Well, I got the domain name "Résumé Guy" because I was first in line. I thought it was pretty catchy, doncha think?

But seriously, I don't really think I'm all that much an "expert" on résumés as much as someone who's been around the block once or twice.

For those of you looking for academic validation, I have a master's degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. But, I also have "real world" experience, often gained painfully and dragging me kicking and screaming behind it.

That experience includes the following: a stint in the U.S. Air Force, being a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (does that make me a goon?), a telephone technician, various jobs in manual (menial) labor, food service (mostly washing dishes), a human resources "partner" (still haven't figured that one out), and my current occupation as a web designer.

My HR experience includes employee relations (dealing with employee issues), benefits, compensation, training, and recruiting/staffing. My recruiting experience involved interviewing, reviewing résumés, posting jobs on the Internet and in traditional media (newspapers, etc.), writing job descriptions, attending job fairs, participating in discussion panels, and working with universities, among other things.

On the personal side, I must have committed just about every job search "sin" there was. I've sent out résumés with typos, I've shown up at interviews without wearing a tie (shocking!), I've flubbed up too many interviews to remember (even when I was wearing a tie), and the list goes on and on... But, despite my ineptitude, somehow, some way I found a job. I learned how to get a job the hard way, being dumb and ignorant - which is how most people go about getting a job.

So, what I have to offer with this blog is the benefit of my years on both sides of the job search - as a job seeker and hiring manager. I've seen the good and the not-so-good. Therefore, this blog is not meant to be an all-inclusive resource on how to find a job or change your career. There's plenty of books that do that quite nicely.

All I offer here is my own personal take on the often confusing and mystifying process of looking for a job, from writing a résumé - and yes, it is spelled using those weird "e"'s - to the interview, and maybe even beyond. I hope you like it.

Oh, and one last thing. Keep in mind that it's not always your fault that you may be having trouble finding a job. Those folks on the hiring side aren't always on the ball either...

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