Job search websites, LinkedIn and other methods to change jobs

[Japanfan]

I am not using a template but I read at many places to not use bold face, underlining, etc.

Do those sources say why?

It makes no sense to me, given that design/formatting can make a resume more clear, simple and readable to a person who may have to go through a ton of resumes and make the decision to put the document in the 'no' pile in just a few seconds.

In my view, bold, italics and underline work together to distinguish text and enhance clarity in a resume. I would be interested if employers did not see it this way, and preferred having to read resumes more slowly and carefully because the highlighting is missing.

 

[Debbie S]

I think bold, italics, underlining are fine, but you don't want to have any non-traditional fonts that make it hard to read, and avoid graphics as that can make it harder for ATS scanners to read/parse your resume. Generally, your resume should be in Word format, not PDF, unless that is specifically requested or is standard in your industry.

If you are looking at jobs that require either semiconductor or environmental experience but not both (i.e exploring opportunities in both fields), you could have 2 different versions of your resume, listing each job but highlighting the skills/experience relevant to the particular field.

 

[Susan1]

I think bold, italics, underlining are fine, but you don't want to have any non-traditional fonts that make it hard to read, and avoid graphics as that can make it harder for ATS scanners to read/parse your resume. Generally, your resume should be in Word format, not PDF, unless that is specifically requested or is standard in your industry.

If you are looking at jobs that require either semiconducter or environmental experience but not both (i.e exploring opportunities in both fields), you could have 2 different versions of your resume, listing each job but highlighting the skills/experience relevant to the particular field.

Former secretary/editor/resume proofreader here - if you are going to use bold or underlining, make it consistent. Bold each company; underline each job title, etc. That goes for verb tenses and phrase structure too.

The Word/PDF thing? It was so irritating to go through all the formatting (indenting, line spacing, etc.) to have it show up as one big clump of words without any formatting.

Proofread, proofread, proofread and have someone you trust proofread it and then proofread it again. (I'm available! ha ha)

(Or you could get a job at a newspaper and not have to do any of those things. ha ha - not. Five paragraphs this morning - three typos. aarrgghh. Funny, one was the "j" thing between too words. Guess somebody's finger got tired and decided to rest on the j key in between words. And nobody noticed? Wouldn't that show up in a spellcheck.)

 

[Debbie S]

The Word/PDF thing? It was so irritating to go through all the formatting (indenting, line spacing, etc.) to have it show up as one big clump of words without any formatting.

ATS scanners can't read PDFs, so unless the job specifically requests a resume in PDF (meaning they don't use automated scanners), resumes and cover letters should be in Word.

 

[dewey]

Did you work for a federal or state government agency?

 

[Debbie S]

Did you work for a federal or state government agency?

Is your question for me? No, I didn't. The Word/PDF advice is info I've read/heard on job search info sites and such. It's not just gov't agencies that use those automated scanners, most large companies do, at least from what I've read.

 

[Simone411]

I think what this particular author (who does a lot of writing on career issues for Forbes and other pubs and I have issues with a lot that she says) means is that you should focus on your accomplishments. I've read some advice where that says to describe your tasks in a few sentences and then list accomplishments in bullet points below that. But that takes up a lot of space (I've read conflicting advice about whether to keep your resume to 1 page, I do but not everyone does). And it's hard to quantify an accomplishment with every responsibility so most people (including me) have a mix of tasks and accomplishments.

I agree with you on certain points of what the author mentioned. I've had several jobs in my life span because of either a layoff or the companies closing down. The longest I worked for a company was 15 years. It was in Apartment Management where I was supervisor of Accounts Payable and Receivable. Some of the everyday tasks were in Industry Interface where I transmitted information to the USDA Rural Development. The company moved to a new location, and I was asked by my boss to help the company move.

I included in most of my resumes the tasks I did at previous jobs. And that is mainly part of the reason I got the job at the property management company. I also got the job because I listed my education and taking courses which included Accounting. I truly believe it is important to the describe and list the tasks at previous jobs, but not to go into lengthy detail. It should be a brief description of the tasks.

 

[dewey]

Is your question for me? No, I didn't. The Word/PDF advice is info I've read/heard on job search info sites and such. It's not just gov't agencies that use those automated scanners, most large companies do, at least from what I've read.

No, I meant Vash b/c I work in the environmental group of a federal agency.

 

[Vash01]

Did you work for a federal or state government agency?

State.

Currently County (this county is bigger than three small eastern states combined)

In both cases we have independence though we do communicate with the EPA from time to time.

 

[dewey]

State.

Currently County (this county is bigger than three small eastern states combined)

In both cases we have independence though we do communicate with the EPA from time to time.

Have you searched USAJobs to see if there are any federal entities (NPS, BLM, Forestry, etc) in your area?

 

[Vash01]

Have you searched USAJobs to see if there are any federal entities (NPS, BLM, Forestry, etc) in your area?

I used to search there regularly. I was even on their mailing list, and used to receive listings of open positions. What discouraged me was - 1) the extremely complicated application process, 2) most jobs were in geographical areas that I didn't want to move to. I would love to work for NPS in the western part of the country.

 

[Japanfan]

ATS scanners can't read PDFs, so unless the job specifically requests a resume in PDF (meaning they don't use automated scanners), resumes and cover letters should be in Word.

Word can lose formatting when documents are open and closed. For that reason I always recommend that clients who are submitting resumes online use a PDF.

The Word/PDF thing? It was so irritating to go through all the formatting (indenting, line spacing, etc.) to have it show up as one big clump of words without any formatting.

I've never seen a word document lose formatting to that extent.

Proofread, proofread, proofread and have someone you trust proofread it and then proofread it again. (I'm available! ha ha)

I usually proofread a resume three times, and recommend that the client proofread it as well, then have someone else proofread.

 

[dewey]

I used to search there regularly. I was even on their mailing list, and used to receive listings of open positions. What discouraged me was - 1) the extremely complicated application process, 2) most jobs were in geographical areas that I didn't want to move to. I would love to work for NPS in the western part of the country.

Warning that NPS does not have the most secure funding these days You can set up alerts for the position numbers and geographical areas you want. Spend some time figuring out what positions you are fully qualified for, then find some openings for those positions and carefully read the position descriptions. Identify the "buzz words" and work them into the top few lines of your resume. There is currently direct hire authority for information security (position number 2210) and all positions in the DoD. Under direct hire, if you can get your resume in front of someone who makes hiring decisions, he/she can expedite the process to bring you on board.

 

[Vash01]

Warning that NPS does not have the most secure funding these days You can set up alerts for the position numbers and geographical areas you want. Spend some time figuring out what positions you are fully qualified for, then find some openings for those positions and carefully read the position descriptions. Identify the "buzz words" and work them into the top few lines of your resume. There is currently direct hire authority for information security (position number 2210) and all positions in the DoD. Under direct hire, if you can get your resume in front of someone who makes hiring decisions, he/she can expedite the process to bring you on board.

Right now I don't trust any of the federal positions as secure. That's why I am concentrating on the private industry and state/county/city positions (there aren't many of those, however).

 

[Garden Kitty]

Article from a Linkedin employee about how to increase your chances of getting noticed on Linkedin

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

LinkedIn is a good site to search for jobs on. Glassdoor is good for researching what it's really like to work somewhere, and what the salaries at an employer might be like. On Glassdoor, you can search for jobs by salary level - very useful if needed.

Monster is no longer of value, sadly. Craigslist is best avoided - lots of scams. Indeed can be okay - I've seen some jobs there that aren't listed elsewhere, but Indeed is hit or miss, IMO.

Don't make your resume public on Monster. You'll get nothing but "recruiters" calling you to work for 100% commission insurance sales jobs and similar.

There are still recruiters/headhunters out there. The best ones specialize in an industry, in my experience.

 

[overedge]

I wouldn't go for temp unless I was out of job, and that could happen. I would probably go for an adjunct faculty type position, or a contract position for a project in that case.

Have you taught before?

 

[Vash01]

Have you taught before?

I taught at the university (ASU)here for one semester after The semiconductor company I was working for downsized. I taught a course at a local college for one semester. In graduate school I taught a course for 2 or 3 semesters.

I have tried for teaching positions at community colleges but they didn't even interview me. Usually they have already decided who they would hire, so they don't interview even qualified candidates.

 

[overedge]

@Vash01 the academic job market is horrible right now. There are a lot of people applying for any kind of job opening they can find.

It may not be that the colleges have already decided who they're going to hire - it may be that they're getting a lot of applications from people with more qualifications than you have. That's not saying that you aren't qualified or that you couldn't do the job - just that the job market is brutal right now.

Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend to anyone that they consider being an adjunct as an alternate career path. Not unless they're independently wealthy.

 

[Vash01]

@Vash01 the academic job market is horrible right now. There are a lot of people applying for any kind of job opening they can find.

It may not be that the colleges have already decided who they're going to hire - it may be that they're getting a lot of applications from people with more qualifications than you have. That's not saying that you aren't qualified or that you couldn't do the job - just that the job market is brutal right now.

Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend to anyone that they consider being an adjunct as an alternate career path. Not unless they're independently wealthy.

I know you didn't mean that. I am also aware that there are hundreds of applications for every teaching position. However, community colleges need only a masters degree to teach a course. By that definition I am very qualified for an Engineering teaching position, with. a PhD and years of experience as an engineer. I was told that by the college that if they find an internal candidate they would hire him/her. I was still hoping for at least an interview. The other reason for a tight market us that they hire a lot if adjuncts, so they won't have to cover their health insurance.

An adjunct position means a full time job for half time pay, so unless I am out of work, I am not likely to go for that. A friend of mine had mentioned in the past that working as an adjunct improves your chances of getting a full time position.

I really didn't enjoy teaching whenever I taught those courses for one or two semesters. May be that's why I don't put much effort into getting an adjunct position.

 

[overedge]

I know you didn't mean that. I am also aware that there are hundreds of applications for every teaching position. However, community colleges need only a masters degree to teach a course. By that definition I am very qualified for an Engineering teaching position, with. a PhD and years of experience as an engineer.

I understand that you are qualified. But the academic job market is so competitive that there are likely many other candidates with the same qualifications and experience as you, and probably also candidates with even more experience. There are universities and colleges all over North America that are getting job applications from qualified candidates who never would have applied for those positions before.

I was told that by the college that if they find an internal candidate they would hire him/her. I was still hoping for at least an interview.

There may be internal policies or collective agreements that give priority in hiring to internal candidates. And although it seems harsh, it's not worthwhile for a hiring committee to interview external candidates if they have enough qualified internal candidates for the position.

The other reason for a tight market us that they hire a lot if adjuncts, so they won't have to cover their health insurance.

It's also because, when instructors retire from full-time positions, those positions are often not being continued as full-time positions. The full-time positions are being replaced with temporary/contract work. And it's also because in some disciplines there are many more Ph.D.s being produced than there are full-time permanent jobs to put them in. It's not just health insurance.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

A friend of mine had mentioned in the past that working as an adjunct improves your chances of getting a full time position.

In academia/as faculty? Normally, it does not. There can be some exceptions, but normally, it does not.

 

[Vash01]

In academia/as faculty? Normally, it does not. There can be some exceptions, but normally, it does not.

I didn't mean a university, only a community college. Typically Engineering PhDs are smaller in number and many get high paying jobs in the private industry (I am an exception). They can get positions at universities if they have many publications and PhD from top schools. Those would normally nit apply to community colleges for jobs unless they are retired and just want to teach a course or two.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

Generally speaking, it is not/is is no longer the case that being an adjunct at a community college will put you in line for a full time position. There simply aren't full time positions at ccs as faculty, not as there used to be. Those that exist and are still hiring tend to be in the health professions. Again, generally speaking.

And it's often the case that once you're an adjunct, you are, to be blunt, seen as an adjunct. They'd rather hire a freshly minted PhD from a top school instead of someone who is an adjunct.

 

[overedge]

@Vash01 I can assure you that in many fields there are people with PhDs who are applying for adjunct jobs at colleges. And they are not retired people looking to fill their spare time with a course or two. Many of them are looking for any kind of academic job that they can get, because there are fewer and fewer full time permanent faculty positions anywhere.

 

[Vash01]

@Vash01 I can assure you that in many fields there are people with PhDs who are applying for adjunct jobs at colleges. And they are not retired people looking to fill their spare time with a course or two. Many of them are looking for any kind of academic job that they can get, because there are fewer and fewer full time permanent faculty positions anywhere.

My phd is not in 'any field'. It's in Engineering. It's not in, for example, History or geography or literature (no insult intended; I respect them, but there aren't many jobs in those and similar fields).

Those from top schools don't go to community colleges to teach, at least in science and technology. They get hired by good universities or good companies (actually I was working for a good company before the layoffs). Basic subjects like Math and the sciences always have a shortage of teachers in community colleges. At universities the competition is tough and I wouldn't even try. There is a reason community colleges want only adjuncts, and it is financial.

Anyway, hopefully I can find a decent job outside my current one before they decide to get rid of me.

 

[overedge]

@Vash01 I work in higher education, and I sit on hiring committees at my institution. So I know what the academic job market is like, and I see the qualifications/skills of the people who are applying.

What you call "basic" subjects do not have a shortage of teachers at community colleges or anywhere else. What there is a shortage of, is full time permanent positions. I know there are people with PhDs - yes, some with PhDs from top schools - and industry experience, and teaching experience, applying for adjunct jobs. I've seen their applications. And not all of them get hired because of the number of applicants that have those qualifications. That wasn't how things were even 15 years ago, but it's sure how things are now.

Please, go and do some reading about what the academic job market is like before making any more assumptions about it.

 

[Vash01]

I believe you are overgeneralizing. Jobs are very dependent on the field of specialization. Most engineers do get jobs quickly, with just a BS or MS. Thats why you don't see that many PhDs in it. For University jobs I agree that it is hard to get one, and the chances are best as a brand new PhD. Once an engineer goes into industrial environment it becomes increasingly harder to get into a university level job. Personal experience is more valuable than stats with everything lumped together.

Anyway, this thread is about job search related links and I got plenty of helpful suggestions from others. Thanks to them and those who tried to help. I do need to hurry up. Although right now things appear stable here, it is not the best situation. Many are stuck here without any future career growth (except obviously the new college grads), but unwilling to move because it is comfortable. At least I have the motivation because things are bad and I cannot allow myself to relax.

 

[overedge]

@Vash01 I am not overgeneralizing. I am telling you the same facts that anyone working at a university or community college will tell you. If you don't want to believe the facts, that's your problem.

 

[mattiecat13]

My job is ending at the end of this year. There is a possibility I could stay but I won't know about that for at least a couple of months. The thought of looking for a job at my age (50s) exhausts me. Plus, I have parents who are having various health issues I have to help them with. The thought of trying to start and learn a new job and also take care of elderly parents with all the appointments, phone calls, and crises that has entailed (dad has had four emergency hospitalizations in the last three months) horrifies me.