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NOTE:
THIS PAGE REFLECTS PENN
STATE UNIVERSITY'S VIEW
OF HOW BIO DATA FORMS ARE USED AND ARE NOT THE
VIEWS
OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 8.
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FORMS:
Biographical Data forms are basically your resume or work history on file
with the employer. Biographical Data forms should be updated regularly so that
they
reflect your entire work history. The more specific you can be the better.
Many times our members are qualified for the jobs they bid on and do not get
them because their biographical data forms do not reflect their potential skills
accurately. The most common mistake is for someone to put broad statements
of a previous job held. This does not tell the individual who sends your
name to the department doing the hiring that you meet the minimum qualifications
for the job and should get an interview. Therefore you do not get the interview
and miss the opportunity of a lifetime. While this is unfortunate, a bigger
disappointment is felt by the individual who temporary transfers to a certain
job for a period of time which would meet the minimum requirements for the job
and forgets to update their Biographical Data form to reflect this, effectively
keeping them from getting the job.
How do you improve your biographical data form?
Look at the most current version of your bio and pay
particular attention to whether
all previous jobs held both on and off campus are
documented. Also make sure the
work dates are accurate and reflect all time worked at the job. Be
sure that the order
of the jobs held is chronologically correct. All related experience counts and
should be
reflected on the biographical data form.List any special permits, licenses or other certificates which could be a
requirement of a future job bid.
Include all military training, vocational technical training, any courses
which you have taken whether they were at Penn State, through
correspondence, or on your own at night. If you are in the National Guard or
Reserve this should be listed along with any special skills required to do
your job. Hobbies can be important. Especially if they are trades related such
as electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC, electronics, computer repair, computer
software troubleshooting, carpentry etc. Knowing how to weld may not seem
important until the maintenance job you bid on requires welding to qualify
for an interview.
Any special skills should be noted such as being able to type
professionally, being able to program computers or knowing all the various
sizes and nomenclatures of plumbing fittings, valves and associated
hardware. While this may seem insignificant at the time it could prove to be
quite useful when it is a requirement of the job you are bidding on. Any and all levels of schooling should be noted on the biographical data
form. If you attended some college or vocational trade school do not think
that this is unimportant. Note any and all schools on the form.
If you have done any Temporary Transfer to higher level jobs this should
be included along with all the dates which the Temporary Transfer was
accomplished.
Specific Areas To Attack
One problem which we see all
the time is members not breaking previous job titles
into the specific job
duties which were performed. For instance if you held a Landscape
job it could
include a pesticide license and a CDL license along with many other duties.
Landscaper does not make it clear that you have these important licenses. Keep
in mind that the person making the decision to send you for an interview only
knows what your capabilities are by what is on your biographical data form.
Chances are they know nothing about what a landscaper does or what licenses are
required. If you are an Equipment Operator list the specific types of equipment
that you are qualified to run. Welder? What types? Arc, gas, mig, tig etc. The
bottom line is the more specific you are in listing your capabilities the better
your chances of landing that dream job.
What about forms and filing?
Teamsters Local Union No. 8 has blank biographical data forms and we bring
them to all the union meetings. They may be picked up from your departmental
Human Resource person or at Employment on the first floor of the Rider Building
on Burrows street. Get a form and get your bio updated as soon as possible.
If you are having problems putting it all together call us at the office at
237-1429 or long distance at 800-537-1757.
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FORM:
We now have
a Biographical Data Form as a Microsoft Word file template. After you download
the file to your desktop you can open it and enter your information then save
your bio-data file to your hard drive or a disk so that in the future you do not have to retype
the same information to
update the form. If you would like a copy of the file click the link below
and save the file to your desktop.
Bio-Data Form
(PDF)
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