I am a talented woodworker in my own field, which is stockmaking but it just isn’t paying the bills yet. I would like to get a part time or if I have to, full time job in a cabinet shop.
My resume lists all sorts of administrative and management position and then there is my own company, not exactly what a recruiter is looking for.
I went into a local shop suggested by a friend and brought a sample of work that was the closest thing to furniture I had done and they just stared at me like I was there to rob the place.
I am a vastly better employee when I work for someone else, unfortunately for me. I was working last week for another stock company but one with CNC and other fancy equipment and they don’t have enough work to hire me other than on a short term basis. They loved having me as I made several improvements and caught programming errors before they made a full run of expensive firewood.
My question is, what can I do to put some sort of hook into either a cover letter or a resume to get over the “why is this guy applying” barrier. I am intelligent and valuable employee but I just can’t get over the hump of not having any commercial work in a conventional cabinet shop.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Bush, Stockmaker
Replies
When I am hiring furniture makers I look for:
1. Portfolio. The more extensive and more varied the better
2. A neatly done resume, with references.
I will call people who can provide both of those, preferably via email, in for an interview and ask them to bring something that they have built. I can tell a lot about someone's craftmanship from these samples. I can also tell a lot about someone's experience from looking at their hands and arms - should be very buff. You may be having trouble with your job search because your skills are way above or far different from the ordinary kitchen cabinet guy or laminator. You are going to have to send that resume all over to find the right job for you - if they don't know what they are looking at, you're probably better off somewhere else anyway. Good luck!
Paul Downs
I tried a resume 5 years ago and of 60 people lined up hoping to work for this company I was hired.
Give this a Try (Finish Carpentry)if there is a demand for this In your area?There is in most areas.this will hone your skills back at the shop in the moonlite making comerical cabinets.
Best of luck
PS This sure sounds firmiluar.
jimmy
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