Resume dilemmas solved

"Article Highlights:
> Shape up your resume for the New Year > Be upfront about career gaps > Get ready for competitive jobs market"

        Whatever your reasons are, the New Year is a perfect excuse to put your best foot forward and get your resume into shape.

        With a new resume, come new challenges. Your resume is your representation to the working world, and given the economic downturn many people may find when they first sit down to write their resume, there are certain ‘elements’ they’d like to hide. Their first impulse might be to cover up employment gaps; however you can still make yourself attractive by telling the truth.

        Here are seven tips for dealing with the trickiest resume dilemmas, so you can get on with applying for the job you want:

        1. Covering a gap in your resume

        Many people have gaps in their work history. If you have a legitimate reason for major gaps, such as undertaking study or taking family leave, you can simply state this on your resume, with dates, just as you would list previous employment. If you took time off to travel put it down, this could actually benefit you.

        Think about other activities you can use to fill that time period. You might have experience relevant to your job target, regardless of whether you were paid. Volunteer activities, community involvement and consulting engagements can be used in the Experience section.

        2. You’ve held a lot of jobs in a short amount of time

        Short, frequent job stints can raise eyebrows, and while it may be tempting to omit a few positions, it’s always better to fully disclose. If you have a legitimate reason for job hopping explain it in your cover letter. If not, be prepared to endure a little more scrutiny and to explain yourself in the interview.

        3. You’ve only worked for one company

        While a long tenure at a company demonstrates loyalty you also want to make sure you emphasise career growth. List each position you’ve held at the firm to show forward momentum. You also might have a section highlighting ongoing education and professional development activities.

        4. You’ve held several temporary positions but few permanent roles

        Fifty-six per cent of employers polled by Robert Half said they view a long period of consistent temporary work as comparable to permanent work. You can list temporary positions in reverse chronological order, just as you would permanent jobs. If you worked with a recruitment firm, use the name of the firm you worked through as your employer, grouping all of your jobs from that company together. Also, make sure you indicate that the jobs were temporary positions so potential employers are clear about the nature of your positions.

        5. You have had little experience relevant to the position you are applying for

        It can be hard to write a resume for a position if you haven’t had a huge amount of relevant experience.  To combat this you should consider using a resume format that focuses on your functional skills. Begin with a short summary of your experience at the top of your document. If you’re an accountant seeking a management position in the food services industry, your summary might read, “CPA with nine years of financial management reporting experience with an emphasis on the food services industry. Possess five years of supervisory experience managing team of 15 accountants.” Follow the summary with a section detailing relevant skills, grouping related ones together into categories such as “software skills” or “supervisory experience.” Then briefly list your work history in reverse chronological order.

        Also keep in mind that the work history section of your resume isn’t exclusive to paid, permanent work. If you’ve had any other experience relevant to the position, it’s perfectly acceptable to list any internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work or other applicable experience you’ve gained. You might be surprised to find you have more experience relevant to that job than you think.

        6. You’re not sure how to list your education

        As your work history develops, academic accomplishments carry less weight, so if you’ve been in the job market for more than a few years, you don’t need to include your entire academic transcript in your resume. Simply state the degree earned at the end of your resume.

        7. Your former employer changed its name

        You worked for years for Boxes-R-Us before it was acquired by BoxMania. The simplest solution to address the name change on your resume is to list the current company name, followed by the company’s former name in parentheses. Putting both names on your resume ensures that potential employers can locate the appropriate information when verifying your work history and conducting reference checks. If your former employer has gone out of business — unfortunately, not uncommon in today’s economy — also note that in parentheses. Just be sure to keep in contact with anyone from the firm whom you hope to use as a professional reference.

        With the economy and job market expected to improve dramatically in 2010, job opportunities will become much more competitive. This marks the importance of ensuring your resume is the best it can possibly be, and stands out from other applicants.

        

         Andrew Brushfield is a director at recruitment firm Robert Half (www.roberthalf.com.au)

More Details: http://www.careerone.com.au/news-advice/resumes/seven-common-resume-dilemmas-solved-20091207