Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Melanie Szlucha on October 29, 2011 at 12:27pm

Hi Beverly,

Actually I just talked to someone today with that same situation. You need to address what you've been doing since 2002 in some way, otherwise as an employer I'm more suspicious that you've been doing nothing (and will assume that), than the fact that you have been employed.

 

So without knowing your specific circumstance, can you put something like what I have below as the first line of your experience?

 

Manufacturing Positions (or something that indicates the skill or industry or position?) | Location, State  2002 -- 2011

Positions with XYZ and ABC companies manufacturing widgets. Fast-paced positions requiring high attention to detail to ensure that parts were assembled correctly as traveled down a conveyor belt.

 

My point being that I'm addressing what you did and where you did it in a general form without getting into a lot of detail. I'm also giving them some idea of the skills that you used on the job to help them picture it in your mind. I'm sure that there's some transferable skills you can demonstrate you used in this job. You can probably do something similar for each job you had since 2002, or do it as a summary as I have above. Again the goal is to just relieve the hiring manager's concerns that you're not going to be used to putting in a full day of work, or that there's something "wrong" with you that you haven't been working.

 

Hope that gives you some ideas.

 

Melanie Szlucha

 

Permalink Reply by Kendall Heier on October 29, 2011 at 2:05pm

It is good that you are getting interviews or creating review of your application and resume.

 

Obviously you have to answer your work history questions in a positive way.  How are you conveying "Why should I hire you" in an interview.  If you don't get this question or don't get to use this in your answers, I would be ready to tell them at the end of the intervew when they ask for questions.  It isn't bragging if it is the truth.

 

Dates should always been on the right side of the page, never let a HR type just skim your resume for dates, make them work for it.

 

Your functional resume that supports the position you are applying with Jobs listed at the bottom with dates on ther right side should change the focus of your resume. 

Permalink Reply by Beverly Wainio on October 29, 2011 at 5:18pm

Thanks to you for helping me with this "gray" area. I will definately take your advise.

Permalink Reply by T Suing on October 31, 2011 at 5:51pm

I've had to deal with this issue more than once as a Career Development Facilitator (GCDF).  On the one hand, you have someone telling you NOT to include information/work history that is not relevant to the work you are seeking.  At the same time, that same individual is say, "...but don't have gaps in your work history."  OK...so how, exactly do you do one without the other one occurring naturally?  YOU DON'T!

So-called 'irrelevant' work history still has its place on any resume. Why would you leave out 5, 8 or 10 years of your professional life, simply because it's not directly related to the work you are seeking?  Its value is that it can show consistency in employment, longevity, reliability, promotions, increased levels of responsibility...you get my drift?  On the other hand, there is no need to go into great detail regarding these jobs if, in fact, they are not related to your target job.  keep in mind that your resume is YOUR document.  The whole idea is to have a serious understanding of what the employer's needs are for the target job, and then make sure that you address those needs within the first half page of your resume; make sure they see what they need to see to want to call you in for an interview.  You're wise to have a number of 'customized' resumes;  too many people have a 'one-size-fits-all' type of document that doesn't fit ANYTHING very well.  Not a good plan.

 

Good luck with your job hunt.  Trust yourself and dip into the your well of common sense.  It won't fail you!

Permalink Reply by Beverly Wainio on November 1, 2011 at 11:49am

Thank you. I am reworking my resume to address the "cross over" experience and abilities.