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<hr />
<div>[[Image:US paratroopers jump into Australia.jpg|400px|right]]<br />
Many, many books have been written on the subject of resume writing. These are more or less useful depending on the match between your goals and those assumed by each author. It's not enough to say, "I want a job." What kind of job do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it?<br />
<br />
== Materials needed ==<br />
<br />
* Folder of notepaper or notebook<br />
* Comfortable pen<br />
* Microsoft Word<br />
* Web browser<br />
<br />
You may not want a notebook with bound-in pages. Rather, consider a looseleaf binder, so you can add or remove pages. An ordinary folder full of plain paper -- the same you load into your printer -- may be fine. You'll be doing a lot of writing, so choose a pen you like. At this time (2008), there is really no alternative to Word; employers expect it. You'll want to be online for both research and submissions. <br />
<br />
{{adsense2}}<br />
== Who are you? ==<br />
<br />
You need to decide who you are in order to settle on a resume strategy. Don't assume that you are like everyone else. Take notepaper and answer these questions: <br />
<br />
* What experience do I have in my chosen field of work?<br />
** In school, dropout, or recent grad, little or no work experience<br />
** A few years' (2-5) experience in your field<br />
** Many years' experience in your field<br />
** Changing fields or going back to work<br />
** Retiree or semi-retiree; may be seeking part-time work<br />
<br />
* What kind of work do I seek? <br />
** Blue collar (labor, trades)<br />
** Pink collar (admin, clerical, sales)<br />
** Gray collar (technical, engineering)<br />
** White collar (professional, managerial)<br />
** Government (including quasi-governmental) <br />
<br />
* How honest am I? <br />
<br />
:: This question is very difficult to answer ''honestly'', even to oneself. We all feel that we're honest but obviously some of us are more so than others. Before going further, ask yourself exactly how far you are willing to stretch, bend, or trash the truth. <br />
<br />
:: Every jobseeker must wrestle with the morality of dishonesty. Every job hunting guide warns against lying. Crudely dishonest resumes will very likely lead to disaster, at the least dismissal. Yet the truth is that few resumes are completely honest, few employers check facts rigorously, and jobs often go to those who "improve" themselves on paper. There is no point in lying stupidly, so don't do that. <br />
<br />
== List the facts ==<br />
<br />
Make notes that cover all of your work and school time in detail. If you're older, this may be a pretty big job. You need to have all the details available for the [[Complete a job application|job application]] anyway, even if you don't put them all in your resume. <br />
<br />
* For each job: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** Company name, address, and phone number<br />
** Supervisor's name and title<br />
** Your job title and pay rate<br />
** True reason why you left<br />
<br />
* For each school: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** School name, address, and phone number<br />
** Major, degree or certificate earned<br />
<br />
== Brag list ==<br />
<br />
Empty your mind for a moment and write freely about yourself. Tell what you have done that makes you stand out. Forget, for the time being, whether this seems to have anything to do with your chosen field of work. Nobody ever need see your notes; don't hold back. Did you complete a project before time and under budget? Did you take on an extracurricular activity? Are you the best arm wrestler on the block? Whatever it is, write it down. <br />
<br />
== Write the bald version ==<br />
<br />
It may now be time to switch to Word. Type up your career in ''reverse chronological order'' -- whatever you are doing now or did last comes first, followed by successively older items, with the oldest last in the list. <br />
<br />
Now go back and insert items from your brag list. Try to find something positive to say about each job you worked. If you're switching careers or returning to work after a long absence, you may have trouble here. Try to look at the time from another angle. If you were a homemaker, you may have excelled at administrative and organizational tasks. If you spent a year bumming around Europe, you may have gained fluency in several languages. Think about it. <br />
<br />
== Choose a format ==<br />
<br />
Check out sample resumes. There are literally thousands available for you to see on the web, not to mention in books. Do your homework; look over a couple dozen. You are competing with people who have read hundreds. <br />
<br />
There are essentially two classes of resume format: <br />
<br />
* Chronological: This emphasizes the reverse chronology that you have already written up. This works best for blue and gray collar workers and those who have a solid work history. <br />
<br />
* Functional: This puts experience and accomplishments up front. It's not possible to avoid the chronology but this goes further down the page and is kept short. This works best for some pink collar workers and those who have gaps in work or are changing careers. <br />
<br />
Note that government positions typically ''require'' a chronological format. Federal resume requirements are so strict that at this point, your best bet may be to turn over your resume to a professional writing service that has specific experience in this area. <br />
<br />
At this point, you should be writing entirely in plain text. By "format", we mean the order in which you write things -- the overall organization of the document. Do not use any sort of '''bold''', ''italic'', or other text formatting. Save your Word file in plain text only. <br />
<br />
== Edit mercilessly ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:HC-130 jump.jpg|300px|right]]<br />
Take a humility pill. Realize that most employers have very little interest in you as a human being. Ruthlessly cut away anything that does not profile you as a better worker ''for the position you seek''. <br />
<br />
Optimize your language to present yourself in the best possible light. You must confront your limits on honesty here. It's probably stupid to invent jobs you never had but if you ever told somebody what to do on the job, you may want to say you have supervisory experience. There is no point at all in holding back here; maximize. <br />
<br />
Use action words, like "completed" and "surpassed". Try to state specific, quantifiable achievements, such as "Reduced overhead costs by 15%". You may need to think past the scope of your own job to see the end result; for instance, "Assisted department to exceed quota".<br />
<br />
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again. Especially for anything beyond entry-level work, you cannot afford the slightest error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Beware of common usage traps such as "to", "two", and "too"; or "there" and "their".<br />
<br />
== Circulate for comment ==<br />
<br />
If you have friends, make them all read your draft resume. Print it out double-spaced and hand them red pens to make corrections. Depending on your friends and your social skills, you may do well to stand over them and insist they make changes; otherwise, you will get a lot of drafts returned with nothing but the comment, "looks great". Stress that you will not be satisfied until they demolish your writing completely. It does you no harm at all and a great amount of good. <br />
<br />
If you are a weak writer generally, you may do well to get professional help at this point. You certainly want to pass it by someone you absolutely trust when it comes to proper English. <br />
<br />
Incorporate changes that seem wise and ignore the rest. <br />
<br />
== Cool it ==<br />
<br />
You must struggle to put your draft aside, preferably for at least a week. Think about anything else meanwhile. When you take it up again, try to see it as a stranger would. Is this strong and professional? Does it leave any room for doubt? <br />
<br />
Cut any remaining negatives. This is a resume, not a biography. You may well want to avoid out-and-out lies but you do not have to include all the truth -- you can't, in any case; there's no room. Include only the best. <br />
<br />
== Final draft ==<br />
<br />
Up to now, you have worked in plain text only. This is smart, since sometimes that is exactly how your resume will be seen. This is the electronic age; many employers will never see a paper copy. Before going further, adjust lines and paragraphs so that your resume works in plain text. Save this file ''as'' a plain text only (.txt) document. <br />
<br />
Now, add a discreet amount of text formatting. Generally, you'll want to ''bold'' the first line of each job (date and company name). You might bold your name. Avoid going too far in this direction but make the paper attractive. Save this file as a Word (.doc) document. <br />
<br />
Some employers want plain text, others want Word; still others prefer Adobe Acrobat. You should be able to convert your Word file to an Acrobat (.pdf) file; do this. <br />
<br />
If you have the technical skill required, you may also want to produce an equivalent HTML format resume. You can always try the Save As Web Page feature in Word -- but beware that this creates generally poor quality code. <br />
<br />
Upload ''all'' of your files -- somewhere. Best is at the root of your own domain, a domain with a name you can read easily over the phone. Free hosts are second-best, since they may require lengthy and confusing URLs to be read or written. <br />
<br />
== Do ==<br />
<br />
* Do be sure to include your name, cell phone, and email address. There is no point looking for a job unless you carry your cell phone with you at all times. Avoid funky and cute email addresses; get one that says "business". <br />
<br />
* Do print clean paper copies of your resume on good-quality white paper. Kinko's is not a perfect service but you can generally walk in, download the Acrobat file, and have the clerk print from it directly at low cost. You will not always use the paper copies but when you want them, you'll make a good impression. <br />
<br />
* Do begin with a clear statement of your objective, headed by your desired job title. <br />
<br />
* If possible, do create alternate versions of your resume. You may do well to have a version tailored specifically to each prospective employer. In this case, alter your objective to match the job description. <br />
<br />
* Do submit your resume electronically. Random or indiscriminate submissions may not do any good but these days, employers generally prefer "soft copy". <br />
<br />
* Do pay attention to what each employer demands. Some say to paste your plain text resume into the body of your email; some say to attach it as a Word document. Absent specific instructions, the best way may be to email a link to your resume, where you uploaded it. Not everyone wants attachments. <br />
<br />
* Do introduce your resume -- by snailmail, with a covering letter; by email, with a couple of covering paragraphs. It's fine to write these up ahead of time but you ''must'' tailor them to the individual employer. <br />
<br />
== Don't ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ram air square.jpg|300px|right]]<br />
* Don't include info about hobbies, let alone religious or political affiliations, unless you are certain these will bear directly on your work. <br />
<br />
* Don't include a photo, unless you are applying for an acting position, in which case you want to submit a standard 8x10 glossy black and white headshot only. <br />
<br />
* Don't be cute. This includes crazy fonts, white-on-black text, graphics of any kind, and wacky statements. Be normal; employers frighten easily. <br />
<br />
* Don't exceed two pages; for anyone with less than 10 years' work experience, one is enough. Remember that the goal is to ''summarize'' your career, not to tell it in detail. Pick out the best and leave the rest. Nobody will read past the second page anyway and simply having a third will be cause for rejection. <br />
<br />
* Don't use "resume paper"; equally, don't use cheap paper. You want good, heavy, white paper only. <br />
<br />
* Don't use your own (or an office) printer unless it's very good. There is a world of difference between "best quality" from an inkjet or tired laser printer; and the crisp typography you get from a high-end machine at a print shop. <br />
<br />
* Don't send out your resume without some sort of covering letter or covering paragraphs. Nobody likes impersonal submissions.<br />
<br />
== Professional writers ==<br />
<br />
You may be tempted to employ a professional resume writer; there are certainly thousands of them. Some work cheap, some charge hundreds of dollars. <br />
<br />
Trouble is, if you can tell the difference between a good resume and a bad one, you may as well write your own. If you can't tell the difference, how will you decide who to hire or if you've got your money's worth? <br />
<br />
No matter how difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming you think it will be, it's probably better for you to learn to do this yourself. <br />
<br />
== Last word ==<br />
<br />
No resume will get you a job. You should probably not even expect one to get you an interview except by default. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: <br />
<br />
: You have advertised for '''''one''''' foobar operator and now you have 200 resumes waiting your attention. Half of them are completely unsuitable; they are from desperate people who have never even seen a foobar. You go through your email inbox at top speed, quickly deleting anything that does not say "foobar"; you also delete anything that catches your eye and offends you in the slightest. You go through the stack of paper resumes and immediately trash anything on funky paper or with poor printing; again, if it doesn't say "foobar", preferably in the first few lines, it goes. <br />
<br />
: Now you go through the submissions a second time. You are looking for the ''one'' resume that exactly matches your requirement for a foobar operator. Anything that seems to head in a different direction goes straight to the trash. You are hoping to cut down the stack to only a small handful that you must actually read to decide who to call for an interview. <br />
<br />
This is a process of elimination. As a worker, your first goal is ''not'' to be noticed. You do not want to give the employer -- more likely in the first pass, an underpaid secretary -- any excuse to chuck your resume toward the trash can. You want your exceptional qualities to surface only on the third pass -- the first reading. <br />
<br />
Experts agree that this first "reading" lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds -- no more. If you don't get put on the short stack in that time, you're not going to make it. So whatever best foot you have, put it forward. <br />
<br />
== Amazon's Related Products ==<br />
* (ISBN 1580088678 -- the classic resource<br />
<br />
== See Also ==<br />
* [[]]<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
* [http://susanireland.com/resumework.htm Susan Ireland] -- resume guide<br />
* [http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/samples.php JobStar] -- sample resumes<br />
* [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/jobsresumes/sec_page.php?sub_item=052 JobHuntersBible] -- "Parachute" author's site<br />
* [http://www.lifeclever.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-resume-design/ LifeClever] -- Seven Deadly Sins of Resume Design</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=Write_a_resume&diff=3131Write a resume2008-04-14T14:28:38Z<p>Bear: /* Edit mercilessly */ +Image:HC-130 jump.jpg</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:US paratroopers jump into Australia.jpg|400px|right]]<br />
Many, many books have been written on the subject of resume writing. These are more or less useful depending on the match between your goals and those assumed by each author. It's not enough to say, "I want a job." What kind of job do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it?<br />
<br />
== Materials needed ==<br />
<br />
* Folder of notepaper or notebook<br />
* Comfortable pen<br />
* Microsoft Word<br />
* Web browser<br />
<br />
You may not want a notebook with bound-in pages. Rather, consider a looseleaf binder, so you can add or remove pages. An ordinary folder full of plain paper -- the same you load into your printer -- may be fine. You'll be doing a lot of writing, so choose a pen you like. At this time (2008), there is really no alternative to Word; employers expect it. You'll want to be online for both research and submissions. <br />
<br />
{{adsense2}}<br />
== Who are you? ==<br />
<br />
You need to decide who you are in order to settle on a resume strategy. Don't assume that you are like everyone else. Take notepaper and answer these questions: <br />
<br />
* What experience do I have in my chosen field of work?<br />
** In school, dropout, or recent grad, little or no work experience<br />
** A few years' (2-5) experience in your field<br />
** Many years' experience in your field<br />
** Changing fields or going back to work<br />
** Retiree or semi-retiree; may be seeking part-time work<br />
<br />
* What kind of work do I seek? <br />
** Blue collar (labor, trades)<br />
** Pink collar (admin, clerical, sales)<br />
** Gray collar (technical, engineering)<br />
** White collar (professional, managerial)<br />
** Government (including quasi-governmental) <br />
<br />
* How honest am I? <br />
<br />
:: This question is very difficult to answer ''honestly'', even to oneself. We all feel that we're honest but obviously some of us are more so than others. Before going further, ask yourself exactly how far you are willing to stretch, bend, or trash the truth. <br />
<br />
:: Every jobseeker must wrestle with the morality of dishonesty. Every job hunting guide warns against lying. Crudely dishonest resumes will very likely lead to disaster, at the least dismissal. Yet the truth is that few resumes are completely honest, few employers check facts rigorously, and jobs often go to those who "improve" themselves on paper. There is no point in lying stupidly, so don't do that. <br />
<br />
== List the facts ==<br />
<br />
Make notes that cover all of your work and school time in detail. If you're older, this may be a pretty big job. You need to have all the details available for the [[Complete a job application|job application]] anyway, even if you don't put them all in your resume. <br />
<br />
* For each job: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** Company name, address, and phone number<br />
** Supervisor's name and title<br />
** Your job title and pay rate<br />
** True reason why you left<br />
<br />
* For each school: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** School name, address, and phone number<br />
** Major, degree or certificate earned<br />
<br />
== Brag list ==<br />
<br />
Empty your mind for a moment and write freely about yourself. Tell what you have done that makes you stand out. Forget, for the time being, whether this seems to have anything to do with your chosen field of work. Nobody ever need see your notes; don't hold back. Did you complete a project before time and under budget? Did you take on an extracurricular activity? Are you the best arm wrestler on the block? Whatever it is, write it down. <br />
<br />
== Write the bald version ==<br />
<br />
It may now be time to switch to Word. Type up your career in ''reverse chronological order'' -- whatever you are doing now or did last comes first, followed by successively older items, with the oldest last in the list. <br />
<br />
Now go back and insert items from your brag list. Try to find something positive to say about each job you worked. If you're switching careers or returning to work after a long absence, you may have trouble here. Try to look at the time from another angle. If you were a homemaker, you may have excelled at administrative and organizational tasks. If you spent a year bumming around Europe, you may have gained fluency in several languages. Think about it. <br />
<br />
== Choose a format ==<br />
<br />
Check out sample resumes. There are literally thousands available for you to see on the web, not to mention in books. Do your homework; look over a couple dozen. You are competing with people who have read hundreds. <br />
<br />
There are essentially two classes of resume format: <br />
<br />
* Chronological: This emphasizes the reverse chronology that you have already written up. This works best for blue and gray collar workers and those who have a solid work history. <br />
<br />
* Functional: This puts experience and accomplishments up front. It's not possible to avoid the chronology but this goes further down the page and is kept short. This works best for some pink collar workers and those who have gaps in work or are changing careers. <br />
<br />
Note that government positions typically ''require'' a chronological format. Federal resume requirements are so strict that at this point, your best bet may be to turn over your resume to a professional writing service that has specific experience in this area. <br />
<br />
At this point, you should be writing entirely in plain text. By "format", we mean the order in which you write things -- the overall organization of the document. Do not use any sort of '''bold''', ''italic'', or other text formatting. Save your Word file in plain text only. <br />
<br />
== Edit mercilessly ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:HC-130 jump.jpg|300px|right]]<br />
Take a humility pill. Realize that most employers have very little interest in you as a human being. Ruthlessly cut away anything that does not profile you as a better worker ''for the position you seek''. <br />
<br />
Optimize your language to present yourself in the best possible light. You must confront your limits on honesty here. It's probably stupid to invent jobs you never had but if you ever told somebody what to do on the job, you may want to say you have supervisory experience. There is no point at all in holding back here; maximize. <br />
<br />
Use action words, like "completed" and "surpassed". Try to state specific, quantifiable achievements, such as "Reduced overhead costs by 15%". You may need to think past the scope of your own job to see the end result; for instance, "Assisted department to exceed quota".<br />
<br />
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again. Especially for anything beyond entry-level work, you cannot afford the slightest error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Beware of common usage traps such as "to", "two", and "too"; or "there" and "their".<br />
<br />
== Circulate for comment ==<br />
<br />
If you have friends, make them all read your draft resume. Print it out double-spaced and hand them red pens to make corrections. Depending on your friends and your social skills, you may do well to stand over them and insist they make changes; otherwise, you will get a lot of drafts returned with nothing but the comment, "looks great". Stress that you will not be satisfied until they demolish your writing completely. It does you no harm at all and a great amount of good. <br />
<br />
If you are a weak writer generally, you may do well to get professional help at this point. You certainly want to pass it by someone you absolutely trust when it comes to proper English. <br />
<br />
Incorporate changes that seem wise and ignore the rest. <br />
<br />
== Cool it ==<br />
<br />
You must struggle to put your draft aside, preferably for at least a week. Think about anything else meanwhile. When you take it up again, try to see it as a stranger would. Is this strong and professional? Does it leave any room for doubt? <br />
<br />
Cut any remaining negatives. This is a resume, not a biography. You may well want to avoid out-and-out lies but you do not have to include all the truth -- you can't, in any case; there's no room. Include only the best. <br />
<br />
== Final draft ==<br />
<br />
Up to now, you have worked in plain text only. This is smart, since sometimes that is exactly how your resume will be seen. This is the electronic age; many employers will never see a paper copy. Before going further, adjust lines and paragraphs so that your resume works in plain text. Save this file ''as'' a plain text only (.txt) document. <br />
<br />
Now, add a discreet amount of text formatting. Generally, you'll want to ''bold'' the first line of each job (date and company name). You might bold your name. Avoid going too far in this direction but make the paper attractive. Save this file as a Word (.doc) document. <br />
<br />
Some employers want plain text, others want Word; still others prefer Adobe Acrobat. You should be able to convert your Word file to an Acrobat (.pdf) file; do this. <br />
<br />
If you have the technical skill required, you may also want to produce an equivalent HTML format resume. You can always try the Save As Web Page feature in Word -- but beware that this creates generally poor quality code. <br />
<br />
Upload ''all'' of your files -- somewhere. Best is at the root of your own domain, a domain with a name you can read easily over the phone. Free hosts are second-best, since they may require lengthy and confusing URLs to be read or written. <br />
<br />
== Do ==<br />
<br />
* Do be sure to include your name, cell phone, and email address. There is no point looking for a job unless you carry your cell phone with you at all times. Avoid funky and cute email addresses; get one that says "business". <br />
<br />
* Do print clean paper copies of your resume on good-quality white paper. Kinko's is not a perfect service but you can generally walk in, download the Acrobat file, and have the clerk print from it directly at low cost. You will not always use the paper copies but when you want them, you'll make a good impression. <br />
<br />
* Do begin with a clear statement of your objective, headed by your desired job title. <br />
<br />
* If possible, do create alternate versions of your resume. You may do well to have a version tailored specifically to each prospective employer. In this case, alter your objective to match the job description. <br />
<br />
* Do submit your resume electronically. Random or indiscriminate submissions may not do any good but these days, employers generally prefer "soft copy". <br />
<br />
* Do pay attention to what each employer demands. Some say to paste your plain text resume into the body of your email; some say to attach it as a Word document. Absent specific instructions, the best way may be to email a link to your resume, where you uploaded it. Not everyone wants attachments. <br />
<br />
* Do introduce your resume -- by snailmail, with a covering letter; by email, with a couple of covering paragraphs. It's fine to write these up ahead of time but you ''must'' tailor them to the individual employer. <br />
<br />
== Don't ==<br />
<br />
* Don't include info about hobbies, let alone religious or political affiliations, unless you are certain these will bear directly on your work. <br />
<br />
* Don't include a photo, unless you are applying for an acting position, in which case you want to submit a standard 8x10 glossy black and white headshot only. <br />
<br />
* Don't be cute. This includes crazy fonts, white-on-black text, graphics of any kind, and wacky statements. Be normal; employers frighten easily. <br />
<br />
* Don't exceed two pages; for anyone with less than 10 years' work experience, one is enough. Remember that the goal is to ''summarize'' your career, not to tell it in detail. Pick out the best and leave the rest. Nobody will read past the second page anyway and simply having a third will be cause for rejection. <br />
<br />
* Don't use "resume paper"; equally, don't use cheap paper. You want good, heavy, white paper only. <br />
<br />
* Don't use your own (or an office) printer unless it's very good. There is a world of difference between "best quality" from an inkjet or tired laser printer; and the crisp typography you get from a high-end machine at a print shop. <br />
<br />
* Don't send out your resume without some sort of covering letter or covering paragraphs. Nobody likes impersonal submissions. <br />
<br />
== Professional writers ==<br />
<br />
You may be tempted to employ a professional resume writer; there are certainly thousands of them. Some work cheap, some charge hundreds of dollars. <br />
<br />
Trouble is, if you can tell the difference between a good resume and a bad one, you may as well write your own. If you can't tell the difference, how will you decide who to hire or if you've got your money's worth? <br />
<br />
No matter how difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming you think it will be, it's probably better for you to learn to do this yourself. <br />
<br />
== Last word ==<br />
<br />
No resume will get you a job. You should probably not even expect one to get you an interview except by default. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: <br />
<br />
: You have advertised for '''''one''''' foobar operator and now you have 200 resumes waiting your attention. Half of them are completely unsuitable; they are from desperate people who have never even seen a foobar. You go through your email inbox at top speed, quickly deleting anything that does not say "foobar"; you also delete anything that catches your eye and offends you in the slightest. You go through the stack of paper resumes and immediately trash anything on funky paper or with poor printing; again, if it doesn't say "foobar", preferably in the first few lines, it goes. <br />
<br />
: Now you go through the submissions a second time. You are looking for the ''one'' resume that exactly matches your requirement for a foobar operator. Anything that seems to head in a different direction goes straight to the trash. You are hoping to cut down the stack to only a small handful that you must actually read to decide who to call for an interview. <br />
<br />
This is a process of elimination. As a worker, your first goal is ''not'' to be noticed. You do not want to give the employer -- more likely in the first pass, an underpaid secretary -- any excuse to chuck your resume toward the trash can. You want your exceptional qualities to surface only on the third pass -- the first reading. <br />
<br />
Experts agree that this first "reading" lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds -- no more. If you don't get put on the short stack in that time, you're not going to make it. So whatever best foot you have, put it forward. <br />
<br />
== Amazon's Related Products ==<br />
* (ISBN 1580088678 -- the classic resource<br />
<br />
== See Also ==<br />
* [[]]<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
* [http://susanireland.com/resumework.htm Susan Ireland] -- resume guide<br />
* [http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/samples.php JobStar] -- sample resumes<br />
* [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/jobsresumes/sec_page.php?sub_item=052 JobHuntersBible] -- "Parachute" author's site<br />
* [http://www.lifeclever.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-resume-design/ LifeClever] -- Seven Deadly Sins of Resume Design</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=Write_a_resume&diff=3130Write a resume2008-04-14T14:27:00Z<p>Bear: +Image:US paratroopers jump into Australia.jpg</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:US paratroopers jump into Australia.jpg|400px|right]]<br />
Many, many books have been written on the subject of resume writing. These are more or less useful depending on the match between your goals and those assumed by each author. It's not enough to say, "I want a job." What kind of job do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it?<br />
<br />
== Materials needed ==<br />
<br />
* Folder of notepaper or notebook<br />
* Comfortable pen<br />
* Microsoft Word<br />
* Web browser<br />
<br />
You may not want a notebook with bound-in pages. Rather, consider a looseleaf binder, so you can add or remove pages. An ordinary folder full of plain paper -- the same you load into your printer -- may be fine. You'll be doing a lot of writing, so choose a pen you like. At this time (2008), there is really no alternative to Word; employers expect it. You'll want to be online for both research and submissions. <br />
<br />
{{adsense2}}<br />
== Who are you? ==<br />
<br />
You need to decide who you are in order to settle on a resume strategy. Don't assume that you are like everyone else. Take notepaper and answer these questions: <br />
<br />
* What experience do I have in my chosen field of work?<br />
** In school, dropout, or recent grad, little or no work experience<br />
** A few years' (2-5) experience in your field<br />
** Many years' experience in your field<br />
** Changing fields or going back to work<br />
** Retiree or semi-retiree; may be seeking part-time work<br />
<br />
* What kind of work do I seek? <br />
** Blue collar (labor, trades)<br />
** Pink collar (admin, clerical, sales)<br />
** Gray collar (technical, engineering)<br />
** White collar (professional, managerial)<br />
** Government (including quasi-governmental) <br />
<br />
* How honest am I? <br />
<br />
:: This question is very difficult to answer ''honestly'', even to oneself. We all feel that we're honest but obviously some of us are more so than others. Before going further, ask yourself exactly how far you are willing to stretch, bend, or trash the truth. <br />
<br />
:: Every jobseeker must wrestle with the morality of dishonesty. Every job hunting guide warns against lying. Crudely dishonest resumes will very likely lead to disaster, at the least dismissal. Yet the truth is that few resumes are completely honest, few employers check facts rigorously, and jobs often go to those who "improve" themselves on paper. There is no point in lying stupidly, so don't do that. <br />
<br />
== List the facts ==<br />
<br />
Make notes that cover all of your work and school time in detail. If you're older, this may be a pretty big job. You need to have all the details available for the [[Complete a job application|job application]] anyway, even if you don't put them all in your resume. <br />
<br />
* For each job: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** Company name, address, and phone number<br />
** Supervisor's name and title<br />
** Your job title and pay rate<br />
** True reason why you left<br />
<br />
* For each school: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** School name, address, and phone number<br />
** Major, degree or certificate earned<br />
<br />
== Brag list ==<br />
<br />
Empty your mind for a moment and write freely about yourself. Tell what you have done that makes you stand out. Forget, for the time being, whether this seems to have anything to do with your chosen field of work. Nobody ever need see your notes; don't hold back. Did you complete a project before time and under budget? Did you take on an extracurricular activity? Are you the best arm wrestler on the block? Whatever it is, write it down. <br />
<br />
== Write the bald version ==<br />
<br />
It may now be time to switch to Word. Type up your career in ''reverse chronological order'' -- whatever you are doing now or did last comes first, followed by successively older items, with the oldest last in the list. <br />
<br />
Now go back and insert items from your brag list. Try to find something positive to say about each job you worked. If you're switching careers or returning to work after a long absence, you may have trouble here. Try to look at the time from another angle. If you were a homemaker, you may have excelled at administrative and organizational tasks. If you spent a year bumming around Europe, you may have gained fluency in several languages. Think about it. <br />
<br />
== Choose a format ==<br />
<br />
Check out sample resumes. There are literally thousands available for you to see on the web, not to mention in books. Do your homework; look over a couple dozen. You are competing with people who have read hundreds. <br />
<br />
There are essentially two classes of resume format: <br />
<br />
* Chronological: This emphasizes the reverse chronology that you have already written up. This works best for blue and gray collar workers and those who have a solid work history. <br />
<br />
* Functional: This puts experience and accomplishments up front. It's not possible to avoid the chronology but this goes further down the page and is kept short. This works best for some pink collar workers and those who have gaps in work or are changing careers. <br />
<br />
Note that government positions typically ''require'' a chronological format. Federal resume requirements are so strict that at this point, your best bet may be to turn over your resume to a professional writing service that has specific experience in this area. <br />
<br />
At this point, you should be writing entirely in plain text. By "format", we mean the order in which you write things -- the overall organization of the document. Do not use any sort of '''bold''', ''italic'', or other text formatting. Save your Word file in plain text only. <br />
<br />
== Edit mercilessly ==<br />
<br />
Take a humility pill. Realize that most employers have very little interest in you as a human being. Ruthlessly cut away anything that does not profile you as a better worker ''for the position you seek''. <br />
<br />
Optimize your language to present yourself in the best possible light. You must confront your limits on honesty here. It's probably stupid to invent jobs you never had but if you ever told somebody what to do on the job, you may want to say you have supervisory experience. There is no point at all in holding back here; maximize. <br />
<br />
Use action words, like "completed" and "surpassed". Try to state specific, quantifiable achievements, such as "Reduced overhead costs by 15%". You may need to think past the scope of your own job to see the end result; for instance, "Assisted department to exceed quota".<br />
<br />
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again. Especially for anything beyond entry-level work, you cannot afford the slightest error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Beware of common usage traps such as "to", "two", and "too"; or "there" and "their". <br />
<br />
== Circulate for comment ==<br />
<br />
If you have friends, make them all read your draft resume. Print it out double-spaced and hand them red pens to make corrections. Depending on your friends and your social skills, you may do well to stand over them and insist they make changes; otherwise, you will get a lot of drafts returned with nothing but the comment, "looks great". Stress that you will not be satisfied until they demolish your writing completely. It does you no harm at all and a great amount of good. <br />
<br />
If you are a weak writer generally, you may do well to get professional help at this point. You certainly want to pass it by someone you absolutely trust when it comes to proper English. <br />
<br />
Incorporate changes that seem wise and ignore the rest. <br />
<br />
== Cool it ==<br />
<br />
You must struggle to put your draft aside, preferably for at least a week. Think about anything else meanwhile. When you take it up again, try to see it as a stranger would. Is this strong and professional? Does it leave any room for doubt? <br />
<br />
Cut any remaining negatives. This is a resume, not a biography. You may well want to avoid out-and-out lies but you do not have to include all the truth -- you can't, in any case; there's no room. Include only the best. <br />
<br />
== Final draft ==<br />
<br />
Up to now, you have worked in plain text only. This is smart, since sometimes that is exactly how your resume will be seen. This is the electronic age; many employers will never see a paper copy. Before going further, adjust lines and paragraphs so that your resume works in plain text. Save this file ''as'' a plain text only (.txt) document. <br />
<br />
Now, add a discreet amount of text formatting. Generally, you'll want to ''bold'' the first line of each job (date and company name). You might bold your name. Avoid going too far in this direction but make the paper attractive. Save this file as a Word (.doc) document. <br />
<br />
Some employers want plain text, others want Word; still others prefer Adobe Acrobat. You should be able to convert your Word file to an Acrobat (.pdf) file; do this. <br />
<br />
If you have the technical skill required, you may also want to produce an equivalent HTML format resume. You can always try the Save As Web Page feature in Word -- but beware that this creates generally poor quality code. <br />
<br />
Upload ''all'' of your files -- somewhere. Best is at the root of your own domain, a domain with a name you can read easily over the phone. Free hosts are second-best, since they may require lengthy and confusing URLs to be read or written. <br />
<br />
== Do ==<br />
<br />
* Do be sure to include your name, cell phone, and email address. There is no point looking for a job unless you carry your cell phone with you at all times. Avoid funky and cute email addresses; get one that says "business". <br />
<br />
* Do print clean paper copies of your resume on good-quality white paper. Kinko's is not a perfect service but you can generally walk in, download the Acrobat file, and have the clerk print from it directly at low cost. You will not always use the paper copies but when you want them, you'll make a good impression. <br />
<br />
* Do begin with a clear statement of your objective, headed by your desired job title. <br />
<br />
* If possible, do create alternate versions of your resume. You may do well to have a version tailored specifically to each prospective employer. In this case, alter your objective to match the job description. <br />
<br />
* Do submit your resume electronically. Random or indiscriminate submissions may not do any good but these days, employers generally prefer "soft copy". <br />
<br />
* Do pay attention to what each employer demands. Some say to paste your plain text resume into the body of your email; some say to attach it as a Word document. Absent specific instructions, the best way may be to email a link to your resume, where you uploaded it. Not everyone wants attachments. <br />
<br />
* Do introduce your resume -- by snailmail, with a covering letter; by email, with a couple of covering paragraphs. It's fine to write these up ahead of time but you ''must'' tailor them to the individual employer. <br />
<br />
== Don't ==<br />
<br />
* Don't include info about hobbies, let alone religious or political affiliations, unless you are certain these will bear directly on your work. <br />
<br />
* Don't include a photo, unless you are applying for an acting position, in which case you want to submit a standard 8x10 glossy black and white headshot only. <br />
<br />
* Don't be cute. This includes crazy fonts, white-on-black text, graphics of any kind, and wacky statements. Be normal; employers frighten easily. <br />
<br />
* Don't exceed two pages; for anyone with less than 10 years' work experience, one is enough. Remember that the goal is to ''summarize'' your career, not to tell it in detail. Pick out the best and leave the rest. Nobody will read past the second page anyway and simply having a third will be cause for rejection. <br />
<br />
* Don't use "resume paper"; equally, don't use cheap paper. You want good, heavy, white paper only. <br />
<br />
* Don't use your own (or an office) printer unless it's very good. There is a world of difference between "best quality" from an inkjet or tired laser printer; and the crisp typography you get from a high-end machine at a print shop. <br />
<br />
* Don't send out your resume without some sort of covering letter or covering paragraphs. Nobody likes impersonal submissions. <br />
<br />
== Professional writers ==<br />
<br />
You may be tempted to employ a professional resume writer; there are certainly thousands of them. Some work cheap, some charge hundreds of dollars. <br />
<br />
Trouble is, if you can tell the difference between a good resume and a bad one, you may as well write your own. If you can't tell the difference, how will you decide who to hire or if you've got your money's worth? <br />
<br />
No matter how difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming you think it will be, it's probably better for you to learn to do this yourself. <br />
<br />
== Last word ==<br />
<br />
No resume will get you a job. You should probably not even expect one to get you an interview except by default. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: <br />
<br />
: You have advertised for '''''one''''' foobar operator and now you have 200 resumes waiting your attention. Half of them are completely unsuitable; they are from desperate people who have never even seen a foobar. You go through your email inbox at top speed, quickly deleting anything that does not say "foobar"; you also delete anything that catches your eye and offends you in the slightest. You go through the stack of paper resumes and immediately trash anything on funky paper or with poor printing; again, if it doesn't say "foobar", preferably in the first few lines, it goes. <br />
<br />
: Now you go through the submissions a second time. You are looking for the ''one'' resume that exactly matches your requirement for a foobar operator. Anything that seems to head in a different direction goes straight to the trash. You are hoping to cut down the stack to only a small handful that you must actually read to decide who to call for an interview. <br />
<br />
This is a process of elimination. As a worker, your first goal is ''not'' to be noticed. You do not want to give the employer -- more likely in the first pass, an underpaid secretary -- any excuse to chuck your resume toward the trash can. You want your exceptional qualities to surface only on the third pass -- the first reading. <br />
<br />
Experts agree that this first "reading" lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds -- no more. If you don't get put on the short stack in that time, you're not going to make it. So whatever best foot you have, put it forward. <br />
<br />
== Amazon's Related Products ==<br />
* (ISBN 1580088678 -- the classic resource<br />
<br />
== See Also ==<br />
* [[]]<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
* [http://susanireland.com/resumework.htm Susan Ireland] -- resume guide<br />
* [http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/samples.php JobStar] -- sample resumes<br />
* [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/jobsresumes/sec_page.php?sub_item=052 JobHuntersBible] -- "Parachute" author's site<br />
* [http://www.lifeclever.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-resume-design/ LifeClever] -- Seven Deadly Sins of Resume Design</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=File:Ram_air_square.jpg&diff=3129File:Ram air square.jpg2008-04-14T14:24:41Z<p>Bear: This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3ARam_air_square.jpg].</p>
<hr />
<div>This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3ARam_air_square.jpg].</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=File:HC-130_jump.jpg&diff=3128File:HC-130 jump.jpg2008-04-14T14:23:56Z<p>Bear: This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3AHC-130_jump.jpg].</p>
<hr />
<div>This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3AHC-130_jump.jpg].</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=File:US_paratroopers_jump_into_Australia.jpg&diff=3127File:US paratroopers jump into Australia.jpg2008-04-14T14:22:38Z<p>Bear: This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3AUS_paratroopers_jump_into_Australia.jpg].</p>
<hr />
<div>This file is taken from Wikimedia Commons [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image%3AUS_paratroopers_jump_into_Australia.jpg].</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=Write_a_resume&diff=3126Write a resume2008-04-14T14:20:24Z<p>Bear: /* External Links */ + 7 sins</p>
<hr />
<div>Many, many books have been written on the subject of resume writing. These are more or less useful depending on the match between your goals and those assumed by each author. It's not enough to say, "I want a job." What kind of job do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it? <br />
<br />
<br />
== Materials needed ==<br />
<br />
* Folder of notepaper or notebook<br />
* Comfortable pen<br />
* Microsoft Word<br />
* Web browser<br />
<br />
You may not want a notebook with bound-in pages. Rather, consider a looseleaf binder, so you can add or remove pages. An ordinary folder full of plain paper -- the same you load into your printer -- may be fine. You'll be doing a lot of writing, so choose a pen you like. At this time (2008), there is really no alternative to Word; employers expect it. You'll want to be online for both research and submissions. <br />
<br />
{{adsense2}}<br />
== Who are you? ==<br />
<br />
You need to decide who you are in order to settle on a resume strategy. Don't assume that you are like everyone else. Take notepaper and answer these questions: <br />
<br />
* What experience do I have in my chosen field of work?<br />
** In school, dropout, or recent grad, little or no work experience<br />
** A few years' (2-5) experience in your field<br />
** Many years' experience in your field<br />
** Changing fields or going back to work<br />
** Retiree or semi-retiree; may be seeking part-time work<br />
<br />
* What kind of work do I seek? <br />
** Blue collar (labor, trades)<br />
** Pink collar (admin, clerical, sales)<br />
** Gray collar (technical, engineering)<br />
** White collar (professional, managerial)<br />
** Government (including quasi-governmental) <br />
<br />
* How honest am I? <br />
<br />
:: This question is very difficult to answer ''honestly'', even to oneself. We all feel that we're honest but obviously some of us are more so than others. Before going further, ask yourself exactly how far you are willing to stretch, bend, or trash the truth. <br />
<br />
:: Every jobseeker must wrestle with the morality of dishonesty. Every job hunting guide warns against lying. Crudely dishonest resumes will very likely lead to disaster, at the least dismissal. Yet the truth is that few resumes are completely honest, few employers check facts rigorously, and jobs often go to those who "improve" themselves on paper. There is no point in lying stupidly, so don't do that. <br />
<br />
== List the facts ==<br />
<br />
Make notes that cover all of your work and school time in detail. If you're older, this may be a pretty big job. You need to have all the details available for the [[Complete a job application|job application]] anyway, even if you don't put them all in your resume. <br />
<br />
* For each job: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** Company name, address, and phone number<br />
** Supervisor's name and title<br />
** Your job title and pay rate<br />
** True reason why you left<br />
<br />
* For each school: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** School name, address, and phone number<br />
** Major, degree or certificate earned<br />
<br />
== Brag list ==<br />
<br />
Empty your mind for a moment and write freely about yourself. Tell what you have done that makes you stand out. Forget, for the time being, whether this seems to have anything to do with your chosen field of work. Nobody ever need see your notes; don't hold back. Did you complete a project before time and under budget? Did you take on an extracurricular activity? Are you the best arm wrestler on the block? Whatever it is, write it down. <br />
<br />
== Write the bald version ==<br />
<br />
It may now be time to switch to Word. Type up your career in ''reverse chronological order'' -- whatever you are doing now or did last comes first, followed by successively older items, with the oldest last in the list. <br />
<br />
Now go back and insert items from your brag list. Try to find something positive to say about each job you worked. If you're switching careers or returning to work after a long absence, you may have trouble here. Try to look at the time from another angle. If you were a homemaker, you may have excelled at administrative and organizational tasks. If you spent a year bumming around Europe, you may have gained fluency in several languages. Think about it. <br />
<br />
== Choose a format ==<br />
<br />
Check out sample resumes. There are literally thousands available for you to see on the web, not to mention in books. Do your homework; look over a couple dozen. You are competing with people who have read hundreds. <br />
<br />
There are essentially two classes of resume format: <br />
<br />
* Chronological: This emphasizes the reverse chronology that you have already written up. This works best for blue and gray collar workers and those who have a solid work history. <br />
<br />
* Functional: This puts experience and accomplishments up front. It's not possible to avoid the chronology but this goes further down the page and is kept short. This works best for some pink collar workers and those who have gaps in work or are changing careers. <br />
<br />
Note that government positions typically ''require'' a chronological format. Federal resume requirements are so strict that at this point, your best bet may be to turn over your resume to a professional writing service that has specific experience in this area. <br />
<br />
At this point, you should be writing entirely in plain text. By "format", we mean the order in which you write things -- the overall organization of the document. Do not use any sort of '''bold''', ''italic'', or other text formatting. Save your Word file in plain text only. <br />
<br />
== Edit mercilessly ==<br />
<br />
Take a humility pill. Realize that most employers have very little interest in you as a human being. Ruthlessly cut away anything that does not profile you as a better worker ''for the position you seek''. <br />
<br />
Optimize your language to present yourself in the best possible light. You must confront your limits on honesty here. It's probably stupid to invent jobs you never had but if you ever told somebody what to do on the job, you may want to say you have supervisory experience. There is no point at all in holding back here; maximize. <br />
<br />
Use action words, like "completed" and "surpassed". Try to state specific, quantifiable achievements, such as "Reduced overhead costs by 15%". You may need to think past the scope of your own job to see the end result; for instance, "Assisted department to exceed quota".<br />
<br />
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again. Especially for anything beyond entry-level work, you cannot afford the slightest error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Beware of common usage traps such as "to", "two", and "too"; or "there" and "their". <br />
<br />
== Circulate for comment ==<br />
<br />
If you have friends, make them all read your draft resume. Print it out double-spaced and hand them red pens to make corrections. Depending on your friends and your social skills, you may do well to stand over them and insist they make changes; otherwise, you will get a lot of drafts returned with nothing but the comment, "looks great". Stress that you will not be satisfied until they demolish your writing completely. It does you no harm at all and a great amount of good. <br />
<br />
If you are a weak writer generally, you may do well to get professional help at this point. You certainly want to pass it by someone you absolutely trust when it comes to proper English. <br />
<br />
Incorporate changes that seem wise and ignore the rest. <br />
<br />
== Cool it ==<br />
<br />
You must struggle to put your draft aside, preferably for at least a week. Think about anything else meanwhile. When you take it up again, try to see it as a stranger would. Is this strong and professional? Does it leave any room for doubt? <br />
<br />
Cut any remaining negatives. This is a resume, not a biography. You may well want to avoid out-and-out lies but you do not have to include all the truth -- you can't, in any case; there's no room. Include only the best. <br />
<br />
== Final draft ==<br />
<br />
Up to now, you have worked in plain text only. This is smart, since sometimes that is exactly how your resume will be seen. This is the electronic age; many employers will never see a paper copy. Before going further, adjust lines and paragraphs so that your resume works in plain text. Save this file ''as'' a plain text only (.txt) document. <br />
<br />
Now, add a discreet amount of text formatting. Generally, you'll want to ''bold'' the first line of each job (date and company name). You might bold your name. Avoid going too far in this direction but make the paper attractive. Save this file as a Word (.doc) document. <br />
<br />
Some employers want plain text, others want Word; still others prefer Adobe Acrobat. You should be able to convert your Word file to an Acrobat (.pdf) file; do this. <br />
<br />
If you have the technical skill required, you may also want to produce an equivalent HTML format resume. You can always try the Save As Web Page feature in Word -- but beware that this creates generally poor quality code. <br />
<br />
Upload ''all'' of your files -- somewhere. Best is at the root of your own domain, a domain with a name you can read easily over the phone. Free hosts are second-best, since they may require lengthy and confusing URLs to be read or written. <br />
<br />
== Do ==<br />
<br />
* Do be sure to include your name, cell phone, and email address. There is no point looking for a job unless you carry your cell phone with you at all times. Avoid funky and cute email addresses; get one that says "business". <br />
<br />
* Do print clean paper copies of your resume on good-quality white paper. Kinko's is not a perfect service but you can generally walk in, download the Acrobat file, and have the clerk print from it directly at low cost. You will not always use the paper copies but when you want them, you'll make a good impression. <br />
<br />
* Do begin with a clear statement of your objective, headed by your desired job title. <br />
<br />
* If possible, do create alternate versions of your resume. You may do well to have a version tailored specifically to each prospective employer. In this case, alter your objective to match the job description. <br />
<br />
* Do submit your resume electronically. Random or indiscriminate submissions may not do any good but these days, employers generally prefer "soft copy". <br />
<br />
* Do pay attention to what each employer demands. Some say to paste your plain text resume into the body of your email; some say to attach it as a Word document. Absent specific instructions, the best way may be to email a link to your resume, where you uploaded it. Not everyone wants attachments. <br />
<br />
* Do introduce your resume -- by snailmail, with a covering letter; by email, with a couple of covering paragraphs. It's fine to write these up ahead of time but you ''must'' tailor them to the individual employer. <br />
<br />
== Don't ==<br />
<br />
* Don't include info about hobbies, let alone religious or political affiliations, unless you are certain these will bear directly on your work. <br />
<br />
* Don't include a photo, unless you are applying for an acting position, in which case you want to submit a standard 8x10 glossy black and white headshot only. <br />
<br />
* Don't be cute. This includes crazy fonts, white-on-black text, graphics of any kind, and wacky statements. Be normal; employers frighten easily. <br />
<br />
* Don't exceed two pages; for anyone with less than 10 years' work experience, one is enough. Remember that the goal is to ''summarize'' your career, not to tell it in detail. Pick out the best and leave the rest. Nobody will read past the second page anyway and simply having a third will be cause for rejection. <br />
<br />
* Don't use "resume paper"; equally, don't use cheap paper. You want good, heavy, white paper only. <br />
<br />
* Don't use your own (or an office) printer unless it's very good. There is a world of difference between "best quality" from an inkjet or tired laser printer; and the crisp typography you get from a high-end machine at a print shop. <br />
<br />
* Don't send out your resume without some sort of covering letter or covering paragraphs. Nobody likes impersonal submissions. <br />
<br />
== Professional writers ==<br />
<br />
You may be tempted to employ a professional resume writer; there are certainly thousands of them. Some work cheap, some charge hundreds of dollars. <br />
<br />
Trouble is, if you can tell the difference between a good resume and a bad one, you may as well write your own. If you can't tell the difference, how will you decide who to hire or if you've got your money's worth? <br />
<br />
No matter how difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming you think it will be, it's probably better for you to learn to do this yourself. <br />
<br />
== Last word ==<br />
<br />
No resume will get you a job. You should probably not even expect one to get you an interview except by default. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: <br />
<br />
: You have advertised for '''''one''''' foobar operator and now you have 200 resumes waiting your attention. Half of them are completely unsuitable; they are from desperate people who have never even seen a foobar. You go through your email inbox at top speed, quickly deleting anything that does not say "foobar"; you also delete anything that catches your eye and offends you in the slightest. You go through the stack of paper resumes and immediately trash anything on funky paper or with poor printing; again, if it doesn't say "foobar", preferably in the first few lines, it goes. <br />
<br />
: Now you go through the submissions a second time. You are looking for the ''one'' resume that exactly matches your requirement for a foobar operator. Anything that seems to head in a different direction goes straight to the trash. You are hoping to cut down the stack to only a small handful that you must actually read to decide who to call for an interview. <br />
<br />
This is a process of elimination. As a worker, your first goal is ''not'' to be noticed. You do not want to give the employer -- more likely in the first pass, an underpaid secretary -- any excuse to chuck your resume toward the trash can. You want your exceptional qualities to surface only on the third pass -- the first reading. <br />
<br />
Experts agree that this first "reading" lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds -- no more. If you don't get put on the short stack in that time, you're not going to make it. So whatever best foot you have, put it forward. <br />
<br />
== Amazon's Related Products ==<br />
* (ISBN 1580088678 -- the classic resource<br />
<br />
== See Also ==<br />
* [[]]<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
* [http://susanireland.com/resumework.htm Susan Ireland] -- resume guide<br />
* [http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/samples.php JobStar] -- sample resumes<br />
* [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/jobsresumes/sec_page.php?sub_item=052 JobHuntersBible] -- "Parachute" author's site<br />
* [http://www.lifeclever.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-resume-design/ LifeClever] -- Seven Deadly Sins of Resume Design</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=Write_a_resume&diff=3125Write a resume2008-04-14T14:05:37Z<p>Bear: new</p>
<hr />
<div>Many, many books have been written on the subject of resume writing. These are more or less useful depending on the match between your goals and those assumed by each author. It's not enough to say, "I want a job." What kind of job do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it? <br />
<br />
<br />
== Materials needed ==<br />
<br />
* Folder of notepaper or notebook<br />
* Comfortable pen<br />
* Microsoft Word<br />
* Web browser<br />
<br />
You may not want a notebook with bound-in pages. Rather, consider a looseleaf binder, so you can add or remove pages. An ordinary folder full of plain paper -- the same you load into your printer -- may be fine. You'll be doing a lot of writing, so choose a pen you like. At this time (2008), there is really no alternative to Word; employers expect it. You'll want to be online for both research and submissions. <br />
<br />
{{adsense2}}<br />
== Who are you? ==<br />
<br />
You need to decide who you are in order to settle on a resume strategy. Don't assume that you are like everyone else. Take notepaper and answer these questions: <br />
<br />
* What experience do I have in my chosen field of work?<br />
** In school, dropout, or recent grad, little or no work experience<br />
** A few years' (2-5) experience in your field<br />
** Many years' experience in your field<br />
** Changing fields or going back to work<br />
** Retiree or semi-retiree; may be seeking part-time work<br />
<br />
* What kind of work do I seek? <br />
** Blue collar (labor, trades)<br />
** Pink collar (admin, clerical, sales)<br />
** Gray collar (technical, engineering)<br />
** White collar (professional, managerial)<br />
** Government (including quasi-governmental) <br />
<br />
* How honest am I? <br />
<br />
:: This question is very difficult to answer ''honestly'', even to oneself. We all feel that we're honest but obviously some of us are more so than others. Before going further, ask yourself exactly how far you are willing to stretch, bend, or trash the truth. <br />
<br />
:: Every jobseeker must wrestle with the morality of dishonesty. Every job hunting guide warns against lying. Crudely dishonest resumes will very likely lead to disaster, at the least dismissal. Yet the truth is that few resumes are completely honest, few employers check facts rigorously, and jobs often go to those who "improve" themselves on paper. There is no point in lying stupidly, so don't do that. <br />
<br />
== List the facts ==<br />
<br />
Make notes that cover all of your work and school time in detail. If you're older, this may be a pretty big job. You need to have all the details available for the [[Complete a job application|job application]] anyway, even if you don't put them all in your resume. <br />
<br />
* For each job: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** Company name, address, and phone number<br />
** Supervisor's name and title<br />
** Your job title and pay rate<br />
** True reason why you left<br />
<br />
* For each school: <br />
** Starting and ending dates<br />
** School name, address, and phone number<br />
** Major, degree or certificate earned<br />
<br />
== Brag list ==<br />
<br />
Empty your mind for a moment and write freely about yourself. Tell what you have done that makes you stand out. Forget, for the time being, whether this seems to have anything to do with your chosen field of work. Nobody ever need see your notes; don't hold back. Did you complete a project before time and under budget? Did you take on an extracurricular activity? Are you the best arm wrestler on the block? Whatever it is, write it down. <br />
<br />
== Write the bald version ==<br />
<br />
It may now be time to switch to Word. Type up your career in ''reverse chronological order'' -- whatever you are doing now or did last comes first, followed by successively older items, with the oldest last in the list. <br />
<br />
Now go back and insert items from your brag list. Try to find something positive to say about each job you worked. If you're switching careers or returning to work after a long absence, you may have trouble here. Try to look at the time from another angle. If you were a homemaker, you may have excelled at administrative and organizational tasks. If you spent a year bumming around Europe, you may have gained fluency in several languages. Think about it. <br />
<br />
== Choose a format ==<br />
<br />
Check out sample resumes. There are literally thousands available for you to see on the web, not to mention in books. Do your homework; look over a couple dozen. You are competing with people who have read hundreds. <br />
<br />
There are essentially two classes of resume format: <br />
<br />
* Chronological: This emphasizes the reverse chronology that you have already written up. This works best for blue and gray collar workers and those who have a solid work history. <br />
<br />
* Functional: This puts experience and accomplishments up front. It's not possible to avoid the chronology but this goes further down the page and is kept short. This works best for some pink collar workers and those who have gaps in work or are changing careers. <br />
<br />
Note that government positions typically ''require'' a chronological format. Federal resume requirements are so strict that at this point, your best bet may be to turn over your resume to a professional writing service that has specific experience in this area. <br />
<br />
At this point, you should be writing entirely in plain text. By "format", we mean the order in which you write things -- the overall organization of the document. Do not use any sort of '''bold''', ''italic'', or other text formatting. Save your Word file in plain text only. <br />
<br />
== Edit mercilessly ==<br />
<br />
Take a humility pill. Realize that most employers have very little interest in you as a human being. Ruthlessly cut away anything that does not profile you as a better worker ''for the position you seek''. <br />
<br />
Optimize your language to present yourself in the best possible light. You must confront your limits on honesty here. It's probably stupid to invent jobs you never had but if you ever told somebody what to do on the job, you may want to say you have supervisory experience. There is no point at all in holding back here; maximize. <br />
<br />
Use action words, like "completed" and "surpassed". Try to state specific, quantifiable achievements, such as "Reduced overhead costs by 15%". You may need to think past the scope of your own job to see the end result; for instance, "Assisted department to exceed quota".<br />
<br />
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again. Especially for anything beyond entry-level work, you cannot afford the slightest error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Beware of common usage traps such as "to", "two", and "too"; or "there" and "their". <br />
<br />
== Circulate for comment ==<br />
<br />
If you have friends, make them all read your draft resume. Print it out double-spaced and hand them red pens to make corrections. Depending on your friends and your social skills, you may do well to stand over them and insist they make changes; otherwise, you will get a lot of drafts returned with nothing but the comment, "looks great". Stress that you will not be satisfied until they demolish your writing completely. It does you no harm at all and a great amount of good. <br />
<br />
If you are a weak writer generally, you may do well to get professional help at this point. You certainly want to pass it by someone you absolutely trust when it comes to proper English. <br />
<br />
Incorporate changes that seem wise and ignore the rest. <br />
<br />
== Cool it ==<br />
<br />
You must struggle to put your draft aside, preferably for at least a week. Think about anything else meanwhile. When you take it up again, try to see it as a stranger would. Is this strong and professional? Does it leave any room for doubt? <br />
<br />
Cut any remaining negatives. This is a resume, not a biography. You may well want to avoid out-and-out lies but you do not have to include all the truth -- you can't, in any case; there's no room. Include only the best. <br />
<br />
== Final draft ==<br />
<br />
Up to now, you have worked in plain text only. This is smart, since sometimes that is exactly how your resume will be seen. This is the electronic age; many employers will never see a paper copy. Before going further, adjust lines and paragraphs so that your resume works in plain text. Save this file ''as'' a plain text only (.txt) document. <br />
<br />
Now, add a discreet amount of text formatting. Generally, you'll want to ''bold'' the first line of each job (date and company name). You might bold your name. Avoid going too far in this direction but make the paper attractive. Save this file as a Word (.doc) document. <br />
<br />
Some employers want plain text, others want Word; still others prefer Adobe Acrobat. You should be able to convert your Word file to an Acrobat (.pdf) file; do this. <br />
<br />
If you have the technical skill required, you may also want to produce an equivalent HTML format resume. You can always try the Save As Web Page feature in Word -- but beware that this creates generally poor quality code. <br />
<br />
Upload ''all'' of your files -- somewhere. Best is at the root of your own domain, a domain with a name you can read easily over the phone. Free hosts are second-best, since they may require lengthy and confusing URLs to be read or written. <br />
<br />
== Do ==<br />
<br />
* Do be sure to include your name, cell phone, and email address. There is no point looking for a job unless you carry your cell phone with you at all times. Avoid funky and cute email addresses; get one that says "business". <br />
<br />
* Do print clean paper copies of your resume on good-quality white paper. Kinko's is not a perfect service but you can generally walk in, download the Acrobat file, and have the clerk print from it directly at low cost. You will not always use the paper copies but when you want them, you'll make a good impression. <br />
<br />
* Do begin with a clear statement of your objective, headed by your desired job title. <br />
<br />
* If possible, do create alternate versions of your resume. You may do well to have a version tailored specifically to each prospective employer. In this case, alter your objective to match the job description. <br />
<br />
* Do submit your resume electronically. Random or indiscriminate submissions may not do any good but these days, employers generally prefer "soft copy". <br />
<br />
* Do pay attention to what each employer demands. Some say to paste your plain text resume into the body of your email; some say to attach it as a Word document. Absent specific instructions, the best way may be to email a link to your resume, where you uploaded it. Not everyone wants attachments. <br />
<br />
* Do introduce your resume -- by snailmail, with a covering letter; by email, with a couple of covering paragraphs. It's fine to write these up ahead of time but you ''must'' tailor them to the individual employer. <br />
<br />
== Don't ==<br />
<br />
* Don't include info about hobbies, let alone religious or political affiliations, unless you are certain these will bear directly on your work. <br />
<br />
* Don't include a photo, unless you are applying for an acting position, in which case you want to submit a standard 8x10 glossy black and white headshot only. <br />
<br />
* Don't be cute. This includes crazy fonts, white-on-black text, graphics of any kind, and wacky statements. Be normal; employers frighten easily. <br />
<br />
* Don't exceed two pages; for anyone with less than 10 years' work experience, one is enough. Remember that the goal is to ''summarize'' your career, not to tell it in detail. Pick out the best and leave the rest. Nobody will read past the second page anyway and simply having a third will be cause for rejection. <br />
<br />
* Don't use "resume paper"; equally, don't use cheap paper. You want good, heavy, white paper only. <br />
<br />
* Don't use your own (or an office) printer unless it's very good. There is a world of difference between "best quality" from an inkjet or tired laser printer; and the crisp typography you get from a high-end machine at a print shop. <br />
<br />
* Don't send out your resume without some sort of covering letter or covering paragraphs. Nobody likes impersonal submissions. <br />
<br />
== Professional writers ==<br />
<br />
You may be tempted to employ a professional resume writer; there are certainly thousands of them. Some work cheap, some charge hundreds of dollars. <br />
<br />
Trouble is, if you can tell the difference between a good resume and a bad one, you may as well write your own. If you can't tell the difference, how will you decide who to hire or if you've got your money's worth? <br />
<br />
No matter how difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming you think it will be, it's probably better for you to learn to do this yourself. <br />
<br />
== Last word ==<br />
<br />
No resume will get you a job. You should probably not even expect one to get you an interview except by default. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: <br />
<br />
: You have advertised for '''''one''''' foobar operator and now you have 200 resumes waiting your attention. Half of them are completely unsuitable; they are from desperate people who have never even seen a foobar. You go through your email inbox at top speed, quickly deleting anything that does not say "foobar"; you also delete anything that catches your eye and offends you in the slightest. You go through the stack of paper resumes and immediately trash anything on funky paper or with poor printing; again, if it doesn't say "foobar", preferably in the first few lines, it goes. <br />
<br />
: Now you go through the submissions a second time. You are looking for the ''one'' resume that exactly matches your requirement for a foobar operator. Anything that seems to head in a different direction goes straight to the trash. You are hoping to cut down the stack to only a small handful that you must actually read to decide who to call for an interview. <br />
<br />
This is a process of elimination. As a worker, your first goal is ''not'' to be noticed. You do not want to give the employer -- more likely in the first pass, an underpaid secretary -- any excuse to chuck your resume toward the trash can. You want your exceptional qualities to surface only on the third pass -- the first reading. <br />
<br />
Experts agree that this first "reading" lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds -- no more. If you don't get put on the short stack in that time, you're not going to make it. So whatever best foot you have, put it forward. <br />
<br />
== Amazon's Related Products ==<br />
* (ISBN 1580088678 -- the classic resource<br />
<br />
== See Also ==<br />
* [[]]<br />
<br />
== External Links ==<br />
* [http://susanireland.com/resumework.htm Susan Ireland] -- resume guide<br />
* [http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/samples.php JobStar] -- sample resumes<br />
* [http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/jobsresumes/sec_page.php?sub_item=052 JobHuntersBible] -- "Parachute" author's site</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=Teach_English_to_Speakers_of_Other_Languages&diff=3114Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages2008-03-03T22:06:46Z<p>Bear: /* Genesis */ "instructor" -- muddy reference</p>
<hr />
<div>This is by no means be an exhaustive guide to '''Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages''' (TESOL), which includes '''Teaching English as a Foreign Language''' (TEFL) and '''Teaching English as a Second Language''' (TESL). It is only a way to promote the modern method of '''immersion''' in English: a short, pointed demonstration of the bankruptcy of outmoded methods and the virtue of actual practice. It is biased in favor of the '''whole language''' philosophy of instruction. <br />
<br />
== Math or Bike? ==<br />
<br />
<div style="float:right; " >[[Image:Mathorbike-math.gif|400px]]<br>[[Image:Mathorbike-bike.gif|400px]]</div><br />
<br />
This demonstration may be made both to students, even those with no English ability, and to teachers trained in traditional methods. The best possible presentation requires an actual bicycle and enough room to ride it a little bit. <br />
<br />
:1. Begin by chalking the given two figures on the blackboard.<br />
<br />
:2. Point to the math figure and recite each sum. Encourage students in choral drill with gestures and facial expressions. This entirely familiar method will be taken up quite quickly. <br />
<br />
:3. Invite a student (or student teacher) volunteer to imitate the last step. Be sure to recite along with the class. <br />
<br />
:4. Invite the volunteer to teach the class, using the bike figure and the same, choral drill method. Encourage the class to recite in unison after every utterance of the volunteer. <br />
<br />
:5. Now, take the class out of the room, demonstrate bike riding, and invite a student or two to ride. <br />
<br />
The point has been made: Rote drill is not an effective method of teaching bike riding. Actual practice is required. This may be all that can be done in a class with no prior English ability; they will have to make the connection themselves when lessons continue in an interactive, immersion, whole language style. <br />
<br />
If the class has some English ability, discuss the demonstration: <br />
<br />
* Ask the class if choral drill is an effective method of teaching bike riding. <br />
<br />
* Construct actual practice as an alternate, more effective method. <br />
<br />
* Ask if learning language skills is more like learning math or learning bike riding. <br />
<br />
* Prompt: How did you learn your native language? <br />
<br />
* Discuss the need for actual practice in realistic situations. Compare choral drill and other outmoded teaching methods with modern language learning methods.<br />
<br />
== Motivation ==<br />
<br />
Mass education was invented largely in England during the 18th Century. Before that time, general education was reserved for the privileged few. Teachers were generally hired by wealthy families to teach their children only, in their own homes. The Industrial Revolution demanded an army of semiskilled workers able to read, write, and do basic arithmatic. Before industrialization, this sort of work was done largely by clergy, hired out to those few nobles who required it. Now ''clerks'' were needed in great numbers and a new tool was developed to produce them: the classroom. <br />
<br />
Progress in method has been so slow that we today would find familiar many of the significant features of the early classroom: seats and desks in rows; a single teacher at the front of the room at a large desk or lectern, who dominates the room and controls all activity; a pattern of lecture from text, choral recitation, and examination of individual students. The chief skill required to succeed in such a classroom is the ability to sit still, listen, and memorize what the teacher says. The physical structure of the room, with furniture bolted to the floor, is designed to focus students' attention on the teacher and inhibit any student-to-student interaction. This has been compared to Jeremy Bentham's ''Panopticon'', a design for a prison in which the inmates can have no contact with one another. <br />
<br />
British, and later, American teachers spread the early classroom and its methods wherever the dictates of empire and mercantilism took them. In many countries, the Westerners are no longer in charge of general education but the locals have continued to build classrooms and train teachers along these 18th Century lines. Furniture is bolted to the floor in rows and all involved -- teachers, students, administrators, and parents -- consider it a good day if spent almost entirely in reading aloud from the text. <br />
<br />
This type of classroom, and its method, yields acceptable results if the goal is merely to cram students' heads with facts by '''rote'''. These are indeed suitable for menial clerical work in, say, the office of an 18th or 19th Century mill or foundry. Rote is quite useless, though, for teaching true ability in many fields, of which TESOL is prime. The student who wishes to acquire a working knowledge of the English language must be able to ''use'' it: '''learning by doing'''. Language is not a basket of facts to be memorized; it is a complex art that translates thought into sound (and glyphs) and back into thought again. It can only be learned through actual practice. For this, students must be allowed to ''have'' genuine thoughts and to attempt to express them; they must be exposed to utterances and have the opportunity to process them into ideas. <br />
<br />
Old-fashioned classroom drill is useless here. Consider the simple example of the following exchange: <br />
<br />
: '''A:''' Where is the post office? <br />
: '''B:''' Walk two blocks up, turn right, go another block and it's on your left. <br />
<br />
This means nothing unless the speakers are standing somewhere in a town with a post office nearby. Perhaps more to the point, it means little unless A has a genuine desire to locate the post office and B has actual knowledge of its location. Students may memorize this dialog and find themselves completely unable to manage the real-world ''task''. Which way is "up"? <br />
<br />
TESL students have the benefit of daily immersion in English; they live in an English-speaking country. So, they may benefit from traditional classroom instruction while simultaneously spending their daily lives learning to use the language in actual practice. TEFL students, living in their own country, do not have this additional time to learn. They leave the classroom for no practical opportunity to exercise what has been taught. Therefore, the rote method yields but a bitter fruit. <br />
<br />
Modern TESOL methods emphasize real use of language in the classroom -- when possible, outside as well. Students are often paired or grouped to conduct student-to-student conversations. In the traditional classroom, only one voice at a time is ever heard: usually the teacher's, sometimes the individual student's when called upon, sometimes the entire class reciting as one. In the modern classroom, perhaps half the people in the room are talking at any one time -- each one attempting to use available skills to achieve a real, if limited, goal.<br />
<br />
== Genesis ==<br />
<br />
Author [[User:Bear|"Bear" Longyear]] created this demonstration while teaching English as a foreign language to students in China, originally for the benefit of local teachers who wished to know more about modern methods. He subsequently employed it as an introduction to all students, at all levels, with considerable acceptance and enthusiastic welcomes. <br />
<br />
Chinese students, teachers, administrators, and parents are wedded to traditional methods to a degree that seems hardly credible. <br />
<br />
* A state-owned university spent a great amount of money in a complete renovation of the main building. Some 30 brand-new classrooms were built -- mostly unchanged in design since 1820. <br />
<br />
* A class of college-level English majors, uncomfortable with modern methods, demanded that all class time be taken up by the instructor reading from the text. <br />
<br />
* After successfully motivating a class of elementary students to engage in pair conversations about simple shapes and colors, the author found the entire remainder of the school -- students, teachers, and administrators -- looking in through the windows and doors, attracted by the "disturbance". <br />
<br />
* One privately-owned "English school" employs local teachers who speak no English. They spend, of any hour, about a quarter haranguing students in Chinese; half watching silently while playing a prerecorded cassette; and another quarter demanding that students recite what they have heard. <br />
<br />
In contrast, the '''Math or Bike?''' demonstration opens doors. The bicycle is ingrained in contemporary Chinese culture; all participants ride and all know they did not learn to do so by way of classroom drill. They see also that they did not learn to speak their own language that way. Given the least encouragement, they come to see the potential of the whole language approach.</div>Bearhttps://opentutorial.com/index.php?title=User_talk:Hapa&diff=3111User talk:Hapa2008-01-20T01:39:13Z<p>Bear: Captcha</p>
<hr />
<div>== Talk about Hapa ==<br />
<br />
Say What you will, all I ask is that what you say be truthful.<br />
--[[User:Hapa|Hapa]] 18:12, 15 March 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Social Bookmarks ==<br />
Hi Kolomona. I'm creating a new wiki (it's not up yet) and I was wondering how you created the social bookmark frame along the left side of Open Tutorial? Were you able to add it to monobook.php? [[User:Dryguy|Dryguy]] 08:26, 15 June 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
Thanks Kolomona! That is extremely helpful. Sorry about leaving my message in the wrong place earlier - I was momentarily confused about which page I was editing. I'll let you know when I have something up and running, and I will be sure to acknowledge your help. [[User:Dryguy|Dryguy]] 11:15, 15 June 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
== Math ==<br />
<br />
Future projects similar to [[Construct a pentagon]] might be a bit easier to build if the math module were installed. ''See http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Formula.'' Meanwhile, I'll work around it. [[User:Bear|Bear]] 16:25, 23 June 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
== WP ==<br />
<br />
I've created a project page on [[OT:WP|Wikipedia]], summarizing some of the concerns I think important. I suspect a great many OT editors will have had previous WP experience and I'd like to suggest you link this on the OT main page. I shudder to think of hordes of freaked-out refugees from the WP behavioral sink descending on us and running amok without any guidance. <br />
<br />
Please check the page for accuracy and conformance to OT's mission. ''Thank you.'' [[User:Bear|Bear]] 05:28, 28 June 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
== Carnie ==<br />
<br />
I have in mind a project (utterly unrelated to OT's mission) that ought to be hosted on a MediaWiki installation. I'm not interested in Wikia; I can't deal with that kind of fanaticism. You seem to have a pretty fair handle on how to operate MW; would you like to discuss my project? [[User:Bear|Bear]] 17:24, 9 July 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
: Thank you for the compliment. I am in no way a MediaWiki guru, but I can obviously get it working. I'd be happy to discuss your project with you. If you would rather not discuss on a wiki then you can email me at hapa01@gmail.com --[[User:Hapa|Hapa]] 09:57, 10 July 2006 (MST)<br />
<br />
Sorry for the delay in reply; too many balls in the air. <br />
<br />
'''Carnie''' is completely unrelated to OT, so I went looking for a temporary home; you can see it now [http://www.editthis.info/Carnie/Main_Page here]. With all respect to the host, he's taken on a heavy load and I'd probably prefer working with someone (a) with more experience as a MediaWiki honcho and (b) more of an active interest in this particular project. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, ''I'' took on a pretty heavy load just customizing MediaWiki-space for the project; then got discouraged when I ran into technical difficulties. I'm ashamed to see I've written next to nothing about the project itself. Wait a day or so and I'll at least scribble in a page of ideas. If the project appeals to you, we'll go from there. <br />
<br />
There's nothing secret about '''Carnie'''; just the opposite. [[User:Bear|&rarr;]][[User talk:Bear|Bear]] 20:57, 24 August 2006 (MDT)<br />
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== Polls ==<br />
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Hi Hapa,<br />
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I am interested in installing the Polls extension in my MediaWiki wiki. Yours is the only site I could find that runs it. Would you be able to give me some links to existing polls you've used so I can have a look at them in action? I couldn't find anything by searching for "poll"... :)<br />
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cheers (if you could [[special:emailuser/pfctdayelise|email me]] too that would be fantastic) --[[User:Pfctdayelise|Pfctdayelise]] 06:12, 1 August 2006 (MDT)<br />
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== ISBN ==<br />
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Hi Kolomono, I was wondering how you made your ISBN links pop out a preview window out showing the book for sale on amazon. Is there an extension for this somewhere? Also, I saw above that someone asked how you made the bookmark sidebar, I was wondering the samething also. I have a wiki running at [http://www.wikistock.com www.wikistock.com]. I appreciate any help you can provide about this. Thanks--[[User:Rovo|Rovo]] 07:00, 22 February 2007 (MST)<br />
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== Captcha ==<br />
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I agree that spam is a plague and I'm glad you found some sort of a solution; but it's cumbersome. Suggest you apply the captcha only to new and unregistered users. That is to say, I'd like to feel that you trust me by now not to run a spambot. Yes? [[User:Bear|&rarr;]][[User talk:Bear|Bear]] 18:39, 19 January 2008 (MST)</div>Bear