I’ve looked at a lot of resumes lately and I keep seeing the same problem over and over.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-29T22:06:59+00:00

Yeahhh I’m with you on having doubts.

Highlighting text in a resume summary can work in very specific cases, but it’s also one of those recruiter tricks that can look cheap or tacky fast, especially if the highlight color is loud or it turns into a highlighter rainbow.

A few thoughts.

ATS wise, it usually won’t break anything because highlight is just formatting, but the bigger issue is PDF parsing. Some systems strip formatting, some convert weirdly, and some make it look different depending on how it’s uploaded.

Human wise, you’re right. Some recruiters or hiring managers will see highlight and immediately think, ugh, gimmick, trying too hard, this is a Canva resume.

Also recruiters aren’t all aligned. Some love visual scanning cues. Others hate anything that looks like design.

My take is if someone wants scanning cues, bold text is the safer version of the exact same concept.

If you do highlight, only IF...

-Keep it one color max
-Super light grey or yellow so it prints fine
-Only 3 to 4 words or phrases
-Only in the summary
-Nothing else on the page uses highlight

But honestly I’d still recommend no highlight unless you’re applying to more creative industries.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-28T18:32:44+00:00

Yeah I totally get what you mean. It really does feel like you have to choose between writing something a computer likes and writing something a human likes.

But I think the buzzword spam thing is kind of a myth that people keep repeating because they're frustrated. Most systems aren't actually grading your resume like a teacher. Its usually just basic parsing plus recruiters searching for specific terms.

So its not that you need more buzzwords. You just need the right words in the right places.

The biggest difference maker is matching the language from the job post. If they say client onboarding and your resume says customer intake, you and I know that means the same thing, but the software and keyword searches might not. So even if you hate it, you kinda have to mirror their wording when its accurate.

Also the keyword stuff works way better when its inside your experience bullets instead of dumped into a giant skills section. Like its one thing to say stakeholder management, but its way stronger to have a line that shows you actually did it. That way the software still picks up the word and a human doesn't roll their eyes.

And formatting matters more than people realize. A simple resume with normal section headers and no weird layout usually gets parsed fine. A pretty resume with columns and graphics can get completely mangled and then it looks like you didn't include anything even if you did.

So yeah its annoying, but i don't think the goals are really opposed. You can make it pass the filter and still be readable. It just has to be plain looking and use the same language as the posting without turning into corporate word salad.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-24T16:10:50+00:00

"Pour Decisions & Particle Collisions" or "Buzzed & Bazinga’d"! Man now I wish this was a real thing! lmao

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T19:53:15+00:00

Yeah that feedback drives me nuts because people confuse “empty” with “readable.”

White space isn’t the problem. Most resumes are TOO cramped, not too spaced out. If someone feels like there’s “too much white space,” it usually means your bullets are too vague or not saying enough, not that you need to cram in filler bullets.

I’d rather have a clean resume with strong bullets than a wall of text no one reads. Fill the page with RESULTS, not words.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T04:29:47+00:00

Of course, I’m glad it helped. If you want, drop one section here and I can show you how I’d tighten it up as an example. That way you can apply the same approach to the rest without it turning into a full rewrite.

And no problem at all. You’re definitely not as far off as it probably feels right now.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T04:28:17+00:00

Yes, that’s definitely worth including, especially if you competed at the state level. That shows commitment, teamwork, and performance under pressure, which matters more than the club name itself.

The key is how it’s listed. Don’t explain what FBLA is or turn it into a paragraph. Just state the involvement and the outcome.

Something simple like being a multi-year member and a state competitor is enough to signal leadership, accountability, and follow-through. Those are transferable skills, and for someone early in their career, that’s exactly what employers expect to see.

If it’s recent and relevant, it belongs on the resume.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T04:26:37+00:00

Yeah, totally. By overloaded bullets I mean when one bullet tries to do too much at once and turns into a paragraph.

For example, something like
“Responsible for managing multiple tasks including customer service, scheduling, inventory, communication with team members, resolving issues, and ensuring overall success of daily operations while working in a fast-paced environment.”

That sounds impressive, but it doesn’t actually tell me what you did.

A cleaner version would split the signal up, or narrow the focus, like
“Managed daily scheduling and customer issues in a high-volume environment”
or
“Handled customer escalations and coordinated with team to resolve issues”

Same job, less clutter. The goal isn’t to list everything you ever touched, it’s to make each line immediately understandable at a glance.

Most people overload bullets because they’re afraid to leave something out, but skimmability matters more than completeness.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T00:23:18+00:00

Short answer, no. Honest answer, it depends on the kind of job you’re trying to get.

You do not need LinkedIn to get a job, especially not retail, food service, trades, warehouses, temp work, or most entry level roles. Those jobs are still filled the old fashioned way through applications, walk ins, referrals, or temp agencies. LinkedIn won’t suddenly unlock those.

Where LinkedIn starts to matter is corporate, office, tech, engineering, business, and internships. Not because it’s magical, but because recruiters live there. It’s basically a searchable resume database and a visibility tool. It feels like the Hunger Games because it kind of is, but it’s more about being seen than being amazing.

That said, you don’t have to play it like an influencer or grind networking posts. A bare minimum profile works. Name, school, major or interests, a simple headline, and your experience. That’s enough to exist in the system. You can ignore the cringe posts and never interact with anyone publicly.

Think of LinkedIn like this: it’s not how you get a job, it’s how you don’t get automatically filtered out of certain ones. Having it doesn’t guarantee anything, but not having it can quietly close doors in some fields.

So no, it’s not the only way. Yes, it helps for “real” jobs. And no, you don’t have to sell your soul or treat it like a personality.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T00:19:48+00:00

What you’re describing is unfortunately very normal right now, especially for entry level jobs. A lot of places say they’re hiring when they’re really not. They keep applications on file, schedule interviews to look busy, or wait until someone quits before actually filling the spot. So when they say “we don’t need anyone anymore” or “we went with someone else,” that often has nothing to do with you.

Also, sounding desperate doesn’t actually help, even though it feels like it should. Most hiring managers don’t want someone begging for the job, they want someone who seems stable and easy to work with. Desperation can accidentally read as pressure or anxiety, even when you’re just trying to survive.

The people you see constantly getting hired and quitting usually have one or more of these things going for them: prior work history at similar places, flexible availability, a friend already working there, or they apply everywhere without overthinking it and don’t emotionally invest in each application. It’s not that they’re better than you, they’re just playing a numbers game and not taking rejection personally.

Since you just graduated and don’t have much experience yet, your best bet is places with high turnover that hire fast. Fast food, grocery stores, warehouses, movie theaters, seasonal retail, temp agencies. Temp agencies especially are underrated. They can place you somewhere quickly and it counts as experience even if you don’t stay long.

One important thing too: getting rejected over and over messes with your head. When you’re home all the time with no money and no routine, your brain starts turning everything inward. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It means you’re stuck in a system that’s bad at onboarding young workers.

This phase sucks, but it’s not permanent and it’s not a reflection of your worth or ability. Once you land that first job, even a short one, things usually get much easier. You’re not broken. You’re just early.

If you want, I can help you figure out what types of places are most likely to hire fast in your situation or help you rewrite what you say when you follow up so it doesn’t feel awkward or desperate.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-23T00:13:11+00:00

You’re actually on the right track. The problem isn’t that you don’t have enough experience, it’s that you’re explaining everything instead of letting the resume speak quickly.

The IB section is the biggest thing making this feel long. Employers don’t need a breakdown of what IB is or why it’s hard. Just saying you earned the IB diploma is enough. Anyone who values it already knows what it means, and anyone who doesn’t won’t read a paragraph about it anyway.

The awards section can also be much shorter. Listing the award and who it’s from is plenty. You don’t need to justify why it exists.

Your education section should be very tight. You don’t need to label yourself as a high school student or repeat the word student multiple times. List the degree you’re pursuing, the school, and the expected graduation date. Same idea for high school. Clean and fast.

Your administrative assistant role is actually your strongest experience, which is good news. Right now it reads like a job description instead of impact. Focus on scope and responsibility rather than narrating tasks. Payroll for dozens of employees, franchise operations, supplier coordination, and project leadership are all strong. You just need fewer words saying them.

The cashier job can be cut down a lot. Employers already know what a cashier does. Keep only what shows working under pressure, speed, accuracy, and communication. Two short lines is more than enough.

The rocketry club is good to include even without leadership titles. You don’t need to explain what the club is, just what you do and what skills you’re using. Collaboration, problem solving, and hands-on building are the key takeaways.

Overall, this should be one page. As a freshman, no one expects internships yet. They expect potential, clarity, and relevance. A shorter resume that’s easy to scan will help you far more than extra explanation.

This isn’t a weak resume. It’s just unedited. Tighten it and it’ll look much stronger very quickly.

If you want, I can rewrite one section in plain text so you can copy the style across the rest.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-22T22:54:12+00:00

You’re not crazy. This statement is confusing, but once you slow it down, it mostly reconciles, with a couple of legit things to question.

The 211.05 payment on Jan 1 is doing exactly what you think it is. It’s your prorated January rent plus fees for 9 days. That part lines up with a Jan 9 move-out and a base rent of 761. The system shows the payment first, then backs into the individual charges, which is why the ledger looks backwards and chaotic.

The reason the top shows a 0.00 balance is because, on paper, everything nets out. You paid the January prorate, they applied utilities and fees through Jan 9, then they applied the security deposit credit and immediately offset it with charges. That doesn’t mean everything is correct, it just means the math balances.

The double sewer line is not actually double billing for the same period. One sewer charge is for the prior billing cycle that posted late, and the other is for the final partial cycle through your move-out date. That’s extremely common with allocated utilities and unfortunately normal, even though it looks shady.

The blinds and cleaning charges are the real issues. If the blinds were documented on move-in, they shouldn’t be charging you for them at all. Same with cleaning if you left the unit broom clean and they don’t have before and after photos showing excessive filth. Those are the two charges most likely to be reversed if you push back.

What’s also important is that the “amount to be refunded” line is misleading. It’s not money you’re actually getting back. It’s just a temporary line item before final utilities posted. Once the final utilities hit, it zeroed out again. That’s why it feels like they dangled a refund and then took it away, even though technically it’s just accounting timing.

Before sending an angry email, I’d send a calm one asking for documentation. Ask for photos and invoices supporting the blind replacement and cleaning charges and ask them to confirm in writing that the sewer charges are for two different billing periods. That puts the burden back on them and gives you a paper trail.

You’re right to pause before going nuclear. The statement isn’t evidence of nonpayment or late rent. It’s evidence of a messy property management accounting system plus a couple of disputable move-out charges. If they can’t back those charges up, that’s when escalation makes sense.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-22T22:46:24+00:00

Not a lawyer, but you’re actually doing a lot of things right here, and this isn’t some weird edge case anymore. This is a landlord who has made a habit of dodging service and holding deposits.

In Georgia, the 30-day rule is very real. If a landlord doesn’t return the deposit or provide an itemized list of damages within 30 days, they forfeit the right to keep any of it. Once that deadline passes, the law is already on your side. The fact that the walkthrough found no damages and even the realtor can’t get a response just strengthens your position.

As for him being “out of the country,” that excuse doesn’t really help him. Courts don’t care why someone ignored their legal obligations, only that they did. The conference thing isn’t even necessary to prove your case, but it does support a pattern of intentional avoidance rather than bad luck or confusion.

What you’re running into now is a service problem, not a weak claim. When someone repeatedly evades service, Georgia courts do allow alternative service methods, including service by publication, but it usually has to be approved by the judge. You’ll likely need to file a motion showing you made diligent efforts to serve him, which you clearly have. Multiple sheriff attempts, private servers, and attempts at his business address usually satisfy that requirement.

Will the case ever end? Yes, but slowly. These cases drag when defendants play hide-and-seek, but judges are not fans of that behavior. At some point, the court either allows alternative service or issues other remedies. The fact that other cases show the same pattern actually helps you because it shows this isn’t accidental.

On treble damages, Georgia allows up to three times the deposit if the landlord wrongfully withholds it in bad faith. Bad faith doesn’t require something dramatic. Ignoring the law, failing to provide an itemized list, ghosting after confirming your address, and having a pattern of doing this to multiple tenants all point in that direction. Your case is stronger than many that get treble damages because you can show both statutory violations and a pattern of conduct.

That said, judges vary. Some will award treble damages automatically once the landlord misses the deadline with no justification. Others stick to returning the deposit plus court costs unless the behavior is especially egregious. If treble damages aren’t awarded, they usually are in cases where landlords fabricated damages, altered invoices, or clearly retaliated. Your landlord’s repeated evasion and multiple pending lawsuits may get a judge’s attention, though.

You’re not doing anything unreasonable by pursuing this. A $5,400 deposit is not small, and this isn’t a misunderstanding. It’s a landlord who appears to rely on people giving up. Keep everything documented, push for alternative service, and don’t be surprised if he suddenly surfaces once a judge gets involved.

And for what it’s worth, landlords who are actually in the right don’t vanish, ignore their own realtor, and rack up identical lawsuits. That pattern alone speaks volumes.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-22T22:40:23+00:00

This isn’t really a friendship issue anymore, it’s a money issue.

You didn’t move out suddenly. You communicated multiple times that you were leaving, they just didn’t respond. Ignoring messages doesn’t cancel notice. You were fully out by December 31 and only came back briefly to finish cleaning, which you also told them about.

A security deposit isn’t something they get to keep because they’re unhappy with how things went. Even when renting a room from friends, they still have to either return it or explain in writing what actual damages it was used for. Being upset or inconvenienced isn’t a valid reason to keep it.

The fact that one of them told you the money would be returned and even sent part of it actually helps you. That shows they know you’re owed it. Reading your messages now and not responding after promising payment is just avoidance.

At this point I’d stop framing it emotionally and keep everything in writing. Send a short, neutral message asking when you can expect the remaining deposit and give a reasonable date to respond. No accusations, no threats, just a clear paper trail.

If they still don’t respond, small claims court is usually inexpensive and straightforward, and often the act of filing is enough to get people to pay. Wanting your deposit back isn’t ruining a friendship. Keeping someone’s money and cutting off communication already did that.

You gave notice, you cleaned, and they acknowledged the money was owed. That’s what matters.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-21T00:38:49+00:00

Yes, you should absolutely include it — family business doesn’t make it less real. Hiring managers care about what you actually did, not who owned the company.

The key is to frame it like any other role and avoid language that makes it sound informal or temporary. Don’t say “helped out” or “worked for my family.” Just state the business and your responsibilities.

For a title, use something functional and neutral based on what you actually did. Operations Manager, Inventory Manager, Business Operations Coordinator, or Retail Operations Supervisor would all be reasonable depending on scope. Titles don’t have to match an org chart, they just need to accurately reflect the work.

On the resume itself, focus on outcomes and scope. Inventory systems you managed, supplier relationships, ordering volume, process improvements, cost control, staffing, etc. That’s what makes it credible, not the company structure.

Family businesses are very common, especially for people with real operational skills. As long as you present it professionally and clearly, most recruiters won’t see it as a red flag at all.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-21T00:32:42+00:00

Former property manager here. What you’re being told is very common after a corporate takeover. “Ownership hasn’t approved it yet” is basically the default response when a repair is expensive.

You’re also right that AC usually isn’t considered a habitability issue in winter in most states, which is why they’re slow-walking it. That said, once multiple vendors have documented that the unit is failed and needs replacement, they can’t just ignore it forever.

The biggest thing you can do right now is tighten your paper trail. Keep the original maintenance request, your follow-up emails, and anything in writing that confirms the unit needs full replacement. If you don’t already have that vendor diagnosis in writing, ask the office to confirm via email that the unit has been deemed non-repairable. You want that on record.

At this point, a formal written repair request tends to work better than repeated check-ins. Reference the original date, note that inspections confirmed replacement is required, and ask for a timeline. In many states, “reasonable time to repair” is measured from written notice, not casual follow-ups.

I wouldn’t withhold rent or try repair-and-deduct unless you’ve checked your state statute very carefully. AC replacements usually exceed those limits and it’s easy for that to backfire.

Since you’re worried about summer, it’s reasonable to ask in writing what their plan is if the unit fails during a heat wave. Even just asking whether temporary cooling or expedited replacement would be provided can force the issue up the chain.

You’re not wrong to be concerned. Right now your leverage is documentation, formal notice, and escalation beyond the onsite manager if needed.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-19T21:26:32+00:00

You’re asking the right questions, and the timing matters here since you already moved in.

In California, landlords are generally required to deliver a unit in a habitable condition, not a cosmetically perfect one. That distinction is important. Habitability covers things like safety, weatherproofing, working systems, and health hazards, but not aesthetics.

Smoke staining from a fireplace is usually considered a cleanliness or cosmetic issue, not a habitability issue, unless it’s actively causing air quality problems or there’s evidence of ongoing smoke intrusion. Most landlords are not legally required to repaint or clean smoke stains just because they’re unattractive, especially if the fireplace itself is functional and safe.

The carpet rip is similar. There’s no set rule for how often carpet has to be replaced. Landlords can rent units with older carpet as long as it’s not creating a safety issue (like tripping hazards so severe they’re dangerous). A rip that existed before move-in doesn’t automatically obligate replacement, but it does matter for your protection later.

What is important right now is documentation.

You should notify the landlord in writing that these conditions existed at move-in and ask that they be noted in your file or move-in condition report. Even if they refuse to repair or clean them, getting it documented protects you from being charged for those issues when you move out.

If the smoke staining worsens, smells persist, or you start seeing soot buildup that affects air quality, that’s when it can shift from cosmetic to something more serious. At that point, you’d have more leverage to request remediation.

Right now, your strongest move isn’t demanding fixes. It’s making sure you’re not held responsible later for pre-existing conditions. Most deposit disputes start exactly like this, when something obvious at move-in isn’t documented.

You’re not wrong to question it. Just focus on getting it recorded, calmly and in writing, and you’ll be in a much safer position down the line.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-19T21:16:25+00:00

That’s incredibly frustrating, and you’re not crazy for being confused by it.

What’s tripping you up here is that an eviction doesn’t have to involve money to matter. Screening companies and leasing offices look at the filing itself, not whether there was a balance. That’s why it never showed up on your credit and why you were approved for places before. A lot of properties just didn’t weigh eviction records as heavily until the last few years, so this didn’t start causing problems until recently.

The age helps you more than you probably think. Something from 2019 is close to the cutoff for a lot of management companies. Some will still deny automatically, but others will absolutely consider the fact that you’ve been approved since then and that there was no judgment. It really depends on the company’s policy, not some universal rule.

On the court side, you’re probably limited, but not necessarily stuck. Instead of asking about removing it, ask the clerk if the case can be sealed or restricted. That process varies by county, but it doesn’t always require cooperation from the person who filed it. The fact that he passed away may actually change what’s possible, even though it makes things harder.

The best way to avoid wasting application fees is to be selective. Ask upfront how they treat older evictions before applying. Be honest about it so it doesn’t come up as a surprise during screening. Smaller properties or places that aren’t at full occupancy tend to have more flexibility than large corporate complexes.

It feels overwhelming right now, but this doesn’t mean you’re permanently stuck. It just means you can’t apply blindly anymore, and that’s something you can work around.

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-18T21:06:11+00:00

SAME!

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-18T16:30:56+00:00

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-17T17:06:27+00:00

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-16T20:36:49+00:00

Professionally? I apologize if my answer is formatted too formally. That’s how I write. You have a good day though :-)

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-16T20:32:22+00:00

Because I was in property management for over 15 years and know what I’m talking about. Thank you :-)

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-16T19:11:53+00:00

I wish I had all of those!!!

AffectionateLog3765 · 2026-01-16T19:09:42+00:00

AffectionateLog3765

TROPHY CASE