Resumes say the darnest things

lmbrls, post: 385387, member: 6823 wrote: I need to find a company or frim that can let me expand my capabilities.

sorry, I think you have topped out.

When making typo's it is recommended to make sure they are as harmless as possible. For surveyors that is usually a number that is next to impossible to catch without running several numbers as a check. There should be no typo's of the simple nature exhibited above in a resume for a professional position. One should also call on other, more experienced, grammarians to assist in conveying the proper intent. Those offering their resumes to enter a competitive position being offered may not realize the reduction in their future lifetime earnings that may arise from not being able to land the position due to their sloppy approach.

These kinds of typos could hurt a person... Seeking a position in a profession where little mitsakes can really cause large issues.

You know the employment ads really aren't helping things either:

"Dong Topographical surveys and s-sectioning. Will be responsible daily for the assistants on your crew. "

"applicant with good english writting capability"

" There is no paid benefits. Please email salary requirements in order to have your resume looked at. Again please include your salary - hourly requirements or we will not look at your r̩sum̩."

Two cover letters (or lack there of) with resumes I read yesterday:

Number 1:
Hello, my name is [redacted]. I am interested in the instrument operator position. I attached my resume. This is from a party chief with 10+ years experience.

Number 2:
Dear Hiring Professional,

Attached to this email is my resume, application of employment and also this cover letter.

Granted, A large portion of Number 2 is BS, but a lot of my job is BS.

The thing is: 1) corporation do have cultures, some people are a fit and some aren't, and letting me know you've looked into my firm acknowledges that the candidate realizes that; and 2) when I'm considering hiring someone for an instrument man position, I'm not looking at their qualifications for that job (with enough bananas I can train a monkey to run the gun) I looking for someone who has the potential to be a manager down the road. I don't run on a technician - professional model but a paraprofessional or professional in training - professional model. Candidate No. 2 tells me right off the bat that I may have to teach him to survey and manage survey operations the way I want him to, but I'm not going to have to teach him how to write a business letter or survey report.

James you have hit the nail right on the head. If a person is uncaring, ignorant or careless with their resume, what will be the quality of their day to day work. With all the technological advance in surveying, we will need fewer but smarter people going forward.

BTW: When I say check spell check, I mean not only use but check what it says. The main problem is usually not taking the time to check reread their resume.

mkennedy, post: 385538, member: 7183 wrote: I think it would be...polite to stop these comments. I doubt anyone here would make similar comments about a man who made the same misspelling.
I sincerely hope she never finds this forum and realizes what people were insinuating about her spelling mistake.

I understand what you are saying. The point is that I would think she would especially not want to make that statement. I hope that if she sees this that she would always check her correspondents going forward. I did not intend to pick on her just because she is a woman. Unfortunately, her resume was the best example.

James Fleming, post: 385591, member: 136 wrote: Two cover letters (or lack there of) with resumes I read yesterday:

Number 1:
Hello, my name is [redacted]. I am interested in the instrument operator position. I attached my resume. This is from a party chief with 10+ years experience.

Number 2:
Dear Hiring Professional,

I am writing to apply for the Instrument Operator position with AMT Engineering. My education and experience makes me a suitable candidate for this position. I have a land surveying bachelor‰Ûªs degree and experience working as a Surveyor‰Ûªs Assistant / Instrument operator for a private company here in the island of Puerto Rico.

I am a self-disciplined individual with the ability to make good sound decision and to handle the responsibilities required by this position. I can work in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment and I can provide quick decisions when necessary. I can adapt to different surroundings very quickly while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.

I am physically fit enough to meet the demands of this job and mentally capable to handle the pressures that come with this position. I have the ability and confidence needed to accomplish assignments and to get the job done right. I believe that gaining valuable experience is key in the land surveying business and in my mind there is no better way than with AMT Engineering. I have seen on social media and on AMT's blog page how this company works as a family and cares not only for the client but for the community in general, and as a future land surveying professional and a caring person I truly desire to be a part of this great team. I would like to extend a thank you in advance for considering me as a possible candidate for this position and I hope to hear from you soon.

You can reach me by calling my personal phone at [redacted]. or through my email account [redacted].

Attached to this email is my resume, application of employment and also this cover letter.

Granted, A large portion of Number 2 is BS, but a lot of my job is BS.

The thing is: 1) corporation do have cultures, some people are a fit and some aren't, and letting me know you've looked into my firm acknowledges that the candidate realizes that; and 2) when I'm considering hiring someone for an instrument man position, I'm not looking at their qualifications for that job (with enough bananas I can train a monkey to run the gun) I looking for someone who has the potential to be a manager down the road. I don't run on a technician - professional model but a paraprofessional or professional in training - professional model. Candidate No. 2 tells me right off the bat that I may have to teach him to survey and manage survey operations the way I want him to, but I'm not going to have to teach him how to write a business letter or survey report.

So did you hire the dude?

Dan Patterson, post: 385604, member: 1179 wrote: So did you hire the dude?

Passed on No. 1
Will contact No. 2

We run help wanted ads pretty constantly. I'd rather find the right people, hire them, then look for work to keep the busy then have to grab whatever's available in a bind.

mkennedy, post: 385538, member: 7183 wrote: I think it would be...polite to stop these comments. I doubt anyone here would make similar comments about a man who made the same misspelling.

I sincerely hope she never finds this forum and realizes what people were insinuating about her spelling mistake.

Oh good Lord. Does no one have a sense of humor any more?

And yes, I'd have made the exact same comment if a man had written that resume.

mkennedy, post: 385538, member: 7183 wrote: I think it would be...polite to stop these comments. I doubt anyone here would make similar comments about a man who made the same misspelling.

I sincerely hope she never finds this forum and realizes what people were insinuating about her spelling mistake.

I apologize. Maybe Wendell can take down my comment.

James Fleming, post: 385591, member: 136 wrote: Granted, A large portion of Number 2 is BS, but a lot of my job is BS.

That could be the last line of their resume....

Thanks, Tom. The 2nd quote was from Tommy Young (I thought I attributed them both?).

I thought it through several times about whether to post or not. If there'd been one comment about trading "favors" for a degree, I would have ignored it, but there were two, and I didn't want the thread to devolve into multiple comments on the same theme.

I *can't* imagine what the woman was thinking, putting out a resume like that--totally agree that it's a complete nonstarter.

Most of us have never worked with a woman on the crew. Much of the language on a crew is not geared for women. "Bull Prick" (thats a frost pin) etc.
Balls. That means 0+00. Would the language change, when a woman was around. I'm sure it would. Never worked with a woman on the crew. Should we learn that? Never thought about it. That's where most of the men on this forum are coming from.
The work was so hard, and hot and dirty, we never thought of bringing a lady along. Take better care of women than that.
N

lmbrls, post: 385598, member: 6823 wrote: I understand what you are saying. The point is that I would think she would especially not want to make that statement. I hope that if she sees this that she would always check her correspondents going forward. I did not intend to pick on her just because she is a woman. Unfortunately, her resume was the best example.

I agree, she's fair game for having what looks like a hastily thrown together resume that desperately needed proofreading and spell-checking. I was trying to call out the tone of some of the comments.

mkennedy, post: 385623, member: 7183 wrote: Thanks, Tom. The 2nd quote was from Tommy Young (I thought I attributed them both?).

I thought it through several times about whether to post or not. If there'd been one comment about trading "favors" for a degree, I would have ignored it, but there were two, and I didn't want the thread to devolve into multiple comments on the same theme.

I *can't* imagine what the woman was thinking, putting out a resume like that--totally agree that it's a complete nonstarter.

You attributed it correctly. I reread it and edited my response. (My given name, and username on some sites, is "Tommy" and I ddn't read carefully before responding). You must have replied before I edited.

I sometimes get carried away in my snide remarks and need to learn not to offend some. I thought it was ironic that she was, or at least was claiming to be, on the President's List and she had that typo right there. It's like someone who is on the "President's List" would have good grammar, vocabulary, and proofreading skills. My joke reflected that sentiment but it appears it was written in poor taste.

Nate The Surveyor, post: 385628, member: 291 wrote: The work was so hard, and hot and dirty, we never thought of bringing a lady along. Take better care of women than that.
N

I have worked with women in the field and have found that in general they approach the work in a practical and methodical manner often lacking in their male counterparts and are absolutely fit for the work. To say that women should be excluded from working in the field for their own protection is far more offensive than course language.

Coarse language. Not course language. Sorry.

Coarse language in the wrong place (almost anywhere these days) can get one in trouble in a hurry. To make matters even worse, sometimes people hear what they thought they heard rather than what the speaker actually said. That he-said-she-said type of thing can really make a mess of things when both parties are absolutely certain of what it was that was said, yet have opposite memories.

The comments yesterday about Groucho Marx and Johnny Carson pale in comparison to what can be heard daily on standard television programming and in G-rated movies. Shows like The Newlywed Game sort of opened that door nearly 40 years ago.

Pretty great to have a typo in a typo inspired thread.

Everything is normmul.

Having been reminded that we have Ladies on this site, I will keep it in mind in the future. One of my Daughter's was told by a Supervisor that his recommendation for a promotion could be tied to some extra curricular activities. Her and 3 coworkers took similar complaints to HR and he was reassigned. HR gave no reason as to why he was not terminated. She talked me out of teaching him some manners. However, I definitely do not find harassment in the work place to be a laughing manner.