Focus on related, not recent experience
Dear Sam: Previously, I worked for several years in the financial services field with a company that eventually shut its doors. I was also in the middle of finishing up my degree in a course of study that was somewhat related to the industry. To be able to pay bills and support my family while I went to school, I took a job that was not related to my experience or education in the financial services field. Early on, having been at this unrelated job for just a month, my résumé still worked well, as it started with my related experience. Now, with 5 months in this position, I am forced to add it to the top of my professional experience section which not only takes away from the other strong experience, but also causes employers to ask why I didn't pick up something that was related to what I'd been doing. How do I minimize this period of time on my résumé? – Bob
Dear Bob: To minimize the impact of a segue from the industry, use a combination résumé format to present your experience. Begin your résumé with a qualifications summary showcasing all of your related experience and education, of course not making any mention of your brief hiatus from your chosen field. Next, instead of starting the professional experience section, present a selected highlights section. In this section, explore your past related experience that positions you for what you want to do next in your career. Organize these either by employer or by skill. If the employers you worked for were notable, you might want to organize this section by employer, meaning you would have select employers’ names presented with highlights underneath. If you decide highlighting your experiences in key areas would be better, then simply present your content underneath functional subheadings. Next, present the professional experience section. Hopefully, your highlights section will fill the remainder of page one after the qualifications summary, strategically dropping your most recent, unrelated experience to the top of page two—and, most importantly, minimizing its impact during the screening process. Try to translate the skills gained in this position to your current objective, being sure you communicate why this experience is valuable regardless of whether it was related or not. One last point I want to mention is to make sure you are not presenting months of employment on your résumé. If your last related position ended just 5 months ago (in 2008), then really there isn’t a rush to include your nonrelated experience just yet. If that’s not the case, and it ended in 2007, then implement the strategy explained above to minimize its impact on your search. I wish you well.
Dear Sam: I am an electrical engineer in my fifties and looking for ways to not show my age in my résumé, which I think is adversely affecting my job search. I deleted the dates from my college degrees and also deleted my earliest job experience. However, I still show my dates of employment for each of the jobs that I have included, such as 1995-2002. Do you think this is a problem, and is there a good way to omit these dates without raising the suspicion of gaps in employment? – John
Dear John: Omitting dates of employment from all positions will definitely raise enough red flags that it will likely prevent you from getting in the door every time. You have taken the right approach in omitting your year of graduation and excluding earlier experience. I typically start thinking about whether an experience is adding value to someone’s candidacy when I start seeing dates back in the very early ‘90s and ‘80s; it’s then that I really need to see a compelling reason to include that early experience, for it to make the cut on a résumé. As long as your content is in line with today’s industry jargon, and you are not opening your résumé with a statement like, “more than 20 years’ experience,” you should be seen as not such a seasoned professional and be a little more competitive in the job market.
Dear Sam: I have been considering putting my picture on my résumé. I think that seeing a person, instead of just a list of qualifications, would generate additional interest. Is this a common practice and something that you think would be a good thing to do for a recent grad? – James
Dear James: No, placing a headshot on a résumé is not a common practice, and it should be avoided unless your face is key to what you do. In other words, if you have a recognizable face or are in a field where your looks play a significant role in your success, like a model, on-air broadcaster, etc. Using your image really won't generate additional interest for your résumé; instead, the hiring manager will wonder why you included your picture. The only times I have used a headshot on a résumé have been for clients within the music industry who use a candid or artistic image rather than a traditional headshot, or for C-level executives or sales managers who have a recognizable name and face. Stick to using your education, skills, and accomplishments to garner the hiring manager’s interest.
Dear Sam: I last updated my résumé six years ago. I am now required to submit a résumé as part of an accreditation review. The problem lies in that my degree is in one field (Education), and I am currently working in another field, in which I have more than 20 years of experience, but no master’s degree. Is it acceptable to list your educational background without mentioning the type or kind of degree you hold? Thank you. – Karen
Dear Karen: If it would detract from your candidacy to include your degree in Education, then yes, it is fine to simply list the type of degree you have without the major. You would just list the degree-granting institution followed by the degree you hold, whether B.S. or B.A., with no note as to the major. That is a pretty common strategy for those who need to minimize the appearance of having unrelated education or even a previous career.
Samantha Nolan is a certified professional résumé writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service résumé writing firm. Reach Samantha at dearsam@ladybug-design.com, www.ladybug-design.com, or 1‑888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).
Dear Bob: To minimize the impact of a segue from the industry, use a combination résumé format to present your experience. Begin your résumé with a qualifications summary showcasing all of your related experience and education, of course not making any mention of your brief hiatus from your chosen field. Next, instead of starting the professional experience section, present a selected highlights section. In this section, explore your past related experience that positions you for what you want to do next in your career. Organize these either by employer or by skill. If the employers you worked for were notable, you might want to organize this section by employer, meaning you would have select employers’ names presented with highlights underneath. If you decide highlighting your experiences in key areas would be better, then simply present your content underneath functional subheadings. Next, present the professional experience section. Hopefully, your highlights section will fill the remainder of page one after the qualifications summary, strategically dropping your most recent, unrelated experience to the top of page two—and, most importantly, minimizing its impact during the screening process. Try to translate the skills gained in this position to your current objective, being sure you communicate why this experience is valuable regardless of whether it was related or not. One last point I want to mention is to make sure you are not presenting months of employment on your résumé. If your last related position ended just 5 months ago (in 2008), then really there isn’t a rush to include your nonrelated experience just yet. If that’s not the case, and it ended in 2007, then implement the strategy explained above to minimize its impact on your search. I wish you well.
Dear Sam: I am an electrical engineer in my fifties and looking for ways to not show my age in my résumé, which I think is adversely affecting my job search. I deleted the dates from my college degrees and also deleted my earliest job experience. However, I still show my dates of employment for each of the jobs that I have included, such as 1995-2002. Do you think this is a problem, and is there a good way to omit these dates without raising the suspicion of gaps in employment? – John
Dear John: Omitting dates of employment from all positions will definitely raise enough red flags that it will likely prevent you from getting in the door every time. You have taken the right approach in omitting your year of graduation and excluding earlier experience. I typically start thinking about whether an experience is adding value to someone’s candidacy when I start seeing dates back in the very early ‘90s and ‘80s; it’s then that I really need to see a compelling reason to include that early experience, for it to make the cut on a résumé. As long as your content is in line with today’s industry jargon, and you are not opening your résumé with a statement like, “more than 20 years’ experience,” you should be seen as not such a seasoned professional and be a little more competitive in the job market.
Dear Sam: I have been considering putting my picture on my résumé. I think that seeing a person, instead of just a list of qualifications, would generate additional interest. Is this a common practice and something that you think would be a good thing to do for a recent grad? – James
Dear James: No, placing a headshot on a résumé is not a common practice, and it should be avoided unless your face is key to what you do. In other words, if you have a recognizable face or are in a field where your looks play a significant role in your success, like a model, on-air broadcaster, etc. Using your image really won't generate additional interest for your résumé; instead, the hiring manager will wonder why you included your picture. The only times I have used a headshot on a résumé have been for clients within the music industry who use a candid or artistic image rather than a traditional headshot, or for C-level executives or sales managers who have a recognizable name and face. Stick to using your education, skills, and accomplishments to garner the hiring manager’s interest.
Dear Sam: I last updated my résumé six years ago. I am now required to submit a résumé as part of an accreditation review. The problem lies in that my degree is in one field (Education), and I am currently working in another field, in which I have more than 20 years of experience, but no master’s degree. Is it acceptable to list your educational background without mentioning the type or kind of degree you hold? Thank you. – Karen
Dear Karen: If it would detract from your candidacy to include your degree in Education, then yes, it is fine to simply list the type of degree you have without the major. You would just list the degree-granting institution followed by the degree you hold, whether B.S. or B.A., with no note as to the major. That is a pretty common strategy for those who need to minimize the appearance of having unrelated education or even a previous career.
Samantha Nolan is a certified professional résumé writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service résumé writing firm. Reach Samantha at dearsam@ladybug-design.com, www.ladybug-design.com, or 1‑888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).
posted by Dear Sam at Thursday, August 14, 2008
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