Sad But True 2

Got this as well from the reader.

Hi again...Male, 50-ish, urban, no current resume, as I have been frustrated for years in writing a resume which is successful in landing job interviews.  (Two dead-end jobs, no career-related experience, not attractive to employers.) The last time my resume got me a job interview was about five years out of college.

I've been interested in becoming a CFP, but since I have no money and cannot borrow, the educational requirments appear unattainable.  I've always been good with math and with numbers generally, and I have a year of undergraduate accounting in my past.

There is a financial aithor named Lee Eisenberg ("The Number") who has noted (in an interview with and posted online by a blogger) that lower-income Americans are in the greatest need of sound financial planning yet are the least likely to (be able to) get it.  I see needs and opportunities and don't know how to exploit (in the positive sense of course) them, and I see the financial planning community as being largely out of touch with and uninterested in a huge potential market.

Not sure how to approach this subject so will take things one at a time.  Will also get to the longer post from last Friday but for now let's go one by one and see what unfolds.

Hi again...Male, 50-ish, urban, no current resume, as I have been frustrated for years in writing a resume which is successful in landing job interviews.

Ok, male in the 50's working in a convenience store with a college degree.  First, I have a lot of respect for people who work in convenience stores.  I couldn't do it.  I would be convinced that every person coming in was looking to hold up the place and I would probably shoot first.  There would be a lot of dead customers littering the floors if I worked in a 7-11.

No resume.   Got to stop that.  "Frustrated for years in writing a resume which is successful in landing job interviews."  Resumes are not miracle workers.  If I have an MBA with a great resume but apply to be a brain surgeon at John Hopkins I will not get the job.  But if I work in a convenience store and want to be a manager then my resume is relevant.  Resumes should also contain interests such as what you do outside of work.  Watching TV is not resume material but volunteer work, hobbies, accomplishments are and should be on a resume.  You have not been a hiring manager.  I have and what I looked for is something to make me want to talk to this person. 

So do a resume with jobs and activities and WHY you have been out of work for awhile due to illness. Resumes are supposed to provide information.  Go to the libary and take out a couple of books on job hunting.  Most are awful but they do include how to come up with a resume that puts you in the best light possible without lying, outright lying anyway.

The last time my resume got me a job interview was about five years out of college.  Resumes don't get job interviews, people do.  Forget about what happened five years out of college.

I've been interested in becoming a CFP, but since I have no money and cannot borrow, the educational requirments appear unattainable.  I've always been good with math and with numbers generally, and I have a year of undergraduate accounting in my past.

People should not put up unattainable goals.  Because then they come up with the B word-BUT.  I want to be an astronaut BUT I'm afraid of heights.  Or I'm too old.  Or I don't have the money.  I would not recommend a CFP because I speak from experience.  I have a CFP.  Don't ask me why but I do.  It was harder than I thought plus it does cost money and it doesn't get you a job.  If you are good at numbers and have some accounting go to the following and look for a job, any job.

Banks

Pawn Shops

Call Centers for Credit Card Companies

H&R Block (they will train you)

Finance Companies

Auto Dealers

Insurance Companies

Financial Planners

I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any right now.  But you got to have a resume first.  When you get a job, see if you like it and then think about a CFP.  But don't waste time with that right now.

There is a financial aithor named Lee Eisenberg ("The Number") who has noted (in an interview with and posted online by a blogger) that lower-income Americans are in the greatest need of sound financial planning yet are the least likely to (be able to) get it.  I see needs and opportunities and don't know how to exploit (in the positive sense of course) them, and I see the financial planning community as being largely out of touch with and uninterested in a huge potential market.

Absolutely.  I have even written a post on this-- "Charles Schwab Doesn't Want You"   Charlie and financial planners don't want low income people because they are low income.  This is the same reason Charlie and financial planners don't want college students--they don't have any money. Sad but true.  Get some money and you will be fighting them off but no money, no interest.

That's enough for today.  Will tackle the other stuff tomorrow.  But at least for now, do a resume.  Rome wasn't built in a day.