Do You Have to Flaunt Your Intelligence in Job Applications?

[FionordeQuester]

I've been hunting for a job for about 5 months; a task that's been made difficult by a combination of my own laziness, eccentricities, and inexperience.  While I tried to maintain my own voice in what I wrote on my job applications...I have finally come to the conclusion that I really might have to talk just like that one really jerkish College professor who takes 5 paragraphs to describe something that should've only taken a sentence (you know that type).  

In the past, I've worked mainly on two volunteer jobs, with the rest of my time being spent on earning my Bachelor's degree (and maintaining my 3.4+ GPA).  I worked as a cashier, stocking person, and janitor at a coffee shop; then I worked with at-risk children at an after-school program.  Basically, I'm just there to be their friend.  I buy them ice cream, play Smash Bros. with them, occasionally help resolve conflicts, and yada yada.  

...But through the power of imagination, extensive vocabulary, and every stuffy, overly formal textbook I've ever read, I somehow managed to create these abominations...

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WORK HISTORY #1: Origin Coffee Shop

I took on a variety of roles in utilizing my diverse skill set.

 

As a cashier, I oversaw and facilitated the success of all financial transactions within the Origins compound.

 

As an inventory specialist, I exercised space management techniques to maximize the allocation of Origin's material resources.

 

As a Floater, I was responsible for effecting the sanitization processes involved in maintaining Origin's high standards of cleanliness and health.

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WORK HISTORY #2: The Foundry

I build platforms for success for students to realize and utilize their untapped potential.

 

I employ scientifically proven methods of effective communication to effect conflict resolution amongst at-risk youth.

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It's not that these are hard to do; they're just unnatural, wordy, and overly formal in a way that completely goes against my idea of what a truly intelligent person is.  Such a person, in my mind, should be using less words, not more.  They should be able to explain complicated ideas in a way even a 2-year old would understand.   They should be easier to understand than your average person, not harder.  For that reason, I always made a conscious effort to make my words plainer, not more flower.

So for that reason, I would never completely trust anyone who actually spoke like this to me.  I'd just look at them as someone trying way too hard to sound smarter than they actually are.  Someone who's more concerned with flaunting their intelligence than they are in being a genuine person.  

So...is that really the way I have to write when building my Resumes?  Is it really?  I'd like to think not, but...everything I've read seems to indicate that I really do have to talk like that...  

Edited May 8, 2018 by FionordeQuester

[DemolisherBPB]

When I was doing my CV back in secondary school we were told that it's best to make anything you've done sound better that it was while still being believable, and not too long. 

16 minutes ago, FionordeQuester said:

Basically, I'm just there to be their friend.  I buy them ice cream, play Smash Bros. with them, occasionally help resolve conflicts, and yada yada.  

Stuff like this is what I'd write as, "I take an active part in community based activity and show a good willingness to get on with others and understand them" when it comes to the Personal Statement. But CV's and Resumes may be the same in concept but I don't know what the average formula is.

20 minutes ago, FionordeQuester said:

WORK HISTORY #1: Origin Coffee Shop

I took on a variety of roles in utilizing my diverse skill set.

 

As a cashier, I oversaw and facilitated the success of all financial transactions within the Origins compound.

 

As an inventory specialist, I exercised space management techniques to maximize the allocation of Origin's material resources.

 

As a Floater, I was responsible for effecting the sanitization processes involved in maintaining Origin's high standards of cleanliness and health.

For previous jobs you want to say what your actual job was called, sales assistant, manager, stocks, then move onto what your tasks where in the position. Also say they're voluntary, It shows you have a willing to work.

But I have never had a job (Somewhat due to personal mental health making me afraid of commitment, the other half been a massive lack in a workplace environment) so take everything I've said with the largest grain of salt you can find. Either way I hope someone can help.

[wheelsonfire]

On the job hunt as well… I have a double bachelor’s degree with enough credits to actually have a Masters (annoyingly, I don't)… My biggest problem is lack of experience, since I'm not limiting myself to a job in my field, and certain jobs in my field are ones that I don't want (or am unable to get)… I only got out of school about a year and a half ago, though, and I've done some temporary work before looking for a permanent job…

 

The big thing about describing a job that you have to be detailed, but also concise. Things like resumes and cover letters often have strict word limits, so you really have to pick and choose what you want on there… At the same time, you have to describe things as much as possible with what little space you have… It's like writing a short essay, and by short, I mean two pages single spaced… (My majors are both in teaching writing, so that's the best I can compare it to).

[Ertrick36]

Well, I think the thing is that a lot of employers for entry-level jobs have the opposite idea of what intelligence means; if they have to look up some words to understand it, or if something's really wordy, then that must mean that the person authoring the resume is super smart.

That being said, your job descriptions need to outline the responsibilities you had, and one should still at least be able to get the gist of what you're talking about.  So don't write something like, "As the prime employee for handling fiscal dealings, I was tasked with the responsibility of managing the various trades of materials and currency within the facility" if you're just trying to describe what you did as a cashier.  A more apt description might be, "As a cashier, I regularly practiced positive communication skills and proper money-handling for more effective transactions".  Or some variant of that.  Just something that's got good language, but ultimately gets across what you did without making it seem like something else entirely.

Also, just a minor "editor's" note...  "was responsible for effecting" should be "was responsible for affecting".  "Affect" is the word for when something is being acted upon, while "effect" is merely describing a state of being (e.g. my resume worked to great effect).

[Deltre]

38 minutes ago, DemolisherBPB said:

Stuff like this is what I'd write as, "I take an active part in community based activity and show a good willingness to get on with others and understand them" when it comes to the Personal Statement. But CV's and Resumes may be the same in concept but I don't know what the average formula is.

For previous jobs you want to say what your actual job was called, sales assistant, manager, stocks, then move onto what your tasks where in the position.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head. Try to concisely describe the job, and then elaborate further by explaining what kinds of skills were needed, what specific tasks you were in charge of, etc. Flowery language isn't exactly a requirement, but you should be descriptive as possible to show that you understand your duties and that you take them seriously.

I'd also add that whenever possible, you should meet with people at the workplace before being hired, specifically management if it's at all possible. Of course, it's not always a possibility, but if they can put a face to your resume that will increase your chances more than any kind of rewrite ever could, in my experience. Speaking to anyone in a position to get you hired and showing interest in the position is a great way to show some initiative, and helps separate you from the rest of the people who will be applying for that spot.

[Bubba Jones]

Oh boy, if that’s the quality you have, you need to find help, like real help to succeed.  Internet help will either not be good enough, not be clear enough, or be misleading.

If you still go to university or are within the graduation window, find the career services office and get to work on resume writing and applications.  Failing that, see what’s available at the library or the unemployment office (don’t knock it, or feel discouraged if that’s where you have to go.  They have a LOT of help available for resume writing, criticizing resumes, what to put in applications and the like).  You also need to make contact with people in your industry or field to know what the resume should be written or tailored to - but the career office will tell you that, with more detail, and possibly phone numbers.

[FionordeQuester]

Just now, Bubba Jones said:

Oh boy, if that’s the quality you have, you need to find help, like real help to succeed.  Internet help will either not be good enough, not be clear enough, or be misleading.

Er, how do you mean?  Quality of work experience, or quality of writing style?

Edited May 8, 2018 by FionordeQuester

[Bubba Jones]

The goal is to sell yourself as a qualified candidate.  You’re problem isn’t so much with work experience quality but mostly with your ability to write the resume and sell yourself to some faceless HR rep.

The resume is designed to hold interest and build enough confidence in someone who will look at it for no more than 10 seconds and decide if you should be interviewed.  You need to tailor your resume to the specific job you are looking for and make sure the skills you list are word for word part of the entry.  The entry should briefly describe the past job, years or months it was worked, a brief description of it and your duties emphasizing keywords and specific skills from the job posting you’re applying to.  That’s just for the work entries, you need a top block with contact info and a brief record of educational background.  All this should fit on one page in a pleasant to read and look at format.

That’s the rub, I can say this is what you need and I know I’m missing some other very necessary things.  A lot of the experts on job searching and hiring in your community have a lot of experience with this and their fingers on the pulse of the job search environment and can more readily dispense advise, why things are done the way they are, and you can bounce ideas off of them and they can help.

[FionordeQuester]

Oh yes, I see.  Well, what I posted wasn't my entire resume, don't worry.  I only posted the sections that demanded some writing chops.

[Shoblongoo]

I think it's more important to be personable and try to engage in pleasant conversation at an interview (i.e. Make small talk. Sports, politics, w/e your forte is) then to just flaunt your intelligence. Your resume speaks to your qualifications for the position--if it didn't, you wouldn't be getting interviewed. Assume you aren't any smarter or any more qualified then anyone interviewing for the position and that your resume isn't any better, and that your prospective employer has at least prejudged everyone who made it to the interview phase as qualified on-paper. What the employer is at that point looking for is someone they aren't going to hate working with.

Edited May 11, 2018 by Shoblongoo

[Shoblongoo]

^^^For the resume itself--I Generally use job title, employer, and date of employment as a heading. Then put duties, skills, and achievements beneath each heading in bulletpoint format. I think that's the best way to do it that sells yourself and gets your point across to the reader quickly, before he moves on to the next resume. Dont put paragraphs of text on a resume; no one is going to read it.

Edited May 11, 2018 by Shoblongoo

[Charmeleonbrah]

2 hours ago, Shoblongoo said:

I think it's more important to be personable and try to engage in pleasant conversation at an interview (i.e. Make small talk. Sports, politics, w/e your forte is) then to just flaunt your intelligence. Your resume speaks to your qualifications for the position--if it didn't, you wouldn't be getting interviewed. Assume you aren't any smarter or any more qualified then anyone interviewing for the position and that your resume isn't any better, and that your prospective employer has at least prejudged everyone who made it to the interview phase as qualified on-paper. What the employer is at that point looking for is someone they aren't going to hate working with.

This 100%.  Your first impression is very important on an interview.  Be in a good mood, good plenty of sleep the night before, and maybe exercise before an interview; worked for me.  Interpersonal skills are what will get you the job; if your resume is ok enough, generally speaking just being pleasant and not making incriminating statements is what you should go for.

Regarding intelligence; I accidentally sperged on an interview when they asked what the last author I read was.  I wasn't quick enough on my feet and truthfully answered Yukio Mishima.  He is a great author but most of his books are pretty out there for a normie, so when they asked what the book was about I said he was a 'postwar' author, which of course makes no sense to an 105 IQ interviewer.  Incidentally, I didn't get the job.

[Gaado]

On 5/11/2018 at 10:05 AM, Shoblongoo said:

^^^For the resume itself--I Generally use job title, employer, and date of employment as a heading. Then put duties, skills, and achievements beneath each heading in bulletpoint format. I think that's the best way to do it that sells yourself and gets your point across to the reader quickly, before he moves on to the next resume. Dont put paragraphs of text on a resume; no one is going to read it.

Lmao, I am also a TCNJ Honors Program Alumn. What a coincidence.

 

Anyhow, your descriptions need to be condensed. In my current resume, I have every job described in 1-2 sentences. I also headline relevant skills to the job for which I am applying. This gives the employer/HR person the ability to look for the buzzwords and skills that get your application passed further along.

Also, I don't know how you can gloat 'intelligence' on a job application. Most jobs just require a certain type of knowledge and the ability to consistently do the work. Having indications of these should be all you need. If you have any notable college projects like a research thesis, maybe that could be added in somewhere.