Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional

What to Include on Your Resume When Working in the Construction, Engineering and Environmental Industries

What to Include on Your Resume When Working in the Construction, Engineering and Environmental Industries

Date : September 18, 2018 | By : michael_desafey

Oftentimes, the hardest part of a job search is not the application, or even the interview, but knowing what to put on the resume when you are working in the construction, engineering or environmental industries.

Resumes, however remain the cornerstone of your job search, especially if you work in construction, engineering, or environmental fields. They allow your potential future employer to see a glimpse of your life’s work, your skills, project you have worked on and achievements, and even something of your personality.

In highly specialized or skilled fields, a resume can set you apart from all of the highly qualified and trained individuals competing for the same position.

Here are some things you may want to consider. 

Keywords

In the age of the search engine and algorithm, employers are relying more frequently on their computers to weed out undesirable candidates based on keywords used (or not used). When writing the whole of your resume, keep your past experience and current occupation goals in mind in order to include as many keywords as possible. The Balance Careers has compiled potential lists for construction specialists, to review, several engineering specializations (including mechanical engineering and environmental professionals ) while not exhaustive, these lists might get you started. 

Job Title

Ask for what you want! With your name and contact information at the top of your resume, it can also be a good idea to list the position or title you desire; if you are applying for several different positions that do not carry the same title, taking the extra time to modify your resume and customize it for each application can highlight you as a candidate. Make sure, however, that your resume demonstrates that you can truly do the work required of the position you are listing. 

Work Experience

This section of your resume will most likely make up the bulk of your resume (if you are newly graduated, it may not, in which case, replace this section with your “Academic History” section). If you have worked many jobs in the past, some of which were not related to your current field (such as a stint at McDonald’s), or if you made a career change, you may want to consider omitting the irrelevant work experience. However, do not be dishonest; if you leave off work experience because you had a poor relationship with the company, it may be revealed with later background checks and cast you in an unfavorable light. It is usually better to over-explain than under-explain. 

Skills

The skills section of your resume is a great place to use the keywords you have decided on for your profession. Many people list generic things, such as “proficient in Microsoft Suite,” or “team player,” but for candidates in construction, engineering, and environmental careers, these generic lists will not highlight the specialized skills that individuals in these fields often have. List those useful and specific skills that are going to set you apart from the rest. 

Academic Achievements and Contributions

It is important for employers to know that their employees have been thoroughly trained, especially for skilled jobs. Obviously, you should list universities attended (along with cumulative GPA) and training programs completed. Additionally, if you have taught in your field, or done academic research in a specific area (this may be especially applicable to environmental professionals), you may want to include a Curriculum Vitae, or at least list several of your publications to prove your expertise. 

A little extra time and care spent on perfecting your resume could mean the difference between a job offer and a polite rejection; it may be a few hours that you do not want to spend, but the results are worth the effort for landing a great job opportunity in the construction, engineering or environmental industries. 

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

The Art of Writing Resumes For Professionals..

The Art of Writing Resumes For Professionals..

Date : August 16, 2016 | By : michael_desafey

In order to take advantage of the resume for business advancement, you should understand what the resume is, how it has evolved, and how businesses now view it. The resume has a surprisingly long history as part of the evolution of modern commerce.

The first resume was created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1482. It was originally a form of letter of introduction, describing who the bearer is, what skills and experience come with him. The first resume was actually more like a covering letter addressed to the Duke of Milan highlighting da Vinci’s qualifications as the inventor of many innovative technologies of war.

Around 1500, a travelling English Lord offered what he called his “resume” to new acquaintances. This was a handwritten letter summarizing his abilities. The first resumes were considered semi-official documents of introduction carried around, much as we now carry business cards or license certifications. They were documents used to gain audiences to potential patrons, nobles or guildsmen.

Gradual change in the status of resume writing:

This form of semi-official paper resume was the status of resumes until the late 1930s. In 1937, The book, “Think and Grow Rich” was published by Napoleon-Hill. This book included, for the first time, a chapter called “Steps to Success” which included a section called “how to write a killer resume.” For the first time, the resume was moved out of the category of official unaltered document, to the status of personal promotion.

In the 1950s, the resume or “curriculum vitae” (CV), became formalized as a part of job applications. The strange thing about the new active resume was that it had the potential for personal promotion, but it retained an aura of what it had traditionally been, a list of accomplishments and skills.

In 1984, the first guides on how to write a resume started coming out. The increasing use of word processors made the writing and customization of resumes easier. Business practices began to change. The resume had to be more than a letter. The format became highly formalized.

The tightening rules buried the dual function of the resume even deeper. The resume was supposed to look like an objective description of skills and experience, The document carried the implicit understanding that it was a traditional letter of introduction. However, it had become more of a personal advertisement or promotion in disguise.

How resumes get read:

The resume is typically used as a first level screening device, to determine if a job applicant is a candidate for a position. The prospective employer compares the skill set described in the resume with the job description to determine a skill-set match. Then the resume is examined to determine how much actual experience the applicant has by adding up the from-to dates in desired skills areas. The resume is also used as a measure of temperament to determine if the applicant can be a good personal match to the setting.

Several important variables stand out:

  • How steady is the job history. Are there many time gaps in the job history? Are there a lot of short-term employment periods or do most of the jobs last longer than a year.
  • Does the training claimed by the applicant seem relevant to his or her job titles? Does the applicant have training which can be applied to the employer’s setting?
  • How carefully is the resume done? Are there language, spelling, or neatness issues? Does the resume fit neatly into a traditional form? How creative is it?
  • Does the applicant appear to want to work for the employer’s organization? What are the goals implied in the resume? Is the applicant too ambitious? Is the applicant ambitious or aggressive enough?

How to reformat your resume to get around problems:

Chronological format: Because of the tradition of the resume as a straightforward historical summary , the best form of resume is written in chronological form. If the first section of the resume provides a straightforward list of jobs held with start and end dates, and the dates represent a history of steady employment without gaps, that could make the best initial impression. It reinforces the notion of the resume as an official letter of introduction.

Skills format: However, many careers do not take that clean, linear, uninterrupted form. Some applicants opt to sell, not their straight employment history, but directly sell the skills they have to offer. These resumes become a list of documented skills. The skills are listed in descending order of importance or relevance. For each skill, the source of the skill and evidence for the skill is noted. What is the skill? Where did it come from? How can it be demonstrated in the history.

The letter resume: Some applicants opt to write their resumes as simple letters of introduction. These resumes really closely resemble the traditional resume form. They can be written in a business letter format. They simply express interest in a position. They might include some knowledge about the nature of the company applied to. They then present the ways in which the applicant can support or help the organization.

The resume is a selling tool in disguise. It must be written in a way that maintains its secret identity, but it can be subtly aimed to serve a self-promotional purpose.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com. To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

4 Quick Tips For Writing an Effective Resume

4 Quick Tips For Writing an Effective Resume

Date : August 2, 2016 | By : michael_desafey

When it comes to making sure your resume is effective, there is a lot to get right, and perhaps just as much to get wrong. Here are some “dos and don’ts” when it comes to your resume.

  • First thing: DO

Include a personal statement, your education, your work history, any volunteer work, and skills you possess. A resume is a tool you use to sell yourself to a company.

  • Second thing: DON’T

Lie. You might be tempted to lie about something on your resume. People might encourage you to embellish a few things to make yourself look better but ultimately, it is not worth it. Common lies include extending work dates, claiming education you don’t have, and adding jobs you never had. If you lie on your resume and are hired, you have to keep pretending accordingly.

  • Third thing: DO

Be honest. If there is a gap in your employment, a good employer would rather be told the truth than fabrication. Just because you don’t meet some of the requirements for the position doesn’t mean they won’t consider you. Employers will run a background check. 

  • Fourth thing: DON’T

Assume that the same resume can be used for every application. Take the time to tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. The information should remain the same but reordering sections to highlight what the employer is directly looking for will make them look at your resume twice.

As for the format of your resume, everyone has their preference but there are templates that you can use to get started. Fancy fonts and styles distract from the content. Your resume should present as much information about yourself that you can fit on 1-2 pages of text, no smaller than 11 point font. The only part of your resume that needs to be in full sentences is in the section containing your personal statement. Listing the responsibilities of previous or current jobs and skills can be done as bullet points.

An effective resume doesn’t have to be impressive in skill or experience, it just needs to accurate and consistent.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

Reasons Why Your Resume Maybe Getting Ignored….

How To Get Your Resume Noticed And Be Successful In Your Job Search.

Reasons Why Your Resume Maybe Getting Ignored….

Date : July 17, 2014 | By : michael_desafey

Have you been sending resumes out for a while now and not getting any responses? Well it may be your resume, but it may also be the nature of the industry and how employers are screening and searching for candidates these days.

As technology has grown employers now have a wealth of information at their fingertips, so the resume has become one of many tools employers use to screen and source candidates.

As a candidate you need to make sure you have all your bases covered to assure an employer will give you a call back.  Here are a few tips to make sure your resume is read and an employer is prompted to call you back.

  1. Does your resume look professional?  Make sure you have a professionally formatted resume. Resumes are images of you and your career. So making sure your resume is professionally worded and formatted is of prime importance.
  2. Make sure you name, address, phone number and email address is on your resume!! So many times candidates send out resumes without contact information or limited contact information on their resume.  This is a sure turnoff for an employer to skip over your resume. They want to know if you are local, how to get ahold of you and talk with you. So make sure this information is at the top of each page of your resume.
  3.  Use a professional email address.  As a candidate you always want to put you best foot forward. Using email address that is not professional looking is a sure turn-off for an employer.  The best email address format for your career should be your initials or first initial, last name formats, not vanity or lifestyle names.
  4.  Make sure you have a LinkedIn Profile and it is up to date. In the last 5 years or so LinkedIn has become the recruiter’s site of choice to learn about candidates and your professional career. Many employers will check LinkedIn even before giving you a call back. So, make sure you profile is updated with a professional picture (not selfies) and career history. Attached writing samples or presentations you have made to your profile. Get endorsements from co-workers helps immensely.
  5.  Clean up your social media. By searching google anyone anywhere can find you and what you have posted to the web. You want your image to be the most professional possible. So clean out those old tweets, Facebook posts, images that may not be so flattering to your career, as this will all impact if an employer will call you.
  6.  Be present on google and other search engines as it is related to your career and profession. Join associations, post presentations, comment on industry websites forums.  You want to show to the world you are a professional with the skills and qualifications to provide a valuable contribution to an organization in your industry.
  7.  Don’t apply for 5 different positions at the same time in the same company. Believe it or not, your resume will probably be reviewed by the same person for each position you apply for. So, apply once and then follow-up. Don’t bombard and employer with many copies of your resume and do not repetitively call a hiring manager 20 times in one day. Plan out your application process with an employer and then proceed.
  8.  Be Proactive. Do not just sit by the phone waiting for a call. Network with industry professionals, talk with hiring managers about their needs, and learn about companies and how you can make a contribution. Most employers hire based on who they know, so start meeting people. The applying for jobs over and over is just not going to do it in today’s marketplace.
  9.  Use common sense. Most employers are human and want to hire good employees that care about their jobs and want to do a good job. So be yourself, think about the career you want and then pursue it. Do not just go out to the job market unprepared for your job search. Focus your efforts, get prepared and be consistent in your search efforts.

Following these few tips will allow you as a jobseeker to get that cherished call back from a potential employer and be successful in your job search. Finding the right position to advance your career to the next level may come from a surprising source and it may not be from just replying to job ads.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing (www.webuildstaffing.com ). To learn more about Michael or Follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com