Calling all HR type people: Is a 2-page resume for a college grad evil?

[Drogue]

I've always been told: everything that *has* to be read should be on the first page. That's all they'll read at first. All the details they may need if they're thinking of inviting you to interview should be on the second page.

For mine, my first page shows degree, high school grades in brief (perhaps not needed in the US, crucial here), achievements and work experience. My second page included transferable skills, extra work experience and breakdown of high school grades.

If an employer only reads the first page, they get all the important stuff. If they're thinking of hiring me or inviting me to interview, the second gives them more stuff to consider and ask questions about, plus it gives the information needed for more technical jobs.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Though, I don't know how often cover letters are read nowadays.

Most people read them. I probably spend more time on the cover letter than I do on the resume. Yeah, it's easy these days to customize resumes for each job you apply for... but the cover letter is a direct chance to prove you know the company, and provide specific reasons why you are the best, that just aren't appropriate in a resume. The last person I hired won out because she had the best cover letter... because all the resumes were very similar. Granted, she also interviewed the best, but I had better feelings going into the interview, and that probably made it a better interview

[rah]

Yes, a bad cover letter will keep from doing more than glancing at the resume itself.

Cover letters that sound like form letters are BAD.
It usually demonstrates a person that is unimaginative, lazy, and really uninterested in working for my company.

[Ming]

Yes... cover letters that sound like form letters are the kiss of death. To me, it clearly states that they don't really want the job.

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by Ted Striker


DAMN

Can't believe I forgot about this.


Definitley a good tactic.

Though, I don't know how often cover letters are read nowadays.

Well, if you're in a job that requires alot of written communication or analysis, cover letter is very important.

If your skill based like me it's all about stupid buzzwords.

Not always read before the resume. They are read if someone is considering bringing you in for an interview.

I read up on a lot of this stuff. I do want to be an HR director someday.

[MrFun]

Not too long ago, in a past thread far, far away, Asher denigrated human resource people as being stupid because many of them have arts-related degrees.

Why should any of them give him advice now that he needs it?

[Asher]

Originally posted by MrFun
Not too long ago, in a past thread far, far away, Asher denigrated human resource people as being stupid because many of them have arts-related degrees.

Why should any of them give him advice now that he needs it?

Never said they were stupid.

I do make fun of most arts degrees. I don't make fun of business, economics, etc. though.

[MrFun]

I hate to break this to you Asher, but if you refresh your memory, you did in fact make fun of human resources in another thread.

[Apocalypse]

The average HR executive makes over $300,000 right now. I already have a good background for it (deal with sexual harassment issues at my college...actual federal statute stuff) and I'm a psych major.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Apocalypse
The average HR executive makes over $300,000 right now.

Maybe if you are a HR Director for a Fortune 500 company... but average...



*our HR Director is only in the 5 digit range

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by Ming




Maybe if you are a HR Director for a Fortune 500 company... but average...



*our HR Director is only in the 5 digit range

Well, yeah...for fortune 500. Average top executive salary is $240,000 according to the Wall Street Journal.

[Kontiki]

Yeah, maybe for the absolute top. HR generally does not pay well at the starting and middle levels, unless you can get into something like human capital consulting.

[Colonâ„¢]

Originally posted by rah
Yes for recent grads, if they had more than one page, I'd automatically toss it. From experience, those were some of the worst interviews and I never even considered hiring any of them.

If only they had bothered to check on 'poly. Then they would have limited themselves to one page and they'd be good employees.

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by Kontiki
Yeah, maybe for the absolute top. HR generally does not pay well at the starting and middle levels, unless you can get into something like human capital consulting.

I am not planning on doing this right out of college. I am going to be in the army for a few years at least and will have some grad school degree by the time I get out too.

[Kontiki]

You're going to need some HR experience if you want to start somewhere other than the bottom.