September 23, 2011
Dear Everyone:
I
am now working on a
résumé.
You
might be thinking, “Huh? If
you’re retired, why do you need a résumé?”
(If
you’re thinking, “Huh?
What’s a résumé?” then you need to get with the program.
You can’t get anywhere in the employment world without a résumé.)
First reason: I’ve never
actually done one.
Remember: I started working
in 1973. Back then, no one
did a résumé, unless it was a transcript from a college or university.
And I’ve worked for the same overall company ever since then.
While I did apply for possible new-to-me jobs from time to time,
a recitation of accomplishments was a short list backed up by a
recommendation from your existing supervisor.
Then the company put in a series of electronic systems where you could
list, and add to, things you’d done that might be interesting to someone
considering hiring you. It
had various names from “employment history” to “career history and
development system”, or “CHDS”, which we immediately nicknamed “Cheese
Head Deficiency Syndrome”, or “Cheese Head” for short.
As
in, “When you finish that project, make sure to remember to put it into
‘Cheese Head’.”
Second reason: Whether you
plan to work or not, you should have an up-to-date résumé, just in case.
Even if you only plan to do volunteer work, it saves the
organization time to know what, if anything, you can do for them, short
of lifting chairs.
Third reason: (Here’s the
real reason.) While I
still have some time “on the books” with that “transition” company, I
might as well avail myself of their expertise.
It’s already paid for, after all.
They even have “template” résumés to get you started.
And
a 22-page “booklet” on what a résumé is and what to put into it.
With a whole page filled with “action verbs” to boot.
And a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”.
Such as “do” use white paper, “don’t” use colored paper “to make
yours stand out” from all the rest.
Another thing: If you have a
“long and distinguished” career, only cover the last 10-15 years.
Seriously. Even if
you did create a rudimentary “database” using a
WordPerfect table in
1987, the person who will be reading (actually, “scanning”) the
résumé
doesn’t care, if they were even born by 1987.
Ditto setting up a completely new file room in 1980.
All it says is, “This person is too old to be able to do anything
today.” Ugh.
Instead, say something like “Automated a manual billing operation,
replacing over 8 hours processing time with, literally, the click of a
button.”
You
might be thinking, “What does that mean?”
More importantly, it might make the person scanning the résumé ask the
same question, and be curious enough to schedule an interview, just to
find out.
Not
that I’m eager to go through the “interview process”.
Double-ugh.
But
I’ve already had one former co-worker ask me if I’m available to do some
contracting (read: temporary) work.
And that means getting set up with one of the contracting firms
that work with the company.
Even if they’re told “we want to (temporarily) hire this specific
person”, they’re going to want to see a résumé before they’re going to
hire you.
And, let’s face it: The
clock is running out on the “transition” company.
So get the professional input while the sun still shines, right?
Might as well.
Love, as always,
Pete
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