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December 2002
The AC Phoenix
A message to all of
our valued
friends...
Is there anything
above peace or
beneath hope?
At This Time Of Year...
Thoughts turn to loved ones, both past and present.
Of happy childhood memories. Unwrapping toys, helping with
the baking and licking the bowl. Remember always their kindness
and love. Sweet times gone by.
Thanks for looking to us in times of loss and sorrow.
Merry Christmas
FROM THE STAFF OF
822 CARL RUSSELL AVENUE • WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101
PHONE (336) 722-3459 • FAX (336) 631-8268 • PAGER (336) 631-7343
Address
Resume
Problems
Carefully
Scott T. Fleischmann
By Scott T. Fleischmann
Just as the IRS looks for specific problems on tax returns, good
recruiters look for problems on a resume. Poor grammar, misspelled
words, periods of unemployment are some of the problems that are most
often identified.
Lucky candidates will have a chance to personally address those
problems with a recruiter. Those who are not quite as fortunate will be
eliminated from the qualification process without ever knowing the reason.
Let’s explore those problems and how to prevent them.
Grammatical Errors - The first step in eliminating this problem is to get
a word processor that has a good grammar checker. However, these tools
will not eliminate the problem. They will pick up most obvious errors, but
subtle errors that can change meaning may be overlooked. Therefore,
make sure that you read your resume several times for these errors.
Another option is to have a friend read it to make sure that it makes
sense to them. Ask them to read a small section and then explain it to you
in their own words. If they accurately describe your intent, you can be
sure that it is accurate. Since they did not write the document, they are
more likely to be looking at it without making assumptions that you might
make because of circumstantial knowledge.
Spelling Errors - The solutions to this problem are much like those of
the grammatical errors. Get a word processor with a good spell checker,
re-read your work for errors, and have someone else read it. However, this
problem has a unique twist. Correctly spelled words are overlooked even
if they are not the correct word. As an example, I once saw a resume from
someone who claimed to have supervised a “moist manufacturing
facility.” When we discussed that task we found that “moist” should have
been “joist.”
Employment Gaps - This problem is best handled proactively. Use a
cover letter with to explain the circumstances but do not use excuses. If
you lost your job in a downsizing, say that. Employment professionals
understand that downsizing is a part of life in 21st century America. But
then tell them how you handled that situation. “I decided to use this
opportunity to explore a possible consulting career.” “I decided to use this
time to find the job that best matched my skills.” Or, “I chose to work part
time in retail to support myself, while working full time on my job search”
are all possible answers. The goal is to give them the accurate information on
how you handled a difficult situation with a positive attitude.
Unfinished Coursework - Again, this is best handled truthfully in the
cover letter. Explain the circumstances that caused you to leave that work
unfinished. If you have plans to complete it, state those plans.
Ultimately, the best advice is to have an employment professional
review your resume. If you have a friend who is a recruiter, ask him or her
to review if for you. If not, ask friends and family if they know someone
who can help you. A resume writing service can also help. However, they
charge for their services.
Scott T. Fleischmann is the managing principal for Integrity
Business Soiutions Inc., a management consulting firm. He can be
contacted through e-maii at ibs.scottf @ juno.com, or through the
company web site at www.aboutintegrity.net.