Construction Veteran Breaks Resume Rules

Construction Veteran Breaks Resume RulesConstruction Veteran Breaks Resume RulesTo do justice to Tom Emils construction career, resume writer Dan Dorotik had to commit a few resume crimes.Rules are meant to be broken. Dan Dorotik, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders, has broken a few in his day, including the rule that said a resume should not exceed three pages.But not without great care, he said.Consider the case of Tom Emil, a 59-year-old construction project superintendent who recently turned to Dorotik for help with his resume.Dorotik wound up doing whats generally considered heretical He wrote a four-page resume. After going back and forth with Emil, whose original resume was six pages long, Dorotik checked with professionals in the construction industry, who confirmed Emils assertion that long resumes are industry-appropriate.Several told me they wouldnt have a problem with a resume that extended to several pages, Dorotik said. For a project superinte ndent, they need a lot of information about the specific projects he worked on, and they dont care if you go beyond the brde 10 years.Different industry, different rulesEmils experience and training spans mora than 25 years and includes the supervision of large, complex projects with budgets that range up to $70 million. He has proven experience managing government regulations, including Storm Water Pollution Prevention and dust control and state/local inspections procedures.He was trained in business-administration studies, attended a carpenter apprentice program, received OSHA training and more hes been in charge of the construction of a 21-acre, multi-use business office park complex received FBI clearance to supervise the construction of new airport buildings and supervised the laying of groundwork to build a new shopping center, complete with supermarket, a bank, two restaurants and multiple shops.Emils resume also included accomplishments and testimonials from successful clien t engagements.All that was hard to say without stretching resume conventions, Dorotik said.Dorotik knows the risks involved in breaking the three-page-resume rule. Some recruiters and hiring managers will simply refuse to read beyond P age T hree or will disregard the document all together.Thats why he and Emil decided to create two versions one for construction jobs and one for jobs in other industries.He fit Emils professional experience, credentials and skills onto the standard three pages. And used a fourth page to capture the accomplishments and testimonials. The four-page resume is now Emils regular resume, and the three-page resume, his alternate, shorter version for hiring companies outside his primary industry.Too many words, not enough contentDorotiks mission to shrink Emils resume ironically began by adding more to it. In spite of the six-page length, the content was lacking. It was too process-oriented, Dorotik said, delineating responsibilities without saying anything a bout whether Emil had done a decent job. He had to beef up the job descriptions without adding extra pages.Emils issues were common to senior executives who assume the reader knows more about their job than they do, Dorotik said.A lot of these things, I take it for granted that its covered in my job title, Emil said. All the work Ive done, Ive already assumed that Im a construction superintendent - thats my job description. Of course the job came in on time, under budget. If I didnt do it, Id be fired.In the new resume, Dorotik explained not just the elements of every project but detailed the accomplishments and budgets involved. Dorotik reminds all job seekers A resume isnt the place to assume anybody knows anything.

Logistics Support (LS) in the Navy

Logistics Support (LS) in the NavyLogistics Support (LS) in the NavyThe Logistics Support (LS) rating (which is what the Navy calls its jobs) was created in 2009 when the Navy merged the Storekeeper (SK) and the Postal Clerk (PC) ratings. This rating compasses most of the duties of the discontinued positions Logistics Support sailors keep track of supplies and partes for all ship, squadron, and shore-based activities. If a unit needs a part for repairs, the LS helps them get it, which is especially key if the item needed is highly specialized. This Navy job is equivalent to the Armys military occupational specialty (MOS) 92, Automated Logistical Specialist. Duties of Navy Logistics Support Sailors These sailors usefinancial accounting and database systems to perform inventory and financial management functions. In addition to sorting all official and personal mail, logistics support sailors manage money order and stamp inventories, and maintain financial and inventory reports. Th ey order, stock and issue clothing and general supplies, keep databases and correspondence files and manage Navy post arbeitszimmers. This includes sorting and distributing post and packages and routing and directing the transportation of mail. These sailors often perform counter operations similar to those atUnited States Postal Service offices, such as selling stamps, handling money orders, preparing claims, tracers, and inquiries and preparing and maintaining postal records and reports. The list of duties for logistics support sailors at the Navy postal office is lengthy, and includes requisitioning, controlling, and maintaining postal supplies and equipment and maintaining security for registered, certified and other special classes of mail. Working Environment for Navy LS LS sailors work in offices, shore-based warehouses, air cargo terminals at naval air stations and in storerooms aboard ships. While they work closely with other people, their tasks usually require independ ent decisions. Although its primarily an office job, LS sailors may be stationed in combat zones or on Navy ships and bases anywhere in the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq. The skills youll learn if you enlist in this rating will train you for a variety of civilian careers. You should be able to seek work in financial management, warehouse management, inventory management, and procurement across many different sectors. Training for Navy Logistics Support After the requisite boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois, sailors who enlist in this job will spend 40 days in A-School at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi. To qualify for this rating, you need a combined score of 108 on the verbal expression (VE) and arithmetic reasoning (AR) segments of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. Theres no Department of Defense security clearance required for this job. Sea/Shore Rotation for Navy Logistics Support First Sea Tour 48 monthsFirst Shore Tour 36 monthsSecond Sea Tour 48 monthsSecond Shore Tour 36 monthsThird Sea Tour 42 monthsThird Shore Tour 36 monthsFourth Sea Tour 36 monthsForth Shore Tour 36 months

4 Examples of Outdated, Counterproductive or Bad Career Advice

4 Examples of Outdated, Counterproductive or Bad Career Advice4 Examples of Outdated, Counterproductive or Bad Career Advice4 Examples of Outdated, Counterproductive or Bad Career AdviceNot all career advice is created equal.Since weve been old enough to make our own decisions, our closest relations have offered advice on nearly every topic. It seems like there is no end to the constant opinions offered to us. People may feel the need to advise us. This doesnt mean we have to take it to heart.Career advice is no different. Our colleagues, family and friends will inundate us with more recommendations than a Presidential Advisory Committee. While family and friends have good intentions, you may be better served opting to follow expert career blogs and information columns online. Theyll have more relevant information than Aunt Mary or Uncle Fred. However, be discerning in the advice you follow no matter what.Here are four prime examples of outdated, useless and simply bad career advice. TWEET1. Summer and holidays are terrible times to look for a job.Follow this bad career advice and youll be out of a job. There isnt a time for abandoning your job search. Whether youre comfortably employed or actively searching for work, treat every moment and opportunity the same. Dont turn a blind eye to any job listing or company. Besides, summer and holidays are just as good a time as any to look for careers.Fact Summer jobs and holiday hiring freezes may slow down the industry, depending on your sector and position, but there are no periods when it stops altogether. Hiring managers take this time to fill positions they may lose with the coming New Year. Plus, large holidays reap big temporary hiring opportunities. Many retailers, manufacturers and delivery companies hire seasonal labor to fill their increased demands. CoolWorks lists seasonal and summer jobs. Bonus many of their locations are top-level vacation spots.2. Your resume can only be one page.Okay, obviously, shorte r resumes are better. Or are they? Resumes rarely go over two pages. And the more information you cram into your document, the less likely anyone will read it. On the other hand, shorter resumes send the message you have no skills, experience or achievements. In other words, both long and short resumes kill your chances. Candidates with less than ten years of experience should do everything in their power to keep their resume at one page. The only reason to go over two pages is for executive positions requiring more than traditional experience and professional development.Fact Most hiring managers discard resumes they cant understand within six seconds. Without reading the career summary and job descriptions, hiring managers want to scan the titles, headers, bullet lists and job positions. They are looking to understand the candidates basic qualifications, without reading the entire resume. TopResume offers free resume critiques to see if your resume passes the 6-second test.3. Your cover letter cant be imaginative.Innovative thinkers and creative minds need to show hiring managers they can bring something to the team. A cover letter doesnt have to be a dry, conservative correspondence. Save second person, professional and conservative descriptions for the resume. The cover letter is a distributionspolitik to display your personality and inner strengths. Keep in mind, youre not writing a fictional story. Its okay to be imaginative and creative. Just dont forget to be professional. This is a job application. Not movie night with your best friends.Fact Hiring managers see enough dry, boring cover letters. They want an introduction, not another regurgitated, condensed resume or summary. Use content that makes the hiring manager smile.4. Hide your weaknesses, or disguise them as strengths.Hiding your weaknesses is one thing. Changing them into strengths, well, thats called lying. Remember to err is human. Hiring managers realize we all have some weaknesses. After all, no one can be perfect at everything. And, no, were not telling you to advertise your weaknesses. But dont cover them up by calling them something theyre not. On a resume and cover letter, remove your weaknesses and replace them with actual proven strengths. In an bewerberinterview, explain how you overcome weaknesses.Fact Avoid embarrassing moments in the interview by having to reveal your worst weaknesses. Volunteer some small weaknesses and provide examples of how you overcame them. This goes a long way in showing the hiring manager you take ownership of faults and think fast on your feet.Recovering from mistakes.It happens to the best of us. We strive to improve our careers, look for ways to move up the ladder and, boom, bad advice knocks us down a few pegs. Making a mistake is easy. Recovering from the blow, well, it takes practice. The first, and possibly most important step, is to take ownership of whatever you did wrong.Failing to take responsibility is a red flag. Emplo yers will respect a team member who admits their wrongs, takes immediate steps to fix the problem and leaves the situation with a new lesson and set of skills. Liars, on the other hand, are shown the nearest exit. Also resist the urge to place blame on others, even of it truly was their fault.Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique todayRelated Articles