Simply can not find a job.

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I have been in the job market since late january and need some advice, Voc rehab has offered me nothing and easter seals have offered me nothing. I have been to several interviews and filled out a ton of applications, so what is holding me back, is it my resume; economy. What do i need to do to find a job before bad things happen. Here's my resume.

Nathan V. Young

Objective:
To bring to your organization enthusiasm, dedication, responsibility, and good work ethic, combined with a desire to utilize my skills obtained through my experience.

Education:
Benjamin Russell High School
Alexander City, Alabama
Technical Diploma
Graduated May 2006

Commercial Driving Institute
Oxford, AL
Class A CDL License
Graduated May 2006
C
omputer Skills:
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Paint; Also Proficient in Photoshop and the Internet.
• Coordinated High School’s PTO Newsletter and several Publications.
• Develop Websites; www.barcncpt44.webs.com

Awards:
• Award in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students
• Volunteering awards in Churches and Organizations.
• Representative in Benjamin Russell S.G.A. and Junior Ambassadors

Prior Work:
• Dock Hand (Mar.-Sept. 2005)
Þ The Ridge Marina
Þ Alex City, AL 256-234-2022
Þ Pumped gas, washed boats

• Screen Printer (May-Sept. 2006)
Þ Russell Corporation
Þ Alex City, AL 256-500-4385
Þ Printed logos, numbers on shirts

• Line Worker (Nov. 2006)
Þ Staff Mark
Þ Ashland City, TN 931-647-0378
Þ Took parts off paint line

• Shift Manager (Dec. 2006– Feb. 2007)
Þ Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits
Þ Gillette, WY 307-682-3512
Þ Supervised employees, counted cash

• Front Desk/Server (May-Aug. 2007)
Þ Soda Butte Lodge
Þ Cooke City, MT 406-838-2251
Þ Checked people in, served food

• Truck Driver (Nov. 2007– Jan. 2008)
Þ Werner Enterprises
Þ Omaha, NE 402-895-6640
Þ Drove 53 foot truck

Interests:
Interests in Roads, Trains, Working with Animals, Computers, Nature and Outdoors, Planting, Photography, Television, Sports, Conservation, Cooking, Volunteering, Arts, Weather, and Drawing.

The resume can use a little work. I reformatted it a bit for your review. I spelled all city and state names and fleshed out the summaries and skills. The phone numbers aren't needed on a resume. They'll go on the job application. I keep my contact data on a separate sheet. I also listed the jobs from most recent to least recent and put the education, awards and interests last. I hope it helps. Try to flesh out the job descriptions. Most jobs have other duties besides the main one. It isn't BS, it's telling people what you did. I always put "Assisted in other areas as needed" because I did. When I ran a check sorter, I also helped in the receiving and dispatch area and the reject repair department. Don't forget to put your contact data below your name. Added: it doesn't show here, but I centered the headings, too.

The economy is partly to blame. Just check out the layoffs from the major banks and other companies. Anyway, here it is:

Nathan V. Young
<Add contact data here>

Summary

A solid professional with experience in web development, graphic arts, transportation and food service. A problem-solver with good people skills and the ability to work alone as well as on a team. Likes to learn and use new skills. Enjoys a good challenge and the satisfaction of a job well done.


Skills Summary

• Management experience.
• Proficient at developing websites. See www.barcncpt44.webs.com
• Experienced truck driver.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Paint and Adobe Photoshop.
• Coordinated High School’s PTO Newsletter and several Publications.
• Handling cash.


Professional Experience

• Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE (11/2007–01/2008)
Þ 402-895-6640
Þ Truck Driver
Þ Drove 53-foot truck

• Soda Butte Lodge, Cooke City, MT (05/2007-08/2007)
Þ 406-838-2251
Þ Front Desk/Server
Þ Checked people in, served food

• Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits, Gillette, WY (12/2006–02/2007)
Þ 307-682-3512
Þ Shift Manager
Þ Supervised employees, counted cash

• Staff Mark, Ashland City, Tennessee (11/2006-11/2006)
Þ 931-647-0378
Þ Line Worker
Þ Took parts off paint line

• Russell Corporation, Alexander City, Alabama (05/2006-09/2006)
Þ 256-500-4385
Þ Screen Printer
Þ Printed logos, numbers on shirts

• The Ridge Marina, Alexander City, Alabama (03/2005-09/2005)
Þ 256-234-2022
Þ Dock Hand
Þ Pumped gas, washed boats


Education

Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City, Alabama
Technical Diploma
Graduated May 2006

Commercial Driving Institute, Oxford, Alabama
Class A CDL License
Graduated May 2006


Awards

• Award in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students.
• Volunteering awards in Churches and Organizations.
• Representative in Benjamin Russell S.G.A. and Junior Ambassadors.


Hobbies and Interests

Interests in Roads, Trains, Working with Animals, Computers, Nature and Outdoors, Planting, Photography, Television, Sports, Conservation, Cooking, Volunteering, Arts, Weather, and Drawing.

I might leave out the jobs that you only were at for a few months unless they were student summer jobs (and you might need to put that they were).

When I ever listed jobs that I just had a few months, the interviewer would ask why I just worked there for a short time. Usually I got laid off or quit. They seem to think that was a bad thing and say that they don't want to waste their time training someone who will just quit. I usually would like to say that if they were not an as*hole that I would not quit.

thanks for the comments everyone.

I'm in a similar situation as you. What kinds of jobs are you applying for? It's hard to critique your resume if we don't know that. Something that might help is to use transferable skills when describing your past jobs. For example, I have no idea what "Took parts off paint line" means. But if you said something like, "managed quality control of paint in fast paced environment" (or whatever) I/the employer might have a better idea. The goal would be to convey that your skills are relevant to other jobs.
Good good luck to you...

what i said by took parts off paint line is that, i just took water heater parts off paint line.

The first thing that came to my mind was your job history, it seems like the longest you have been in one job is 7 months, and you have worked quite a few jobs in a short period of time (6 jobs in less than 3 years). I think employers would see that as someone who wont work the same job for a long period of time and wonder how long you would work for them, perhaps you might get bored of doing the same job in a few months? As someone else said, remove the jobs on the list that you have worked for the shortest amount of time as they probably work against you.

You have many interests listed as well, try to just list the ones you are mostly keen on. I read on a job website (careerone.com.au) that listing your interests might work against you. For example I love motorbikes but someone might see me as a motorcycle hoon that disobeys the road rules (well true to a certain degree). And "television" might imply a couch potato.

I hope you find the job you want.

the longest job i have had is 4 months long. All the jobs i get are either tem seasonal jobs, jobs that screw me around or i get fired from

[edited for content at the PM senders request by sinsboldly]

Please don't post PMs without express consent from the PMer, thanks!
Merle

Ahem...
That "resume" was for format only, and given to you in a PM. (Hint hint)
So here's my PM back to you:

Fill in the details, as in the example below:


Nathan V. Young
email address – phone number

A solid professional with experience in web development, graphic arts, transportation and food service. A problem-solver with good people skills and the ability to work alone as well as on a team. Likes to learn and use new skills. Enjoys a good challenge and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Skills

• Management experience
• Proficient at developing websites. See www.barcncpt44.webs.com
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Paint and Adobe Photoshop
• Experienced truck driver.

Professional Experience

• Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE (11/2007–01/2008)
-Truck Driver
- CDL Licensed. Was responsible for driving 8 hour shifts, maintained federal driving logs, loaded and off-loaded inventory, filed paperwork as required, maintained vehicle


Etc.
-

Etc.

Education

Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City, Alabama
Technical Diploma
Graduated May 2006

Commercial Driving Institute, Oxford, Alabama
Class A CDL License
Graduated May 2006

If you left a previous employment in bad terms, I wouldn't include the details on the resume.

I don't know if you normally do this in USA resumes, but do you normally include references or past job contacts in your resume? It's a normal thing in Australia to leave the name, comapny, position and phone number of a past manager, teacher or academic. And normally the recruiter would call the contacts to ask about your past work history.

Something that I strive for when I work is to leave a good impression with the manager. I only work part time at the moment but I'm at university and when I finish I consider my manager as a valuable person to help me obtain my next job.

^ In the US, the name of the company, position and dates of employment are current format. References and phone numbers are saved for the application form. Hobbies and interests are no longer listed, either. The resume is your first impression.

Definitely leave super short jobs or ones left on bad terms off the resume, but you will have to list them on your application. The state employment has a tax record from every employer, so the potential employer can easily check to see where and when you've worked, if they wish. (But they don't usually dig too much... ).

And a tip a recruiter from Nike gave me was to go through an ad and make sure that you mention the exact same words in your skill set or somewhere in your resume as those they mention as a requirement. A computer scans resumes, and if there is no match, it's the ground file.