business letter should be your signature.

This is good advice. I would not put references. Just say available upon request.

I would only put "clean driving record". Don't say "no moving violations for the last 2 years", as that implies you have tickets.

And finally, leave PCA off, as others have recommended.

George

Jeff,

Good letter (although I would use another adjective other than "wake").

Also, instaed of being passive and saying "... I look forward to hearing from you in the coming days ... ". I would say: "... I look forward to speaking with you in the coming days. " My reasoning is that this way, you left the door open for you to call him if nothing happens.

I agree with Matt...play up the scouting...minimize PCA....or don't mention it at all.