February 8, 2008
(I intentionally set the post date to the year 3000 so that this post will always be on top)
I've been in the BPO business for 6 years now. I've interviewed countless applicants. I've seen hundreds of resumes. Some of which I've used in mine. But what concerns me and actually drove me to putting up this blog is the many mistakes first timers make. This has got to stop.
So I'm starting this blog which will eventually become a full fledged site to help all of you first timers on the do's and don't's of life. This will start with how to build your first resume to how you should look and act on your first interview. Once that is done, we can pick up from there.
I'm confident that this small blog can help countless people land their dream jobs. So read away...
Saturday, February 8, 3000
Sunday, February 10, 2008
So, you're writing your first resume, huh?
As I've said on my first post, I've been in the BPO Industry for 6 years now. I've interviewed countless applicants with their fancy schmancy resumes and what I've noticed is that none of them are as impressive than what they pose to be. You read their resumes and they do not even know half of the words written in 'em.
My goal here is not to give you the industry standard in resumes, but would give you tips on what should be and should not be included in a resume:
1.Personal Information - the simplest form of personal information are the obvious ones. Place there things that we can use to get in touch with you. A home address, a home phone, a mobile phone number, and an email address is fine. Most of them who send me their resumes include their passport number and even their weight. Choose the items carefully. Make a seperate resume for each industry you would want to take a whack at. Don't assume that a resume is a resume is a resume. The interviewers actually read what's in 'em. I remember this one time I interviewed this guy who claims (in his resume) that one of his special skills is CISCO. (Google it.) So blankly, I asked him what CISCO means- not knowing what it was, I just tried to see if this guy would lie his way out of it. The bloke said, "I don't know" Whatta buffoon.
In as much as you love your folks. We don't need that kind of information so you can leave their names out.
2. Order - Start off with your obrjectives then your educational attainment (in chronological order, the latest on top) that way, the interviewer can immediately see how far you've gone without having to read the entire sheet. NOTE: OJT does not count as an official work experience. What does 500 hours prove?? Absolutely nothing.
3. References - make sure that the people you put in your reference section is someone who can say something about your personality or even work ethics. It's kinda stupid calling a reference up and all they say is, "he's nice... caring". We need to know what type of a person you are and what we're going to expect when we decide to get you.
4. Important Information - NEVER EVER miss anything out. If you've worked in a McDonald's chain, put it there. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that the information on the resume is in sync with you.
We want to be impressed, yes. But we can also smell a try hard a mile away.
Also, K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Schmuck...
Wanna try working in a Call Center?? Hook me up. ebzster@gmail.com
My goal here is not to give you the industry standard in resumes, but would give you tips on what should be and should not be included in a resume:
1.Personal Information - the simplest form of personal information are the obvious ones. Place there things that we can use to get in touch with you. A home address, a home phone, a mobile phone number, and an email address is fine. Most of them who send me their resumes include their passport number and even their weight. Choose the items carefully. Make a seperate resume for each industry you would want to take a whack at. Don't assume that a resume is a resume is a resume. The interviewers actually read what's in 'em. I remember this one time I interviewed this guy who claims (in his resume) that one of his special skills is CISCO. (Google it.) So blankly, I asked him what CISCO means- not knowing what it was, I just tried to see if this guy would lie his way out of it. The bloke said, "I don't know" Whatta buffoon.
In as much as you love your folks. We don't need that kind of information so you can leave their names out.
2. Order - Start off with your obrjectives then your educational attainment (in chronological order, the latest on top) that way, the interviewer can immediately see how far you've gone without having to read the entire sheet. NOTE: OJT does not count as an official work experience. What does 500 hours prove?? Absolutely nothing.
3. References - make sure that the people you put in your reference section is someone who can say something about your personality or even work ethics. It's kinda stupid calling a reference up and all they say is, "he's nice... caring". We need to know what type of a person you are and what we're going to expect when we decide to get you.
4. Important Information - NEVER EVER miss anything out. If you've worked in a McDonald's chain, put it there. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that the information on the resume is in sync with you.
We want to be impressed, yes. But we can also smell a try hard a mile away.
Also, K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Schmuck...
Wanna try working in a Call Center?? Hook me up. ebzster@gmail.com
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