Gaming the resume system (was: job-hunt weirdness)

Subject: Gaming the resume system (was: job-hunt weirdness)
From: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: TECHWR-L Writing <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>, Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:22:42 -0400

Robert Lauriston reports: <<I got asked about current and expected
salaries today in an online application for a job at a company owned
by a large corporation. Luckily the "expected" section allowed
multiple choices, so I was able to specify a wide range in place of my
usual "open.">>

Seems like a reasonable strategy.

<<It always seems odd to me when these online applications let you
upload a resume but not a cover letter.>>

Yeah, these systems are often examples of the blind (the HR staff who
asked for the system) leading the blinder (the developers of the
system). Let's just say I haven't been overwhelmed with the skill of
most HR staff I've worked with over the years or their knowledge of
our profession, and don't get me started about most Web designers... <g>

I imagine there are two possible solutions for this problem: First
(and probably suboptimal), include the cover letter as page 1 of the
PDF you upload; that at least gets your cover letter in the door.
Second (and probably more effective), turn the resume into a narrative
form that combines the "here's what I want you to focus on in my
resume because it relates to this specific job" that should appear in
a good cover letter with the details that should appear in a resume.
Of course, I decline to speculate whether you'd be rewarded or
punished for such creative solutions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoff Hart (www.geoff-hart.com)
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective Onscreen Editing:
http://www.geoff-hart.com/books/eoe/onscreen-book.htm
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References:
Re: job-hunt weirdness: From: Erik Hare
Re: job-hunt weirdness: From: Dana Worley
RE: job-hunt weirdness: From: McLauchlan, Kevin
RE: job-hunt weirdness: From: Dana Worley
Re: job-hunt weirdness: From: Robert Lauriston
Re: job-hunt weirdness: From: Gene Kim-Eng
Re: job-hunt weirdness: From: Robert Lauriston

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