Struggling to Get Job Calls: Could My HR Manager Title Be Holding Me Back?

Hello Seniors,

I have been applying to jobs for the last five months but have not found any job to date. Forget about the job, I am not receiving any calls. I think the number of applications I have made is more than 50, but not a single call. I need your advice as to why I am not being shortlisted by the companies.

I am attaching my resume for your kind perusal. Kindly advise if any changes are needed in my resume.

Also, I have over 3 years of experience in HR. In my previous organization, I worked for 20 months and was given the designation of Manager - HR because they were very happy with my work. I was also awarded as the Best Employee within 6 months of joining. Is this designation creating a problem in my profile?

Please assist me as I am in urgent need of a job. Awaiting your replies.

Don't use "and" write "and."

Use full sentences and correct grammar. Check the dates of your previous positions; they don't look right. If they are correct, you need to explain them. Lose the "post-it" note at the top. These are only my observations... ;)

Hi Ruchi,

Please follow Sparky's suggestions; they are good. Some more points:

- Change the font from Arial 9 to Arial 10. It has much more clarity.
- Remove convoluted phrases such as 'Career Contour.' Use something simpler instead.
- Remove the declaration.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Shikha

Dear Ruchi,

You mentioned in your resume that you are preparing periodic reports for management as required. Please send me these periodic reports that you normally send to management to enable me to review and forward my comments on them. My email is kalamaskari@adco.ae.

Your career objectives are quite long and need to be focused and straight to the point. Make sure to mention your achievements in each position and use action verbs such as developed, created, initiated, designed, helped, assessed, analyzed, etc.

Wishing you all the best.

Regards,
Khalid Al Maskari
HR Advisor
Email: kalmaskari@adco.ae

Dear,

The content should be less effective, and you are frequently changing your job; this is the reason why no one likes your profile. Another thing is you have no HR-related education; in fact, you are pursuing a course from an institute, which means you are in the learning process.

Best Regards,

Sajid Ansari
Delhi

Dear All,

Thank you all for your valuable inputs. I have made the necessary amendments in my resume and am now hoping for calls from recruiters.

Mr. Khalid, as per your request, the reports I made for the management included project analysis, costing reports (referred to as Executive Summary Sheet), any policy revisions, and the most recent sheet I created was on salary withholdings and savings for the company, among others. These were all prepared upon management's requests.

Once again, I thank you all for helping me with your suggestions.

Dear Ruchi,

First, you must understand that there is a difference between the following:

1. Resume
2. CV
3. Bio-data

Yours seems to be more like a CV than a resume. Resumes are normally a 1 or 2-page document. Also, remember the following:

1. Do not use "Colors"
2. Do not use "Complex words and expressions"; not everyone can understand what you are writing.
3. Do not use "Graphics, tables, etc."
4. Avoid "Declaration" - it is unnecessary.
5. Use good "action verbs."
6. Keep it simple.

I suggest you change the format as well. I am not an HR professional. What I mentioned is based on my experience. Good Luck!

AMJAD LALA
Corporate Marketing Manager
Saudi Gazette (English daily)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
syedamjadullah@gmail.com

Dear Ruchi,

First of all, due to the shading, font size, and other format peculiarities, your CV is a PAIN IN THE EYES.

Ask anyone for a frank opinion, and they will agree.

Pardon me, but I was not able to go through the contents; it is so badly put up.

I think that is THE REASON nobody bothered to go through your CV.

- Kindly start with a simple format (not a zazzy one suitable for an advertisement pamphlet).
- Use Times Roman 12 or Arial 10 fonts.
- Just underline or bold the headings and paragraphs.
- You have used "Responsible for..." a number of times. Please note that to a prospective employer, it does not mean anything. What they are interested in knowing is the number or quantity or exactly what you achieved. For example, instead of "Responsible for selling insurance to new as well as existing clients," it would be more effective to give the numbers.
- But most of all, what your CV needs is to be READ. Kindly make it readable.
- Please remove that IRRITATING, SHINING box under Career Abstract.
- Replace Career Abstract with Career Objective.
- Kindly use correct grammatical English. For example: "Note: Declared things are true best of my knowledge and I will be able to produce the relevant documents if required." is wrong English. In fact, there is no need for this note at all, so please delete it.

Regards.

Dear Ruchi,

I appreciate your concerns regarding the lack of callbacks despite submitting around 50 applications. Your honesty, sincerity, and willingness to enhance your efforts are commendable. If I had a suitable opening, I would contact you promptly.

Coming from the manufacturing sector, I have two observations about your resume:
1. There seem to be frequent job changes within a short timeframe.
2. Your current managerial position appears early in your career, in my view.

I am unsure about the specific position or industry you have been targeting. However, I encourage you to remain patient and persistent. The job market is showing signs of improvement now.

Regards,
N. Ramamurthy

Hi! I have gone through your resume. You may make the following changes:

1. Change the CV format.
2. Objective must be precise and short.
3. Write something about the company you worked for.
4. Delete the declaration.
5. All professional qualifications should be under one heading and arranged chronologically.

Do you follow up on your application? You may follow up on the job after 15 days of application. This creates a positive impression on the employer that you are interested in their organization. Wait for the right opportunity. I'm not an HR person; this is as per my experience.

All the best!! Regards, Apekhya

Ruchi's concern has opened the door for improvement. I see good advice coming through to improve others as well, including myself. I thank all for their very valuable inputs!

Amjad Lala
Saudi Arabia