Resume Critique and Help?

[Maximaro]

I've been looking for some kind of a non-retail part time job for quite some time now (since end of March) but have had no luck.

I landed a job where I hand out flyers promoting something, but I am looking for more work. Not interested in retail for full time; I'd only be interested if it was during non-office hours so that I could pick up more cash.

If you guys could take a look, that'd be great. I'm looking more for receptionist and clerical work. I usually outline my skills and address job requirements (which I usually fulfill) in my cover letters.

Click for the Resume!

Thanks!

[brucemeng]

you finished university and went back to high school?

[ngold]

I was a gift wrapper for Epilepsy Toronto too hahahahaha.

Some suggestions:
Get rid of the word "volunteer" from "JUNIOR DESIGNER, UP AND COMING CLOTHING LINE". It creates confusion.
Try replace the second "Efficiently" with another word.
Too many TDSB and DECA awards.

Also, it's great that you volunteered at Epilepsy Toronto, but I would recommend you leave that off your resume. Reason being some resume screeners are discriminatory and will make stupid assumptions.
They see you volunteered there => They think you may have epilepsy => They gustimate epilepsy=leprosy gets into a panic => Your resume gets thrown into the recycle bin.

[rockthecasbah]

you finished university and went back to high school?

I think that just means she (I assume from the linked website in OP's sig?) is currently in high school but come September, will be attending university.

And good on you for attending NYU. I wish I had chosen a US university, particularly NYU, when I was choosing universities. I'm sure you'll have a blast in NYC.

As for your resume, if you want clerical/receptionist jobs, you might want to cater to those skills more. Your resume right now doesn't seem to so much scream "I WANT TO DO CLERICAL WORK" but rather, something more graphic design related. It may be a given nowadays but you could throw in some stuff about computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc). It's great you have so many achievements and awards but that space could be better used for other things IMO... or you could condense it so there aren't repeats for certain competitions.

As well, if you are planning to only work until leaving for school, I suggest you go to a temp agency where they have clerical jobs in abundance. Of course, you're a bit young so maybe you won't be offered as many jobs but you could try. They are usually short term, which is what you're looking for, and people are in-demand so the hiring process is quicker than non-agency method.

[cbosh4]

Just my 2 cents with the sales rep job on a resume. Your points are good but potential employers want to see results. What you accomplished when being a sales rep. Numbers are always good. For i.e. "Helped increase volume sales by 10 percent during my first month on the job"...or something along those lines. It all depends on what kind of job your applying to. For example, I have been applying to countless accounting firm leadership conferences so cater your resume to the skills required at the job you're applying for.

Good Luck!

[Maximaro]

Just my 2 cents with the sales rep job on a resume. Your points are good but potential employers want to see results. What you accomplished when being a sales rep. Numbers are always good. For i.e. "Helped increase volume sales by 10 percent during my first month on the job"...or something along those lines. It all depends on what kind of job your applying to. For example, I have been applying to countless accounting firm leadership conferences so cater your resume to the skills required at the job you're applying for.

Good Luck!

Thanks guys, I've taken the suggestions and provided an updated copy.

I don't think I contributed enough to increase sales ot to make an impact with numbers.

[brownman87]

"Enthusiastically greeted, assisted and accommodated customers"
LOL, I LIKE IT

[Nettles]

I keep hearing that the 'references available upon request' thing is pointless to write and counts as a negative more often than not cos employers expect you to have references anyways.

[berniebennybernard]

I keep hearing that the 'references available upon request' thing is pointless to write and counts as a negative more often than not cos employers expect you to have references anyways.

Wrong.

Having a resume with references implies that you're assuming that you'll get the job. That's a bad thing because you haven't even gotten an interview yet and the person looking over your resume will think you're too confident.

[brucemeng]

I keep hearing that the 'references available upon request' thing is pointless to write and counts as a negative more often than not cos employers expect you to have references anyways.

Waste of space to write it, because like you said, employers expect you to have references.

[ullyeus]

Wrong.

Having a resume with references implies that you're assuming that you'll get the job. That's a bad thing because you haven't even gotten an interview yet and the person looking over your resume will think you're too confident.

You say wrong...yet you seem to be agreeing with him?

[Maximaro]

bump. more input?

[molala]

I would move the Summary of Skills part to top of the resume as it introduce you and impose the 1st impression...and like other poster said...write more on it..
i.e. driver's license and vehicle (if you have any), talk about something social or personality too

forget what the other said about not putting 'reference available upon request'...many employer does not ask you for reference but it gives a good impression that you actually have reference

For the awards part..i would take some out..it's a but too overwhelming for employers
If you're looking for clerical work, definitely take out the piano award and some of the design award

[Maximaro]

Updated. Still no luck. I'm looking at also entry level marketing things... or whatever pops up on Job Bank, Craigslist, SEP... etc.

[rockthecasbah]

Updated. Still no luck. I'm looking at also entry level marketing things... or whatever pops up on Job Bank, Craigslist, SEP... etc.

Uhh I hate to break it to you but you are out of luck with entry level jobs, particularly marketing type jobs. It's already difficult enough for university grads to get an entry level job (been there, done that. Have friends that are still looking), let alone a high school graduate who is leaving for school in the fall. In a hiring position, I would not waste my time interviewing an applicant, who is leaving in ~3 months, for an entry level position.

And as I mentioned earlier in this thread (which apparently was ignored?) if you want a job now and will be leaving soon, go to a staffing agency -- there are numerous decent ones. But if you want to continue applying for jobs that don't cater to temporary work, good luck because you will probably still be looking until August.