Is the Resume Dead?

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Every time I apply to a job by sending a copy of my resume to someone, I always get the feeling that no one will ever look at my resume. I constantly wonder why I have to go through this agony and perpetual uncertainty about the fate of my resume? Is there an alternative way of representing myself to the right audience and showcasing my talents and skills in a more certain manner?

 
Professional organizations. Most of the people who are successful landing a new job right now are doing so because they know someone at the company they are applying to. One of the best ways to inter-mingle with workers at these companies is to join and network within these organizations.

 
I keep an updated resume which I think looks pretty good.... I'm not sure you'd be able to land a job without one. I know in the past I've thrown out a candidate for having typos on his resume.

 
I agree with Dexman. Professional organizations are a great way to get to know people at other companies. I do believe that resumes are still needed. Sometimes the person you meet may not be the one who can hire you directly, but if that person had your resume, then it could get hand delivered to the person who is in charge of hiring.

When my last company went through their first round of lay-offs last year, I had a couple of my co-workers request my resume so that they could pass it along to other people that they know. Sure enough, the job I accepted less than a month later was from one of these contacts. So keep the resume alive!

 
My point of view has been that the resume is a small part of the job hunting process. If you try to replace contacts, knowledge of the comany, their products and services with a resume you will most likely be dissapointed. Treat a resume like a business card, not much more.

If you are only "apply to a job by sending a copy of my resume to someone" then "get the feeling that no one will ever look at my resume" you are most likely correct. Or it may be looked at very briefly.

My suggestion is What companies are in your area that have people doing what you do?

What department would be interested in you. (internet makes this pretty easy)

Who is head of that department? Call and ask

What important piece of information do you have for them? not that you are unemployed they dont care, what about them

Now you are ready to contact them, maybe a nice letter, and a followup phone call

good luck

 
The last jobs I know most people have landed have been through (1) Twitter, (2) LinkedIN, (3) Facebook, (4) Sports forums/Engineering forums. Someone in one of those networks will know someone who has an opening that would be a perfect fit.

 
I think it varies with industry and situation. As was explained to me several years ago, the nuclear power industry is very small and incestuous. You'll find that after a while, you'll know somebody almost everywhere you go. I got the job I'm in now with two phone calls. The first call was just to get a phone number for the owner of the company I work for now. The second phone call went something like this:

Me: "Hey, it looks like I'm about to run out of work over here. You need anybody?"

Prospective Employer: "Funny you should call, I just landed a bunch of work that would be right up your alley. I was going to call you in the next day or two."

Me: "Well then, it looks like we just need to figure out a rate."

 
Keeping your resume up-to-date is also essential in many situations after you land a job; it's vital to project proposals and marketing.

 
Keeping your resume up-to-date is also essential in many situations after you land a job; it's vital to project proposals and marketing.
Good point. My resume is kept current exactly for that purpose. For a job search, I'd have to totally reformat it, but all the information is there.

 
My company keeps marketing resumes separate from our personal resumes, so I don't have to worry about that aspect of it. But I always keep my personal resume ready in case I see some greener grass come available.

 
My company keeps marketing resumes separate from our personal resumes, so I don't have to worry about that aspect of it. But I always keep my personal resume ready in case I see some greener grass come available.
We keep separate resume's as well. I haven't seen my personal resume since I started my current job (almost 5 years ago)

 
My company only keeps marketing resumes, and usually updates them yearly. I've been keeping mine up to date as I complete major projects, Ive noticed that smaller (1-4 weeks) projects tend to not look as good on the resumes.

 
Contracting agencys like bergalia, like another poster said professional societys (society of professional engineers, etc). Also you could try sending letters and resumes to the registered PE's in your state and see what they are up to (thats how I got my first job under a PE so I could test for my own PE) since there contact information is public knowlage, some states actually charge you a fee but its nominal.

Always keep all your work email and contact lists saved on a thumb stick as well as any usefull templates, specs, internet favorites, etc so that when you get a new computer or new job or contract all you have to do is plug in and your ready to go, make sure you have a home office where you can still engage all of your net work if you were randomly laid off from home. Never have anything on a work computer that you cant access from home, do a cute PDF of the company directory so you still have contact info or if they have cell phone number listed even better that way you can get ahold of another laid off person if nessicary and trade job offers. Linkedin seems to be good to but I have not used it a whole lot yet.

 
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My company only keeps marketing resumes, and usually updates them yearly. I've been keeping mine up to date as I complete major projects, Ive noticed that smaller (1-4 weeks) projects tend to not look as good on the resumes.
Hey a 4 week job for 80$/hr will keep you afloat for a good while while looking for a real job so I would not snub it, if they wanted to pay 30-40$ then I would laugh lol.

 
My company only keeps marketing resumes, and usually updates them yearly. I've been keeping mine up to date as I complete major projects, Ive noticed that smaller (1-4 weeks) projects tend to not look as good on the resumes.
Hey a 4 week job for 80$/hr will keep you afloat for a good while while looking for a real job so I would not snub it, if they wanted to pay 30-40$ then I would laugh lol.
Hey RP- have you checked out the latest "Salary by Discipline" entries? I think there's a new entry in there that might be approaching your definition of fatty money. Not quite at the level for a man of your qualifications, but in the ballpark.

 
My company only keeps marketing resumes, and usually updates them yearly. I've been keeping mine up to date as I complete major projects, Ive noticed that smaller (1-4 weeks) projects tend to not look as good on the resumes.
Hey a 4 week job for 80$/hr will keep you afloat for a good while while looking for a real job so I would not snub it, if they wanted to pay 30-40$ then I would laugh lol.
Not what I meant at all.............. :smileyballs:

 
My company only keeps marketing resumes, and usually updates them yearly. I've been keeping mine up to date as I complete major projects, Ive noticed that smaller (1-4 weeks) projects tend to not look as good on the resumes.
Hey a 4 week job for 80$/hr will keep you afloat for a good while while looking for a real job so I would not snub it, if they wanted to pay 30-40$ then I would laugh lol.
What an ass hat...

 
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