The Wall Street Journal NBEW

Clearing Up Misconceptions About Resumes

By Tom R. Arterburn

 

At one time, turning to a secretarial service, or local print shop for assistance in preparing an effective résumé was an innovative approach to getting a leg up on the job-search competition.But today, high quality print technology can be found in many households, personal computers are abundant, desktop publishing has become a household word and computer software can do everything but seal the envelopes for a job-seeker wishing to conduct their own direct-mail campaign from the kitchen table. In order to stack up on top, a candidate's résumé must reflect originality, professionalism, capability, intuition and above all sincerity.  

Although desktop publishing systems, word processors, professional résumé writers and even some secretarial services should be able to assist in preparing a professional-looking document, only candidates, themselves, can demonstrate sincerity.Whether you choose to write your own résumé or hire a professional, the following myths and misconceptions along with the facts about résumés will help you make more informed decisions regarding how best to present your qualifications and abilities to a potential employer.Fiction: Plagiarizing the content of a successful colleagues résumé, or a sample from a résumé guide is a convenient, economical and productive technique.Fact: Job-seeking is a demanding competition not a leisurely activity.In today's ultra-competitive job market, in which hundreds of candidates vie for a single position, job-seekers who strive to be "as good as" anyone else, will surely be defeated by the “competitor” who can prove they are the best.Myth: Résumé content should be generic so that it appeals to a variety of employment markets.Fact: The relationship between a résumé reader and a résumé writer is much like that of a couple planning a future together. Who would you consider as a partner? The person interested in you or anyone else? Or the person specifically and sincerely interested in you?"Of the résumés we receive, a high percentage are generic. If you leave it to my imagination as to what position you're applying for or where you best fit in our organization, it's not going to get the consideration as if you applied for a specific position," says Beth Marguardt, staff personnel manager at Southland Corporation inDallas, Texas.

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J
jrnlyst1

11/12/2012

Provided by YP.com

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jrnlyst1

11/09/2012

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Our resumes WORK for our custo...

Our resumes WORK for our customers...



Raymond B. Jr. [email protected]

to: Tom Arterburn <[email protected]>

date: Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 3:25 PM

subject: Resume Question



Mr. Arterburn,



I would like to let you know that the resume you prepared for me has been great. I was hired for the first job I submitted it too. Thank you again.



Sincerely,

Raymond B.



joseph a. [email protected]

to: Tom Arterburn <[email protected]>

date: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 6:43 PM

subject: Resume to job





The resume you put together for me helped me in landing a job with Belkin today. thank you

Joseph



Brad L. [email protected]



Tom,

Just wanted to let you know that I received a job offer from the National Park Service Grand Canyon for the Engineering Equipment Operator position. It took about 6 months but it finally happened. Thank you for your assistance in preparing my resumes for the various job postings. I will pass your information along to prospective clients.



It was perfect timing. Returned from Iraq on the 8th of Dec and received the job offer on the 28th of Dec. I start work on the 29thof Jan.



Thank you again Tom.

claimed iconBusiness Response11/12/2012

Tom, Hope this email finds you doing well. Just reviewing my LinkedIn account and your name popped up. Hey Man, you did a great job on my Resume. I owe you lunch for the Emergency response for the revision of my Resume. You did a great job. Your LinkedIn page is very impressive. Let me know when you have time for lunch, cup of coffee, or a beer after work. All he Best! Bill Bill C. Vice President, Sales xxxx Meramec Avenue Clayton, MO 63105 Just a quick note and BIG Thank you for the best resume I could have dreamed of! I got the job I was applying for, I start February 2,2009 at Claremore Indian Hospital as their House Supervisor at a GS11. I don't feel that I could have done it without your help! Thank You!!! Bettina W. Nursing Supervisor jared a. &lt;[email protected]&gt; to tom aterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt; date Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 3:52 PM subject Referal Tom, I referred my future mother in law to you for a resume overhaul in the same field of work I'm currently working, private security. Since I have used the new format you have given me I've had more job offers than I know what to do with. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to give me the best resume format out there. Thanks again, Jared A. from Steve W. &lt;[email protected]&gt; to Tom Arterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt; date Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 5:34 AM subject Re: RESUME FINAL Tom, I just wanted to inform you that your help and advice in building my resume to tailor the CPOL requirements, has served it's purpose. I have received an offer from Defense Contracting Management Agency, DCMA, at the GS 13 step 5 level. I know that without your expertise, I wouldn't have reached the initial stage let alone the finial. For this sir, I salute you and thank you for all that you have done for me. I have referred your services to many of my colleagues and I know a few that have been in contact with you as of now. This, to me, is the least that I can do for you. Please let me know if there is anything that I can be of further assistance to you. Again, THANK YOU. Best Regards, Steve W. Hi Tom, I just wanted to share with you that I recently accepted a position with a new company. Thank you again for your great service, hopefully I will not need to re-do my resume for quite sometime. If some reason I do, you will be the first person that I call… I know that if it were not for your help with re-writing my resume, my getting a new job in this tough and competive job market may not have been possible. Thank you again for such great and fast service. Best Regards, Debra P. fromCarlos V. &lt;[email protected]&gt; toTom Arterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt; dateWed, Jan 9, 2008 at 2:09 PM subjectKSA mailed-byhotmail.com By the way I'm back to the states! I got the job at the va clinic. Thanks for your help! Carlos V. &lt;[email protected]&gt; toTom Arterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt; dateTue, Jul 15, 2008 at 7:50 PM subjectPatrice mailed-bygmail.com Tom, I was accepted to graduate school today!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for everything you did to help. They absolutely loved my resume and essays. I will keep your contact information so you can keep my resume updated. Thank you, Patrice S. [email protected] toTom Arterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt; dateTue, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:52 AM subjectRe: FEDERAL RESUME FINAL DRAFT Hey Tom, I wanted to tell you that I already received 2 phone call interviews for the position that I applied for. Thank you for doing such a great job preparing my resume. You were able to get my foot in the door. Sincerely, Zach T.,

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robbed2011

08/11/2011

Provided by YP.com
I am more than disappointed in...

I am more than disappointed in the service received from The Resume Institute located in Belleville IL. I paid $150.00 for resume advice which was a waste. He offers a few words in advice and expects you to write the resume. I thought professional resume writers get paid to actually write the resume. I am now out of $150.00 and when I spoke to Mr. Tom Arterburn about it, his professional nature went out the window. The company is all about making money off of people. If you want a good sound written resume, I suggest you look for services in St. Louis MO. This company is the worst I have ever dealt with. The owner is unprofessional and lacks customer service skills having no patience in working with the customer. I expected more from a company that has been in business for awhile. I advise ALL to be careful when paying for a service in advance and look for a company that wants to work with you and not against you.

J
jrnlyst1

09/10/2010

Provided by YP.com
THANK YOU

Robert H. <[email protected]>



to Tom Arterburn <[email protected]>



date Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 12:00 AM



subject Resume revision



Tom



You created the attatched resume for me about 6 months ago. Actually got me into a pretty nice position. So thank you. Now I'm trying to move up again and need your help. Pasted in the body of this email is a short desrciption of what I do now. Can you please update my resume accordingly. There are a few positions that just came available and I'd like to jump on them asap.



Thanks Tom



[email protected]

toTom Arterburn <[email protected]>



dateThu, Sep 4, 2008 at 11:51 PM

subjectRe: RESUME FINAL DRAFT

mailed-bygdls.com



<[email protected]>

toTom Arterburn <[email protected]>



dateWed, Oct 8, 2008 at 8:57 AM

subjectRe: RESUME FINAL

mailed-byblaze2000.com



Tom,



Excellent article and the resume looks outstanding. I appreciate all the help you have been to me.



Your performance was outstanding. You were very pleasant to work with and pumped out the resume at an extremely fast rate! I am excited to submit this resume to the job/s I plan on applying for. I will work with you again very soon!



Michael W.



Wade G. <[email protected]>



to Tom Arterburn <[email protected]>



date Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:08 PM



subject RE: RESUME FINAL



Tom: You were great from the time I first contacted you reference the resume. You were extremely professional by phone and by email. At first, I was a little unsure how this would work via email, but it worked flawlessly. You were great to do business with and I will make sure I will pass your business on to my fellow coworkers, friends and family. Thank you again for a professional job. Your time was greatly appreciated.





Sincerely,





Wade G.





I

A
adriana2

09/10/2010

Provided by YP.com
GOT THE JOB

toTom Arterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt;



Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 2:52 AM



Just a quick note and BIG Thank you for the best resume I could have dreamed of! I got the job I was applying for, I start February 2,2009 at Claremore Indian Hospital as their House Supervisor at a GS11. I don't feel that I could have done it without your help! Thank You!!!



Bettina W.

Nursing Supervisor

jared a. &lt;[email protected]&gt;



to tom aterburn &lt;[email protected]&gt;





date Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 3:52 PM



subject Referal



Tom,





I referred my future mother in law to you for a resume overhaul in the same field of work I'm currently working, private security.





Since I have used the new format you have given me I've had more job offers than I know what to do with.



I can't thank you enough for taking the time to give me the best resume format out there.



Thanks again,





Jared A.

More Business Info

The Best in the Business. Award-winning job-search journalist and Director of The Resume Institute. Arterburn has written for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Wall Street Journal NBEW, Christian Science Monitor and numerous trade journals.

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