I'm applying for a part-time job moving goods around a warehouse. Not Amazon, looks like a decent place to work actually. The application process requests a resume, if I write anything remotely resembling a normal one for me, all but maybe one line of it will be completely irrelevant tech stuff. The only remotely relevant experience I have is that I used to work a job where I occasionally had to haul equipment around and help manage some computer spares. Qualifications required are basic stuff like following safety rules and lifting 40-60lbs. How do I write this?
Just write your normal one. It'll be fine.
I would write enough of your real experience to show that you have smarts and can think. I would do a lot of examples of prior experience and specific examples of relevance. Problem solving, teamwork, owning responsibility, being able to take direction and then work independently. Heck, even, "in my spare time I enjoy puzzles and games that involve spatial motion and making pieces fit."
I wouldnt really omit, but make it a simplized brief version. Whereas for a technical position you might have written more detail about systems or processes used. give a higher altitude view and make it short. Keep it to a single page and make sure its not a wall of text and you will be fine.
Hopefully you dont get caught up in "we wont hire you because you are overqualified" like I did something like a decade ago.
Think in terms of "I was given instructions, I carried them out by myself, the results were always good".
For a job like that I'd assume they just want to know you've been employed before.
Maybe list your stats like how much you can deadlift. 
Ditto on the summarized version. If your current one is two page, take enough out irrelevant detail to fit on one. If you put any detail focus it on getting thigns done.
There was a thread about tattoos here, I remember Wally saying he would date a woman with a tattoo.
1. Not afraid to make decisions not matter the outcome
2. Art aficionado.
3. Higher tolerance to pain.
.... or things like that. Use your Tech experience to suggest you can follow written instructions, able to grasp new and complicated situations, get along with and can excel at working with difficult people.
.... or things like that. =~ )
In reply to Apexcarver :
As noted, that would be my concern. Try not to make it look like you are looking for a tech job, just a job. Heck, maybe even listing where you worked with the job titles and make certain not to bring too much attention to the job titles (e.g. do not bold them)
Highlighting your hobbies (e.g. car stuff) could be a very good idea. Shows you are a hands on kind of guy.
I also backup the idea of highlighting your ability to work hard, show up on time and get along with co-workers. You also may want to see if you can somehow make it look like you are not doing this just until a nice tech job shows up.... not sure how to do that.
Do some research on the company and maybe break out some comments about respect for the company / store.
Maybe some sort of: "looking to get out from behind the desk" kind of thing? (not sure)
The goal at this point is to get an interview, where you can talk to them and break out the charm 
Seems I was on the right track, I'd been summarizing it already and brought it down from 1 full page to about 3/4 of a page, I think I can get it down to half a page by summarizing the job skills section which currently has details of programming languages and OSes etc.
This job advertises its flexible shifts as being a good fit for people with other jobs so that could be a way to assure them that I'm not just doing it until a nice tech job shows up. Over the next year or so the main reason for me to have it would be to bring in some money during my own business' off-season (which is about November to late April), and have something to fall back on in case it turns out to be a total flop.
The biggest problem places like that have is finding people who will actually show up for work. Stressing your maturity and desire to show up and make money is probably the best thing you can do
Peabody said:The biggest problem places like that have is finding people who will actually show up for work. Stressing your maturity and desire to show up and make money is probably the best thing you can do
totally.
things i'd stress:
Is this to be your only job or to pick up some extra cash on the side? These may need different approaches.
It's probably going to be more of a primary job, it's certainly going to take the most work hours.
Thread resurrection: I didn't get that warehouse job but I'm applying for a couple different jobs as a mechanics' assistant. Both actually pay pretty decently, almost as much as my last tech job. Any tips?
Mechanics assistant at an auto place or industrial maintenance? Either way like Peabody said emphasize your willingness to show up and stay engaged. My son was hiring assembly workers and they were hiring anyone that could fog a mirror.
These are both auto places, one is a tire shop and one is a collision shop.
Maybe include a screenshot of your highest score in Tetris
GameboyRMH said:Thread resurrection: I didn't get that warehouse job but I'm applying for a couple different jobs as a mechanics' assistant. Both actually pay pretty decently, almost as much as my last tech job. Any tips?
On paper, be the mouth breather they expect. In person, be just a bit more than a mouth breather and they'll be happy.
A few years back, I was searching for a job. I had a long and lengthy resume that included accomplishments. Being 55, I experienced some real and genuine age discrimination in interviews. One that comes to mind... Sales position. I arrive for the interview (that HR likely set up) and was told that the meeting would be two sales managers and one sales director. I was told that this many were typically not in the first meeting. My instinct was that I was being fast tracked. Everyone in one meeting. Their hope to do a "one and done" with a good candidate.
In the interview I could gain some rapport with the 45-ish director but I could never establish rapport with the two 35-ish managers I'd be reporting to. I genuinely felt that when I established rapport with the 45-ish it became a threat to the 35-ish.
So, I changed course a little. I responded to a job I'd surely be over qualified for...if they knew I was over qualified. I simplified my on-line submission to this company. I only listed the companies I worked for and a one sentence, super general and downplayed by role.
Instead of something like, "launched a sales team that I grew to x sales people over x years and oversaw the activities in 3 states" I gave a real short answer of "sales of telecommunication products and services." My answer was more about what the company did and less about what I actually did.
For this job, they just needed to know that I was there for years and kept coming back. In the interview I asked more questions about their business and gave up hardly anything about my past work. A few years in, I enjoy the job and its working fine (even if I am a bit "underemployed.") To this day, they still really don't know much about my past work positions and achievements. I have come to accept that those past actions don't really matter once I'm in their door. But, they are happy with my results in their company.
I guess said further...for me in what I was applying for and for you and what you're applying for here, they don't want to know that you can lead. What they really want to know is that you can follow. Accentuate this ability to follow to get the job. Once in the job, allow them to believe that they have built you into being a leader. Yes, falsely stoke their ego that they have "created" your ability to lead (if leading even interests you at this company.)
GameboyRMH said:These are both auto places, one is a tire shop and one is a collision shop.
I would keep it simple, and probably say something like, I've been working in tech, but that industry is not what it used to be, and it's time for a change. I've been a car guy my whole life, and this is something I really want to do. I can follow direction and I will show up every day.
And be positive, don't talk E36 M3 about the industry, or previous employ. When they ask about the money, tell them what you said here.
Peabody said:GameboyRMH said:These are both auto places, one is a tire shop and one is a collision shop.
I would keep it simple, and probably say something like, I've been working in tech, but that industry is not what it used to be, and it's time for a change. I've been a car guy my whole life, and this is something I really want to do. I can follow direction and I will show up every day.
And be positive, don't talk E36 M3 about the industry, or previous employ. When they ask about the money, tell them what you said here.
Generally good advice. I would recommend against the "car guy" only because we know that sometimes a hobby is fun and work is disillusioning. I would modify that concept to something more like "I am comfortable around machines, cars, etc."
It's been about a week now with no contact from the mechanic's assistant jobs, which generally means that it's not gonna happen.
Anyone think it could be a negative to list under previous experience that I'm currently working at my own company on my resume? If I don't then it makes my "employment gap" look way worse since that's pretty much all I've been doing this year other than a tiny bit of gig work. The business has a minimal website that shows what I've been doing, that I'm not making things up, and that I have at least decent computer skills and can at least code my way out of a wet paper bag. My parents have recently suggested to me that I should keep it off my resume for some reason, and I can see that some companies might be more hesitant to hire someone who seems to already have some kind of work, but I'd think it would be very much a net positive to have it on there.
Right now it seems like my tech experience isn't quite right to let me get an interview for a decent tech job, and it's also keeping me from getting the proverbial burger-flipping jobs all that education was supposed to let me do better than, even if I want to get one just to pay the bills. This seems like some cursed monkey-paw E36 M3.
I'm not saying to not list the current job. If you want a job as a pawn (a piece of the game for someone else to move around the board) then it might be best to just present yourself as a pawn in the current job.
Said further...this is who I work for and this is a ultra simplified statement of what I do there. Hopefully the name of the company is not your name. I envision something like I work for Computer Specialties Inc and a brief statement like specialized website development or some similar brief BS.
Is this job something where you might be able to show up at the tire store/shop and actually speak with someone? If so, keep off the gloss and dumb down your approach and your self-presentation. Arrive in clothes "befitting of the job". At the very basic this should be some worn boots or worn gym shoes. More "workman" appearance instead of a "computer jockey" or young professional appearance.
I've thought about driving over to some of these places but going outside of the prescribed application process seems like a big gamble that could easily backfire...the name of the company isn't my name but it is publicly registered to me and easy enough to trace.
GameboyRMH said:Anyone think it could be a negative to list under previous experience that I'm currently working at my own company on my resume? If I don't then it makes my "employment gap" look way worse since that's pretty much all I've been doing this year other than a tiny bit of gig work.
You're applying for an entry level job. They don't care about employment gap.
I have never hesitated to follow up on an application, and it's never backfired. It shows that you're interested and have at least some level of motivation.
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