“We no longer think these documents are relevant when evaluating candidates. It is as obsolete as the Objective Statement”

- TSR Writing Staff

The normal tactic used when producing a Resume/CV is to include the words REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST at the bottom of document. If requested, these references are nothing more than letters gratifying the personality and mannerism of the candidate. This is not the most critical information an employer would need when evaluating a candidate.

The TSR staff believes that Letters of Recommendation and references are no longer an important part of the recruitment process. They are nothing more than artificial enhancements of a person’s character. A candidate would never submit nor contact a person they feel would present any negative tendencies, characteristics, or behaviors to a potential employer. 

Second, Letters… from political officials or other popular figures replicate the content as those written from others. The name on the signature line is the only difference between their letter and those written by others. Candidates are sometimes under the assumption that being affiliated with someone ”popular” somehow enhances their chances of securing employment. (IMP:  Useful when Networking only)

Any employer who excites easily by the author of a Letter of …. should be removed from his/her position. The most appropriate method to evaluate a candidate is to contact his immediate and previous supervisor or manager. Both would have the most current interactions with the candidate, providing the most relevant evaluation of the candidates’ tendencies and proficiencies.

-noun.  a word or phrase, often sounding authoritative or technical, that is a vogue term in a particular profession, field of study, popular culture, etc.

Random House Dictionary

Buzzwords are very important for today’s Sports Job seeker. With the proliferation of Sports employment websites, the shortage of opportunities, and the large number of applicants, having the appropriate Buzzwords on the resume will provide a needed advantage.

Online employment databases contain hundreds, if not thousands of resumes. With such large numbers, hiring managers use electronic scanning methods to locate the resume containing the most “relevant” terminology applicable for the particular job opening. The resumes containing the greatest number of relevant words and terms will receive the most attention. Relevant words and terms include but are not limited to the Undergraduate Major/Minor course of study. 

Your duty as a job candidate is to read and analyze the job description and tailor the resume accordingly. Anyone reading this blog story should know what a synonym is. If the job description contains terms not specifically listed on your resume but having similar meanings, then make the necessary adjustments on the resume. 

Look at a few BUZZWORDS one could use for this position:

INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE (Ticket Sales) - Cold Calling, Prospecting, Customer Sales/Service, Communication and Interpersonal skills, Attention to detail, Proactive, Negotiating, Presentation skills, Industry knowledge, Flexibility (work hours), New Business (ability to generate new business), Multi-task, Up-sell, Cross-sell, Sales goals (monthly, weekly).