#and i think one of the most impactful changes made by the chronological format (she says having only read it that way)

[senadimell]

It’s been several weeks since I started watching Nosferatu, and I finally picked it up last night since I now have a knitting project suitably mindless that I can do without having to look at it and can watch the movie in peace. I’ve finished the third act, and I have to say, this is honestly really faithful to Dracula. Since it’s never been a secret that Nosferatu is heavily inspired by Dracula (read: an unauthorized adaption), I’m going to assign Dracula names to the roles characters play in the story rather than use their actual names most of the time.

The character combinations are interesting, but make a lot of sense given the large cast of characters in the book. I haven’t gotten far enough for most of the secondary characters to be a major presence, but I’ve read that they’re mostly absent, so the focus remains mostly on the Jonathan and Mina figures.

One of the biggest changes so far is that Mr. Hawkins and Renfield are combined into Knock, a now-malicious solicitor secretly in kahoots with the Count.

Narratively speaking, this actually makes a more of sense than it might sound at first. Mr. Hawkins is mostly a plot device in the original story, not really a character, and given the restraints of a silent film, it would be rather challenging to establish why and how the Count wants to visit England. When you strip down the conversations from the captivity portion of the novel, you’re left with the challenge of how to convey the Count’s desire or to establish how exactly he made arrangements with a foreign solicitor, so giving him an agent abroad is a pretty economical way to convey that. Then, when the Count is travelling, using Knock as a Renfield-figure and thrall of the Count serves to heighten the tension, and while the “the life is in the blood” speeches are a little less mysterious, they do pair very well with the back-and-forth between the not-Demeter and not-Van Helsing teaching a botany class about carnivorous plants. 

The major downside of that choice is that it removes much of the nuance present in the books regarding the characters under the Count’s sway. Renfield and Seward’s back and forth about the nature of sanity is so far completely absent, and I expect this will be the case through the movie, going off of the visual language’s cartoonishly malicious depiction of Knock. Renfield’s humanity is really just not shown, and while Knock’s gleeful manner while eating bugs is quite similar to Renfield’s manner in the book, I highly doubt the element of resistance will show up.

Still, overall, this feels like a simplification rather than a warping of the story. Unfortunately, it’s a simplification that results in a caricature of mental illness, and yet I don’t think it’s a fundamental misreading of the story, unlike Drac/Mina pairings.

The second major change so far is that Mina and Lucy’s role have been combined into one, and given their similar narrative roles as vulnerable and beloved targets, this makes a lot of sense. Now, the Mina-figure is the sleepwalker. There is a slight change in that the prophetic dreams start earlier, but it also serves to emphasize her connection with Jonathan without the letter and journal devices. It also establishes her vulnerability early on, pretty much as soon as we realize that Jonathan is in peril, which is an effective way to convey the peril of Lucy-Mina without diary entries and serves to jump-start the middle act of the story (which I admittedly found rather slow during Dracula Daily)

In a related vein, there’s another convenience change that’s either big or small depending on what you view as an important theme. In Dracula, the Count seems primarily interested in England, and his later vendetta is the result of his predatory nature, not the driving motivation. In Nosferatu, that’s flipped, and his primary motivation to leave his castle is to track down not-Mina. He presumably did first send for a solicitor, though, so the motivation isn’t absent, it’s just less developed.

Apart from character changes, the biggest other change is that the Count spreads plague rather than just killing or turning characters. So far, it doesn’t feel fundamentally different from the book, but I don’t know yet if it will have larger plot implications down the line.

I will say, though, that the time period is always waiting a little bit uncomfortably at the back of my mind. It came out in 1922, and there’s just so much going on in the Weimar Republic at this time. It’s a culturally wild time. I don’t know a lot about this film, or its make, or how it was received, so I’m just left with vague implications about the various changes and how they would be received. What does it suggest that he spreads a plague? What does his increased focus on preying on Mina mean? What are the implications of the fact that he has an apparently willing agent abroad, or that Renfield is only a slavish caricature, totally devoted to the count?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, but they’re always looming somewhere as I watch.

[arlakos]

The problem I realized with Adrien Agreste (and many of the other miraculous characters)

Ok, let me just put a disclaimer here.

I love all the characters in miraculous Ladybug, I really do. I mean, aside from Lila and Gabriel, but really who doesn’t? I think all the characters are cool from both design and initial character standpoints and made you wish we see more of them. 

But just like most of my other posts, I see both good and bad in the show and acknowledge all of it. I like the concepts, but I don’t have to necessarily like all the executions of said concepts.

I’ve been holding off this post for a while due to me wanting to take some time to review the show first and see if there was anything that would have made me change my mind on my newfound stance. But surprisingly, there really wasn’t.

So let me get to the point

Adrien Agreste...Is one of the blandest characters I have ever seen in a show

As with most to all the other characters in the show as well.

(Cue sounds of  betrayal)

“But Arlakos!” you might say, “Why would you think this way? You love Adrien! He has a great personality!”

Yeah, I love him. I love his initial character and I think he as Chat Noir is just amazing. But having watched three seasons of a single show, as well as comparing Miraculous to ANOTHER similar show, I have to address this issue and how it affects all the characters.

So first, let's talk about the show

Spanning three seasons, Miraculous Ladybug, as of this moment has released 78 episodes of this show (also including the Christmas special). In comparison, the show I'm using has released 87 episodes, so I feel that after this long, its fair to now compare the two shows, even with the 9 episode difference.

After watching Miraculous Ladybug for so long, I realized by this point that a lot of episodes in the series are pretty much flash and no substance, along with some ship teasing. I would call it filler, but that's under the implication that there was any plot they were following, to begin with. With each of the episodes bottled into one standalone story, most of the episodes have no impact to each other aside from a few rare few. Season 1 was chock full of this, but it was ok for the time being as Season 1 was used to introduce most of the characters in the show and the world itself. But that has also been the basis for the other two seasons as well, especially those that promised to expand the story of the show. 

But it didn’t. Each of the episodes would occur, their story would end, and any important lessons the characters would learn would be forgotten by the end. The episode and its story would never be brought up again, aside from the Akuma if the person in question was to be re-akumatized again. Maybe it would be brought up in passing, such as Kim and Ondine’s relationship, but truth be told, none of the episodes mattered to the lore or plot of the show. You could feasibly cut out most of the episodes, aside from episodes introducing a new hero, the finales and the first episode of each new season and the show would still work plot-wise.

Because of this format of the show, the characters have undoubtedly suffered a lot development-wise, due to character resets cause of the nature of standalone episodes, most characters not being utilized in most episodes unless its for setting up an akuma, and the overall Marinette focused nature of the show not allowing any other characters to have focus.

And nobody has really suffered more, that the Big Cat himself, Adrien Agreste.

But why though?

To understand this, let's go over his initial character traits

He’s Kind

He’s willing to see the good in people

He’s Lonely and has no friends

He’s a model

He loves Ladybug.

He makes puns (as Chat Noir)

He’s flirty with Ladybug (as Chat Noir)

As you can see, most to all of these character traits are pretty much all the traits  Adrien has shown in season 1. Actually, all of these traits were shown in just the Origins itself which, being the first chronological show in the series, does a pretty good job of setting up Adrien's initial character.

(Also just a quick mid note here, I just realized why the show produced this episode last compared to the others. If this was the episode that came out first, most to all of the other episodes in comparison would just be seen as boring. With the origins being both action-packed and plot rich with its main cast, most of the other episodes would be seen as filler if they came out after this banger of a season finale.)

But going on the topic of later seasons, ask yourself:

What have you learned about Adrien's Character in season 2 and 3?

And when I say character, i mean actual stuff about him. What other stuff does he like? What does he want to do in the future? What does he do when he spends time with Nino? What does he think of other people (aside from Lila)?

Chances are, that unless the stuff you’re pulling at might be from a headcanon in whatever fanfic you are writing, most of you will answer nothing. I mean, sure some people may say that he’s likes games as made evident from Gamer, but that is probably the only moment where we see a bit more of Adrien's character, and again we are talking about season 1, so it doesn't really count

Some people may say that Gorizilla was an episode that explored Adrien's character. While I do agree that it was more Adrien focused than others, and easily one of the best episodes in the show, looking back on the episode, I realized that more or less all it does is show how Adrien is pretty much a Disney Princess more helpless than Snow White. He’s trapped in the house, unable to escape, waiting for a hero in spots to ‘save him’ from his loneliness. Also, it had some Adrienette in it, but again it was just teasing.

(Note: I just gotta say though that Wayhem’s character and growth were just the best. Being just another fanboy at first, he realized his mistake and even stood up to an Akuma to save Adrien, then apologized at the end even though he would pretty much get no reward for his action, becoming an actual character in the process rather than just a background one. The fact that Adrien became friends with Wayhem was just heartwarming for a background character. Despite Roi Singe being a blast, I’m really sorry that they restricted Wayhems character to just being another Akuma in Party Crasher, it would have been nice for Wayhem to be an actual Friend Adrien could talk to outside of school and add more development into the show.)

So back on the Topic of Adrien, we haven’t really learned much about Adrien's character or see him develop in any meaningful way. The only thing we ever see him really do outside of being part of the Squad (Alya, Nino, Adrien, Marinette) is just either pine for Ladybug in his spare time, or complaining about not being able to spend time with his dad. No seriously, look at most episodes where Adrien's at home and that's all he does!

But now for the topic of Chat Noir. I mean, Adrien is trapped as a normal boy, so it would make sense that Chat Noir would be able to develop as a character and show the world he is more than just a sidekick right?

Unfortunately, Chat Noir, just like his civilian counterpart, also suffers from a lack of any meaningful character growth. Shorts vids on youtube aside (which btw should never be used to develop the main characters, otherwise what is the point of the show), we never see him talk to Ladybug in any meaningful way (I mean he does try, but chances are Ladybug shuts him up because (a) she wants to leave and (b) blah blah secret identity)

Basically, he has three different moods.

He flirts with Ladybug, often using puns to do so. 

He’s a suicidal mofo who takes hits for Ladybug, saying its because she's the only one who can save the day (Hot take though, I just think Chat Noir is just the persona of Tumblr that wants to die)

He worships Ladybug and thinks shes amazing, complimenting her on the daily, as well as comforting her and giving her pep talks when shes low.

Other than that, he’s written as basically useless. Don’t expect him to come up with any plans and if he does, expect them to fail (Reflekdoll). Don't expect him to actually help Ladybug and for Ladybug to always say him. If Ladybug is in any way made useless or incapacitated, be sure that Chat will in no way be able to help Ladybug as he will be made to be more useless than Ladybug so that Ladybug has to take care of him (Reverser). Also Chat will flirt at the worst times to show Ladybug is better and more ‘professional’ at being a hero (Prime Queen)

Also Chat Missile

WARNING: Not suitable for anyone under 13 years old. Only use if your a superhero with increased Strength, otherwise it may hurt your back.

These are all the same traits we see in every episode, without change without fail. I mean, in Glacitator Chat promised to stop flirting with Ladybug because she likes another boy, but since characters reset after every episode he went back to flirting the next episode. So yeah, that's it. Next episode

Aside from that, we never see him do anything else, nor have anything as a hero impact him in any way. The only times I have ever seen him be impacted as a hero was 

Syren, where he was tired his partner kept hiding secrets from him (as HE SHOULD), and was about to quit, but reconsidered once Fu arrived and explained some stuff, which bascially set him back to normal, which i guess its fine, but i wish the episode had more of an impact on Chat’s character.

Frozer (where Astruc was making Adrien salt cause Luka)

The Ladybug episode, where he saw a living, thinking duplicate of Ladybug, who had just become free from Mayura and became a hero, killed by said villain, and was just about to have a heroic breakdown and attack Mayura. However, this one was cut off due to Hawkmoth, resulting in Chat going from Heroic breakdown to making puns about Hawkmoths age. Really?

However, despite all that I have said, some of you may still think I am wrong. You may think that Adrien does show more character and that I'm just pulling facts out of my ass. You may think he does show character because of that one ship tease moment that you think qualifies at plot development.

But some of you may also think, why does this even matter? Its called Miraculous Ladybug, the show is about Marinette and Ladybug. Its all about her. Who cares about the other characters? Who cares about Adrien? He doesn’t need character development, we need to focus on Marinette and her making Adrien's birthday gifts for his next 35 birthdays. We should all just stop worrying about Adrien's character. All he should be is just a kind pretty boy for Marinette to idolize and have as a prize at the finale, and for Chat Noir to be useless comic relief while Ladybug saves the day, because she is juuuust that amaziiiiing.

Well first of all 

It’s called Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Miraculous Ladybug is just a nickname used by fans and writers to simplify the name. The name implies that there is another main character, known as... Chat Noir. It's not called tales of Ladybug and Marinette, get with the program.

The show can still focus on one main character but still develop other characters as well. If anyone thinks otherwise, they either have a character bias or don't realize how to make a good show.

If anyone actually thinks this way, well then screw you. Developing a character should not be made at the expense of another character. Chat Noir should not have to be made to be comic relief just because Ladybug is the only one who can purify Akumas.

Secondly (yes I realized that I used 3 points but IDC) there’s another show that is very similar to Ladybug that also focuses on a school girl saving the world with the help of her sidekick male character.

That’s right, I’m talking about ... KIM POSSIBLE!

But to be more precise, I’m talking about its secondary hero... Ron Stoppable.

This guy right here, just in case any of you thought I was talking about the kung fu naked mole-rat.

But in all seriousness though, let's talk about him.

In the series, Ron Stoppable is the partner of the teenage heroine Kim Possible. Just like Chat Noir, he helps KP on her missions, and unlike Chat, is actually seen as a sidekick by the world, including KP.

Then why is it that I think he’s a better Character than Chat?

Well, the thing is unlike Miraculous, the show has a good job of integrating its school and hero stories together, and it helped to explore Ron’s character as well. Sure, he was a clumsy dude who got scared a lot and had an unhealthy obsession with Mexican fast food, but we still got to explore his character.

Just a few small examples:

Most episodes in KP had the fine job of adding stuff to Ron’s Character. Small stuff, but it fleshed him out over time He shows in one episode that despite being clumsy in the hero business, he can cook pretty well! In another episode, he learns he is pretty good at running and becomes a back runner for the football team at his school.

He also gets to have a few episodes where he and his buddy Rufus (the naked mole rat) get to shine despite being a secondary character. He becomes the second incarnation of the fearless ferret (an in show super hero), visits Japan where he gets to learn some monkey Kung Fu, and often times fights villains himself, though this is usually in one of the situations where he gets a one time power up or Kim Possible is not available, but it still showed that Ron could be a hero as well. Hell in the finale, he actually helped Kim Possible as a partner rather than a sidekick.

Now I get that Miraculous and KP are two radically different shows. Secret Identities aside, Kim Possible has a large variety of villains, while Miraculous only has the One big villain, so it's very difficult to have Chat be able to stand on his own two feet while the only thing they are fighting is something only Ladybug can fix. 

But in that regard, this also shows the importance of Miraculous needing more plot progressed the story. Unlike Kim Possible, who’s many villains and overall lack of an ‘ending villain’ can allow for one-off episodes involving Ron and some villains, Miraculous only has the one. Once Hawkmoth is defeated, the show technically ends (future version not counting), so It would make sense that the characters should develop over time as the show gets closer to that finale. 

So in that Regard, what could I do to make Chat Noir more fleshed out?

Honestly, you could add in some moments in the show where Chat noir interacts with Paris. Like maybe in one episode Chat rescues lost cats and takes them to the shelter, or perhaps he works at a cat shelter in his spare hero time.

Perhaps have an episode or two where Chat saves the day on his own while Ladybug is busy or oblivious to the trouble in Paris. Regarding Akuma, I have often considered Chat should have an ‘ability’ similar to Ladybugs that allows him to ‘purify’ the Akuma by disrupting the magic inside the Akuma (the ability being called Disruption), but can’t use it too often without proper training due to the dark energies in the Akuma being too harmful to Chat to use often. That way Chat can occasionally take on a few Akuma by himself.

Have a few episodes where something happens which allows the audience to learn what Adrien/Chat likes. Maybe there’s an episode where he learns to cook desserts, and finds out he’s actually pretty good at it!

I feel the need to add some ideas in because in the end I still love Chat Noir and consider him my favorite character. But I also have to acknowledge this problem because it ruins the quality of the show.

In fact, I think that Adrien's problem isn’t just limited to him, but also to every other character in the show, and even Marinette to an extent.

Going back to the show and looking at all the side characters, it's obvious that looking at them, a lot of them are very one dimensional in their character. We don't learn much about them or their personality, and even when we do, we only learn about them when it's their turn to be akumatized, or if the akumatized person is related to them in some way like in Markov. Once they usually are done, we don't get to see the characters much, unless there is a second akumatization. 

Juleka only became important when she got akumatized twice and aside from that, we don't get to see her much or learn about her. Ivan and Mylene were basically forgotten after they became akumatized. Pretty much no one is affected post akumatization with any sort of trauma or worry, so nothing about the characters actually changes as a result of events in the show.

Even those that do become heroes don’t really get any character growth, they are just considered to be worthy to be heroes because they are good people, but considering the qualifications of good in the show are determined by if you like Marinette, that means pretty much everyone in Marinette’s class could be a hero, aside from Chloe because HEY! SHE DOESN’T LIKE MARINETTE THEREFORE SHE’S VILLAIN!

(God I hate Miracle Queen)

Also, these problems pretty much apply to Marinette as well.

I mean, all the things she does in the show basically comes back to the same simple fact that ‘Marinette is kind and helpful’. That's it.

She helps Jagged getting some glasses, its because she is kind and helpful. Helping her classmates? Kind and Helpful? Helping Kitty Section with Costumes? Kind and Helpful? Helping Adrien? She wants to get into his pants.

(Also because she’s kind and helpful.)

Like, this isn’t bad, but nothing seems to change about her, she goes and helps people as Marinette, helps people as Ladybug, and despite this, is unaffected by the school or her life. What is she going to do post Lycee? How is she going to become a fashion designer? Work as an intern at a fashion company. Work at Gabriel Agreste’s company? Startup her own local business? The show refuses to acknowledge any of these things, despite her being a schoolgirl, because she has more important things to worry about than school. Such as being a Guardian for a box magically bound to her that will take away her memories if she tries to get rid of it.

(God Miracle Queen was a mistake, she didn’t even learn how to be a Guardian yet! )

To close things up, most of the characters in the show lack any meaningful character development, which i can safely say is due to the structure of single-story episodes in a show that has a defined ending (and therefore doesn't work) lack of care for writing these amazing characters, and just the writing in general.

Despite what some people may say about Astruc, it's clear that beyond all that, he’s not good at writing stories and characters beyond initial design, he’d rather go making one-dimensional characters and show off how amazing Marinette is, rather than allowing them to develop in any logical and meaningful way that shows the distinction between earlier and later seasons

Here’s to hoping these characters get some character development in season 4. Even if all we get is Plagg learning he likes milk.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk. As always, thanks to the amazing @twin-books​ for talking to me and helping to refine my views on the characters and the show!

[itsclydebitches]

Welcome back, welcome back! We have a relatively short chapter this time, which theoretically means it shouldn't have taken me as long as it did to write this recap. Yet here we are. 

We open again on Sun's perspective as he joins a large group in the dorm common room. Recall that last chapter Velvet said she wanted to show SSSN something and I took issue with her "Speaking of family" line. We'll get to that in just a bit, as well as the surprise element of this chapter. Moving chronologically though, we learn that this group is the self-named Beacon Brigade and there has been a unanimous vote to allow SSSN to become a part of whatever the Brigade is doing. "Everyone here helped defend our home and school," Velvet says, "even though they didn’t have to. We’re grateful. As far as we’re concerned, you’re all honorary Beacon students." That's a rather nice sentiment and, once again, Velvet shows herself to be the best and most mature character presented so far. That's not a terribly high bar to clear and as established last chapter, she definitely contributes to the intense Sun-bashing, but this is one of the sweetest lines I've heard from RWBY in a while, so kudos. 

Sun, however, doesn't take kindly to the inclusion. "Whatever that means anymore, Sun thought. Then he chided himself. To the others here, it still meant a lot." That's how you do a character flaw without making them a complete asshole. You either have someone else call the character out (paying careful attention to whether that person's opinion has any weight in the story—something the webseries still needs to work on), or you have the character call themselves out. Which Sun does here. The story allows Sun to have this flaw while likewise recognizing that he's not being fair to the others. That's a conscientious human being right there. 

Or a faunus. You get what I'm saying. 

Sun continues to unpack his prejudices and acknowledges that he's not a big fan of how that mentality impacts the formation of teams: "That was the whole point of the team system—to become part of something, to define yourself, to lose yourself in it. A team made you someone new, someone better." But for Sun that's too much attachment. He claims he's not the type to get attached to either people or places, though his willingness to follow Blake to Menagerie on a "What if?" says differently. Here we get to see how Sun thinks of himself as someone outside of these community ties even as he tries so hard to maintain them. It's a part of his personality that—for reasons I assume have to do with his past—he is unwilling to acknowledge yet. 

The rest of this group is introduced, including Team ARBN and Nolan, originally a member of Team BRNZ. Where are the other three? Oh, they died at the Fall of Beacon. 

Cue me putting the book down for a solid minute because this is one hell of a deviation from the tone of the webseries. With (maybe) the exception of the Schnee charity ball, the Fall of Beacon has been presented as no worse than what we, the viewer, directly experienced. Meaning that the end of Volume 3 was the moment RWBY went from a lighthearted action show to a tragic epic trying to take itself seriously, and crucially the show has made it seem like we were privy to everything that was a part of that change: Penny dies. Pyrrha dies. Yang loses an arm. Everyone is forced to abandon their school. Those are the four events that made this the Fall of Beacon and already we had a problem with how little the show chose to grapple with those things. Ruby's nightmares conveniently disappear. Yang has no difficulty fighting despite working through PTSD. Ruby doesn't seem to care that the friend she saw killed is miraculously standing before her. These events are, by and large, not integrated into the cast's feelings, reactions, and motivations  and when they are it's to say that such a tragedy has no bearing on difficult things like trust (Ozpin) or that those who are still haunted by the Fall are unstable and unfit to lead (Ironwood). Post Volume 4 these events haven't been given the proper weight, which is bad enough on its own, yet now we find out that things were even worse than they first appeared? 

Penny and Pyrrha were not the only ones to die. The Fall was always a tragedy, but this is a tragedy that goes beyond our core group of characters. Was anyone going to mention that Jaune, Nora, and Ren weren't the only ones to lose a teammate? That an entire generation of huntsmen are working through this on a far more personal level than previously established? As said, it's bad enough that the webseries has glossed over Pyrrha's death for everyone but Jaune, yet now BTD comes in to say, "Yeah, some of these kids lost their entire team. Remember these guys?" 

"Everyone on the right is dead now." No need to make room for that in your primary story. 

(As an aside, an anon once asked whether it's weird that Pyrrha got a statue in Argus. At the time I argued strongly that it wasn't, partly due to her celebrity status and the fact that this was her home city, but also because she seemed to be the only "real" death in the Fall. Obviously we as the viewers count Penny as well, but the world may not view the dismantling of an android in the same way they'd view the murder of an organic teenager. As the single "real" death that Beacon suffered, Pyrrha's memory shoulders that attention... but now this little tidbit blows all that out of the water. Apparently lots of kids lost their lives that day and our webseries hasn't taken the time to acknowledge that.) 

So I'm reeling from this revelation and taking in what it's done to Nolan: "He was even thinner than he'd been last year at the Vytal Festival, and his rose-colored glasses didn't hide the dark shadows under his eyes." Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that at least some part of the RWBY-verse is acknowledging the severity of Volume 3's finale, it just rankles that this work is relegated to a supplementary novel already loaded with other problems, rather than put into our main storyline where it would do more good. 

Speaking of those problems, we get another conversation about how unnecessarily cruel the Shade students are. I like the little pun on "shade" that Nadir gives—"Let’s just say some of the Vacuan students here are giving a new meaning to ‘Shade’ Academy"—but I’m not sure why Myers feels the need to follow that up with Nadir giving an awkward explanation. I can't remember precisely where, but didn't we see this already? With Sun or Neptune? Plus we definitely just got Fox's 'joke' that went over Neptune's head. Not every character needs to be #awkward regarding humor and you can trust your reader to get the joke without explaining it each time. That’s a specific character trait that feels like it’s being applied to too many characters now.  Moving on, Arslan speaks my mind by pointing out that, regardless of what Shade might think about them "abandoning" the academies, it's not a productive attitude. Their new peers are more interested in beating them down for what's already happened than discussing how they can move forward as allies (sound like any main characters we know?) So the group strikes up a conversation about what they can actually accomplish. We learn that Yatsuhashi has been leading some of them through meditation and others take the time to share their survivor's guilt, admitting that the Shade students' attitude sometimes feels like a punishment they deserve. Iris brings up Castor, another peer who perished at Beacon, and Nolan continues to grapple with the death of his teammates. Yet despite the severity of these admissions, Sun still isn’t impressed. 

“Yeah. Because you ran away, Sun thought, unable to stop himself, even though this was the exact thing the other Shade students were thinking of the Beacon and Haven survivors. No wonder Nolan was here—he was probably getting criticized worse than anyone, because Shade students were supposed to be stronger than everyone else.”

Okay wait, does Sun actually know that Nolan ran away? Is "ran away" in the context of Nolan's specific battle (his team was fighting a mech or something and he split), or is it in the context of the entire Fall (he failed to take back Beacon and therefore 'ran')? That's a huge difference because if it's the latter (and I suspect it is)... Sun ran away too. Has Sun—and Myers—forgotten that he was there? At the Fall. Right there on the left. 

It feels more than a little disingenuous of Sun to be adopting any of the Shade Academy's criticism when he himself was a part of the 'failing' group. Why is he acting like he’s an outside observer, judging Nolan when they went through the same horror? When he too ‘ran’ from that fight? Obviously this ‘You ran away’ perspective is just garbage all on its own, but I'm really distracted by what appears to be only three explanations: 

Nolan really did ditch his team, Sun knows about it, and this is all info that I've missed from the previous book (always possible)

Nolan really did ditch his team, Sun knows about it, but Myers isn't interested in telling us how Sun got that info or why it’s important 

Nolan never ditched his team, 'ran away' is in the context of leaving Beacon to the grimm, and Sun is so deep in his denial he’s removed himself from the facts of the situation. You didn't save Beacon either, Sun! 

I'm just 

Sun isn't done yet though and before we cover that I just want to say: I get it. This book drags him to an unreasonable degree and any Sun fan must just be frothing at the mouth reading through this. However, I also can't claim that Myers has made Sun particularly endearing here. Like in the prologue when Sun is all about being a solo act, denying reality, and ignoring the harm he's done to his team, here he's presented as someone I'm just not interested in spending time with. I know I praised him above for correcting his knee-jerk thoughts, but like with Coco's flaw becoming overdone Sun-bashing, Sun’s attitude it so over the top I get frustrated with him even while I sympathize with the extreme criticism he’s shouldering. Because this Sun isn’t any kinder or wiser than the group targeting him: 

“But he’d believe it when he saw it. It was easy to talk about doing something, and another thing to follow through on it. Maybe that was what he didn’t like about this group. So far it was all just sitting around and talking. They should be focused on moving on— channeling their strength toward protecting their new home, their new friends.”  

Sun has little to no faith that this group can accomplish the things they set out to do (despite evidence to the contrary). He's critical of what they have chosen to do and is dismissive of their needs. He likewise criticizes others for not taking care of their home and their friends... even though he's the one who left his team to chase after Blake, someone who explicitly did not want or need his assistance. It's something Sun himself brings up later on: "Blake may not have needed or wanted him, but there was no doubt in his mind that he had helped" and it's his dismissive attitude here that’s my primary issue with him both in the webseries and in this novel. Sun prioritizes his own desires (I want to help) over everyone else's desires and needs (Blake didn't want my help and didn't need it). We see him doing the same thing here, rejecting what a very large group all needs because it's not something he as an individual wants. It feels contradictory to call Sun selfish because his desires do revolve around helping others—his wants are all coming from a loving place—it's just that how he prioritizes that drive to help often ends up hurting others and he continually refuses to acknowledge that. His “but I helped” is used as a catch-all justification for the bad choices he made in providing that (unwanted) assistance. Like creepily following a woman, or ditching his team, or getting in over his head by following three goons alone, or criticizing a conversation that others find beneficial. To reiterate, I do think that Sun has gotten way too much heat in this novel, but I also can't pretend that he's a character I'm particularly fond of. He made me uncomfortable the moment spying on four women in their bedroom was played as a joke and RWBY has done very little to endear me to him since. It's a bit of a surreal experience to read about someone I’m very critical of, but when the material itself criticizes him I’m suddenly like, "Hold up. That's going too far." 

Reading about Sun feels like watching someone who insists they help another bake a cake. The baker does not want help, does not need help, but our character is just desperate to do something. So he forcefully takes the ingredients for himself and ends up ruining the batter. I'm like, "Okay, that's not appropriate. You're coming from a good place and you never meant any harm, but your actions were still a problem. We should address this, including where that desperate need to help is coming from." 

Except then the baker 'addresses this' by screaming at him at the top of their lungs, throwing things, and banning him from the kitchen for all time. 

Me: "Not like that!!" 

Simply put: this novel is generating a lot of emotions and very few of them are pleasant. 

Things finally come to a head when Sun rolls his eyes because he doesn't like therapy—wait. 

Hold up. Just give me another second. 

You remember I spoke about the "surprise element" earlier? Think about the structure of the last chapter. We end on what's essentially a small cliffhanger. Velvet says she wants to show Team SSSN something but the reader doesn't know what that is. We’re waiting for the reveal. Yet we only learn that the group is having a therapy session four pages in—and this is a six page chapter. (Yes, I'm writing twice as much as the source material. You all know I'm not succinct :p ). Myers is now demonstrating a habit of not introducing the core aspects of a scene: who, what, where, when, and why. We've got half of that— who, when, and where—but not the 'what' or the 'why.' What is the group doing in the city in the middle of the day? Are they patrolling? Out to lunch? Following a lead? Looks like they're visiting a wall. Would have been nice to know that a couple pages earlier. Oh, there's a souvenir table there? Didn't feel like it, and it was never mentioned in the scene setup, so that’s an awkward surprise. Now Velvet wants to show them something. What is it? No seriously... what is it? Please tell me what's going on before we're more than halfway through the event in question. Granted yes, you might be able to deduce that they're in therapy, but we don't know that for sure until Sun uses the word. And we need to know in order to properly read the scene. I spent the first four pages thinking that this group was an expansion of CFVY's solo missions. While they were talking I was waiting for Velvet to reveal what she wanted to share—another secret mission they were conducting, or something—not realizing that the conversation itself was it. That’s the reveal. I mean, Beacon Brigade isn't exactly a name that makes you think "therapy." They're labeling themselves an army, ergo I assumed this had something to do with their war. That is, more to do with it than working through the aftermath. 

In retrospect it is somewhat obvious that these students are engaging in group therapy... but at the same time it's not because I would think, technically, that this isn't therapy. Who's the therapist? Velvet? She's the one leading, but she's also an unlicensed, traumatized teen just like everyone else in the room. It's a support group and that's fantastic, I'm honestly thrilled one of RWBY's stories decided to incorporate this, but at the same time it's odd to have Sun seriously referring to this as therapy like this is comparable to receiving professional help. I’m bringing this up because we saw the same perspective regarding RWBYJNR's status as huntresses. That's a job, something earned and presented to you by an expert, but up until Volume 7 Ruby seemed to be working under the impression that because she wanted to be a huntress and because she did vaguely huntress-like things, she was one. Simple as that. But crucially she wasn't and that lack of knowledge, maturity, and training caused serious problems in Volume 6. Now we have a group calling their activity therapy, doing vaguely therapy-like things, but Velvet isn't a therapist. I'm saying that not to knock the excellent work she's doing to help both herself and her friends (and I'm also quite aware that I'm missing an entire book's worth of information that may be pertinent here) but rather, I bring it up to acknowledge that the whole of the RWBY-verse seems to have a skewed idea of how professionalism works. We've got a lot of teens in this franchise who are put in positions of power when by all logic they shouldn't be. RWBY has failed to do the work of coming up with compelling reasons for why these half-trained teens keep getting put in charge of stuff, which is what any story staring kids and teens needs to do.  

Anyway, I've rambled on about that enough. As said, Sun isn't enjoying the touchy-feely-ness of it all, even when Velvet reiterates that they're "like family." Coco reminds him that he's free to leave, but of course she turns it into an insult: "Maybe you’re not ready for this.” Sun ignores the implication and does try to leave, admitting that what he has to say probably won't go over well. The others encourage him to share though, it's a safe space... until Scarlet makes a dig about keeping them waiting again. I'm simultaneously going, "He's right. Sun still refuses to acknowledge how badly he hurt his team" and also "#Yikes. So much for this being a safe place!" 

What I’m saying is these kids all need an actual therapist. Sun himself is described as feeling "strangely disconnected from his body. Unsettled” at the start of the chapter. The tragedy here is that one of the characters most in need of this help is the one digging his heels in the most. 

It gets worse though. Sun finally caves and his take is, as one would expect given his feelings thus far, not great: "This is why Vacuans won’t trust you. Because you’re holding on to who you were and where you came from instead of focusing on where you are.” He also claims that “Theo really wouldn’t like this," making it sound like the group is breaking rules and should be ashamed of trying to cope with their trauma in a healthy manner. He ends with the confident belief that Vacuans understand them completely because they punish themselves by staying in the same, harsh place. 

(So do these people move on or not?? Ugh I can't get into this again.) 

Scarlet, as Sun predicted, isn't pleased to hear any of this. Frankly I can't blame him. "Like you didn’t leave us the first chance you got to chase after someone you barely knew who didn’t want your help?" he says. "You didn’t even stay in Vacuo for school —you chose Haven.”

He's not wrong. Hard as it is to hear, Scarlet has a point. Sun did abandon his team. He did chase after someone he'd just met who didn't want his help. He did choose to go to Haven because, as he explained last chapter, he's not a big fan of Vacuo. Which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, it just means he's not in a position to criticize others for not immediately adoring this kingdom, rejecting Beacon in the process. Like so many other RWBY protagonists, Sun holds others to a standard he doesn’t demand of himself. I can hate Vacuo and leave because there are things about it that make me uncomfortable, but you have to learn to appreciate it and forget what’s outside this kingdom, despite never having a choice about coming here. It’s food for thought and something he should be encouraged to consider. However then: 

“You wouldn’t know anything about loss, Sun. You never stay in one place long enough to learn.” 

That's not a point, that's just cruelty, and it's an attack that clearly hurts Sun a great deal. He flushes and snaps, "You all belong in Vacuo more than you think." Really, they all do. He reiterates to himself that there's nothing to work through, they all just need to move on, and then he really does leave, saying that he'll see them for patrol. Well, at least Sun isn’t planning on going off on his own again, even if he is on the outs with his friends. 

So that was an all around depressing chapter! I didn't like it. I was honestly shocked when I went back and realized that it was only six pages because it felt far longer. We're now three chapters into this novel... with only nineteen more to go 😬

Until next time! 

[ihaveseentruebravery]

Intro Analysis

So I had many, many thoughts about our lovely new intro. 😅

Intro Structure and Order

The order of the new intro is something I find fascinating. While I've kinda paid attention to intros of other shows, the order of them have often made a lot of sense and were typically all pretty similar in how they ordered their crediting to their actors and whatnot. However, the Mighty Nein intro is different even from the intro of Campaign 2. The only thing that stayed the same was that Travis and Marisha were first and second to be credited, respectively, while Matt was very last.

In the new intro, Nott/Sam is third, (while he was 5th in the other one), and Jester/Laura is fourth (while she was 7th previously). Travis, Marisha, Sam, and Laura (and their chars) are all introduced in the first 30 seconds. Then it cuts to their ‘beginning’ as a group after the Trostenwald meet-up when they get a cart and head north to Allfield together.

At :37 seconds and :40 seconds respectively, Liam and Ashley are credited, spliced with scenes (presumably from both of their character's pasts, if they were keeping consistent with the Jester past scene and the Caleb past scene shown). We then cut to other miscellaneous scenes of the group and animations of their fighting abilities (which are gorgeous). At 1:10, Taliesin is credited with a Caduceus shot (shoutout to the purple Mollymauk butterfly symbolism shown here and at the beginning group shot) for obvious reasons. And then, lastly, we get our darling Matt Mercer, same as the previous intro.

Now, we can analyze this order through a couple methods.

Chronologically:

1. 

Fjord's ship exploding that happened a few weeks before their session zero. His inciting incident to track down Jester (as Travis mentioned) because he'd seen her do magic and thought she might have answers or a way to get answers.

2. 

Beau facing the monks also could have happened a couple weeks before their session zero. (Maybe her inciting incident for leaving and heading out of Zadash)

3. 

Nott fleeing guards (could have happened the night before the start of EP 1), as Nott mentioned trying to steal stuff and almost getting caught when we're first introduced to her.

4. 

While we get a scene of past Jester, we also get their ‘starting out’ scene with her and the group in the cart leaving Trostenwald to head north towards Zadash and eventually the Soltryce Academy, as per the original plan of Fjord and Jester.

5. 

We then get a scene of Caleb being traumatized by fire, that could reference ep 7, and then ep 18 where he explained his trauma (the past scene here and his fellow students).

6. 

We cut to Yasha in a battlefield next which could also reference ep 16/17 where she explained a little about how she'd previously ‘gone to battle’ when asked if she'd killed any of her fellow peers (playmates) and her questions about the battles happening in Xhorhas in that Zadash arc of Harvest Close and the Victory Pit. We also see her current pursuit of the Storm Lord's mission as she's referenced many times.

7.

Taliesin is a bit of an outlier in the order and for obvious chronological reasons, so that doesn't need much analyzing.

Narrative Impact:

1.

Fjord and Beau have obvious and not so obvious inciting incidents to their individual journeys that are part of the reasoning behind the formation of the Mighty Nein. They're a big duo in the decision-making of where and what the Nein are doing. It makes sense for them to be at the beginning.

2.

Nott's inciting incident is inextricably linked to Caleb. However, her past can come back to bite her in the ass at any time, and she is always, always aware of that. That's symbolized here with her fleeing this guard and her general narrative impact on the formation of the Mighty Nein. Caleb continually checked in with her about why they should stick with ‘these weirdos’ and in the beginning she always said they should, because it was safer for the both of them. And later she mentioned that it was really nice to be around people that weren't mean to her and physically abusive towards her. ('it's nice having conversations instead of people throwing rocks at me'-ep13)

3.

Jester being fourth also makes sense. If Fjord and Beau are logical decision-makers, Nott and Jester are also a duo for the heart of the Nein. Caleb will do what Nott wants. He cares a great deal for Nott, and tends to follow her lead (especially in the beginning episodes). Nott and Jester were immediately friends, which made Caleb friendlier towards Jester. Nott and Jester wanted to stick together, and they, in ep2, became ‘Detectives!!’ together. Fjord and Beau wanted to do what Jester wanted. Yasha and Molly as well, were pretty charmed by Jester. And with the dissolution of the Circus, Molly was happy to tag along because he felt Jester, and Beau sort of, were fun to be around.

Additionally, what always struck me about both Nott and Jester, was that they truly felt like they were on a journey of self-discovery. Other similarities include: both of them are often underestimated by others, they're unpredictable, they like discussing romance with each other or Beau, and like playing tricks on people together. They both had a purpose (Jester to find her dad, Nott to be safe and be stronger together), but these two characters really seem to be searching for something, for some part of an identity they haven't yet found or decided on. It feels very 'YA fantasy heroine' as I think a few others have said. Jester's scenes/intro, really highlight both that aspect, and her impact on others within the narrative.

4.

Caleb n Yasha being highlighted after a couple group shots, (Liam and Ashley being credited one after the other) is fascinating to me. It really made me sit up and go ????. But then narratively, it makes a certain amount of sense. Caleb's past has been the defining aspect of his characterization, and his effect on the others. I've thought for some time now that Yasha's characterization may have defined her in a similar sort of way. Caleb and Yasha have had a strange sort of kinship, as both Ashley and Liam have mentioned. They're both awkward sure, but I'm leaning more heavily into the theory, because of the subtext around Yasha, that they might also have very similar pasts. 

The violence, the manipulation, the isolation of Caleb, could also be in aspects of Yasha's past when you consider some of the things Yasha's said. Additionally, it feels like both of them are seeking redemption, though for what in Yasha's case, I wouldn't know. But undeniably, both of their character arcs are going to have a gravitas-a narrative weight, on the setting of the Dwendalian Empire/Xhorhas that perhaps the others of the Nein wouldn't. Both of them will most likely have an impact specifically within the confines of the Empire/Xhorhas conflict.

5.

Again, Mollymauk's coat, and then Caduceus being shown with Taliesin's credits, doesn't need much analyzation. The impact of both characters has been made obvious enough. And boy do I adore Caduceus’ lil purple butterfly.

Analysis of Timing/Structure

This part is more the light-hearted, subjective analysis of the timing/structure of the intro. There's a few things I just was delighted by because the timing of them just suggested certain things. First off, my hat goes off to the timing of the animation between :49 and 1:05. In order in this sequence, we see Caleb, Fjord, Nott, Jester, Caduceus, Beau, Yasha. Guess what that suggests for combat??? Ranged(Caleb, Fjord, Nott)->Mid-range/Melee(Jester, Caduceus)->Melee/Close combat(Beau,Yasha). That's just…awesome. I love how they structured that.

Another good sequence to analyze is from 1:15 to 1:20. In order, we see shots of Fjord and Jester, of Nott-Caduceus-Beau, and of Yasha and Caleb. With the Fjord and Jester shot, the lyrics of ‘Can you answer the call’ are overlaid, implying the trope ‘Call to Adventure’. If Fjord had never searched out Jester because of his inciting incident, he wouldn't have been Jester's ‘herald’, ie: her call to action, for her to go north instead of staying along the coast to search for her dad. If she had never met Beau by not journeying with Fjord north and them all meeting in Trostenwald, they never would have been led to the Gentleman, to the answering of Jester's own quest to find her father.

Another fascinating lyric is ‘Diggin deep in your soul’ heard over the shot of Nott-Caduceus-Beau. All of three of these characters have been set up by events in the narrative, to question their purpose, to do some soul-searching. For Nott, this is first done by Caleb, ('why should we stick with these weirdos?' - ep2) and is also done in Ep19 when the Nein questions her self-hate, and done again in ep 27 when she affirms that she loves the Nein, and that's why she's sticking around. Molly left his mark on Nott, and she has since his death, wanted to make sure that they all stick together, because she believes that they can do amazing things together, and that all of them are a little bit better as a group than what they could be on their own by themselves.

Caduceus’ whole thing is try to find or discover what his Goddess wants of him, of what he can do to save his home. Self-reflection and soul-searching come hand in hand with that kind of story. Mollymauk wasn't like that at all, he just lived life, but that Caduceus is almost the exact opposite kind of character, has an implicit connection to those lyrics. Beau is arguably, the one most affected by Molly's death. Previously, she'd been ordered to search out corruption and question everything, but Molly dying also made her question herself and her purpose. That sort of change is almost electric it's so exciting an effect. By her own self-reflection and soul searching in the episodes since, Beauregard has really come into her own and quickly become one of my favorite characters of anything I'm currently watching. If she continues in her path, she'll easily become the driving force, or the leader, of the Mighty Nein.

The following lyrics ‘As the legend unfolds’ over Yasha and Caleb made me squeal a little I was so excited. Of all of the Nein, the characters of Caleb and Yasha feel like they have the most narrative gravitas, the heaviest weight of impact. It would surprise me not at all if Caleb and Yasha are spoken of as legends from where they come from. If Caleb redeems himself, maybe those in Blumenthal will consider him a hero. If Yasha saves her people, maybe wherever she comes from in Xhorhas with consider her a legendary folk hero. We just can't quite get a handle on their mysterious pasts or what their ultimate goals are. Both of them are toeing a pretty fine line in my head, that makes me really want them to be heroes by the end of this campaign. All of the Mighty Nein should be, that would be amazing, but Yasha and Caleb in particular, have the potential for renown in their home villages, so to speak.

Symbolism/Details 

There's a ton of both symbolism and little nods to the show in the little details all throughout this intro, so this is just my special shoutouts: 

The doodles throughout Jester's room and her unicorn bedsheets.

The purple butterfly that symbolizes Mollymauk that's with Caduceus in a couple scenes. 

The Nott wiggling her flask in their cart that's so reminiscent of Sam. 

The fact that the Caleb in the cart next to Beau says 'fire' as he's watching through Frumpkin's eyes reminds me of them finding Allfield under attack and then it automatically switches scenes to Caleb's trauma/past. 

Yasha slicing off heads of the Hydra (that fight stressed me THE FUCK out yo and thank all the PTB for Yasha). 

The raven on the coat. 

The guest stars being highlighted from Matt's book is just 👌👌👌. 

I made out details of Lorenzo and the phase spider from the sewers in the little showcasing of the villains in the last shot and thought that was pretty cool. 

Did I watch this at half speed at least ten times??? Absolutely I did. And now I'm off to do it again! 

[anthropwashere]

@proserpine-in-phases tagged me in a thing about writing, so naturally I’m going to do this instead of write!

1) is there a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?

A lot of my deadfics end up stalling out over research roadblocks. I’ll flub my way through one scene with the intent to come back after I’ve done my Google-fu, and then another, and another, aaaaand that’s now too much work. 

2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

A JTHM fic I wrote in high school that ended up deadfic because I ran off to BMT. It was well-received at the time but looking at it now? It’s just so ow, the edge. I’ve low-key considered tearing it down and rewriting it, but it’s been ten years and I can’t even recall where I was going with it. 

3) what order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

90% chronological with a lot of snippets for later scenes piled haphazardly at the end of every Gdoc. of all the things that might have been was the big exception. There’s 28k posted and another 50k trapped behind a heap of writer’s block. :C

4) favorite character you’ve written?

Gee, I wonder!

5) character you were most surprised to end up writing?

Winry Rockbell. Not my usual character type to write by far, but she was just as surprisingly fun to write.

6) something you would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated to change now?

A ton of older fic on AO3 has a lot of weird formatting and grammatical errors. I think it’d be easy to get hung up over changes I’d want to make to various giftfics I’ve written over the years as well.

7) when asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

I can count on one hand the number of real life people who know I write and have fingers left over. I hate talking about my writing face-to-face. 

8) favorite genre to write?

Mmm, suspense/horror? Whatever you call ‘presenting a problem to a character that gets insurmountably worse, and also it would be justified if the character just huddled screaming under a blanket instead of confronting it.’

9) what, if anything, do you do for inspiration?

Read other fics that handle similar topics/ideas. Look through the literal GBs of refs I’ve got saved. Get out of the house and do something even a little bit out of my norm. Get lost on Wikipedia.

10) write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?

Music always, rarely near people.

11) what aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?

Man, I’ve been writing and posting fics for 15 years now. I have to hope every aspect has improved since I was friggin’ 12 years old writing garbo Mary Sues.

12) your weaknesses as an author?

I can’t concentrate on anything long enough to finish it. More fic ideas than I’ll ever have the energy to commit too. Run-on sentences. I don’t write women almost at all. COMMAS. 

13) your strengths as an author?

I feeeeel like I do a good job of getting the reader into the character’s headspace? I adore limited narrative so when I write a fic I try to commit to that character’s style and personality. I also think I do horror/suspense decently.

15) why did you start writing?

11 year old Lorelei found ffn and went, “Oh shit, this is a thing? Sign me up.”

16) are there any characters who haunt you?

...I’m not sure what this means? 

17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?

It’s okay to write positive endings, edgelord. Sometimes less is more. Sometimes more is good too, but damn girl, tread carefully. 

18) were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? what were they?

These seems like a dangerous rabbit hole to fall down, so I’ll just link the most recent fic whose style and impact left me speechless the first time I read it (and envious, and determined, and more than happy to read it three more times).

Divine Right of Kings by Oedipus Tex

19) when it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

Badly! Which is why I’ve never successfully finished a longfic! But I do try and make outlines or at least a tidy splash of notes at the bottom of the Gdoc. One fic I’m working on right now requires spreadsheets.

20) do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?

Little spurts. NaNo’s been excellent in the past at making me do more than a couple hundred words on a good day. Alas, the last Camp NaNo I signed up for I dipped out of because of my migraines, and I didn’t even bother signing up for July.

21) what do you think when you read over your older work?

For the most part I consider it all passable, as far back as AO3 goes at least. Anything earlier than that I pretend doesn’t exist. 

22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?

Intimacy, be it porn or fluff. Anything technical I can’t gloss over with some hastily gathered Wikipedian knowledge. Comedy.

23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?

I don’t think so? Not much of my personal experience has been applicable to what I’ve written. A bit of geography, maybe?

24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

I’d never claim to be an expert on anything, but I do try and do my research for fic. Learning new things is my favorite part of writing.

25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of

You may have a snippet from my four biggest FMA wips (all of which are over 15k words and nowhere near done, send help).

- We Are Sisyphus (03 fic where alternate Ed lives.)

Other Ed and Alfons are unpacking groceries, picked up on their way back to the tiny flat above not-Gracia’s flower shop that seems all the smaller with a fourth person inside. Gratia’s come up as well, bearing fresh vases of flowers too damaged to sell but still smell just as sweet. It helps to mask Hohenheim’s reek, something he can’t really help with how advanced his decay’s gotten in their time apart. 

“Surprised you even recognized him,” Ed says under his breath, under pretense of showing him some of the notes he’d brought back. He gives Hohenheim a long, quelling glare out of the corner of his eye. “I mean, considering you left when Al was still practically a toddler.”

“There were more recent pictures at Pinako’s house,” Hohenheim replies, apparently uninterested in taking the hint to back off. “But it’s the way you look at Herr Heiderich that made me realize just who he reminded me so sorely of.”

“Oh yeah? And how’s that?”

“Like you’re grieving.”

- your head will lie in dust (Father wins, makes the five sacrifices immortal. AKA, the Hohenheim fic with the group chat that can’t stop, won’t stop.)

“There was a cut on your cheek,” Hohenheim says.

Edward brings shaking fingers to his face. He digs his nails in as if he’ll tear his skin open just to spite Hohenheim on principle. Then he stops. Shuts his eyes. Lets Mrs. Curtis slide from his lap. “I,” he says. “You’re wrong. You have to be.”

“I’m sorry,” he says. He has said this so often now, to so many people over so many years, that the words have lost all meaning. He tongues at the space where regret should be and finds only an empty hole. “Do you hear them?”

Edward flinches in slow-motion, an exercise in arranging the muscles of his face into a tense knot to display his anger, his fear, his grief. Little words for emotions greater than any person should have to bear. Edward flinches and struggles to breathe. He presses his hands over his ears and tilts rigidly to the floor.

- our hands were first to forgive (The Mustang remains blind and gets automail AU nobody asked for.)

It’s unsettling, how easy clapping alchemy has turned out to be.

He’d expected it to be difficult, to be something he’d have to learn through trial and error. He doesn’t know why he thought that. Edward’s never shown any hesitation in the use of it—though when has Edward shown hesitation in anything? Bad example. Not that there are a lot of examples to choose from, and of those he’s only been able to see Alphonse transmute without a circle. That’s a somewhat recent development, isn’t it? Before the boys went up to Briggs. He never thought to ask what had happened to allow Alphonse to abandon circles. It hadn’t occurred to him to think that anything needed to have happened to allow it at all. Knowing the source of clapping alchemy, he doubts it was anything pleasant. One more thing to ask after, once he can see again.

This ability, this… gift? He hesitates to call it that. Unwanted, unasked for, received all the same. Fine. This gift wasn’t learned. It feels grafted into him, weird and rough at its edges, like the scars on his torso his shirts still catch on months after burning Lust to ash. Unnaturally a part of him, but a part of him still. For all the knowledge that was poured into his mind in the Gate, he doesn’t feel like he learned anything.

He feels burned.

- Pour Out Like Light (9 years post-series, Ed finds out Trisha’s illness is hereditary. This absolute bastard of a wip is currently stalled out at over 46k words and nowhere near done.)

He peels a potato, sets it down. A broken, twisted hand reaches over his shoulder to pick it up.

He sets down the vegetable peeler. “Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Why didn’t you tell Granny?”

“Tell Granny what?”

“You knew it wasn’t the epidemic, didn’t you?” He cups the potato in both hands, in the hand he’s always had and the hand he’d traded away and Al had given back. “If you knew, why didn’t you warn her I’d get sick too? Why didn’t you warn me?”

She doesn’t answer. Instead there’s the heavy, loose-limbed thud of a body collapsing to the floor. It has a wet sound to it, a splattering sound. Her death rattle sucks the sunlight out of the kitchen, strangled and thick with fluid. There is almost, almost the sound of his name.

This post is huge now, wow. Um. Never sure who’s cool with being tagged in these kinds of posts. @ladyyatexel @leda-x @haikujitsu I don’t really talk writing much w/ any of you but you’re all fantastic and it’d be cool to hear some of the thought process behind the fics? No obligation, of course.

[yourgoodfriendraichel]

Answer all the author asks >:) (if u want)

HUNKER DOWN MY FRIENDS AND LET ME LEARN YOU A THING ABOUT MY FAVORITE TOPIC: ME!

I like to pretend I am a writer, and so I will now tell you writerly things about myself. (Thank you writer buddy)

1) is there a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?

- any story i’m “holding off writing” is because it is simply a terrible idea tornado in my brain and doesn’t have anything tangible enough to write down yet. This is debatably true of many, many things.

2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

- I’m a little embarrassed with my one self-insert fanfic I actually posted back when I was thirteen, but on the whole I’m not embarrassed about anything of mine existing, it’s part of my brain, though I am somewhat embarrassed about people knowing about it, or my really bad formatting and spelling stuff.

3) what order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

- I write front-to-back, sort of, while taking the time to write favorite/fleshed out scenes as I come up with them. So, I aspire to write from the start of the book to the end, but sometimes I don’t have anything for the next scene, but I have this other scene that’s been in my head for a week, so I’ll go ahead and write that down.

(There are 22 more of these!)

4) favorite character you’ve written

- aaaaahhhh too many! I- I don’t have a favorite?! (Also a bunch of them are clearly related in my brain as being similar people in different worlds). Right now my baby is Lona, a princess magician who needs a damn hug. Everyone she loves keeps dying. She is also a strong, short child and can lift her lanky friend over her head. It’s amazing. And I swear she’s not as over-powered as she sounds. 

5) character you were most surprised to end up writing

- I’m not sure? I don’t think I’ve written anyone surprising yet. I have a mentor figure in one story who’s dramatic backstory kind of snuck up on me? But no particular character has surprised me yet.

6) something you would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated to change now

- ??? I don’t know? I feel like I’d have to have something completed to do that... Oh, I may want to change things about my big long Gravity Falls future-fic, but going back through three different platforms to change it, and to expect people to read the changes, is stupid, so it shall remain mediocre for all time.

7) when asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

- I’m definitely enthusiastic about writing, though I do have trouble getting up the guts to talk to people about my stories, which is absurd, because I love my stories, and having anyone else invested might help me stay motivated.

8) favorite genre to write

- I really don’t know. Poetry might actually be the most fun to write, since it has the least rules for me, and at most has rules on form. I don’t need no stinking outlines! I don’t need no stinking forethought! I just need feelings. (PS: this is not true of all poetry, this is just the kind of poetry I end up writing).

9) what, if anything, do you do for inspiration?

- music music music music music. And for fanfic/things that were once fanfic and now i have made them my own it’s always good to just bury my head in the source material sometimes. I also like making aesthetics and stuff for characters, but that’s less for inspiration, and more to get rid of some of that creative energy when I can’t think of what to do with the actual story.

10) write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?

- Alone, with music. Or not, if I forget, but usually with music. That how I’m most productive, at any rate.

11) what aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?

- Plotting. I still think it’s horrible, but I think I’m better at planning and plotting than I once was. Also just grammar and punctuation and the teachable stuff like that, obviously. I started writing at, like, ten.

12) your weaknesses as an author

- Plots, villains

13) your strengths as an author

- Ideas, dialogue

14) do you make playlists for your current wips?

- ABSOLUTELY. Everything has a playlist. EVERYTHING.

15) why did you start writing?

- I have told stories without writing them down my whole life, with toys and imaginary games. It was just a matter of having the time, skills, and motivation to actually write them down.

16) are there any characters who haunt you?

- I’m not exactly sure what ‘haunt’ implies. I do have my own brand of Mary Sue from the old days that I have a lingering love/hate relationship with. (She is wonderful, and a valuable part of my life as a writer, but WE MUST NEVER SPEAK HER NAME.)

17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?

- Your typing will improve with practice, not with mavis beacon. Your stories are good, even if you never want to show anybody. Honestly, I think that’s probably a good call, but definitely don’t stop writing them.

18) were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? what were they?

- Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, and The Kazam Chronicles/The Last Dragon Slayer by Jasper Fforde. Also two that are very important to me but may not have directly impacted my style: Peter Pan (by J.M. Barrie), and I, Robot (by Issac Asimov).

19) when it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

- HAHAHA It’s all in my head.

- Ok, I say that, but I have strange sketchy outlines at the top of my files, and logistical run-downs of magic systems and what-not. I totally keep notes. But weird notes, and most of it is still in my head.

20) do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?

- Oh spurts, for sure. When I hit a long stride it’s a magical day where the writer’s block wall didn’t show up for a blessedly long time!

21) what do you think when you read over your older work?

- This is who I was, and it lead to who I am, and oh many I remember how much I loved this character. This was great. But also no one else may look at it if it’s more than three or four years old.

22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?

- Probably? Almost certainly? But none of the stories I’ve written have called for it yet, so IDK what to tell you.

23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?

- Having an english teacher that made me start writing work above my grade level even though I could barely get my work done. Any specific compliments I have ever received. I’m sure there are other things, but I can’t think of them right now.

24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

- I have done a startling amount of math around the world, country, and state populations, as well as the size of various colleges, for a story about magical children. The logistics of the world are staggering, and keep me from having to figure out the actual plot. I’m not an expert, necessarily, but it is an interesting line of research.

25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of

- I used to have this sort of thing on the top of my head, but now I can’t think of anything for the life of me! How about this, it’s the corniest fucking thing, but I like it:

It all started in the student center. She appeared in the doorway of the lounge, expression intent and hair bright blue. The intensity of her whole existence jumbled the words in his mouth, and gave her the opportunity to speak.

God, it sounds like some stupid hipster man’s novel intro BUT I LIKE IT, DAMMIT. These two characters also sing disney songs at each other in the middle of the night and it’s cheesey but it’s CUTE. I am a giant sap.

[bandedshadows]

Voyager review.

This is long overdue (I was caught up with life stuff and had to stop liveblogging), but I actually finished watching Star Trek: Voyager last week. 

Judging by the length of this post, HOLY SHIT, do I have a lot of feelings.

TL;DR: I’ll give it a 7/10. 

My verdict: 

Voyager had a number of truly extraordinary moments sprinkled among clusters of average to very low points. 

I still loved Janeway a lot, even though there’s notable issues with her characterization. (Kate Mulgrew’s gr9)

Seven’s introduction gave the show a much-needed kick up the next level, but they ended up overdoing it imo.

Some characters are more developed than others, but I found the crew to be generally likeable. 

Continuity? What’s that?

prime directive... prima directa... primal dialga... perma dry roof... pearl digestive... prophylactic dental... partial deposit... parking at disneyland...

I still enjoyed Voyager very much, but oh boy, did this show have many, many flaws. I also took it upon myself to read up on Voyager’s behind-the-scenes issues for context, and jfc, the production is even messier than the text. Put two and two together and it’s obvious why the show took the course it did. 

I’ll go into detail behind the cut. It’s very long. Spoilers ahead :).

[CUT]

I’ll start with the negative points:

The ‘Endgame’ episode was... abrupt. It was still emotionally impactful, but it wasn’t the most graceful way to tie things up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the show was given fair warning that the 7th season was going to be their last? If that’s the case, I expected more pre-finale plot development before this out-of-pocket Deus Ex Machina plot of future!Janeway pointing out a shortcut to the Alpha Quadrant. Or at least all the Borg encounter episodes could’ve added up to building Voyager’s path home. Endgame’s resolution is acceptable, but it really should’ve been spread out for the last half season. 

The serial, episodic format of Voyager ultimately led to all the aspects in which it fell short. Particularly in continuity and character development. There were bad episodes, average, above average, and then there were GREAT ones. 

But, it’s always Schrodinger’s cat on whether the next episode is going to be watchable or not, as well as which Janeway is going to show up.  

At times, Janeway would be stringent when it comes to the prime directive. Other times she unquestionably abandons Starfleet protocol to be a good samaritan. One day she backs out of complicated situations in order to prevent any losses of life. Another day she’s adamant in achieving her goals even if means accruing some casualties on the way. She gave Harry shit for sleeping with a girl from an alien race without getting medically checked, but then makes out with Devore!Spencer Tracy-lite Bashyk next episode. 

Over the course of the show, Voyager had many episodes that were forgettable. I found myself having to skip a lot of the holodeck fillers (Fair Haven is the worrrrrrssttt), some of the bottle episodes where the crew get first contact with alien races that would predictably betray them, and at times near the end, my fatigue of Seven and the Doctor can get me to tune out of their more unimpressive episodes. 

But then there’s also episodes where they delve deep into character development, but they never acknowledge the character’s growth in any subsequent episodes. The better episodes of Voyager often feel like missed opportunities for more in-depth exploration. B’Elanna undergoing depression was a great plot point that they could have explored more. The episode they did on her about her self-hate for her Klingon half was great but how she came to terms with her Klingon identity felt incomplete. Her character always fascinated me, but I seriously needed more.  #JusticeForB’ElannaTorres

The episode “Mortal Coil”, for example, explores Neelix coping with the loss of his belief system after experiencing death. HIs usual positive outlook was compromised because he realized there’s no heaven and he’s questioning the point of living. Neelix is far from my favourite, but I kind of relate to what he went through. Before the next episode started, it looked like he’s headed to a darker path. Perhaps this change will interfere with his approach to being the morale officer, or he’d don a more assertive aura in future eps. Then he’d be a more interesting character. But NOPE, next episode he’s back to his old sunny self. Missed. Opportunity.

I’m going to echo what I said in this post I made awhile back. I do love Seven’s character, I truly do, but the balanced family dynamic of the crew was special. She didn’t have trouble integrating into the cast, but she pretty much hijacked the show from then on. She’s a great, well-developed character but I found myself longing for the others to get as much depth as she did. 

I just read up on the Jeri Ryan/Brannon Braga stuff,  the beef between Mulgrew and Ryan, the writers willfully shortchanging the actors they don’t like (Beltran, Wang getting less focus episodes), the intense working conditions, and just... the general toxicity of the environment (not to mention Rick Berman’s an ass). I see how the behind the scenes conflicts could’ve influenced the show and now that’s just... really irresponsible.

Now, for the positives!

The writing of her character is flawed, but I thought Captain, *ahem* ADMIRAL Kathryn Janeway was a splendid captain. We wouldn’t know which Janeway showed up each episode, but I love all the versions lmao. Before I binged Voyager, I was already defensive of her from a symbolic standpoint, being the only female captain to lead a show and all. But it turns out that defensiveness was justified. Janeway is both strong, yet fragile. Authoritative, but warm. Adventurous and scientific, but can also get reclusive. She was overly curious, stubborn, and indecisive, but ultimately handled her woes with grace. She proudly demonstrates her iron will, but her empathy for others always prevailed. Her character arc took many paths and turns (intentional or not) but I enjoyed how the character was conducted as the leader of the ship. I felt a different affection she particularly shows to her crew that I don’t think other Trek captains ever did. 

If anything, I have to credit Kate Mulgrew for masking the inconsistent writing quite well. Janeway came off as layered and multi-faceted instead of mischaracterized. 

As for the rest of the cast: they each have their own quirks and they all helped prompt the dynamic of the team. A number of them fell flat towards the end, like Kim & Chakotay, (but I guess it was for the best because of the racist elements of the Chakotay character and Kim’s infantilization. I really wish the writers got more creative with them though.) But either way, all the chracters contributed to the crew in their own way. Each one of them did have a standout episode. They all took a while to find their footing at the beginning, but they all eventually grow into it. 

Now, when Voyager has a great episode, it’s REALLY, REALLY GREAT. 

By far my favourite episode in the entire show is the “Year of Hell”. There’s been plenty of episodes where the crew undertook mishaps but always came out unscathed. But in the “Year of Hell”, this conflict took the crew to dark, new places that really challenged their limits. They were plunged in a darker place of total despondence and desperation, where they got in each other’s nerves, they sacrificed things they love, and the situation tested their hope and will for survival. The desperate situation made for compelling interaction between the characters in how their dynamic changed after their morals were compromised. I also enjoy the laid back nature of Voyager, but I do wonder what it would’ve been like if the whole show had been like this?

Other favourites were: 

Living Witness-- a poignant examination of the nuances behind historical remembrance. An issue that is still relevant today. At first I was going to be annoyed if the point of the story is to clear Voyager’s good name, but later on, The Doctor says that the obsolete Voyager’s reputation is irrelevant to the creating peace between the two factions. *cough*Japan downplaying wartime aggression to clear their name*cough*

Timeless-- just a well-done episode. Yes, once again, they dabble into alternate timelines, but this episode brings such emotional weight and splendidly tackles the issue of survivor’s guilt. Kim’s finest moment. Also, Geordi my king!

Deadlock-- Another space-time episode, but the duplicates really posed a formidable challenge to the crew. It was also a testament to their nobility and sacrifice.

Scorpion-- the game-changer for the show. Also, Seven’s first appearance!

Equinox-- again, this episode featured the crew encountering a real moral dilemma. One of the few episodes that treated the prime directive with a non-simplistic, nuanced approach.

Resolutions, The Chute - ‘cause I’m shipper trash.

Anyway, this was tiring to write. I’m thinking of taking a break from sci-fi shows for a while, then maybe I’ll rewatch TNG or BSG again. Voyager was the only Trek I haven’t watched chronologically and it was nice to witness ‘new’ Star Trek again. This is really long, but I spent over 120 hours watching this, sooooo...

[dippedanddripped]

What is Music Therapy?

As stated by Pablo Picasso, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Music therapy is a scientific way of healing a human body and soul. Music has an innate power to bring in the change of behavior in a person.  This therapy is one such method that brings the emotions of vulnerable people in order.  The increasing suicidal cases and depressions have caused psychologists to seek friendly ways to bring in the most child’s play ways to cure the patients. Many war veterans have used this practice to calm the warriors after the war.

After World War II, American Society developed a committee for society to learn Music Therapy. The first-committee formed was in June 1950, called as National Association of Music Therapy in America. It chaired Rev. Arthur Flagler Fultz (Boxberger, 1963). The first successful association that put in order the rules and laws for music educational institutions and certification programs. It operated for the year 1950-1997.  An organization called as American Association of Music Therapy founded in 1971 had similar functions as that of NAMT.

Ancient Times of Music Therapy

The most ancient details of music as therapy dates back more than 40,000 years ago. A carved musical instruments on Caves, flutes made of bones found in Egyptian writings in 1500 BCE. Many civilizations and cultures have recognized music as a medical need, as a cure to the imbalance of mental health, that prevailed in the society. Music therapy was used in Egyptian temples as well.

The Greek mythology has references of music being an occupation of Apollo, the Greek God. Apollo’s music is a symbol of the lyre. Also, Aesculapius healed the minds of people by singing. Plato mentioned that music has a profound effect on emotions and can influence the molding of the character of a person in a better way.

Orpheus was one of the magicians of Music who transformed every living being of the planet to a healed soul. He was an unknown, unscripted, and unsung hero, but had divine capabilities of curing the people through his mellifluent voice.

Chronology of Music therapy in and around The USA

An article entitled “Music Psychically Considered”, written in 1789, is the first-ever document that cames to the surface.

A music-controlled experiment carried out in 1800.

In 1877, doctors used music as sedatives in operation theatres.

Eva Augusta Vescelius founded the National Society of Musical Therapeutics, in the year 1903.

In 1919, British Musician Margaret Anderson taught a course in Musicotherapy, at Columbia University.

Isa Maud Ilsen founded The National Music Company for Hospitals, in 1926.

Harriet Ann Seymour helped the veterans of the First World War and patients with depression, in the year 1930. In the year 1941, she founded the National Institution of Music Therapy.

After the 1940s, Music Therapy had now become a point of importance in treating patients. Many psychiatrists and therapists looked at it in a scientific process to heal people.

The credit for which is given to psychiatrists and music therapist Ira Altshuler, MD promoted music therapy in Michigan, Willem van de Wal, and E. Thayer Gaston.

The first Music Therapy Degree Program took place in the year 1944.

(NAMT) National Association of Music Therapy formed in 1950.

(AAMT) American Association of Music Therapy formed in 1971.

The American Music Therapy Association founded in 1998, a collaboration of NAMT and AAMT.

Types of Music Therapy :

There are various types of Music Therapies as follows:-

Bonny Method

Helen Bonny, a music therapist, and researcher has introduced this method. The verbal counseling and psychotherapy are the basis of this method. It involves the imagination of the patient while listening to music. An interactive form of practice that lets the patient open up with the therapist. The therapist listens to the story of an individual, allows him/her to relax and focus, the person then dreams and thinks in trans about any situation. The description of the patient’s imagination is diagnosed by the doctor for further analysis and treatment.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics

Jacques-Dalcroze invented this method. The movement of the patient is the first step in this method of therapy. It is beneficial for all age groups. This method believes in addressing the problem by tracking the movements of the patient, to bring back rhythm in them. The main three topics here are Solfege (harmony and ear-training), Eurhythmics (a rhythmic training), and improvisation. It creates physical awareness, control, and ease within the human body.

Kodaly

Kodaly was curious about spreading music education to children in Hungary. He along with many music teachers developed a system of music teachings by systematically presenting the musical concepts. The rhythm, notations, orders, movement are used in the healing process. The pedagogical concepts are the foundations of this method. The child development approach includes skill development, according to his capability. The ascending order of difficulty level of patient’s behavior is followed in this concept.

Neurologic Music Therapy

Many brain diseases need music therapy. To help brain patients to improve from their disorders this is one of the fine ways. Some of the diseases are listed as – Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Coma Recovery. It is based on neuroscience research. The process of listening to music and perceiving is the basis of this method. Music-creation activates the brain cells. The effects studied on the brain of a non- musical person showcases different aspects. This treatment includes attention, arousal, auditory perception, and memory. There is speech and language treatment that include aphasia, fluency, breath, intelligibility, and comprehension.

Nordoff- Robbins

The output of seventeen years of friendship between Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins. The basis of this therapy is the belief that every individual effectively responds to music.

Orff – Schulwerk

Developed by Gertrude Orff, it is an approach used in music education. It uses various combinations of music, movements, drama, and speech to heal the patients. The main aim is to develop the person in a childlike approach for better results. It treats music as a language. Also known as elemental music-making. It improves the learning ability among children.  

Diseases Covered under Music Therapy are:

1. Autism

Autism spectrum disorders are diseases with speech and communication problems. It is noteworthy to see how people suffering from such diseases incline to music.

Dementia

The changes in the brain are known as dementia. The problems occurring in patients are that patients unable to make a decision, have memory and judgment issues, overthinking problems, and verbal communications. The personality disorders often prevail depending on the areas affected by the brain. The music therapy helps in avoiding agitated behavior and also helps in improving co-operation. The heart and brain diseases among Alzheimer patients is reduced due to music therapy.

3. Depression

The most common mental disease caused due to changes in the lifestyles of people. The mood disorder is dependent on the eating and living habits of the person. There are many antidepressant medicines, but the natural way to pass on depression or to get free is music. A thought process of an individual suffering from depression is different as compared to regular people. So music helps in soothing that effect.

4. Sleep Quality

Excessive sleeping is a disorder, which can be tiresome, depressive, or irritable. The chemical changes in the brain can make a person anxious and irritable. The better a person responds to the music, the better a person gets with time.

INDIAN MUSIC THERAPY

Indian music is an ocean of music formations for centuries in the form of classical form. The Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa, are the eight surs used in Indian music. Ragas are the arrangement of notes in sequential order. The melodic occurrence of tones and musical notes is the basis of Indian music. In Indian Music, the efforts made to co-relate the music with emotions.

The different notations promote the health of the person. The comparison of music therapy to a person’s active life is evident. Playing, listening, and composing are some of the methods practiced in Indian Music. There can be structured or free-flowing therapy. Raga plays a vital part in the cure of patients. Indian music always enlightens the soul and showcases the ultimate goal of attainment of truth through music. The deep religious feelings have a positive impact on the listener and singer.  Self-image helps to overcome focus and concentration problems.

Cancer and Music Therapy

The feel-good factor enhances the mind of a patient. It brings a relaxing sensation to the body of the patient. The main role of music is a positive outlook on the patient. The patient is back on track if he has a healthy relationship with the therapist. Music cures the problems regarding anxiety.

Music for Soldiers

Margaret Anderson gave the first training of music therapy to the soldiers. Many war veterans have been using this method to protect and heal the soldiers of war for centuries. In Civil Wars, World War I, and World War II, also the music was used in a form to entertain, distract, and boost morale. In the mid-1800s, Florence Nightingale realized the importance of music in life.

Conclusion

Music affects a person’s brain, body, hormones, and psyche. The therapy is a tool that grabs the threads of the patient’s weaknesses, forming a source of recovery. The positive effect on mood is a well-known fact. The variations in mood involve feelings of joy, sadness, angry, and relaxation, which may change as one listens to music. The selection of music is crucial for the desired effects of music on patients. It is used in various medical fields as a form of therapy. The brain runs varyingly for musicians than the non- musicians, if the effect of music on them studied is thorough and well researched. The large heavy metal type of music brings out the negative effect on psychology because of high and loud sound. Also, the physical injuries are calmed by listening to pacifying music.

[moriganstrongheart]

World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1 – Review

by Blizzard Entertainment 2016, Dark Horse Books Hardcover, 184 pages, $39.99 USD

Rating: ★★★★☆

Good: Good presentation, well written Bad: Inaccurate maps, outdated or missing lore

​I was rather ambivalent when the first World of Warcraft Chronicle volume was release two years ago. I had wanted for so long for Blizzard to codify their Warcraft lore in a way that brought order and sense to the sprawling story they’d built over twenty five years. However, it was released as I was leaving the game and I didn’t have the spending money to purchase it. Now that I’m playing again and I have some spending money, I decided to buy all three volumes currently available. As of writing this review, I have not read the second or third volume; I wanted my opinion to be restricted to this volume for the time being. The first volume in the Chronicle does a good job at what it sets out to do: it tells the lore of Warcraft in a storybook-esque format, allowing fans of the universe to experience Warcraft lore from beginning to end as a narrative. However, there are few issues with it that I can’t ignore. Most of these issues I can attribute to a lack of quality control as they could have been easily resolved with rigourous revisions, or at least with some more solid decision making from the creative team in charge of Warcraft lore.

The most obvious failings in the volume are its maps. I can forgive that they have already become outdated as of me writing this review. Blizzard will inevitable release new locations in upcoming expansions that will change the layout of the world map. What I can’t excuse is how confusing some are and how some maps are missing from key moments in the lore. If the purpose of these maps is to give a visual representation of the world, then it misses some steps. Most readers will be familiar with the current World of Warcraft world map (pictured below). The pangea-esque pre-Sundering Kalimdor included in the books is just too different from the modern map for it to be recognizable as a map of Azeroth (also pictured below). I would have preferred that each iteration of the map pre-Sundering had lines drawn to mirror the modern Azerothian world map to allow the reader a point of reference. Legends would have also helped to properly identify elements on the map, instead of relying on labels and color-coded territories. I would have also liked to see more maps; Warcraft lore relies a lot on visualizing peoples and armies travelling the world. And considering that Azeroth itself has been touted as a character in the story of Warcraft, I think more maps would have helped to drive home how important the world is to the lore.

Map of Ordered Azeroth, pre-Sundering

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth world map

As I’m currently world-building my own world, I know how difficult it can be. When world-building, you are trying to explain a fictional world as if it were real, using academic terminology to describe something that is meant to be enjoyed fantastically. World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1 unfortunately falls into the trap I’ve fallen for repeatedly in which they use the literary trope “no one really knows” when describing ambiguous moments in history. Sometimes it’s not as obvious, such as when an important turning point in lore is treated as inevitable and not worth explaining. My gut reaction when I encounter this trope is to respond: “Well, you should know. You’re the writers.” I consider this kind of writing lazy, a way to avoid explaining what could be construed as boring or controversial. In my opinion, these kinds of shortcuts should be avoided. Figure out a way to explain it, or don’t include the information at all. The fact that the writers resorted to this literary trope adds to my confusion as to what the Chronicle is supposed to be–the lack of detail in its maps being another factor. The volume is structured like a history textbook, with events told in chronological order and even has annotations in certain sections. However, the majority of the volume is also written like a storybook; each section is its own distinct narrative told as if it were a mythological legend. The alternating tone can be jarring at times, especially when it occurs within the confines of a single narrative. One moment the author is giving detailed descriptions of the actors in the narrative and provides insights that the persons living the events could not know, followed by a “no one really knows why” passage as if the story is being told from an actor’s perspective in the world. And so I can only assume that either the writers were aware of this flipping tone and were okay with it, or their quality control is lacking. Either way, I can’t excuse the misstep on Blizzard’s part.

It’s a shame, because I did enjoy how the volume is written. I don’t know how much involvement Chris Metzen actually had in the writing of this particular volume, though I know he wrote many of the original stories that would eventually be adapted here and his style of writing shines through in certain stories. I read the whole volume in one sitting, feeling rushes of memory as I remembered events from the books, short stories, comics and in-game events that the Chronicle makes reference to. It’s obvious that the volume is a labour of love as it shines with descriptions of people and places that have never existed, but somehow make it feel real. The size of the book is also nice, making it feel like a textbook rather than a work of fiction. The art is amazing as always, though I wish they would have used exclusively original art as I recognized some of it from short stories from previous products. I have debated with myself whether the World of Warcraft Chronicle could have easily been available online, similar to the existing WoWpedia and WoWWiki fansites. In the end, I don’t think that the intent of the Chronicle is to make a lore database or a textbook, but to provide fans with a hardcopy of the story they’ve grown to love over twenty five years; something to share with others, to read to their kids, or to revisit their time fighting alongside Thrall or saving the world with Varian by their side.

So far, the World of Warcraft Chronicle is worth adding to your collection if you have an interest in either Warcraft lore or world-building. It allows fans of the series to experience the narrative of Warcraft in a sensible, chronological order. Long-time fans invested in the story will also be able to reminisce about their time in Azeroth or their first time reading Warcraft lore in secondary media. For world-builders, Chronicle is a learning opportunity on how to build a vibrant, breathing world with history and interesting characters; there are some hiccups along the way, but none so damaging that we can’t learn from Blizzard’s twenty-five years of experience. I’m excited to read the following two volumes in the Chronicle, and would even be interested in revised versions as new lore is added to the World of Warcraft.

Personal Rant

The following includes my own personal observations based on my experience with Warcraft lore. These observations don’t impact the quality of World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1, but as I have a long history with World of Warcraft, I want to spend some time discussing them. If interested in purchasing the Chronicle, reading this section is not necessary. Also, there are some mild spoilers for the Chronicle and for events not mentioned in the Chronicle.

I was happy to read the forewords from Chris Metzen and Christie Golden. Metzen is the closest thing I have to a hero within the game development industry, and his words to the reader is made all the more potent following his retirement later the same year. I can almost hear his deep, gravelly “I voice every other male character in Warcraft” voice as I remember how invested and influential Metzen has been to Warcraft. As for Golden’s foreword, I’m always happy to hear from her as she is my favorite Warcraft author, penning such stories as Rise of the Horde and Jaina: Tides of War, and has even been helping the World of Warcraft writing team with Battle for Azeroth. She reminds us that we are as much a part of the world as its characters. Also included in the foreword is Knaak. I have never been a fan of Knaak’s contributions to the universe–I consider Stormrage the worst World of Warcraft novel, Rhonin is my most disliked character (I was happy to see him removed in Jaina: Tides of War), the dragon aspects lore (which he helped to construct) is the most boring element in Warcraft lore and he always came off as a self-absorbed writer who constantly had to show how good he was. His foreword only reinforces his vanity as he boasts his writing credits from other book series I have no interest in, and he barely shows any interest in Warcraft itself. I can only hope we don’t see another writing credit from him in the near future. I was also happy to see that his time-travelling additions to the War of the Ancients weren’t so much as hinted throughout the Chronicle.

I ended up accepting most of the changes Blizzard inevitably had to make for the Chronicle. After twenty-five years of world-building and narrative, retcons and re-imaginings are bound to happen. I was never really interested in Titan lore, seeing them more as scientists than gods. The Chronicle still does not identify them as gods, though they have heavily reinforced the inspiration the Titans take from Norse mythology with new lore added in the recent Legion expansion. Because of my disinterest in the Titans, I am equally apathetic about the reveal that Azeroth itself is an undeveloped Titan. However, I am interested to see what will happen if the world-soul awakens or gets destroyed, as I imagine it would spell the end of the world either way. A diagram showing how each elemental, magical force and concept interacts is a nice addition, and it’s nice to see certain concepts like necromancy and the Void given concrete definitions. Legion seemed to give the Void a larger role, but it wasn’t until this volume that everything is given a tangible place within the universe. I’m not a fan of Blizzard shifting the big baddy to the Void now that Sargeras is gone, but I can understand the need. It makes sense given the changes they’ve made to Titan lore within the Chronicle, though I almost think it would have been better if they had never explained the Old Gods, the Void, the Light and so on. Mystery can improve the experience more than a detailed explanation. One thing I wish they would explain is Elune; apart from some conversations between Tyrande and Velen, there has been no concrete explanation as to what Elune is. Is she a titan? A naaru? A wild god? A “light lord”? To use a familiar expression, no one seems to know.

Finally, I wish they had spent more time on the titan-forged and the curse of flesh, as this was always one of the most interesting parts of the Old God-Titan lore. However, they spend more time on the contrived Loken narrative, which I felt was put together to force events to go down a specific path. In fact, a lot of the lore midway through World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1 feels forced, as entities act out of character in an apparent effort to move the plot forward. Thankfully, the latter portion of the ​Chronicle makes up for it by detailing early to mid Eastern Kingdoms history, which I have more interest in.

Official Book Website

[shmow-zows]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265703 http://ift.tt/2ku7Qpr via IFTTT

[trashbagtricks]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265703 http://ift.tt/2ku7Qpr via IFTTT

[wanderingfound]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265703 http://ift.tt/2ku7Qpr via IFTTT

[teamsterekpuppies]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265703 http://ift.tt/2ku7Qpr via IFTTT

[willafigg]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

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[sinkin2heart]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8265703 http://ift.tt/2ku7Qpr via IFTTT

[shotbydalonewolf]

Bank Teller Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Bank tellers have a lot in common with mafia bosses. They have good people skills, and they can handle enormous amounts of money without batting an eye. 

  But unlike mafia bosses, bank tellers need to be 100% honest and reliable to get the job.

  Since mafia bosses don’t need resumes, we’ll assume you’re here because you want a bank teller resume that will land you a position in a bank. Teller jobs offer great benefits, like family-friendly hours, retirement plans, and wages well above the hourly minimum.

  There’s one problem though.

  You’ll have less than 6 seconds to convince your local bank’s HR manager that you have all the skills needed.

  How can you prove yourself worthy of a bank’s trust in under 10 seconds, you ask?

  We’ll show you exactly how. With this guide, you will learn:

   This guide will show you:

  A bank teller resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

How to write a bank teller resume that will land you more interviews.

Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a bank teller resume.

How to describe your experience on a resume for a bank teller to get any job you want.

  Here's a sample resume for a bank teller made using our resume builder. 

  Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  Bank Teller Resume Example - See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.

  1

What’s the Best Format for a Bank Teller Resume?

  You’re trustworthy, so all you need to do is write so in the intro of your resume, right?

  Wrong. 

  In fact, there’s no quicker way to appear suspicious than to shower yourself with praise without providing any proof.

  To show hiring managers that you’re reliable, you need to prove that other people have relied on you in the past.

  That means your best choice when it comes to resumes for bank tellers is to go reverse-chronological.

  How? Easy-peasy. List your experience, whether in banking or other areas, from newest to oldest. By doing so, you will let your potential new boss know that hiring you is a safe bet.

  Most banks will expect reverse-chronological format. These resumes also have the advantage of being readable by Applicant Tracking Systems. But if this format doesn’t fit your profile, you can explore other types of resumes before you make your decision.

  Pro Tip: Bank tellers need to be lightning-quick while assisting customers. Be sure to include any experience where speedy service is key, like fast-food restaurants, even if it’s not related to banking.

  The overall format of a resume for bank tellers should be neat and clean – no one likes a long, cramped resume. If you’re unsure what that looks like, go back to our bank teller resume sample and observe the visual layout.

  Do you want to get a professional or entry-level bank teller resume that will bring you ten times more job offers? Follow the easy formula presented in this guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples).

  2

Contact Information Is Not as Basic as it Seems

  Close your eyes and think about the last time you went to the bank. What was the bank teller like? Chances are, he or she looked professional and competent. 

  Now get this: there is a way to present your contact information that will make you come across as professional and competent, and there is a way that will do just the opposite.

  Which one is which?

  Here is a great example of a bank teller resume contact section:

  right

Jason Kukoyi

54 Smythe Street, Springfield, VA 22150

jasonkukoyi@gmail.com | 571-777-9088

  Note how:

  The name stands out

The address is complete and follows a standard format

The email address is name@gmail.com

  Are you doing it right? If your contact details look anything like the example below, then the answer is no.

wrong

Ja$on K. Springfield 54 Smythe

jassbass@hotmail.com 5717779088

  Remember to:

  Avoid nicknames

Format your address and phone number properly

Create an official email address if you don’t have one already

   Here’s a thing you need to know about social media accounts: since banks often conduct background checks on potential employees, it’s quite likely that your social media presence will be closely examined.

  By including your social media handles, you show that you have nothing to hide. But first, make sure that your posts and comments are well-written – 72% of recruiters will disqualify candidates if they find typos on their social media profiles!

  Pro Tip: Your name@gmail.com is already taken, and you don’t fancy being martindavies78349? Feel free to throw in your middle initial in there. Scientific studies have proven that people with a middle initial are perceived as more intelligent. 

  Adding a LinkedIn handle to your bank teller resume will give your resume an extra boost, especially if your abilities are endorsed by former colleagues and employers.

  LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in helping you land your dream job. To learn how, read How to Optimize Your Linkedin Summary and Profile to Get Jobs.

  3

Bank Teller Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Remember how long hiring managers look at each resume?

  That’s right, a few seconds only. That means that once they read the contact information, they will give one single look at the summary of a bank teller resume and decide on which pile it belongs.

  You literally have one shot at making a good impression.

  To get the most bang for your resume buck, write a resume summary that will tell managers all they need to know in as little time as possible.

  Think about it: even if they make they make snap judgments,  bank managers are looking for a candidate who checks several requirement boxes. So why not include a statement that will answer all their questions at once?

  While writing this section of your resume, keep in mind the usual tasks performed at a bank.

  What is a bank teller’s job description ? 

  Customer service representatives in banks assist clients with deposits and withdrawals, log transactions, and sell additional bank services.

  Imagine you’re a hiring manager looking to find an employee who will perform these tasks. What are you looking for while scanning an objective on a bank teller resume?

  A bank manager will look for three things:

  A record of successful customer service

Proven math abilities, especially with money

Attention to detail

  And that’s exactly what your summary should contain. 

  Bank teller resume summary example

  right

Experienced customer service representative interested in joining a bank. Flawless record with handling cash flow. Looking to apply my outstanding math skills and precision in a professional and challenging environment.

  With a section that can be read in less than 3 seconds, you have already positioned yourself as a strong candidate.

  Is there a wrong way to write a bank teller resume summary? Yes, there definitely is.

wrong

Looking for a challenging job that will make the most of my wide range of abilities.

  HR staff will look at your resume with questions in mind. And this gives them zero answers.

  Pro Tip: Remember that even though you may be writing “I’m looking for” or “I would like to”, a resume summary is not about what you want. Don’t go into your personal motivations for wanting a bank teller job (flexible hours, good salary, etc.) and stick to a statement that showcases your skill. 

  Our resume builder will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

    Inside our resume builder you will find tips and examples for your resume.

  How to Write a Resume Objective for a Bank Teller Position

  If you just graduated or you’re looking to change careers, you may want to consider writing a bank teller resume objective instead of a summary.

  Again, the trick is to look at the job description of a bank teller and match it to your resume objective. 

  Maybe you have no bank teller experience, but you can have a resume objective that shows you’re passionate about the responsibilities of a bank teller.

  right

Reliable and detail-oriented employee looking to apply my record keeping and accounting skills in a banking environment. My people skills and accuracy will allow me to make a significant contribution to any team.

  If you’re wondering how to sum up your experience in a way that will boost your chances of getting a bank teller job, check out How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See. For more tips on how to write a bank teller resume objective with no experience, read +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips).

  4

How to Describe Your Bank Teller Experience

  Banks will ALWAYS give your resume a second look. But how to make the most of that second read?

  You have to keep them interested.

  Here’s where your experience section comes in. You already know that you should be listing your experience from newest to oldest, but the way you describe your previous employment is what will keep an employer reading.

  The best way to keep a potential boss engaged is to use descriptions that contain a Problem (P), an Action (A) and a Result (R).

  By using the PAR structure, you show that your presence made a positive impact on your work environment. Saying you rock is easy, but with this formula, you’ll be proving it.

  For example, at your last job, you increased ice cream sales by 22% because you decided to always offer ice cream to customers whenever the weather rose above 80 °F. 

  Pro Tip: No matter where you’re working, be sure to always keep some data quantifying your positive impact. It will make your life much easier the next time you’re on a job hunt.

  Start by stating or implying what was the issue with the initial situation. Then describe your initiative, and finish up by adding the outcome. If you’re writing a bank teller resume with no experience, you can apply the same advice to volunteering or academic situations.

  How to describe experience on a resume for bank tellers

  right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  See how your impact stands out?  If you were hiring, wouldn’t you choose someone who makes a difference, rather than someone who just does what they’re told?

wrong

Greeted customers according to company script.

  This goes for professional bank teller resumes too. Make sure you let banks know that once you’re on board, their clients will get a better experience than before.

right

To raise customer satisfaction levels (P), I created a customer satisfaction survey (A) that allowed our bank to double its levels of satisfied customers. (R)

  To get more advice tailored to your specific situation, check out Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples).

  5

Is Your Education Section Underperforming? It Might Be

  Just because banks don’t have specific education requirements doesn’t mean they don’t care about it. 

  Most banks will favor candidates with a high school diploma. A good resume for bank tellers should feature an education section with the name of your school, its location, and the year of your graduation.

  Here is the right format for the education section on a perfect bank teller resume.

  right

Alexander Hamilton High School, Springfield, VA

Graduated 2016

  If you have a college degree, include your major/minor. If your GPA was above 3.0, you may want to include it. Here’s how:

  right

2017 BA in Psychology

University of Virginia, VA

3.8 GPA

   Pro Tip: Education matters, but most banks will care more about your experience than your education. Put your experience first, then education.

  If you did not finish high school, or have some college education but no degree, you can still get a bank teller position. Find out how to format incomplete education by reading How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

  6

How to Put Skills on a Resume for a Bank Teller

  At this point, you should have figured out what most banks are looking for in bank teller candidates. 

  Skills, skills, skills. 

  Look at bank teller job postings in your areas. Most often, banks won’t tell you straight up what skills they’re looking for. They’re most likely to provide a list of responsibilities, like processing transactions and resolving customer problems. 

  What the banks really mean is that they’re looking for someone with the skills to perform these actions. And good luck to you if these skills are nowhere to be found on your resume. 

  What are good skills for a bank teller resume, you ask?

  Let me give you a head start.

  As a rule, to perform the main responsibilities of a bank customer service representative, a candidate has to possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills:

  Soft skills:

  Friendliness and courtesy

Patience with customers

Salesmanship

Attention to detail

  Hard skills

  Basic accounting

Money handling

Cash drawer maintenance

Record keeping

  There is a high likeliness that your local bank is looking for some combination of the skills above. List all the relevant stuff – and lose the rest. 

  Here is what is relevant on a professional resume for bank tellers:

  right

Skills

  Ability to work with money transactions with a high degree of accuracy

Demonstrated accounting skills

Able to solve customer issues efficiently and courteously

wrong

Timely

Experienced copywriter

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite

  Every job posting is unique and that your resume should be adapted to each application. Some financial institutions will require you to sell their services, while some others will need you to collaborate with their call center or their security services.

  The key to success here is to provide the full range of skills necessary to carry out the listed responsibilities.

  Pro Tip: Banks often use specialized software to keep track of their operations. Include your skills with industry-specific software to show that you are able to master similar systems.

  If you’re still wondering what are the best bullet points for a bank teller resume, be sure to check out this article: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips).

  7

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Bank Teller Resume

  You listed all the right experience, you listed all the right skills and you formatted your contact information just the right way. Done deal, right?

  Sorry to disappoint you, but not yet.

  You’re one in a pile of a hundred applicants, and there’s a good chance someone else in there also did everything right so far. 

  So what does it take to get noticed?

  You need to have that little extra something that will make your resume stand out. 

  Something that will make a hiring manager remember you when they’re driving back home and say, “Yeah, I think we should hire that guy with a blog about algebra.” Or “Maybe I’ll call the girl who got an award for customer service when she was working at Best Buy.”

  This is your time to show off. Won loads of awards and prizes? Create an award section. Have interesting hobbies that fit your bank’s style? Create a hobby section. Went on internships and study visits? That too can be a section.

  How to list your hobbies on a resume for bank tellers

  right

Interests

  World news and global economic trends

Fintech and app development

  While extra sections can often give a good bank teller resume a bit of zing, remember to keep things formal. Your political or religious affiliation or your social activism is best kept private at that point of the recruitment process. 

  Pro Tip: Hobbies can be a subtle way to show off your skills as well. Basketball says team player, whereas chess says detail-oriented.

  This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes adding a spark of individuality to resumes for bank tellers. Read +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume to get 5 great tips on how to stand out.

  8

Here’s the Most Common Myth About Cover Letters

  You’re tired. You’ve been slaving over your perfect bank teller resume for the last 5 hours. You fixed every typo and changed the font 5 times. Your finger slides towards the send button…

  Stop right now.

  You have to write a cover letter.

  Really, you do. Surveys show that up to 45% of recruiters will reject an application without a cover letter. Some recruiters might think they’re unimportant, but if almost half of them think they matter, do you really want to take that risk?

  Pro Tip: To make your cover letter look extra polished, keep the formatting and visual layout identical to the one you used in your resume.

  Cover letters offer additional possibilities. This is the perfect time to spell out why you want to work at that particular bank or to describe an especially impactful contribution you made at your last job.

  Clearly state why you’re applying, and why you would be the best candidate for the job.

  Plus, a great cover letter that match your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write your cover letter in our resume builder here. Here's what it may look like:

  See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here. 

  There are simple but foolproof tricks to make your cover letter stand out. To find out more, read How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples].

  Key Takeaway

  Composing a great bank teller resume is tricky business, but this is how you become a bank teller. There is room for creativity, but on the whole, your resume should follow these golden rules.

  You only get one first impression. Your resume should say “hire me” at first glance. Include key skills in your resume summary, and make sure you’re not committing any formatting faux-pas.

  It’s all about the skills. Recruiters will be looking for a very specific set of banking skills. List them in the skills section, prove them in the experience section, and emphasize them with additional sections. (And for the love of all that is holy, if you say you’re detail-oriented, fix all your typos before you press send.)

  Make the details work for you. Little things can reinforce your statement. A friendly cover letter will emphasize your people skills. A neat format will show your eye for detail. Unusual but impressive hobbies will lend credibility to your skills.

  Ready to apply? If you have any other questions, just write them down in the comments section and we’ll answer! Got the job you wanted? Let us know as well, we’ll pop open the champagne!

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