by Kimberly Bartel, Manager
Always keep your resume
current. Yawn. That is the standard resume rule, but how many of us actually do
it? Pulling out your old resume and updating it can be intimidating. There may
be challenging issues for people with a lot of work experience. For example,
should you list every job you have ever had on your resume? How do you
demonstrate that you have kept your skills and knowledge current? What about
resume format and submitting resumes on-line? If you want a great job, you must
have a great resume.
You can find resume writing
tips and examples of resumes on the Internet by using a search engine like
Google and typing in the word “resume.” There are also many books on resume
writing. Rather than simply taking off a few lines at the bottom of your resume
and adding a few job duties to the top, it is worthwhile for you to do some
research and develop a resume that will get results.
A rule that always applies
to resume writing is to tailor your resume for the job you want. Here are some
additional tips for people with a long work
history:
Don’t put your entire work
history on your resume. As a standard rule, go back 10 to 15 years. However, if
earlier jobs are relevant, list them.
Your resume can be more than
one page. Use your common sense. If it takes more than two pages to list all of
the information necessary to get you an interview, it can be more than two
pages. But as a standard, try to keep it to two
pages.
Emphasize your current
accomplishments related to the job. Don’t list every outstanding accomplishment
you have had during the past 15 years because it will date you, and the hiring
manager is most interested in what you have done lately that is related to the
job requirements.
Consider eliminating all
dates and just listing the number of years in each job. Some resume experts agree this is a good strategy while
others say it could look like you are trying to hide something. Eliminating
college graduation dates, but including employment dates is another
suggestion.
Tone down your resume for a
job if you think you might be viewed as over-qualified.
Use current industry
terminology because it will make your resume more up-to-date. Hiring managers
will likely be drawn to resumes using familiar
words.
List professional
development, trainings, workshops, and new certifications that demonstrate you
have kept your skills and knowledge
up-to-date.
List technical and computer
skills and make sure they are current. Don’t list software, systems, or computer
language that is no longer commonly used.
Research the company to help
you write a resume that is tailored to the job. This will also help you use
industry language.
Put your e-mail address as a
method to contact you.
Resume experts disagree on
whether it is better to use a chronological or functional resume format. The
chronological resume is the more standard format and hiring managers are used to
seeing it. It lists the jobs you have had starting with the most current.
Functional resumes can be used if you are changing careers, have gaps in your
work history or want to emphasize overall skills rather than work history. This
type of resume emphasizes your skills by listing groups of skills first,
followed by your work history.
It is important to have an
electronic resume. This is a version of your resume that is not formatted. You
should take out all bold, italics, centering, etc. If you are submitting your
resume on-line make sure you use key words because the employer may have a
system that scans resumes for these words. You will find the key words in the
job announcement. Key words are usually industry jargon or job requirements
commonly associated with that job. This type of resume is usually sent in an
e-mail or cut and pasted online.
As you write your resume,
look to the future rather than dwelling on the past. You don’t want the tone of
your resume to be a list of things you have done for other employers. Write it
in a way that communicates what you can do for the employer that is lucky enough
to hire you. Once you have written a resume that reflects all of your amazing
skills and accomplishments, you will no longer be yawning, but feeling quite
proud and confident.
