As a Career Services professional at a large University, we see lots of resumes and take a lot of time with recruiters looking at what they want. One size does not fit all. How your resume should be structured and what level of "design" depends on your audience. Make sure you understand the employer you are submitting to and consider multiple resumes if you are submitting to diverse industries.

Today Show,

I’m a long time fan but, wow, this morning’s piece on Resumes/Job Hunt was truly below par. I am a 20 year employment trainer and consultant with clients from welders to MBA executives and there was little you said that was relevant for them. Specifically—

• Your workplace examples were primarily a narrow niche of entertainment and advertising related jobs—very unrelated to the vast majority of job seekers: administrative support people, retail sales, bookkeepers, IT workers, and office managers who couldn’t get away with ‘embroidering their resume onto cloth’ or other un-conventional approaches .

• Your guest ‘experts’ were not Human Resources managers—the in-the-trenches professionals who do actual screening of resumes. Your speakers hedged with vague, insubstantial responses that served no one. I’ve seen hundreds of office workers try to follow these “you’ve got to stand out!” suggestions only to send resumes that (often very conventional HR readers) find either laughable and/or annoying.

• Nothing was said about the now universal use of on-line job applications, and the fact that computer scanners are widely used to assess key words in those (paperless) resumes before a human ever sees them.

• Rather than promoting cute gimmicks like “calling to pull your resume out because you’ve landed a(fabricated) job, talk about how to effectively express the skills you have.

• There was no reference to the fundamentals of matching one’s resume with the needs of a posted job description. –that’s what employers want to hear.

• Try addressing the issues of how to avoid ageism, appearing over or under-qualified.

Come one, Today Show, the millions of desperate, unemployed persons out there deserve better than this.

David W. Howard, CSCP

Email: howard.d.w@gmail.com

Career Profile:

Over five years of experience as a buyer in aerospace, industrial, and non-profit areas, combining high-level managerial and negotiation expertise with deep operational experience, technical savvy and cross-functional communication abilities. Extensive experience driving sales, managing profit margins, managing teams, controlling costs, and maximizing profitability.

Areas of Strength

• Analytical Expertise
• Staff Management

• Profit and Loss
• Budget Analysis
• Expense Management

• Microsoft Office Expertise
• Excel Software Proficiency
• SAP Framework Expertise
• Executive Communications
• Client & Vendor Relations

• SOP Knowledgeable
• Multitasking Expertise
• Safety Evaluation
• Contract Negotiation
• Inventory Management

Professional Experience

Parker Hannifin, Cleveland, OH 2008 to Present

A public company dedicated to solving some of the world’s greatest engineering challenges with annual sales exceeding $13 billion per fiscal year. Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, while providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets.

Aerospace Buyer – HFD/ABU, Metamora, OH (2011 – Present)

• Regular selection of qualified suppliers and manufacturers and development of new supply sources of high dollar value, long lead time, critically needed parts, equipment, materials, or services.
• Solicitation and evaluation of proposals and quotations from suppliers, negotiates prices and terms to achieve optimum results for the company.
• Development of company negotiation strategies based on an evaluation of cost and pricing data.
• Planning, purchase, sourcing and development of supply chain for new aerospace filtration business unit.
• Implementation in on-site auditing of 10+ suppliers to AS9100 compliance
• Regular training in various FAA regulations regarding PMA products and requirements.

Value Stream Buyer – PAF, Oxnard, CA (2009 – 2011)

• Implemented company strategy to ensure a safe work environment, maximized profitable growth, drove quality improvements, provided premier customer service, developed a technically qualified work force, and reduced operating costs, inventories & lead times through continuous improvements.
• Managed Value Stream P&Ls, including cost analysis & opportunities, product line margin, PPV goals, and manufacturing productivity.
• Led Value Stream in daily operations and assisted in application of continuous improvements which included but are not limited to: supply chain production control, establishing manufacturing priorities, coordination of activities with management and order shipments.
• Created the basis for continuous improvements and employee empowerment by ensuring that standardized work processes are followed, countermeasures implemented, and the area is in compliance with safety requirements.
• Created and implemented Kanban system resulting in increased customer service from 70% to 95%+
• Created and developed import/export compliance manual and procedures.
• Classified all division products into HTS and Schedule B.

David W. Howard Resume, Page 2

Buyer – FSD, Naples, FL (2008 – 2009)

• Obtained the best quality, service, and value for products and services through effective bidding, negotiation, and supplier management.
• Selected qualified suppliers and manufacturers and developed new supply sources of high dollar value, long lead time, critically needed parts, equipment, materials, or service.
• Solicited and evaluated proposals and quotations from suppliers and negotiated prices and terms to achieve optimum results for the company.
• Developed company negotiation strategies based on an evaluation of cost and pricing data.
• Purchased COTS, specialty hardware, and sealants
• Effectively assisted as a member of the Lean Team in developing value streams and better lean adherence.
• Developed LTAs with suppliers and effectively outsourced majority of work

Corporate Supply Chain Trainee, Marysville, OH | Lexington, KY | Miami, FL (2008)

• Reviewed, approved, and processed purchase orders.
• Set up new suppliers and supplier maintenance.
• Organized and determined a best method of transportation for frequent lanes of transporation.
• Analyzed and recorded the efficiency rates of the providers.
• Updated addresses, authorization lists, and supplier payment terms within the requisition system.
• Worked 3 separate divisions for 10 weeks, each supporting various projects and initiatives while identifying $500K in yearly logistics savings.
• Coordinated on-line supplier portal usage (PHconnect.com)

Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 2007

The world’s largest nonprofit research and development organization, Battelle is a global research and development organization with a candid and innovative approach to solving problems and devoted to the idea that science and research can solve problems in business and society as a whole.

Commercial Purchasing Intern

• Executed over 300 purchase orders totaling approximately 3 million dollars in spending, while regularly attending numerous procurement meetings ranging from pre-bid meetings through post-award negotiations.
• Met and exceeded all expectations as documented in performance evaluations.
• Reviewed requisitions, identified and selected sources, negotiated and administered contracts and purchase orders for goods and services in assigned area.
• Recommended sources of supply to users/technical staff.
• Ensured procurement files were in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR’s), Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), other regulations and laws, generally accepted business practies, ethics, etc.
• Maintained order files in an audit-ready condition and conformed to standard practices and Battelle operating procedures.
• Assisted in negotiating agreements to mitigate risk and optimize profitability.
• Identified and resolved supplier and internal errors that result in invoice discrepancies.
• Undertook assigned projects which require specialized knowledge and/or experience, excellent negotiating skills and the ability to deal with sensitive information.

David W. howard Resume, Page 3

Education, Certification & Training

Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration (2008)

Supply Chain Management Specialization

Certificate of Professionalism

Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Certified through APICS & one of only 12,000 certificates issued world-wide.

Certification support for supply chain knowledge from “womb to tomb.”

As9100 Lead Auditor Certification

Certified through ASQ

Accredited to audit AS9100C standard and ISO 9001:2008.

Approved to lead & perform internal audits as well as offer approval or disapproval of supply base.

Import/Export Coordinator Training & Certification

Classification capabilities of HTS and Schedule B.

ITAR & DFAR Requirement Training.

APICS Certification

Scholarship Recipient (2007)

Attendant, International Conferences (2007, 2008 & 2011)

Um, I would not eat anything mailed to me from a stranger, and mailing food to strangers is a bad idea, because if they get sick it's your fault...even if it isn't.

Sending cookies? Sounds like a bribe. Next time send flowers... really. Scrambling for a job is no fun whatsoever, too many people, too little jobs. Pathetic economy indeed. Employers not willing to pay enough.

This is the exact opposite of the kid who readily admitted he was no one special with nothing special to offer on his resume and came right out and said he just wanted a crack at making money on Wall St. The fat cats were impressed by brutal, raw, naked, uncensored truth. What does that tell you?

Intellectual inflation is one of the reasons why finding a job or changing a career has become difficult.

Hire someone with a gimmick resume and you get a gimmick employee.

While these types of resumes are fun and cute and have a chance to "go viral," job seekers must use caution not to take this information to heart. For every one of these gimmicks that work, 1,000 people try gimmicks that don't. Also, the type of profession you are in is a factor. If you're trying to get a job with an ad agency, maybe something like this would work. But most other places would think it was odd, and probably toss it out.

-Ian Mattew