Tossing resumes WAS Re: Interview Questions

[Lisa Comeau <COMEAUL -at- CSA -dot- CA>]

" I was very surprised at Lisa's report that some companies throw
away resumes simply because they do not list outside interests." - Tracy

I found it surprising as well, but there are several companies that  throw away resumes for other "not-so-great" reasons.
-the color of the paper
-too many graphics, or none at all
-no references included
-no dates
-no education in the last 5 years

I have given courses on resume writing, interview skills, etc., and as part of this course I did some research into what makes or breaks a candidates resume. I was STUNNED! But again, it helps if you know your audience.

Please keep in mind that my background is in sales, entertainment, and visual merchandising, so all of these might not apply, but some of them may.

I once applied for a teaching position using a resume done up like a brochure which got rave reviews elsewhere, and was adored by the one person in the company I'd learned about, but the other 2 people involved in the hiring process hated it, and asked me to send a "normal" resume. (in a way it worked, because they asked for another resume, but they could have just as easily tossed it-my own fault for not checking deeper-but I DID get the job...)

Resumes are technical communications too, so the same rule applies; know your audience, know their needs, their wants, their preferences and what does and doesn't work for them.

Lisa Comeau
IS Super-User/Trainer
Certification & Testing Division
Canadian Standards Association
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Etobicoke, ON
(416) 747 2597
comeaul -at- csa -dot- ca