Two-page resume...

oldhack, what if someone e-mails you seeking confirmation, rather than calls? Does that influence you either way?

 

E-mail works (and probably forces me to look through the pile just the same). But the "did you get my resume?"" phone call can lead to a longer conversation, almost a telephone interview, that can be impressive and help the applicant (guess it could also convince the applicant that he/she doesn't want to work for that old fart).

We all know that e-mail has some real advantages over phone calls, which work only if the person you are calling is in at the time and not on deadline. Guesss I would suggest a couple of phone calls and then an e-mail.

 

I have chron AND skills. I mean, what skills? "I can use a telephone, fly on planes (usually) and also copy edit because I don't have a full-time beat."

 

I don't think the first and second statements contradict each other. I know first hand that when you get a shit ton of applications, you're looking for something -- anything -- to make you not hit the delete key or toss it in the garbage.

If I'm interested enough in someone's resume, I'll ask for references. I usually do that in the interview itself. I don't need to see them spelled out on a second page of a resume, especially for the kind of jobs I'd hire for.

If I were hiring a news editor or a managing editor at a big daily, THEN I'd give consideration to two-page resumes that have their second page be more than just a list of references. But for an entry-level reporter position that's geared toward people who've just graduated from college, one page is enough. Any more and it's going in the garbage.

 

I have to use a two-page resume, because I have three, solid, teaching positions on there and two long-time newspaper jobs on there. For things like PR and college staff-type jobs, I need both.

I have been getting interviews with them across many industries.

I also include a separate page of references, with annotations.

If anyone is hiring in upstate New York, I would be happy to send it to you.

 

Even with Nipplegate Documentarian?

Seriously, I think I'm going to trim it down to a page, then have a second one for references.

 

Exactly. From going through job finding programs and talking to executives, two pages is the norm.

Honest to god, if the guy is upset he has to look at another page he is a jerk. If you really need a second page to put your workplace and skills on, then do it.

Sometimes I wonder about this profession. People just don't aren't professional. A major corporate recruiter would never eliminate a subject on the silly basis that the resume is too long or they didn't like the paper quality. They are pros, and do their due diligence and want to find the best guy/gal for the job.

If you get eliminated because the editor is lazy then he isn't a pro, and you don't want to work there.

 

I just wish editors who get pissed off by that second page or paper quality or phone call would read threads like this, see the responses and realize that job applicants are not mind readers. That they're in a tough spot. That what pisses off one editor is perfectly OK with the next one. And that their resume should not be discarded simply because there's a second page.

 

Then send some pictures.

But on serious note, a two-page resume is fine with me as long as you have enough legitimate information to take two pages. If the lead item on page 2 is that you worked at Applebee's while in high school then cut it to one. If you've had three different jobs over 11 years than you can expound on your accomplishments a bit.

 

IJAG. . . there is probably more to those eight years than you realize.

What have you done during those years? Cover any coaches getting fired? how about hiring? how many times did you beat the competition on a story? What beats did you cover? What were the big controversies and how did you handle them?

Give me the different scenarios that you have experienced that shows me that your eight years was more than just writing stories. What is there about IJAG that makes you stand out among your competition (no smart ass comments on that line from the SportsJournalists.com gallery please)?

You'd probably be surprised at what you've accomplished.

 

Doesn't matter. As long as its full of relevant stuff, organized, etc ...

 

First thing I'd do is spell "peeked" correctly. Nothing turns off an employer than misspellings on a resume