by: Ann Baehr
The best resume format to use is the combination resume. This resume format is not chronological nor functional. It combines both! It is extremely flexible and allows you to use strategies in a way that would normally be considered wrong.
The difference between the combination format and the chronological format is that the chronological format resume is very easy to follow. The hiring manager will typically start to read the chronological resume at the bottom of the work history or professional experience section (heading depends on your career level) and will continue reading his or her way up towards the top to trace your career history. If there are employment gaps, it will be obvious because it is difficult to hide breaks in employment using this resume format. This is why most hiring managers prefer the chronological resume format. It is easy to read and leaves little to the imagination. This can be a great advantage (marketing tool) if you have been in the same type of position because it shows continuity and progression in your industry.
But what happens when you've held different types of positions across several industries? Some reasons for gaps in employment or holding too many/unrelated jobs include raising children, caring for a family member, illness, returning to college, corporate downsizing or merger, joining the military, and difficulty finding work for long stretches of time because of a tight job market or weak resume!
Hey, things happen. That?s life! You can?t worry about the past. It?s time to think about the future. So, the first thing you will need to do is toss your old resume. It will not help you to change your career. It?s time to make a fresh start!
First, create a resume that clearly indicates at the top what type of position you are seeking.
Include a career summary section that highlights where you've been in your career, being careful to only mention what would be of most interest to this particular company. Emphasize your transferable experience and skills that match the qualifications of the position (if there is a job ad, study it and do your best to make a connection between the position's requirements and what you've done. Do not use the exact wording!).
Use a keywords section to list transferable skills so the reader can find them immediately. This is also important if the company uses resume scanning technology. This will ensure your resume is retrieved from the company's database in response to a keyword search.
Under your Professional Experience section or Work History (again, depends on your background), present your experience in functional sections such as General Management, Sales Management, Staff Training and Supervision, Budget Planning and Tracking , etc.
Take ALL of the experience you've gained over the years and categorize it into skill/functional areas that the new position requires. If the company is seeking someone to manage budgets, and you managed budgets ten years ago and four years ago, but not in your last two jobs, then list the collective experience under a Budget category.
Continue this formula until each respective category has a minimum of four bulleted sentences or two two-lined sentences to support the name of the heading. It is a good idea to have at least three categories to show how well rounded you are.
Below this section, list the companies, locations, job titles, and dates. You can either create a separate section named Work History if you've already called the above section Professional Experience, or simply list the section without a main heading as part of the main section. It will be understood. Or, you can start the section off with the company names and dates followed by the functional categories. In other words, flip it.
The most common problem with this resume format is identifying where your experience was gained. But, that's the whole idea. If they are interested in what you can do, they will call you in for the interview. It is at that time you can explain the how, when, where, and why of it all. It will make for great conversation-- which by the way, a job interview should be. A meeting between two people with a common interest (the position) who engage in conversation in a professional manner.
About The Author
Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her role as former Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association and published contributor to over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes of New York at www.e-bestresumes.com.
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If Your Resume is the Cake, Your Cover Letter is the Icing
If Your Resume is the Cake, Your Cover Letter is the Icing
by: Heather Eagar
Cover letter writing is almost as important a skill for a job seeker to learn as resume writing.
The cover letter accompanies the resume at all times as the primary support document.
Whether you use traditional mail, email, faxing, or another type of electronic submission, this should always be sent with the resume.
There are, of course, other tools you?ll use when job seeking.
Your cover letter and resume come first of course, followed by follow-up letters, thank-you letters for after the interview, reference sheets, salary histories, and job acceptance letters.
If you have good cover letter writing skills, and good resume writing skills, the other written tools should be a snap to compose.
Your goal in this is to get the attention of the hiring manager, just as it is with resume writing.
The method and format are...
Sample resume > If Your Resume is the Cake, Your Cover Letter is the Icing
Resume Writing: 7 Strategies that Say Hire Me
Resume Writing: 7 Strategies that Say Hire Me
by: Robert Moment
A resume is your life condensed to a few pages and highlighted with your qualities and experiences. Potential employers learn about you through the words you chose and the examples you give. If you are not careful with these words and examples, however, you may just give the wrong impression.
An effective resume is essential in the business world. Without one, you will not succeed. Employers are looking for people with talent, people who can get the job done, and you may very well be that person. But, without a proper resume, you will never get the chance to prove it. You have to give employers a polished and professional resume, one that emphasizes all of your best qualities. To help you accomplish this, we have provided several tips that can guarantee you the best resume possible. No matter what your situation, these tips will help you make a powerful impression.
1. Apply...
Resume Writing: 7 Strategies that Say Hire Me
Sample resume > Resume Writing: 7 Strategies that Say Hire Me
What Do You Mean I Am A Product?! (Career Marketing 101)
What Do You Mean I Am A Product?! (Career Marketing 101)
by: Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC
Job search seems to have many hurdles to overcome ? resume, interview technique, appearance, and networking are challenges that job seekers face. These hurdles are surmountable with a strong job search plan and dedicated execution. Job seekers need to apply traditional advertising and marketing methods to their job search to achieve results. By thinking of themselves as the ?product? and the employer as the ?buyer? job seekers can approach their career transitions from a sales aspect.
Market Analysis
Most job seekers have no clear concept of their target market, the conditions of the market, and the types of employers whom would hire them. They need to conduct a market analysis similar to what most business owners have developed as part of a business plan. The business owner must conduct some sort of market analysis to determine to whom they are going...
What Do You Mean I Am A Product?! (Career Marketing 101)
Sample resume > What Do You Mean I Am A Product?! (Career Marketing 101)
Preparing For An Interview
Preparing For An Interview
by: Michelle Roebuck
When preparing for an interview, you need to know your skills, experiences and achievements, and how to answer interview questions.
Your Skills
Become an expert about yourself.
Before you wrote your resume, you probably prepared a list of skills, experiences and achievements.
If not, then it?s a good idea to take some time and prepare one.
This information will help you answer questions that are most commonly asked during the interview.
There are all types of interview questions, but no book or web site can give you the answers.
Only you can come up with answers to these questions, because you?re the only one who knows what your skills, experiences and achievements are.
The interviewer is asking these questions in order to find out how much of an asset you will be to the company if hired.
Come up with real life examples that...
Sample resume > Preparing For An Interview
Don't Give Up on a Job You Want
Don't Give Up on a Job You Want
by: Scott Brown
There are always companies out there that you hear comments about like, "that?s the best place to work," or "I heard they have the best benefits," and you occasionally run across a job ad that sounds like the position was custom-built for you.
When you come across these types of companies or opportunities, it pays to be professional and persistent until you get a job there. It may only take a couple of months or it might take several years. You may need to finish your degree or get more specific experience. Nevertheless, if you have decided that this is where you want to work, then do something about it.
Get the interview
The first step to get a position with a specific company is to secure an interview. Make sure your resume is tight, with the best experience, the best skills and the latest format possible. Create an incredible cover letter that further explains why they should be interested...
Don't Give Up on a Job You Want
Sample resume > Don't Give Up on a Job You Want
Las Vegas Hotel Maps
Las Vegas Hotel Maps
by: J Herrera
So you are planning to visit Las Vegas but?. do you know where to start looking? Do you know where are the places you want to see? And, most important of all?. do you know where are you going to stay? Obviously you can not go anywhere if you do not know any of these things, right? Maybe it has happened to you that you have been to Las Vegas or any other place but you did not have a good experience as you expected, maybe the...
I'm Changing Careers - How Do I Format My Resume? Sample resume hotels
Sample resume > Las Vegas Hotel Maps
Graduate Degree Programs
Graduate Degree Programs
by: Kathy Jones
There are a number of online graduate degree programs that are available on the net. You can virtually get a graduate degree program in each and every discipline you wish to search. These anytime, anywhere courses cover topics from business and management education to film production and journalism. You can even get graduate degree programs for fields such as fashion designing.
Many universities now offer online...
Graduate Degree Programs I'm Changing Careers - How Do I Format My Resume? Sample resume
Sample resume > Graduate Degree Programs
Auto Parts Fast Features the New 2007 GMC Yukon Denali and Top Quality GMC Parts
Auto Parts Fast Features the New 2007 GMC Yukon Denali and Top Quality GMC Parts
by: Stacey Wilson
The sale of SUVs has slightly abated recently due to rising prices of fuel but GMC seems not daunted by this phenomenon. Just last October 5, 2005, GMC unveiled the 2007 Yukon and the flagship Yukon Denali full-size SUV at the California International Auto Show in Anaheim. In GMC?s words, these new Yukon editions are the most powerful, agile, fuel efficient and...
I'm Changing Careers - How Do I Format My Resume? Auto Parts Fast Features the New 2007 GMC Yukon Denali and Top Quality GMC Parts Sample resume suv
Sample resume > Auto Parts Fast Features the New 2007 GMC Yukon Denali and Top Quality GMC Parts
Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters
Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters
by: Charles Mohaney
More than your average sailboat, mega yacht charters offer all the luxury of a five star hotel, more room than most city apartments around the world, and the freedom to go where you want without having to pack and unpack at every stop. In addition, mega yacht charters come fully staffed if you so desire making this one vacation you won?t need another vacation to recover from!
The Secrets to Affordable...
cruise
Sample resume > Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters
Baby Gifts ? A Guide for Men
Baby Gifts ? A Guide for Men
by: Robin Darch
Buying gifts for babies can be a difficult chore for men, especially for single men. After all, how can a man who has no children know what the best Baby Gifts are? With this article I hope to help men take some of the mystery out of shopping for Baby Gifts. Baby shower gifts can be simple or elegant, traditional or creative and personal. Select with creativity and care. The possibilities are endless.
Check...
gifts Baby Gifts ? A Guide for Men
Sample resume > Baby Gifts ? A Guide for Men