For job seekers There is a new
type of small advetisement becoming increasingly common in news- papers
classified columns. It is sometimes placed among" situations vacant", although
it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among "situations
wanted", al- though it is not placed by someone looking for a job either. What
it does is to offer help in applying for a job. "Contact us
before writing your application," or "Make use of our long experience in
preparing your resume or job history," is how it is usually expressed. The
growth and apparent success of such a specialised service is, of course, a
reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication
of the growing importance of the resume (or job history), with the suggestion
that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right. There
was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. "Just put down
your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams," was about the
average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs
when they left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained,
everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those clays
of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write
and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the
rest. Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more
sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter
which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach.
"Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for," was a widely used
trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially
designed for the job in view. There is no doubt, however, that
it is the increasing number of applicants with university education at all
points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance
of the resume. Now a demand for this type of service has been created because ______.
A.there is a lack of jobs available for artistic people B.there are so many top-level jobs available C.there are so many people out of work D.the job history is considered to be a work of art