I'd like to get a critique from someone who is or has been the first line in sorting resumes for city planning positions. I am applying for an entry level job with just a bachelor's degree and lots of experience. But beyond that, all the resume reviews I get at workforce centers and recruiting agencies don't really grasp what employers in our field look for. I get all this jargon that applies mostly to administrative and IT positions. Is anyone else getting poor resume evaluations from "experts" who don't understand built environment careers?
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Real cover letter and resume critiques
- Thread starter kw5280
- Start date
ColoGI
Cyburbian
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Me three. Plus I'm in the neighborhood. It's a sprawled McSuburb, but still.
Well, I am at a loss as to how to share my resume through email and PM in this forum which is discouraging because I really am a tech savvy person. Anyway, thanks for the offers to help. I wonder if there would be any interest in setting up a subtopic in the Career Development and Advice section for resume critiques. I can understand not wanting to have resume and CV postings, but a little peer perspective might be a good resource.
Veloise
Cyburbian
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Send your benefactors a private message with your real e-mail in it, and they will send you theirs.
HTH
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Moderator note:
You're welcome to start a legitimate "crit my resume" thread. You can attach a resume to a post (you've got enough posts), or use a free service like Pastebin or Scribd. Please be aware of the risks that come from posting too much personally identifying information in public. I'm going to modify permissions so only those logged in to Cyburbia may see and download attachments.
Several years ago, Cyburbia allowed users to post resumes and CVs. There were several problems, though, the biggest being that people would post resumes but never return to participate in the Forums, users never removed resumes after they landed jobs, and the majority of resumes were from India.
I had no idea people would be nice enough to do this.
Otis, Tide and ColoGI: can I still get in on this? I had my resume critiqued by my advisor before, but never by a professional planner. As a broke graduate student I can't offer much, but promise to say a prayer for each of you
Dan: how come I'm unable to PM other cyburbians?
Otis, Tide and ColoGI: can I still get in on this? I had my resume critiqued by my advisor before, but never by a professional planner. As a broke graduate student I can't offer much, but promise to say a prayer for each of you
Dan: how come I'm unable to PM other cyburbians?
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Moderator note:
You need two more posts to send PMs. Spammers are the reason why new users can't have nice things right away.
JeromeRaymond
Cyburbian
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Anybody care to also give me some feedback on my resume. I'm going to use it for both job interviews and grad schools applications.
Thanks.
Thanks.
What might work is once you have reviewed a resume, post your critique here, but remove the identifying details, or just generalize the comments, like "put skills up front" or w/e
That way it will be useful to many people, and people can critique their own resumes accordingly. Seems like more reward for the effort imho.
That way it will be useful to many people, and people can critique their own resumes accordingly. Seems like more reward for the effort imho.
Tide
Cyburbian
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VXW While I do think that would be helpful (posting a critique of a resume on here) there are often so many identifying issues on resumes and I believe they are still very personal and if everyone's resume looked the same it wouldn't allow those resumes that went the extra mile to stand out.
I'll be emailing mine to you as well. Thanks for the offer.
Rygor
Cyburbian
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Just curious, but for someone with a Bachelor's in planning, military service, is AICP, and who has had two planning/ED related jobs (one of them for 8 years), would it be better to do a chronological or a functional resume? I have about 9 years total job experience. This would be for looking for a mid-level position in ED or similar field. Is there a preference by those who evaluate resumes which type you use? For someone with my experience level which would be better?
arcplans
As Featured in "High Times"
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For sure go with functional versus chronological. If you need an example, pm me and I can shoot mine over to you.
Plannerbabs
Cyburbian
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Is the resume review office still open? Would anyone like to take a quick look at mine? It's more a CV format because I'm sending it here and overseas...any input would be gratefully received.
Veloise
Cyburbian
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Is the resume review office still open? Would anyone like to take a quick look at mine? It's more a CV format because I'm sending it here and overseas...any input would be gratefully received.
Yo!
need at least ten characters
Rygor
Cyburbian
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Thanks for the tip. BTW, PM sent.
Tide
Cyburbian
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I've now helped and given advice to 7 cyburbians. I hope my service has helped I'd be interested to hear back from those of you who I've helped to see if you took any advice, if it is working, and what wasn't helpful. I enjoy helping my fellow planners and know what you are going though, I too had a 13 month lapse in employment, and had help from people during that time so I'm paying it forward. But I know I have more to learn regarding resumes as well, since resume writing is a constantly evolving art.
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Dan, I think it would be interesting to see how many people would take part in a resume review section. It might just because of the economy, but I would imagine that we could get some good people to join and stick around for the "service".
From the short time this thread has been around it is already getting a lot of interest. Not sure how to make it safe for those who are posting their resume though - being a member with a certain number of posts to upload works, but if anyone can download that is a member, it still leaves a certain level of privacy issues. I guess if people are willing to give up some privacy for the advice, why not?
I just think that with this economy, it would be a service to help those who are on the hunt. Just my two cents. (And Tide, Veloise, Otis, Raf, etc. who know what they are talking about can all review and give feedback without losing their personal email).
From the short time this thread has been around it is already getting a lot of interest. Not sure how to make it safe for those who are posting their resume though - being a member with a certain number of posts to upload works, but if anyone can download that is a member, it still leaves a certain level of privacy issues. I guess if people are willing to give up some privacy for the advice, why not?
I just think that with this economy, it would be a service to help those who are on the hunt. Just my two cents. (And Tide, Veloise, Otis, Raf, etc. who know what they are talking about can all review and give feedback without losing their personal email).
As someone who has reviewed about 50? resumes and portfolio from various students and professionals over the past few years, I don't think it's a good idea for several reasons.
1. People are going to dump their resumes onto the server in the hopes that it gets some feedback I don't mind providing advice to thse people, but I am doing them a favor. All I ask is some one-on-one interaction first. I need to know more about who is behind the resume/portfolio in order for me to give sound advice.
2. It takes time to carefully craft a resume and it's an ongoing process throughout a career. By the time the person has emailed me their resume, it should be a polished and carefully prepared work. Over half of the resumes I have reviewed were very lacking.
3. Cyburbia is much more than the resume review service. I would hope that people contribute to the ongoing discussions first. I still treat resume review as asking for a favor. I actually keep an active file of every resume and portfolio I have reviewed along with my comments (especially since my comments for portfolios alone can run several pages).
1. People are going to dump their resumes onto the server in the hopes that it gets some feedback I don't mind providing advice to thse people, but I am doing them a favor. All I ask is some one-on-one interaction first. I need to know more about who is behind the resume/portfolio in order for me to give sound advice.
2. It takes time to carefully craft a resume and it's an ongoing process throughout a career. By the time the person has emailed me their resume, it should be a polished and carefully prepared work. Over half of the resumes I have reviewed were very lacking.
3. Cyburbia is much more than the resume review service. I would hope that people contribute to the ongoing discussions first. I still treat resume review as asking for a favor. I actually keep an active file of every resume and portfolio I have reviewed along with my comments (especially since my comments for portfolios alone can run several pages).
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I respect your opinion, but feel that most people just need help - not a detailed review of who they are or what they stand for. General help is sometimes just as hard to come by as detailed help. I had a guy come into my office last week asking if we had any positions open - I told him unfortunately we don't presently, but will in the next year. I asked him if I could do anything else for him, and he asked if I would look at his resume. I wouldn't normally do this, but the guy seemed nice, and really was trying to do better for himself. I didn't spend an hour going over it, I just spent 15 minutes talking with him about how I would lay it out, where he should focus, and how he might better sell himself.
Although I agree that if you want a detailed review, with comments you might or might not get that here. But feedback is not something that would be lacking. I agree Cyburbia is much more than just a resume service, but it might be something that we can do to help out our fellow planners.
Veloise
Cyburbian
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Can you send me your e-mail address via private message despite having only two posts?
rcgplanner
Cyburbian
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As a sorta mid-career planner, would a fellow Cyburbian be willing to take a look at my resume. I am mostly afraid that my resume is getting WAY too cluttered and long, it is two full pages. Thanks!
Hello everyone. If anyone is willing to review my resume as well, I would greatly appreciate your time and help? I am a recent graduate currently employed part-time for an environmental and engineering consulting firm; however, my hours are being cut each week. Therefore, I have revised my resume and currently working on a few cover letters. Again, I really appreciate anyone's help. Best of luck to all.
Alright guys thanks. Here's the dropbox link so you can view the PDF:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g22nuzzia3z41nn/Craig Scott Planning Resume.pdf?dl=0
I have limited GIS experience so this is my first shot to try to get internships and volunteer opportunities so hit me with everything you got! LOL Good or bad as I'm trying a mid-career shift.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g22nuzzia3z41nn/Craig Scott Planning Resume.pdf?dl=0
I have limited GIS experience so this is my first shot to try to get internships and volunteer opportunities so hit me with everything you got! LOL Good or bad as I'm trying a mid-career shift.
MD Planner
Cyburbian
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I'd be happy to. I like to think I'm pretty good at resumes and cover letters and have helped many people over the years. Some even successfully!
P_Johnson76
Cyburbian
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I'd be glad to.