Ask a Blogger: How to Follow up and Resume Length

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Over the past month or so I've gotten lots of great comments from readers. It seems that you all have so many really great questions and sometimes there just isn't enough room in the comments for me to give the in-depth replies. I think that if someone is asking the question, then there are probably many more people with similar questions.

 

So, I've decided to answer a few of these questions here:

 

... After having run my own Mechanical and Electrical Contracting Company, employing 19 people plus sub-contractors for 30 plus years ( closed 2008 due to recession) I now find myself in the job market. The majority of my Projects were £500k plus.I have 2 "A" Levels 5 "O" Levels 7 City & Guilds, 17 CPD accreditations, & two I.O.S.H cards. So with all the above information how am I supposed to cram that into " two pages"? ...Yours sincerely Bitter, twisted, dejected, unemployed, ever hopeful Tony

 

Tony,

It sounds as though you do have a lot of experience to cram into one or two pages. Since you have this much information, you can probably make your resume a little longer. One thing you might want to try is to mention a couple of accomplishments on your resume that show that you have handled all sorts of projects. Then, provide more details of each project in a work portfolio that you can bring into the interview. Remember that your resume is a marketing tool to get you in the door and allow you to show your stuff during the interview. Good luck with your job search!

 

Are you some kind of expert in resume preparation or HR? Just exactly what are your qualifications Ms.?You know, I am very tired of people like you trying to tell me how to become successful when applying for jobs online. The truth of the matter is that employers today are downright snobs. There are no great jobs out there anymore for most of us who sweat and toiled our whole lives raising families and working for employers who treated us like crap. What's left anymore are employers with job descriptions that make it almost impossible for anyone to work for them. So spare me, and everyone else that reads your information not to take it to heart because really it is just a bunch of bull.

 

I am not an expert in resume preparation and I've never worked in HR – I'm a writer. That being said, I have worked many different jobs in many different fields. I read and research hiring trends every day in order to bring you the best information I can. I'm sorry that you've had so much trouble finding a job. It's not fair and you don't deserve it. Still, having a positive, enthusiastic point of view can help you see opportunities that you might have missed. The only other option is to just give up and for many of us, that's not a viable one. I hope you find the right opportunity soon!

 

This article truly shows that the author is out of touch with the current realities of the recruitment process specifically on one point. Follow up. As a career sales professional (30 years of highly dynamic and demonstrated skill and achievement) I know instinctively the importance and value of follow up. However, current recruitment modus does NOT allow for such in the vast majority of circumstances... Get out there and actually experience the current conditions before you sit to make a statement of "professional knowledge". I actually hope your employers get to see this statement...I could do so much better than you at your job...I'd LOVE to have it.

 

I'd just like to state again that I am a writer, not a recruiter. As far as follow-ups go, I think that they are always a good idea. You're right that these days, it's not always possible to get contact information in order to properly follow-up. In those cases, just skip it – but if you can, you should. As for being able to do my job, there is a link on the top, right hand side of this page that you can click to submit an article to Nexxt. We always need good writers and different opinions and voices can only help our readers find the advice that works best for them. Good luck!

 

If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a blog, please submit them in the comments.

 

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