The Resume/The Cover Letter

The Cover Letter~
Here is the grabber, you must "break in case of emergency"! You must catch them here! You must sell yourself like you are the most desirable commodity ever, you must leave them wanting more of you. You must, in 2 paragraphs or less!
Well, I don't know about you, but this feat I must admit defeats me before I even get started. How can I sell myself to someone else when I am so down about myself from the defeat of looking so long for a job, for a career, for a place of employment where I know I can make a difference.
You have to know how to play on words. I do not play on words. My words are pure, no secret agenda. They are simple words and they mean what they say. I don't know how to manipulate words to get them to be something that I end up having no idea of what is being said. I am not a stupid person, on the contrary I think myself to be pretty smart.
There are people out there that create cover letters for you, but it comes with a hefty price. I guess it is worth it IF you get the job. But I find that paying that hefty price for something that does not guarantee you a job is very costly. Remember, I am unemployed, unemployed means no income at least for me, this is what it means. No income! So to pay a fee for a cover letter that speaks in the way you do not talk and has no guarantee for me is not an option. So I put myself out there in my own words, sorta kinda. (no I don't use sorta kinda in my cover letter)

The Resume
hmmmm I have been on both sides of the resume and to be honest I am not sure how they NOW do it. At least when I was doing it, I had the honor to have the applicant come in to see me, thus being able to ask questions I may have had. Now...that is not an option, as it simply reads submit resume online and we will contact you....no phone calls! or you see Do not apply in person.

SO YOUR RESUME MUST BE STELLAR!!

Mine IS NOT! While I did initiate change on more than one occasion, mostly I was laid off, not enough work. I did manage to get an unforgiveable 3 page resume down to 1&1/2 pages. Still it should be only one page! I think I mentioned I am 52 and have had more than a job or two unfortunately in the past few years. This should be able to reflect my ability to adapt to change.
I have excellent letters of recommendation, I am afraid they are only worth the cost of the paper they are printed on.
So I pose a question how do you get that stellar resume when yours is less than? Without lying?
I do not physically have a degree but I have the experience above and beyond that of a degree, probably above a BS in Business and no that isn't bull.... just thought I would throw that in for you! Every position out there wants you to have a degree. A degree in something, I have a degree in experience. I understand first hand, first hand about running a business, about how to keep costs down and production moving right along. I know first hand how to keep your staff pulling together in team work when things get rough and adjustments in staffing have to be made. I know how to see what is going wrong and how to improve in those areas that are going wrong, even if I do not carry a diploma from a college, these types of things seem to come natural to me. Why, I don't know!
back on track...
Here again, you have the option to have someone do your resume for a fee. Remember, unemployed, no income!
I have tried without any added success to add phone numbers to supers and reason for leaving to my resume. I have the pertinent information that applies to the position I am applying for in bold and still no change in being contacted. The only thing I have not done is have someone actually call my previous employers to see what is actually being said. With the exception of one, I know it should be all great! And even that one in question if all facts are given should at the minimum be good.

On calling, when permitted~ and even when not~ (sometimes you just have to) Mostly I hear, no we are not hiring, are they expecting your call?~ they are in a meeting, I will have them call you back, with no response~ they will call if your qualifications match the position.

I have one question~ Who is "THEY"? Do "THEY" have a phone? Do "THEY" know how to use their phone?
So to take this one step further and to close with a smile.....
Who do "THEY" think they are? "THEY" would be blessed to have someone like "ME" work for "THEM". heehee, while accounting is the bulk of my experience, it obviously is not my forte....so I guess I should have said ~multiple questions~ oh well.

So I close this post with this, no matter how down we may get we can always look upward! The best flowers are in the valleys.
Happy Searching!

Greetings Bloggers

Thinking seems to be my greatest past-time lately. Sometimes this can be good, sometimes this can be bad!
I decided to create a Blog and dedicate it to us that fall in the category of being over 50 and unemployed so here goes~
With all that time on your hands the mind can do rough things to you. Your thoughts race trying to figure out why you can't get a job. You have already given up on a choice job and began to apply for "anybody can do this" type of job, and then reality hits you in the face and you find out that you don't even qualify for the "anybody can do this" job. That is when I felt like I had hit bottom. I could not even get a job selling Cell Phones! Give me a break!!!

So I figure that there has to be a funny side to all this and I am the one that is always looking for the bright side of things. Well, apparently the brightness is so bright it blinded me for I can't seem to see it! ;-)

I am hoping this forum will offer a place for interaction with others in this boat! I refuse to sink! So be prepared, this is not for the fainthearted, this is not for those who just want to whine although some mild form is allowed. This is for those of us who know what we have to offer to the work force and are not going to give up even if we have to come up with our own job!

to be cont.....