Another HR Rep Weighs In: Resumes

March 2010’s employment hiring outlook is up from last year this time. The numbers are minimal in comparison, it is still a ‘forward movement’. I’d much prefer to see a slow increase than a ‘sugar high’ because you know a crash will be sure to follow.
NHWorks Bill #501, which has passed and been adopted by the Senate and is now in the House Committee will help the unemployed individual receive skills assessment and receive free training (in that field) towards achieving their goals. This applies to ALL employees, direct laborer to high-end management.

At a recent meeting, I was able to speak with a Human Resource Representative from a smaller company. As is with most small companies, the HR Rep. is a jack-of-all-trades and is very busy juggling many duties. I asked her a few questions that were directed to the application process and what makes one applicant better than another – from an HR perspective.


Cheri Martin, Small Thermal Co., NH

-Resumes: Resumes should be no longer than 1-2 pages. If you’ve worked multiple places doing the same type of work, it’s ok to just associate dates with those companies and forgo the job description in subsequent jobs for brevity.
Resumes that do not have dates associated with past positions do not go any further than her desk. Another resume “don’t” is submitting a resume without all of your contact information, home phone, street address, cell phone and city/state. Contacting a potential employee whose resume is lacking direct contact information, makes for a much longer process in the HR department.

-Cover Letters: Cover letters accompanying resumes should be no longer than 3-4 paragraphs and should give the reader a sense of who that person ‘is’ regarding self, ethics, and how you would be a fit for this position.

-Notification of Resume Receipt: It is her policy to acknowledge every resume she receives, either via email or USPS. An email/letter stating that they are in receipt of your resume and are ‘holding on to it’ would indicate that you were not considered for the job. “The hiring manager is reviewing your resume” indicates that you are being considered.

-After the Final Interview: It is customary for the hiring manager to give you a date in which a decision will be made. This information is passed on to the HR Rep. and she usually contacts the employee by that date. However, there are times that this date may come and go due to work/scheduling conflicts. She would welcome a phone call or email from the candidate requesting information – two calls would be the limit.