Here's My Resume: Criticize and give Pointers Please
03-14-2006, 11:47 PM
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Here's My Resume: Criticize and give Pointers Please
We've got a job fair tomorrow and my girlfriend wants me to go with her, so I though I'd bring my resume and see what bites I can get. This is not a very professional format ( I don't believe) but it is my Co-op resume/cover letter that I revised here in the last 30 minutes for tomorrow. Enjoy...
One last thing: Is one supposed to have a cover letter for his/her resume at a job fair?
Here's the resume
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a job I enjoy that allows me to work and gain first-hand experience in the field of mechanical engineering.
EDUCATION
Working towards bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
August 2001- present
3.3 GPA
Austin High School, Honors Diploma
Decatur, Alabama
2001 Graduating Class
3.84 GPA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-op Technical Specialist
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Huntsville, Alabama
May 2004 – present
Supported THAAD Missile System through programming and testing using Perl programming and analyzing data using MatLab and Microsoft Excel.
Structural Apprentice
Civil Engineering Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
June 2003- present
Supervised 150 Airmen in training; erect and maintain structures, repair runways.
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
Dean’s List (January 2004-Present)
Sigma Nu Fraternity (Pledge Class President)
Formula SAE
UAH Lancer
UAH Compass Counselor
USAF Airman Leader Program
USAF Basic Training Honor Graduate
Youth Leadership of Morgan County
SPECIAL SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
SECRET clearance (23 October 2002).
C++ and Perl programming experience.
Macintosh/PC and Unix/Linux experience.
CAD and IDEAS 3-D modeling software.
Microsoft Office, Mathcad, MatLab, and Maple.
Masonry, concrete forming and reinforcing.
Oxyacetylene, arc, MIG and TIG welding, sheet metal fabrication
And the Cover Letter
Dear Employer:
Please accept my enclosed resume for your available position. I am confident the skills I have gained through my education and professional experience will prove a great contribution to the goals of your company.
When you review my enclosed resume, you will find that my background includes reputable marks in my college courses, along with the following professional experience:
SECRET clearance
Supervised and was responsible for the conduct, punctuality, physical fitness, and safety of 150 Airmen while in United States Air Force Civil Engineering Training Squadron;
Applied myself throughout basic training to excel in the areas of drill performance, physical fitness, academia, appearance, and behavior in order to obtain the respect of Honor Graduate in the United States Air Force;
Obtained first-hand experience in Systems Engineering as a Co-op for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company;
Acquired knowledge of Unix and Linux operating systems and gained invaluable knowledge in the skill of C++ and Perl programming while working for Lockheed Martin;
Selected for my leadership, achievements, and public relations skills to serve as a student representative (Lancer) for the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
In addition, you will find me an enthusiastic, young professional with fresh problem-solving tactics based on past professional experience. My unique experiences, coupled with my continuing education and self-motivation, will prove me to be a strong asset to my employer. I look forward to a personal interview to discuss how I can best contribute to your company.
One last thing: Is one supposed to have a cover letter for his/her resume at a job fair?
Here's the resume
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a job I enjoy that allows me to work and gain first-hand experience in the field of mechanical engineering.
EDUCATION
Working towards bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
August 2001- present
3.3 GPA
Austin High School, Honors Diploma
Decatur, Alabama
2001 Graduating Class
3.84 GPA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-op Technical Specialist
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Huntsville, Alabama
May 2004 – present
Supported THAAD Missile System through programming and testing using Perl programming and analyzing data using MatLab and Microsoft Excel.
Structural Apprentice
Civil Engineering Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
June 2003- present
Supervised 150 Airmen in training; erect and maintain structures, repair runways.
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
Dean’s List (January 2004-Present)
Sigma Nu Fraternity (Pledge Class President)
Formula SAE
UAH Lancer
UAH Compass Counselor
USAF Airman Leader Program
USAF Basic Training Honor Graduate
Youth Leadership of Morgan County
SPECIAL SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
SECRET clearance (23 October 2002).
C++ and Perl programming experience.
Macintosh/PC and Unix/Linux experience.
CAD and IDEAS 3-D modeling software.
Microsoft Office, Mathcad, MatLab, and Maple.
Masonry, concrete forming and reinforcing.
Oxyacetylene, arc, MIG and TIG welding, sheet metal fabrication
And the Cover Letter
Dear Employer:
Please accept my enclosed resume for your available position. I am confident the skills I have gained through my education and professional experience will prove a great contribution to the goals of your company.
When you review my enclosed resume, you will find that my background includes reputable marks in my college courses, along with the following professional experience:
SECRET clearance
Supervised and was responsible for the conduct, punctuality, physical fitness, and safety of 150 Airmen while in United States Air Force Civil Engineering Training Squadron;
Applied myself throughout basic training to excel in the areas of drill performance, physical fitness, academia, appearance, and behavior in order to obtain the respect of Honor Graduate in the United States Air Force;
Obtained first-hand experience in Systems Engineering as a Co-op for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company;
Acquired knowledge of Unix and Linux operating systems and gained invaluable knowledge in the skill of C++ and Perl programming while working for Lockheed Martin;
Selected for my leadership, achievements, and public relations skills to serve as a student representative (Lancer) for the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
In addition, you will find me an enthusiastic, young professional with fresh problem-solving tactics based on past professional experience. My unique experiences, coupled with my continuing education and self-motivation, will prove me to be a strong asset to my employer. I look forward to a personal interview to discuss how I can best contribute to your company.
03-15-2006, 12:22 AM
#2
Ahh, the Insider's Guide to Hiring an Engineer in America:
Well, first of all, there's too much stuff there. I mean, honestly, why that much stuff? Are you trying to look skilled in various areas?
Employers don't want people that know how to weld, computer program, shoot guns, are physically fit, have military backgrounds, and are engineers! No way, dude; employers want an engineer that can engineer, and maybe that can manage to miss the toilet seat half the time. Why would an employer want an engineer who can function doing anything other than what they're being paid to do? Engineers that say they know how to tie their shoes are worth extra money; if you want to get hired, make yourself sound like a turd who can do something really well. Make yourself look less valuable; that's an axiom to resume building, grasshopper.
Second of all, you're spelling is obviously that of somebody that has been educated. Education is bad; employers want somebody who is naturally adept at things and are self-taught, because people who teach themselves are better leaders. Therefore, you want to first of all remove any signs of education. Say that you self taught yourself on a seven year pilgrimege to Japan with a cult. That kind of training brings flavor to a workplace. THAT kind of running away from home and denouncing all worldly possessions also shows initiative. And THAT'S what employers want.
And third of all, throe in some spellling and gramer mistacks. A real smart man knows hoew to spelll a werd at leest too ways! And use lots of different kinds of fonts too. It makes you look creative.
Finally, for a cover, find a picture of a hot babe out of a magazine, and throw that on the cover. Employers want to know that they're not hiring people with issues; you know, those kind of people. Like, the ones that have doubts or misunderstandings about their gender? You don't want to look like one of them, so find a hot picture of, oh, say Chandra North, and use that.
Now THAT cover will get attention.
And so, just do what I do and you'll find yourself right at home at any engineering department in Ford, Chevy or Chrysler!
Well, first of all, there's too much stuff there. I mean, honestly, why that much stuff? Are you trying to look skilled in various areas?
Employers don't want people that know how to weld, computer program, shoot guns, are physically fit, have military backgrounds, and are engineers! No way, dude; employers want an engineer that can engineer, and maybe that can manage to miss the toilet seat half the time. Why would an employer want an engineer who can function doing anything other than what they're being paid to do? Engineers that say they know how to tie their shoes are worth extra money; if you want to get hired, make yourself sound like a turd who can do something really well. Make yourself look less valuable; that's an axiom to resume building, grasshopper.
Second of all, you're spelling is obviously that of somebody that has been educated. Education is bad; employers want somebody who is naturally adept at things and are self-taught, because people who teach themselves are better leaders. Therefore, you want to first of all remove any signs of education. Say that you self taught yourself on a seven year pilgrimege to Japan with a cult. That kind of training brings flavor to a workplace. THAT kind of running away from home and denouncing all worldly possessions also shows initiative. And THAT'S what employers want.
And third of all, throe in some spellling and gramer mistacks. A real smart man knows hoew to spelll a werd at leest too ways! And use lots of different kinds of fonts too. It makes you look creative.
Finally, for a cover, find a picture of a hot babe out of a magazine, and throw that on the cover. Employers want to know that they're not hiring people with issues; you know, those kind of people. Like, the ones that have doubts or misunderstandings about their gender? You don't want to look like one of them, so find a hot picture of, oh, say Chandra North, and use that.
Now THAT cover will get attention.
And so, just do what I do and you'll find yourself right at home at any engineering department in Ford, Chevy or Chrysler!
03-15-2006, 01:03 AM
#4
Originally Posted by derek840378
u had a 3.8 gpa in hs and still cant spell TORQUE correctly!! 
He came here and asked a serious question; you should be able to give relevant and factual experiences and advice.
You should be ashamed of yourself, Derek.
Be serious, man.
(I'm going to Hell... My God Almighty, I'm going to Hell.....)
03-15-2006, 03:52 AM
#5
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Mr Torque,
I expect the candidate to know each skill listed on their resume inside and out. If you list it, expect the interviewer to ask about it. There's nothing I hate more during an interview than seeing a blank look after asking a skill related question when the skill is listed on the resume. The worst was a cadidate that listed 20 programming languages on the resume then couldn't write a single line of code in any of them. Even though we require a 4 year degree for hiring, the GPA is never considered. I would ask a few employer's in your field if they consider GPA. If not, I would remove it. Also, make sure you tell the potential employer if you don't know the answer to their question. Bluffing is ok in poker, but it's killed many interviews. I personally like resumes that are in keywords. Since the first glance will make or break the resume, make sure that you've listed the best skills prominently and keywords help that out.
All JMHO,
brandon.
BTW, I think Mr Torque's name was cut due to the name char limit.
I expect the candidate to know each skill listed on their resume inside and out. If you list it, expect the interviewer to ask about it. There's nothing I hate more during an interview than seeing a blank look after asking a skill related question when the skill is listed on the resume. The worst was a cadidate that listed 20 programming languages on the resume then couldn't write a single line of code in any of them. Even though we require a 4 year degree for hiring, the GPA is never considered. I would ask a few employer's in your field if they consider GPA. If not, I would remove it. Also, make sure you tell the potential employer if you don't know the answer to their question. Bluffing is ok in poker, but it's killed many interviews. I personally like resumes that are in keywords. Since the first glance will make or break the resume, make sure that you've listed the best skills prominently and keywords help that out.
All JMHO,
brandon.
BTW, I think Mr Torque's name was cut due to the name char limit.
03-15-2006, 05:49 AM
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Nice resume, good solid background / education (I'm a MechEng, I know whereof I speak);
You might want to massage into the information that you work well WITH Teams, while still mentioning that you supervised 150 Airmen - typical Engiineering Management are immersed in the "Six Sigma" concepts and are directed to fill out their head-count with those who can not only lead, but can/willintegrate well into a Team, regardless of their role therein.
You might want to massage into the information that you work well WITH Teams, while still mentioning that you supervised 150 Airmen - typical Engiineering Management are immersed in the "Six Sigma" concepts and are directed to fill out their head-count with those who can not only lead, but can/willintegrate well into a Team, regardless of their role therein.
03-15-2006, 06:33 AM
#7
It's my pot and I'll stir it if I want to. If you're not careful, I'll stir your's as well!
Originally Posted by Rauschbo
You might want to massage into the information that you work well WITH Teams, while still mentioning that you supervised 150 Airmen - typical Engiineering Management are immersed in the "Six Sigma" concepts and are directed to fill out their head-count with those who can not only lead, but can/will integrate well into a Team, regardless of their role therein.
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03-15-2006, 06:39 AM
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Secret clearance will help in alot of places (for instance where I am).
Try this place RAYJOBS.COM
I agree with the teaming statement. Also, don't try to play "buzzword" bingo with interviewers (saying things like "think outside the box", "paradigm shift" and tons of others, do a search on line, you will find out what I mean). To me, they are empty words that don't convey anything.
Good luck,
~reelengineerscain'tspelRob
Where's my slide rule?
Try this place
RAYJOBS.COM I agree with the teaming statement. Also, don't try to play "buzzword" bingo with interviewers (saying things like "think outside the box", "paradigm shift" and tons of others, do a search on line, you will find out what I mean). To me, they are empty words that don't convey anything.
Good luck,
~reelengineerscain'tspelRob
Where's my slide rule?
03-15-2006, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by derek840378
u had a 3.8 gpa in hs and still cant spell TORQUE correctly!!
And thanks to EVERYONE that has replied so far, it's being revised as we type.
03-15-2006, 10:51 AM
#14
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Your resume looks pretty good. I'd change the objective to read something like "To secure a permanent position with room for advancement in the mechanical enineering field." And in Education I'd change the first line to something like "Will be graduating with a degree in Mech eng on such and such a date." Make yourself sound as professional as you can. And try to keep the resume to a decent length, 2 pages is good, 3 pages max. A busy employer might toss it aside if he feels like it's going to take too much of his time to read. He could have 50+ resumes to read and a boss hounding him to hire somebody quick.
Your cover letter should be written to get the prospective employer interested in reading your resume. You might want to summarize the work experience in a way that sparks interest in looking at your resume. If your cover letter looks too short, increase your line spacing and use a bigger font.
Proof read everything. Don't rely on a spell checker alone. Grammar and spelling mistakes speak volumes about not paying attention to detail.
At job interview time, be really positive about everything and everybody. Every old boss and every job you've had has been great. All your ex-coworkers have been the best. All your profs are geniuses. Being relatively in-experienced, you'll have to get the employer to choose you over the next guy with your personality and eagerness.
I've worked in the eng field since the late 80's. I've been through quite a few job interviews and this is what I've found to work for me.
I don't know what the eng job market is like in the US right now but in western Canada it's hot, hot, hot! Good luck
Your cover letter should be written to get the prospective employer interested in reading your resume. You might want to summarize the work experience in a way that sparks interest in looking at your resume. If your cover letter looks too short, increase your line spacing and use a bigger font.
Proof read everything. Don't rely on a spell checker alone. Grammar and spelling mistakes speak volumes about not paying attention to detail.
At job interview time, be really positive about everything and everybody. Every old boss and every job you've had has been great. All your ex-coworkers have been the best. All your profs are geniuses. Being relatively in-experienced, you'll have to get the employer to choose you over the next guy with your personality and eagerness.
I've worked in the eng field since the late 80's. I've been through quite a few job interviews and this is what I've found to work for me.
I don't know what the eng job market is like in the US right now but in western Canada it's hot, hot, hot! Good luck
03-15-2006, 12:27 PM
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I'd change the objective line to make it a complete sentence:
From "to do blah blah blah"
TO:
"I'm making myself available to a company in need of a dynamic and competent leader with a broad background but specific skills necessary to give them a competitive advantage"
Surely, after life in the USAF, you would have perfected the art of BS by now??? hehehe.
How many EPRs have you written?
From "to do blah blah blah"
TO:
"I'm making myself available to a company in need of a dynamic and competent leader with a broad background but specific skills necessary to give them a competitive advantage"
Surely, after life in the USAF, you would have perfected the art of BS by now??? hehehe.
How many EPRs have you written?