Career Tips

Poor Work History


I think I need critiquing on my current resume. I'm sure it's a joke but it's what I've got to work with plus I am applying more at temp agencies hoping I can at least get short term work-

CAREER HISTORY:

Contract Positions 1998-2006, Broadcasting 1991-1998

After leaving broadcasting in 1998 I’ve enjoyed the flexibility and acquiring skills from contract work while remaining receptive to other options.

SKILLS: Proficient in all areas of office equipment including computers, copiers, faxes, telephones, mail machines and shipping duties.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Lotus, Internet.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Contract Positions:

3/04-12/06

Temporary assignments which include the following tasks:

Customer Service, file management, clerical,data entry,stock management, copying, faxing, receptionist duties, scheduling appts.

11/03-3/04

Temporary assignments involving assembly work.

 

3/03 - 11/03

Assigned to Mediq PRN- Pennsauken NJ in Purchasing;

Responsible for placing orders for company delivery to other locations

 

Assigned to Cendant Mortgage Mt. Laurel NJ on File Support Team-

Responsible for delivery of requested files to mortgage counselors in various departments, entering appraisal information, packaging and mailing pre-approval information.

Assigned to Gallagher Bassett Insurance Mt.Laurel NJ as office clerk-

Responsible for processing incoming mail, photocopying files.

 

TeleSearch Staffing-Flanders NJ

12/02-2/03

Assigned to M&M Mars Co., Hackettstown NJ-

Mail Services- Responsible for processing and distribution of mail to all departments and assisted in collating projects for adjacent on-site printing services.

 

Temporary Agencies- Allentown PA

6/02-12/02

Temporary assignments in food service.

 

Western Staffing-Allentown PA

5/02-6/02

Assigned to Xerox Corp. North Wales PA-

Responsible for processing of mail with utilization of Pitney Bowes machines.

 

Manpower Temporaries- Bethlehem PA

11/01-5/02

Assigned to Verizon Bethlehem as administrative assistant-

Responsible for assisting sales staff with supplies, mail duties including shipping of packages utilizing UPS & FedEx equipment, scanning to file of ad material, coordinating sales meetings and maintenance of office machines.

7/01-10/01

Assigned to Dun&Bradstreet Bethlehem PA in customer service-

Outbound collections for Verizon Wireless.

 

Self-Employed

7/00-7/01

Responsible for distribution of prepaid phone cards to retail locations and maintaining records.

 

Snelling Temporaries-Somerville NJ

1/99-6/00

Assignments included file clerk for Philip Morris Inc. Bedminster NJ

 

Action Personnel-Roanoke VA

1/98-1/99

Assigned to FAO Schwarz inbound call center-

Inbound catalog orders.

 

Career in Broadcasting

1991-1998

Various radio stations in eastern u.s.

 

1987-1991

Retail Sales

 

EDUCATION:

Warren County Community College, Washington, NJ

Marketing 1992

Broadcasters Training Center, Trenton NJ - Graduate-1991

I wouldn't say your work history is poor, I would rather say you don't really know how to make use of it in your resume, not to mention your CV lacks certain area which would be more than useful. ...and then I would definitely recommend you have a look at the European Curriculum Vitae format (find it by bowsing your google bar) and see what a resume should actually look like.

Section of post does not conform with Monster TOU

1. Drop the Career History section.  Not only does it state that you've gone from broadcasting to contract work, but it also has a feeble cover for that.

Instead, make two Objectives: one for a career in broadcasting, and one for clerical work.

And drop the Skills - you're not listing anything that's not taken for granted.

2. Lump all your contract work into one block.  Give the titles you held, and all the clients you worked for.  Then list all your duties and accomplishments together.  Makes you look less like a jobhopper.

3. You were self employed for a year, and all you can say is that you delivered cards to locations?  Nope - you also did customer relations management, did the books, did sales and marketing for the company, etc.  A resume should emphasize those skills that look most impressive and saleable in the workplace.

If you want to go back into broadcasting, make a functional resume.  List your broadcasting experience a LOT better than you did in your trail resume.

 "I would definitely recommend you have a look at the European Curriculum Vitae format (find it by bowsing your google bar) and see what a resume should actually look like."

Is that format literally European because what works there probably does not work here. Also as far as what a 'resume should look like',in my experience I have found that to be subjective to each employer,or at least job agency I've applied at. That resume has gone through so many changes in short periods of time.

"Drop the Career History section.  Not only does it state that you've gone from broadcasting to contract work, but it also has a feeble cover for that.
Instead, make two Objectives: one for a career in broadcasting, and one for clerical work."

The reason I had to list history is because the list of jobs probably looks so scattered and unstable that I had to summarize things. As far as the objectives,I don't think I have an objective any longer in broadcasting but I had to list it because it covered so many years I could just leave it out,there'd be a big questionable gap.

"And drop the Skills - you're not listing anything that's not taken for granted."

That was recommended from job agencies I had applied at,on the contrary they told me that employers want to know up front the skills I have(apparently some employers need everything spelled out).

" Lump all your contract work into one block.  Give the titles you held, and all the clients you worked for.  Then list all your duties and accomplishments together.  Makes you look less like a jobhopper."

I think I used to list the clients but again agencies I had applied at recommended I not 'name drop' and that company names were not necessary,(of course agencies don't want anyone harvesting company 'leads' from resumes so that was probably their motive there). As far as 'job hopping',the fact that I've done contract work for so long automatically seems to raise flags to these people,but they're temp agencies themselves!

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