Unemployed? Let's look at that resume...

Have you ever wished someone could grade your resume and offer some helpful advice about how to approach it? How about if the grading system were based on the opinions of HR directors, professional resume writers, and job searching gurus? If this interests you, today is the day to get your resume graded.

If having an algorithm take a swing at the hiring potential of your resume doesn't take your interest, then maybe some open ended advice from a hiring manager might be of interest to you.

Despite the many schools-of-thought that reside on the subject of what makes a good resume, there seems to be a common thread in terms of what not to do:






Chime in with your thoughts and let me know what you think!

Do you need a degree?

I remember reading a news article mentioning that the United States is importing blue collar workers from Europe and Asia. Why is this? Oh that's right - many of us were told to go get a degree and pursue a desk job. It turns out that this *teaching* may have been a critical error...

Why Snobbery is Leaving You Unemployed

I think about all those B.A. degrees (the kind you sit in a classroom to get), and wonder, where is the value behind spending four additional years in a classroom? Where is the benefit? If a person is going to spend at least four years in school, and one year interning, shouldn't it have a more equitable kick-back (like a guaranteed job after graduating)?

One of the common threads I am noticing is that there are bachelors graduates and even masters graduates that can't find decent paying work to pay all of that student loan debt. I wonder why that may be.

If you are thinking about getting a degree, maybe you should think again. That is, unless you are convinced that you will make $100k a year when you get out of school. I wouldn't completely rule out that possibility, but unless you start a successful business endeavor while in college, I got some bad news for you.

Many of the skilled labor jobs I have been seeing pop up on Craigslist lately seem to offer decent pay for a little experience and no advanced education at all. Just a steady hand and some work experience. Check this example out:

Machinist Job

Everything listed in this post one could learn on the job in maybe 2 years - no continuing education required.

Another Machinist Job Example

Here is another great example. $40k a year plus benefits and you just need some metal cutting and machine shop experience. Once again, you could attain intermediate proficiency in this profession in about 2 years (and actually get paid to learn how to do it).

OK - Last Example

This one just expresses interest in someone having experience in welding. On the up-end it pays 19/hr.

Save yourself a lot of money and hassle - consider blue collar work.