There's a lot of amazing stuff in your resume. Make it pop out. Bullet points and numbers. Active and leadership words. "Participated in" is weak.
Your resume has only ONE purpose. Get past the lower level screener and passed on to a hiring manager
A recruiter for an HOA management company got mad at me for applying and not having any prior HOA experience. It was for a data entry role and nowhere in the job description did it say that HOA experience is required nor does it indicate in my resume that I worked for an HOA.
@LionsFan - I don't have aby tangible performance reviews nor any numbers. I showed up and did the work. I made $19.77 per hour at that job so I'm just looking for a similar role that pays the same.
@Mike403
I showed up and did the work
I hope you take this in the helpful spirit it is intended. I have been a hiring manager for quality technicians and engineers. I’ve interviewed, hired, given performance reviews, coached and in some cases had to terminate employees.
Your statement above would have absolutely ruined an interview with me. As others have said in this thread, it is a buyer’s (employer’s) market so they can be choosy. @LionsFan and others are giving good advice about how to make your resume stand out.
You have a lot working against you between the current job market, ghost job postings, and the new AI gatekeepers at large and medium sized companies. That means it is more important than ever that you highlight your successes on your resume.
Have you completed any projects ahead of schedule? Have you “gone the extra mile” to ensure the success of a project by doing things beyond what is in your job description? Have you made any employee suggestions that were implemented by a former employer? Have you taken initiative to find and fix a problem without being asked to do so?
I jumped from being a manager to reporting directly to a C level officer in a multi-billion dollar company because of taking initiative and going beyond my job description. When I was promoted I told my former Director who I would like to see take my place because she had consistently gone above and beyond her job description. She never “brought me a problem” without having researched it and bringing me a recommendation on how to handle the problem. She got my old job and did a fantastic job with it. I guess what I am trying to say is never make it sound to a potential employer (especially today) that you just show up, do what you are asked to do, and go home.
I truly with you the best of luck on your job search.
@JohnR1972 - What am I supposed to do? Make something up? My last job was a repetitive data entry role just entering data as requested and verifying accuracy.
@Mike403 all too many employees do their work without ensuring that it was done right. I'd spend a few words on your resume on your quality control efforts ('verifying accuracy'). Such a work trait is valuable to employers.
@Mike403 - Definitely do not make anything up, I was just trying to help you think of anything you may have overlooked.
@JohnR1972 - I have a disability. Autism. I am highly detailed and accurate in my work, but as far as communication and coming up with new ideas/suggestions, that's where I struggle.
Maybe Orion? It's a headhunter company. The guy that pairs you up with companies gets paid if you get the job, I believe. I'm not super sure about it, though. I just left the military. Just something to look into
In a large city like Denver, there's probably an agency which is built around serving the autistic community. They may have a following of friendly Employers willing to give you preference.
@Mike403 Stay positive. Sleep 8 hours. Get some sun early in the day everyday. Exercise 20 minutes minimum daily.
I would look into County or State employment. There may be preferences for a disability. Your work record will be a plus. There may be a test and a waiting list.
As people drop off the list, you'll work your way to the top. Once you do, you may be just 1 of 3 brought in for an interview. This can take several months to a year, so pickup some work to tide you over.
The people at your local Unemployment Office should have a list of all State jobs. You can go to the County administrative building and check jobs posted. Take the tests but keep moving forward.
@LionsFan - I had one interview with a car refinance company a few weeks ago where she told me that she thinks I'd be a great fit for the team.. then never heard back even after following up a couple of times.
I'm getting severance payments from my other job until October so I haven't had to visit an unemployment office yet.
Ghosting is extremely common these days. You can have four or five interviews with a place and then never hear anything.
@WriterGF - There shouldn't be more than two interviews including a phone screen unless it's a highly technical job.
Have you tried targeting specific employers?
Call Blue Cross Blue Shield / Anthem. Ask for the HR Office. Find out if they use a recruiting firm or do their own . It's probably both. Do they list jobs on a website?
Read darn near all the descriptions, apply to any involving data entry. Up load resume.
Do the same at Great-West Life Assurance
Do it at the competitors of your old employer.
Highly recommend visiting with a counselor at the Unemployment Office next week. Do not procrastinate.
Finding a job is a full-time job.
So much can be done remotely these days. Hopefully, finding a company that can either be hybrid or totally remote will open more doors.
Mike, you are conscientious and have integrity. Maybe some of these experienced people that have already posted can tell you the best way to present that in a resume and interviews.
@achetocuddle - The "experienced people" ARE trying to help Mike. You must have missed my suggestion: Flesh out your skills section with examples (this could help your accomplishments/highlights.)
Hiring managers want skills. Conscientious and integrity are qualities. Qualities become skills with examples. Hiring managers want skills.
I second what someone said about targeted searching and then adjusting your resume to specifically address the skills for that job. It’s a little bit of a time investment but I have landed interviews in almost every instance I used that technique. Nothing has materialized or offers were worse than I currently have but this is an impossible market to be starting over in.
Dear starrynitecuds, Lol, the people like you are exactly who I was referring to. I said that because I knew I could not give him good help. I just did not want Mike to fail to mention 2 of his good qualities, tho that might have been kinda dumb on my part. Mike doesn't need me rooting for him but I wanted him to know I am. I will stay out of this thread now. Best wishes.
@mike403 sorry, all of this is happening. Headwinds are tough right now. I know what that is like.
To answer your question and echo some of what has been shared already, highlight accomplishments. I suggest in your bullet points write in a way that says what you did, how you did it, what you accomplished.
3rd party recruiting companies can help.
Paying some one or using chatGPT codes can go a long ways.
Sometimes there are non for profits that help individuals with disabilities find jobs too, you'll have to search and ask.
As also previously shared, being active and having purpose every day will help make you feel better. Maybe it's read a book, journal.
I wish you the best, I have been there before, these experiences can break us or make us stronger and give yourself grace there will be harder days.
At the Nadir of your job search @Mike403 you would do well to take some courses online free or go to a trade school to expand your talents and employability.
I just got out of a long day of testing by a couple psychologists (8 hours with a 30 minute lunch break). I'll be working with a government program for people with disabilities and they want a formal diagnoses. They paid for the testing which would have been $4,000.
An excellent move, Mike
@Mike403 oof, sorry to hear that. I've been stuck in the job search & interview trenches myself for 2 years now. I've picked up a lot of application, resume, and interview advice from classes and stuff, I'd be happy to share if you'd like. You probably already know a lot of it, but who knows - maybe there's something my mess of an experience can help with.
I dropped my classes for the next semester. I'm not going to make it work with the job search still ongoing. That testing I did(with the psychologists), they're still working on the report and they estimate it will be complete in a few more weeks.
Sorry just subscribed to image generator and just couldn't help it
"Demonstrated expertise in exceeding productivity standards and enhancing department efficiency through specialized projects."
I would give as many examples as possible proving these two claims.