Question:
First time Federal Professional Resume Writer
I'm about to leave the military and don't have any experience writing
resumes. I did this one with the resume maker deluxe. I used their ex-
military template. Looking for opinions. I heard somewhere that
employers are leery to hire someone from overseas. Should I change my
address to a US one?
Answer:
-The law in the US - both federal and most states - is very specific on
what will happen if you give a bad reference that can not be fully
substantiated or if it is substantiated is excessive (whatever that cam
mean). Even if you terminate someone for cause, you can not continue to
ruin their life by negative criticism, you have taken your action -
enough is enough, so most HR departments have decreed that all
references be given out by them, and they give only dates worked and job
title, and some will say if you were terminated, laid off, or left. If
you are a manager for a company and you feel that you are above such
rules - then you have a problem because you are being paid to minimize
risk for the company not create it. As a agent of the company, even
your personal opinion will affect them.
Yeah, if you know someone and he asks you off the record, you will
probably give an answer. But if I got a call out of the blue, first I
would not have gotten it - my secretary asks who and why for all calls,
and second I would immediately refer them to HR by saying it is company
policy that all references be given out by them and transfer the call
without further comment. There are lawyers out there that make a living
checking references and suing those that are foolish to reply. That is
why professional references have given way to credit checks (??? I don't
know why) and these companies hired to do background checks and
evaluations. Some places even want to start using lie detectors, read
the Harvard Business review from a few months ago, there was a really
good article on this entire subject of screening potential employees.
-About a former employer not wanting to say anything bad about a person, I
found this out first hand.
A year and a half ago when downsized out of my job, I left the same time as
my co-worker. He was a very dedicated, hardworking individual, I on the
other hand - well - lets just say I took advantage of the way some Federal
Government organizations are run and any scrape of motivation was lost when
I was given my one years notice.
My co-worker's written reference was full of words such as ' very organized,
did more than asked, would grow to management position, a leader,' etc. But
the point is mine only had things like ' showed up for work on time, good
attendance. ( stretching the truth even at that )
Now, they never said anything bad about me, but employers know a strong
written referral when they see one, and a almost code message for someone
like me. They must use this on the phone as well, if they don't hear key
words then it's a indication to watch out.
