MetaChat REGISTER   ||   LOGIN   ||   IMAGES ARE OFF   ||   RECENT COMMENTS




artphoto by splunge
artphoto by TheophileEscargot
artphoto by Kronos_to_Earth
artphoto by ethylene

Home

About

Search

Archives

Mecha Wiki

Metachat Eye

Emcee

IRC Channels

IRC FAQ


 RSS


Comment Feed:

RSS

19 December 2007

Pimp me. Request for résumé help inside.[More:]

I'm applying for a project management job. One of the tasks is organizing meetings and such. In my bullet points, I want to say something like

Strong organizational and logistical skills

...except that I'm not sure that doing logistics stuff is a skill. (Is it?)

So I'm thinking it should be

Strong organizational skills and logistical ________

...but I'm not sure what that last word is.

Advices?
I'd say myself that logistical fits with skill better than organizational... so...

"Strong organizational ability and logistical skills"

hmm?
posted by wendell 19 December | 16:44
Oh, but doing logistics stuff is a skill. You'd be confident about this if you'd ever had to rely on someone who despite enthusiasm was actually really bad at it.

Of course, you could always just say "ability". Which, on preview, is what Wendell said, reversed.
posted by tangerine 19 December | 16:46
Cool. That might have been the word I was looking for. Thanks y'all!
posted by mudpuppie 19 December | 16:47
'Nother question:

How do y'all open a cover letter/letter of interest? I've never been good at this.

What's a good first sentence? Is "I am submitting a resume for Job X" too boring and obvious?
posted by mudpuppie 19 December | 16:55
I'm a Thing X specialist interested in working with your company. I'm responding to the Thing X opening you recently posted.

Remember, if the job you're applying for is related in any way to writing or communication in general, your letter is going to be at least as important as your resumé. The letter makes the case; the resumé is the footnotes.
posted by tangerine 19 December | 17:03
Unless it's a megacorp and you're going through HR, of course.
posted by tangerine 19 December | 17:04
I always say, "I am writing to apply for X position, advertised on Y website/journal/whatever."

I always thought it was boring, until I kept reading suggestions to start cover letters this way from those who have to read cover letters.

I would think that for a project management position, showing that you can come to the point clearly and quickly would be a good thing!

(Also, you'd be awesome at project management! Good luck!)
posted by occhiblu 19 December | 17:04
I like tangerine's opening. Either that or, "I am teh awesome, and rock at everything I touch. Just ask the internets. They'll tell you. Love, mudpuppie xoxoxo." Then give them my email address. (Best of luck with the application, darlin'! Keep us posted.)
posted by elizard 19 December | 17:54
Yeah, elizard, going for cutesy and/or internet fame has never helped me in the past. Usually people just never call back. :(
posted by mudpuppie 19 December | 17:55
I have no advice. I just wanted to wish you good luck. GOOD LUCK, pups!
posted by jrossi4r 19 December | 18:16
LUCK!
posted by deborah 19 December | 19:28
Able to organize, prioritize, and manage the details out of the gnarliest projects. I eat logistics for breakfast. I am the Chuck Norris of Project Management. Deadlines cower before me. When I manage a project, it makes my coffee for me, then does my car windows.

Alternatives for strong: well-developed, well-honed, demonstrated
Alternatives for skills: abilities, experience, capability, expertise

Make sure to say how good you are at getting people to get things done. And at deadlines. Use the word prioritize.

Say why you want to work for Acme Widgets, i.e., "Acme Widgets is clearly a leader in the Configurable Widget market, and my experience with RoadRunner Technologies is a great fit."

Good luck!!

posted by theora55 19 December | 20:07
I like tang's "I'm a thing X" opening best. IT's powerful and can be quickly comprehended. I read a lot of resumes and cover letters, and basically I love when they are brief and very direct. After the opening line, something like "During my X years at BozoInc, I completed the Amazing Project, which drew on my research skills and ability to work well with a diverse team. I think these would serve your needs well" or something similar. I'm looking for assertiveness, ease with language, and some concrete evidence that they have the skills or qualities we need and have thought about why. But SHORT!

Good luckity luck luck!
posted by Miko 19 December | 20:10
A technique that works for me is creating table with the requirements and desires of the position in column A while column B shows how I more than amply satisfy said requirements. It is a good way to keyword the cover letter and addresses issues very cleanly. Miko is correct about opening with some good lines and then making the table work out the particulars.
posted by jadepearl 19 December | 21:47
A crossposted question || Squirrels taking pictures.

HOME  ||   REGISTER  ||   LOGIN