Funniest/Weirdest Thing You Have Seen on a Resume
IT HR
595 Posts
While probably not the funniest or weirdest thing I have seen on a resume over the years, I did just see this on a resume that crossed my desk today:
"Received 9 peer pin awards, a starfish award, and daily praise from happy end users."
So this begs me to ask all of you this question. What is the funniest or weirdest thing you have seen on a resume lately?
Comments
Mine is an interview experience as well. A number of years ago I called an applicant to set up an interview and the music on her answering machine was bizarre--I almost didn't leave a message. When she came in for the interview, her eyes were red, she spoke very slowly, and smelled of Marijuana. During the very short interview, the HR Assistant called to say someone was in the reception area and needed to speak with the candidate. She left the interview to meet with this person in the elevator lobby. We can't be sure, but thought it was a drug sale. At any rate, we didn't continue the interview.
I recently received a resume from a candidate that referred to himself throughout the resume and coverletter as Mr.(last name). Who does that?
Hey, I received a resume from a graduate engineer that was obviously produced by some kind of consultant or resume service.
It was on stiff marbelized paper, was oversized, and was folded in half. The printing was embossed in royal blue. It looked like a menu from a five-star restaurant!
Just give me the facts and forget this fancy stuff.
One of the weirdest I have seen lately was a resume completely written in 3rd party. "Mr. Smith worked at ABC Company for 3 years and was a hard-worker in the Production Department. He is intelligent and can handle complicated procedures with ease."
Another one was the resume that I received with WAY to much information. Included his wife's name, his kids' names, ages and schools that the kids attended. I could have easily tracked down his kids!
Oh, and then there was the resume I received from "God". I'm not kidding. It was the cover sheet attached to the applying resume.
I have also received quite a few resumes latey written in the 3rd person. Is this something new that the "experts" are telling candidates to do?
I have also received quite a few resumes latey written in the 3rd person. Is this something new that the "experts" are telling candidates to do?
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If it is, then the "experts" ought to be smacked. I can tell you that it went into my "No" pile really quick. It iritates me to no end for someone to tell me what I should think and that is what it reminds me of!
I've kept a few typos running around in my head.
I received a form cover letter, complete with underlining for where the key word was to be typed in. Dear Employer, I am submitting my resume in application for the secretart position advertised in the xyz paper.
I reviewed a resume in which a person claimed to have worked as a conslutant for 5 years.
I just saw a resume with the email address - name@iworkinmyunderwear.com
A quote from a resume, "I graduated from college with honors: Cum Lande". Obviously, this is the new Latin! [:)]
Ken
I work as a recruiter / headhunter. The company I work for does placements for executive level positions all the way down to light industrial, minimum wage temp jobs. Needless to say, we've seen quite a few colorful characters.
- "Illumination Engineer" - he went around the warehouse changing light bulbs and florescent lights.
- [Person applying for a high level CNC machine operator position] Vast knowledge of vacuum, microwave, electronic, and lawn mower equipment.
- I had one kid say he graduated from "collage". There are so many college students who don't even bother to proof read their resumes. I don't even bother to read past the first two. I assume one might be a typo but two is just pushing it. Grammar and spelling have been made so simplified thanks to computers.
- One woman went into great detail about how she's the perfect person for an office's customer service position. She had experience with working at a Deny's diner-styled restaurant. She mentioned how she had to perform advanced mathematical calculations and escort people to the bathroom.
- We had one lady tell us she couldn't make it to work because her WALRUS was SICK and needed to stay in the BATHTUB for the day.
WE HAVE A WINNER!
I have a couple favorites. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
One was a resume from a DJ for an entry level engineering position. One of their listed accomplishments was "Provided a funky fresh flow nightly"
Our company deals with industrial and medical gases - like oxygen. We had a flight attendant who I guess read in our description "air" and applied to us. We don't actually fly airplanes.
A couple of the funny ones I ran into were:
A resume that listed several pertinent items under the heading, "QUALIFICTIONS". (Honest!)
A cover letter stating that the (female) applicant needed to leave work early occasionally to pursue her other job of organizing "sex-toy parties" and recruiting potential hostesses. Just what we needed, someone to hit up all our employees for that!
Years ago I sat in an interview with a buddy of mine who was hiring a sales person for his carpet company. When he asked him to tell him why felt he should offer him the job, his reply was "Look at this baby face. Wouldn't you buy just about anything from me? Mother Love me and Father Trust me. Sign here please." He leaned in and did the "teapot" close with a pen in his hand.
Notice all of that was in quotes! We had to hold in our laughter but he was not offered the job due to other reasons but we still call each other and say "Mothers love me and fathers trust me"