Crafting your resume and cover letters to maximize exposure takes time but your best efforts can pay off in callbacks, interviews and finding the right job!

Initial Questions & Answers

Question: What if I don't have any experience in the kind of work I want to do?

Answer: The short answer is -- get some. Search for opportunities where you can volunteer and gain valuable experience. Even a small amount of experience for a concentrated period of time gives you something to put on your resume.

Question: What do I do if I have gaps in my work experience?

Answer: The first would be to say what you were doing during that gap as gracefully as possible. If you were volunteering, going to school, working on a certification, or doing anything of value during that time period then you can list that in the work history space.

Examples:

2003-2007 Full time parent
2003-2004 Maternity leave and family management
Travel and study
Full time student
Parenting plus community service

Question: How far back should I go in my work history?

Answer: In between 10-15 years unless you've got significant relevant experience from even further back.

Question: If I've only worked for one employer for 10+ years how should I display it?

Answer: List each position you've held with the company seperately to make your job progression more obvious.

Resumes Tips

You don't have to include everything you have ever done. No one wants to read more than two pages at most.
Include other interests. If you're too one dimensional (all work and no play), you risk looking dull.
You don't need to list your references on your resume, unless this is requested.
Edit your resume, beyond a quick spell check. Ask a friend or two to review it, and give you their honest opinion.
Never fudge the dates, job titles, or responsibilities. Be truthful in any market, knowing that many companies track down your work history on their own.

Resume Examples

Chronological: A chronological resume lists your work history in reverse order with your current or most recent position listed first. The benefit of this format is it's easy for employers to see what jobs you've held and when.

PDF Example | Word Example

Functional: A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience instead of listing your work history. This format is best used for professionals looking to make a career change or that have gaps in their employment history.

PDF Example | Word Example

Combination: A combination resume contains the characteristics of a functional and chronological resume with the skills and experience listed first while the work history is listed after. This format is excellent when applying for a specific position. It allows you to highlight relevant points that make you perfect for the opportunity.

PDF Example | Word Example

Displaying Temp Work: Some people enjoy the freedom of never being tied down to a full time job while others are trying to jump start their career or get it back on track. Regardless of where you stand, it's important to display temporary work history in a manner that best represents your skills and experience.

PDF Example 1 | PDF Example 2 | Word Example 1 | Word Example 2

Still need help?

We are happy to recommend the fine work of Dawn Rasmussen of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services:

503-539-3954 phone; dawn@pathfindercareers.com; www.pathfindercareers.com web; http://pathfindercareers.blogspot.com/ blog

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