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-   -   Writing a resume (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=357117)

  • May 23, 2009, 04:00 PM
    payasa14
    Writing a resume
    I am trying to get a job as clerical at a collection agency but requires a resume. I haven't never type up a resume so I was wondering if someone can help me make up a resume. I haven't really worked in an office before. I have only worked at pizza hut and McDonald's so how could I possibly make that look good in a resume. Please help!!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:02 PM
    Clough

    Hi, payasa14!

    How long did you work at Pizza Hut and McDonald's, please?

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:07 PM
    Clough

    Are you still there, payasa14? I'm ready to help you.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:20 PM
    payasa14

    At pizza hut I work from aug 2006 to aug 2007 and mcdonalds sept 2007 to jan 2009.
  • May 23, 2009, 04:21 PM
    Clough

    What did you do at Pizza Hut and McDonald's?

    I'm looking for things that we can put on your resume.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:26 PM
    payasa14

    At pizza hut I was a waitress/cook. I made drinks, took orders, delivered pizza, was a cashier. At mcdonalds I did everything. Cashier, made food, organized food, handed out food, took orders, I stocked food in freezer.
  • May 23, 2009, 04:31 PM
    Clough

    Okay, thanks!

    August 2006 to August 2007
    Waitress and Cook at Pizza Hut in??

    Interfaced on a regular basis with customers
    Took orders for customers
    Handled money as a cashier on a regular and frequent basis
    Made drinks
    Delivered pizza to the homes of customers
    Worked as a team member with others
    Helped to maintain excellent customer service

    Anything else there?

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:32 PM
    Clough
    If you did everything at McDonald's, were you some kind of manager?
  • May 23, 2009, 04:35 PM
    payasa14

    Yeah, that's awesome!!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:39 PM
    Clough

    That's how we can line things up on your resume.

    What word processing programs do you have on your computer, please?

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:42 PM
    payasa14

    Microsoft word 2003
  • May 23, 2009, 04:44 PM
    Clough

    Would you open it up and get ready to format your resume?

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 04:47 PM
    payasa14

    Okay got it open...
  • May 23, 2009, 04:52 PM
    Clough

    Now you need to set up the page. You go to File and click on Page Setup. I would suggest one inch borders all the way around.
  • May 23, 2009, 04:55 PM
    payasa14

    Okay and I click on border and then what? How do I get the 1 inch?
  • May 23, 2009, 04:57 PM
    Clough

    I'm in Word 1997. I would think that a lot of things should be similar.

    There should be a tab to click on to set your margins to how you want them. Or, do you have something that says Border?
  • May 23, 2009, 04:58 PM
    Clough
    I should have said margin and not border earlier. Sorry!
  • May 23, 2009, 05:03 PM
    payasa14

    Oh okay well I just set all my margins to 1.
  • May 23, 2009, 05:08 PM
    Clough

    Now we need to put your heading at the top of the page. My preference is to have it centered because I think that it makes the page look more balanced.

    Some people prefer it to be on the left side, though.

    First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name
    Street Address
    City, State and Zip Code (I like to add the other four digits, too.)
    Phone Number and Email Address next to it

    We can work on the font style and size after you've put that information on it.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 05:14 PM
    payasa14

    Okay
  • May 23, 2009, 05:15 PM
    Clough
    Did you finish doing that yet? Below, is an example that you can follow.

    John T. Smith
    1234 Cherry Lane
    Smithown, OH 12345-3546
    468.321.7896 [email protected]
  • May 23, 2009, 05:19 PM
    payasa14

    Yes I'm done.
  • May 23, 2009, 05:25 PM
    Clough

    Now, using highlighting of the text with your cursor, we're going to set up the font style and size. Also, italicizing your name is okay.

    I would suggest the font of Arial because it's easy to read. Times New Roman, is very friendly and warm, but we want to make sure that everything that you write is very legible.

    I would set your name at a 16 point font and the rest below that at 14 point.

    Please let me know if you need help with finding how to format the font and the size.

    Okay?
  • May 23, 2009, 05:31 PM
    payasa14

    OK I'm done
  • May 23, 2009, 05:36 PM
    Clough

    Okay, GREAT!

    I'm going to need to be leaving here momentarily, because a friend coming to take me to a concert at a nearby college.

    With that first example of what you've done for a job, I'd like you to list other jobs the same way. You think of as many action words that you can for the beginning of the sentences. For example: interfaced, worked, accomplished, established, helped, etc.

    What and how you've done in school can also be in your resume.

    Have you done any extracurricular activities and are you still in school?

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 05:40 PM
    payasa14

    In high school I was in a club that helps around the school. I was on honor roll but other then that nothing. Okay yeah that's fine all your help is greatly apprectiated! Thank you for everything!
  • May 23, 2009, 05:45 PM
    Clough

    I got to go, now! Sorry! My friend is here. I would love work with you on this at another time, soon!

    I'm usually on here late at night, after around 10:30. But, tomorrow, I need to get up to play for church.

    If you know your typing speed and ten-key speed, that's something that you can also put on the bottom of your resume.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 08:39 PM
    Clough

    Hi again, payasa14!

    I'm back from the concert and am going to be staying at a friend's home for the night. I just wanted to mention some other things for you to think about.

    If you need a resume in order to apply for the job, you should probably also put together a cover letter to send or give with the resume. We can also work on that. I've written lots of them.

    Concerning the company to which you're applying, if I were you, I would suggest finding out as much information about them that you can, and what specifically they do, so that you can be best prepared for an interview and be able to speak about the company as an informed and interested person. You'll look better to them that way.

    What did the club do that helped around school?

    What was your grade point average in high school? You said that you were on the honor roll.

    Have you ever lead a group of people for a common purpose or goal of some kind? That can also be something that can be mentioned on a resume.

    Have you ever been a volunteer for things? If so, what, please?

    Have you ever tested your clerical skills at a temp agency? If not, that would be something that you might consider doing. To my knowledge, it's free and you would then have documentation that would be proof of how you can do some things that are clerical.

    Do you have any written references/letters of recommendation from any former employers? If not, then I would suggest getting some and also ask others if they would be willing to provide a verbal reference for you if a potential employer asks you.

    We're trying to "beef-up" your resume here and also make you look as good as possible to a potential employer. Things need to be informative, legible, precise, concise and clear!

    I will definitely be back on here tomorrow night after 10:00 P.M.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 08:48 PM
    payasa14

    Yeah I was thinking of doing a cover letter. The club that I was in helped organize games. Did a cancer show, set up a little history place on cinco de mayo and martin luther king day. Yeah I volenteered to gather food to give to the food banks. But yeah okay ill be on tomorrow too.
  • May 23, 2009, 08:55 PM
    Clough

    I just noticed that you appeared here. I do need to go. You're starting to open up like a book, and that's great!

    Anything that you and/or we can think of as far as what you've done with your life would be good as possibilities for your resume and also the cover letter.

    Please do some research on the company and what they do. I would suggest to even go so far as going in to them to see if they have any literature and/or forms that they give to people. You wouldn't need to say that you were looking for a job, but are interested in what they have to offer potential customers.

    Please look over carefully what I've written in post number 28 and answer the questions, if you will. If you might not want to post your grade point average, then please let me know what the range was for you to be on the honor roll.

    You are totally anonymous here though. So, not much to worry about.

    Thanks!
  • May 23, 2009, 08:57 PM
    Clough
    I just thought of something else, and that would be, please be sure to find out the first and last names of anyone to whom you will be submitting any documentation about yourself.

    If you submit documents to exactly the right people, that will also help you to look good in their eyes.

    It's a personal touch...
  • May 23, 2009, 09:06 PM
    Wondergirl
    The job is more important than the place and dates, so emphasize that. Be concise when listing tasks.


    Waitress/Cook, Pizza Hut, Town (08/06-08/07)
    * Took customer orders by phone and in person
    * Regularly and effectively interfaced with customers
    * Regularly handled cash
    * Made drinks
    * Delivered pizza to customers' homes
    * Enjoyed working as a team member
    * Provided excellent customer service
  • May 24, 2009, 09:15 PM
    Clough
    Good points there, Wondergirl! I was going to get around to the possibility of using some kind of bulleting.

    payasa14, if you're online and want to, I'm available and would enjoy working with you on this again!

    Thanks!
  • May 24, 2009, 09:32 PM
    payasa14

    I'm not at home rite now so don't have a computer to open up my resume.
  • May 24, 2009, 09:35 PM
    Clough

    That's okay! I was just checking. We could work on some things for a cover letter, that is, if you have the time now?

    What are you using right now to communicate here, please?

    Thanks!
  • May 26, 2009, 01:35 AM
    Clough

    Hi, payasa14!

    I'm just wondering how you're doing and looking forward to working further with you on this project!

    Thanks!
  • May 26, 2009, 01:43 AM
    payasa14

    Well I was looking for info like you said but there website don't have much on it and they have no kind of bOoklets but like what kind of stuff I'm I looking to put on there.
  • May 26, 2009, 01:49 AM
    Clough

    What specifically are you looking to put on it, please?
  • May 26, 2009, 08:07 AM
    payasa14

    Hmm I really don't know. Do I have to have stuff about the company? I thought it was only when you went to the interview. How should my resume be listed. I know objective should be the very first thing but does it matter in what order everything else is in?
  • May 26, 2009, 09:12 AM
    Wondergirl
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by payasa14 View Post
    Hmm I really don't know. Do I have to have stuff about the company? I thought it was only when you went to the interview. How should my resume be listed. I know objective should be the very first thing but does it matter in what order everything else is in?

    The current thinking is that the Objective section is NOT necessary. Instead, there should be sections that tells about Skills and Abilities and/or Accomplishments. Think about what skills you have -- customer service, computers, working on a team or working independently, knowing a language such as Spanish. What accomplishments do you have under your belt? -- have you created a useful filing system for an employer, have you saved a company money by shortcutting a task, have you been able to resolve customer problems when no one else could, etc.

    The order of a resume --
    Accomplishments
    Skills & Abilities
    Work History
    Education
    Special Training (may need to be listed before Education if it happened recently)

    Yes, you need to read up on the company, not only for the interview, but also for the cover letter. You want them to think you are very interested in their company. Your local public library will have info on the company.

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