I’m in my third month of job hunting, and I’ve read online about new resume rules — that technology has changed the way employers look at resumes. What advice do you have?
It’s all BS! Everyone needs to stop looking for the magic bullet to finding a job — despite so-called “experts” who try to promote that there is something “new.” There certainly are no new resume rules, and anyone who tells you differently is wrong. The job search is, was and always will be a marketing campaign that involves exploring all avenues for opportunities — with the primary one being networking.
And in this marketing campaign, you are branding yourself with tools — which have evolved with technology, for sure — but the resume is only one such tool. You are wasting your time if you are trying to “program” your resume for keyword searches because of different resume scanning tools that some employers use for resume sorting. There are plenty of better resources that will help anyone craft a resume that succinctly highlights their skills, experience and accomplishments. Other tips: Dress sharply. Demonstrate energy and a positive attitude. Create a professional LinkedIn profile that tells your story. Create a target list of jobs and employers, then mine your network, and go after it. Good luck!
My cubicle mate eats really smelly food at lunch, and I can’t stand it. Do I have a right to complain?
Yes, I’d head right to the human resources department and file a formal complaint. And if the smell is particularly offensive and permeates the entire space — like the person who microwaves last night’s curried chicken or takeout garlic chicken and broccoli — you may even have a hostile work environment claim! Your other alternative is to start a protest with your office mates and picket the cube — perhaps secretly sabotaging the microwave after-hours! If it is that bad I am sure the boss would or should get involved and ask the person to change their lunch routine — perhaps to a different location — and spread the pain to other floors. Whatever you do, don’t talk to your colleague, explain how you feel and ask if there is a way to help solve the problem.