I hate resumes

[Fyrehardt]

Well, this is my first ever try at a functional resume...but since I'm a stay at home mom right now, a chronological resume looks crappy...what say people?

eta: A friend of mine told me about a job opportunity for a lab aide where he works...basically data entry/gofer/dishwasher...and I REALLY want the job. But, I've always worked fast food/retail, so I've never actually had to use a resume before...

Also, do I need to make a cover letter?

Christina B

Address
City, IN 46xxx
(317) xxx-xxxx
email@ivytech.edu

OBJECTIVE:
To employ my technical and organizational skills as a lab aide

SKILLS:
Organizational/Supervisory
-Managed inventory levels through T.A.C.O computer system
-Ensured cash register and safe funds were accurately handled
-Maintained strong adherence to health and safety standards by my staff
-Monitored compliance with food build standards
-Organized prep lines to insure efficiency and speed
-Met or exceeded speed of service requirements
-Completed hourly food safety checklists, including hold times and temperature readings
-Achieved a 95% on a CER (corporate inspection) while running the shift

Computer/Technology
-Typing Speed: 61 WPM
-Averaged 40 items per hour as a grocery store cashier, including entering PLU codes for produce
-Operated and helped troubleshoot a total of five different POS systems and three
different restaurant operation computer systems
-10 years experience with Windows 3.1/95/98/XP
-9 months experience with Ubuntu Linux
-Proficient with both MS Office and Open Office
-Basic HTML/BBCode knowledge including tables
-Created photo slide show in PowerPoint for family wedding
-Created page lay-outs as a contributing author for White Line Magazine

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Shift Manager, KFC/Taco Bell, Indianapolis, Indiana, March, 2005 – October, 2005
Shift Manager, Taco Bell/KFC, Evansville, Indiana, March, 2002 – January, 2005
Shift Manager, McDonald's, Evansville, Indiana, August, 1999 – September, 2001
Cashier, Schnuck's, Evansville, Indiana, June, 1998 – May, 1999
Cashier, Reider's Stop-n-Shop, Solon, Ohio, April, 1995 – August, 1997

EDUCATION:
Solon High School, Solon, OH
Honors Diploma, May 1997
GPA 3.8/4.0

Ivy Tech University, Indianapolis, IN
Currently Enrolled in Distance Learning Program
Major: Associate of Applied Science, Computer Information Systems –12 credit hours completed

REFERENCES:
Available upon request

[Gurndigarn]

Also, do I need to make a cover letter?


YES. It doesn't have to be long, but it is custom. Some people read them, most just skim them... basically, it's the same as the blurb on the back cover. It's to let HR people decide that they want to spend three minutes actually looking at the resume. Which I know doesn't sound like a lot of time, but if you have fifty resumes...

Beyond that basic issue, move your education above your work experience. Your work experience isn't going to be applicable to the job you're seeking, but your education is applicable. The work experience is mostly to say that you're dependable. BTW, the last two jobs you had: KFC/Taco Bell, and Taco Bell/KFC, shift manager at both... if they're part of the same chain, just lump the two together. That makes it so that it doesn't look like your last job as been short-term.

"References on request" is understood. If you're not going to include them on the sheet (I prefer not to), then don't put anything on it at all. They know they can bug you for referrences.

Objectives are another optional one (for me, it depends on the job, whether I put one on or not), but all you put down was "lab aide". No indication of what type of lab you want to aide in. Also, while "lab aide" is a perfectly fine desire to have, it looks a bit wimpish on paper. I would recommend phrasing like "Desire to further develop my organizational and technical skills in a [typeofplace] environment." That says "looking for assistant/intern/aide position" without sounding like "and that's all I want out of life".