http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=362x798Oh my.
Haknwak (3 posts) Fri Jul-31-09 02:53 PM
Original message
Resume advice
Brief on my background - over 15 years in my field; nearly a dozen different positions - some due to contracting, some due to corporate downsizing and/or bankruptcy.
My field of expertise requires one to have skills "a mile wide and an inch deep"; this my skills and experience alone would fill multiple pages.
I have focused in several areas that are very marketable and valuable.
Now to the resume -
To chronologically document all my positions, the synergistic flow of pertinent skills becomes fragmented and diminished - does not grab the reader's attention.
Knowing most HR departments and corporate resume websites require said chronological order, I am stuck in an archaic method of presentation.
To get around this, I use my cover letter and an addendum to pull together all my crucial talents, skills and accomplishments into an easily readable format.
The cover letter ties major accomplishments and related skills together into a valuable set. It also speaks to the standard topics such as career goals and a brief synopsis of aspects of all my positions that enables the reader to visualize me as a whole entity; as opposed to the piecemeal entity created in the work experience section.
There are one or two short-term positions that, for several reasons, do not enhance my overall value and viability in my field. These I have replaced with section sspeaking vaguely to the job responsiblities and a statement of confidentiality to the clients. It says that I cannot divulge the client's details due to non-disclosure agreements both regarding the identity of the cleint and the sensitivity of the work performed.
The addendum quantifies my skills and talents by strength on a scale of one to ten. Thus I create a valuable and cohesive person who has highly notable and valuable accomplishments and the skills and talents to perform said accomplishments.
These are all discussed and eluded to in the work experience section.
This all in mind, I ask our experienced reviewers, hiring managers, and skilled writers for feedback and advice on enhancing or making my resume more viable and eye-catching.
franksolich has always found a good cover letter more effective than a good resume.
Of course, not being a primitive, franksolich can write some awesome cover letters.
But anyway, I digress.....
stewartcolbert08 (614 posts) Sun Dec-20-09 03:23 AM
Response to Original message
1. I was reading that alot of the newer type resumes have done away with the objective field and are starting out with summary of qualifications at the top in place of objective. This way its like your selling yourself right off the bat. I did my most recent one that way and I thought it was more impressive than the old one.
Berry Cool (1000+ posts) Thu Dec-24-09 10:06 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. That's what I do with mine. I have NEVER used an "Objective" on my resumes and they've been successful.
On the most recent version of my resume, I've presented a summary sentence and then a little series of bullets that serves as a short piece of "ad copy" on my experience. I figure if I have only a few seconds to make it to the reject or keep pile, those first lines can be read in those seconds, and they may be enough to buy me a few more seconds of reading my actual employment history and experience. And that may make all the difference between getting onto the keep pile vs. the reject pile.
I have always thought stating an objective was silly. I mean, our ultimate objective is what? To get a job so we can pay the bills. All else is negotiable depending on the circumstances. But that's not what they want to hear, so why bother? Instead, focus on "Here's the experience I've got--experience that matches what you need. That's why you should talk to me." Period.
Lisa0825 (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-29-10 10:34 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. As a recruiter who handles the front line reviewing of resumes, I agree...
A well-done summary can give a great overview of your career and strengths. My own resume includes a summary about 5 sentences long (about 4 lines) and then a table with my six most relevant skills bulleted right beneath it. Then I start my chronology.
I prefer chronology when I am reviewing resumes simply because most functional resumes lack any way for me to quantify how much experience you have in your roles. An excellent summary can overcome that, but the summary is also a good intro to a chronological resume as well.
