I’m preparing to re-enter the work force, after a long hiatus (Yeah, way to time it wolfie! Wait for the biggest recession in history, and THEN decide to look for work!). The problem is, I’m not quite sure what to do about my resume.
It’s been seven years since I last worked full-time (and there was a gap of six years between that last job and the job that preceded it). I haven’t been completely idle in all that time, of course. In addition to being a full-time mom, running a household, and learning a foreign language (though not, alas, one that’s terribly marketable in California! I’d be hot stuff in Donegal!), I’ve done quite a bit of volunteer work, as well as the odd freelance job here and there (as well as teaching Irish). I just have no idea how to channel that experience into a resume format.
I’ve visited several resume sites, and looked at numerous examples, but haven’t found one yet that didn’t assume that the applicant had been either working or attending school pretty much steadily.
In my pre-Mommy life, I worked as a copy editor, and I also have some secretarial experience, though that’s pretty out of date.
Does anyone out there know of a site (or perhaps a book) that might help me?
I don’t have any concrete suggestion to make, but there’s gotta be stuff out there about getting off the mommy track and back into the workforce. Have you tried googling that specifically?
I found a few templates and ideas by
googling for this (including quotes):
resume writing “return to workforce”
Ironically, AARP.org has some resume
ideas for “50+ workers”, which catagory
surely includes some return-to-work folks.
One of the google results that I found did
not include any indication of chronology.
Instead the main section was “Summary
of Experience” and it included skills that
were used in old jobs plus those used in
volunteer work. The idea seemed to be
de-emphasizing the gap in work and instead
demonstrating what the applicant could do
for a prospective employer.
When I was job hunting, I liked to have 2
resumes, each emphasizing a different skill
set. I had experience designing both software
and hardware. So when I applied for more
software-centric jobs, I’d send the software
resume… you get the rest.
I agree the AARP has some good information on resume types and writing. My wife typically reviews several batches of resumes each week. I’ll ask her when I can. I know she hasn’t been real impressed with some types that seem to be popular with younger job seekers. I’m often surprised by the positions some younger job seekers think they’re qualified for, especially when their resume only shows a BA in humanities as experience. But when it comes to writing resumes I guess if ya don’t got BS ya got nothin’.
It’s been about seven years since my last job hunt, but it was a scary time.
What I remember is that most companies only accepted resumes electronically, and that most processed them through software filtering programs that looked for appropriate keywords, software product names and the like. My impression was that no resume would be met by human eyes until it had successfully traversed this electronic gauntlet. My search lasted for about six months, but ended well.
My advice would be to submit resumes tailored subtly, but specifically to the individual jobs you’re applying for, and include a liberal smattering of appropriate industry buzz words.
And don’t take rejection personally! Life’s far too short for that.
THE NUMBER ONE PURPOSE OF A RESUME The resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview. A resume is an advertisement, nothing more, nothing less.
It is so pleasing to the eye that the reader is enticed to pick it up and read it. It “whets the appetite,” stimulates interest in meeting you and learning more about you. It inspires the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview.
WHAT IT ISN’T It is a mistake to think of your resume as a history of your past, as a personal statement or as some sort of self expression. Sure, most of the content of any resume is focused on your job history. But write from the intention to create interest, to persuade the employer to call you. If you write with that goal, your final product will be very different than if you write to inform or catalog your job history.
I only have one additional thought to contribute–I’ve been on both sides of the hiring challenge; I’ve been the one looking, and I’ve also been the one looking at the resumes deciding who we wanted to call back.
Companies get massive amounts of “cookie cutter” resumes. To get that call to come in for an interview, there has to be something about yours that catches their attention.
That can be a wealth of different things. I once got an interview (and the job!) because I mentioned music on my resume, even though a very respected colleague had advised me strongly against doing just that.
I once called a woman back because she mentioned on her resume that she had kept her family financially stable through some very lean years, and that she felt that demonstrated real-world experience in living. She didn’t get the job, but she did get an interview. (She didn’t get the job because she couldn’t demonstrate hands-on computer skills when asked to do so.)
Best of luck in your job search! I hope you are quickly and gainfully employed!
Many years ago, I put a “miscellaneous skills” line on the bottom of my resume, in which I mentioned that I could ride a unicycle and juggle, and that I’d built my own super-insulated house. I don’t know if any of those things ever got me an interview, but the interviewers DID bring them up in interviews in a positive way, so it certainly didn’t hurt.
Key-word resume screening is widespread, and not in the least limited to the tech industry. Expect it to be going on at at least some level in pretty much any large organization.
yes thats the thing!
write your resume for the kind of employer or vocational partner/s you have in mind.
that way when you get your interview you will be half way to getting to know your prospective employer or partner/s.
If you don’t get the interview you know that you wouldn’t want to work for/with such people.
From my limited pre retirement experience it is pointless doing a one size fits all resume. You need to customise what you have to offer to the particular position you are aiming for.
For instance, if the position wants you to “demonstrate multi task prioritising in a strict deadlines environment” you might draw on
to illustrate your merit.
If the position doesn’t want that but wants someone who can achieve things without direct supervision you might rely on all of the above minus secretarial experence (unless you were a statutory or company secretary or some such thing).
On the other hand if the posi. does not want that but wants someone who can follow instructions precisely you may stress the compliance aspects of the above activities.
I hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree and have 30 years of “relevant” experience. However, I have yet to “land” employment within my profession. That being said, I would wholeheartedly agree with “Clarinetcat” in that the ultimate purpose of a resume is to secure an interview at which time you will be able to provide additional relevant information to your potential future employer. I too have fallen into the trap of treating my resume as if it was necessary that the document essentially told my “life story”. Furthermore, I would also agree with the advice offered by “crookedtune” in that you should ensure the resumes you submit are specific for the job (i.e. do not submit the same “cookie cutter” resume for each position). Additionally, as noted by “crookedtune” you definitely want to include “buzz words” related to the relevant industry as well as include any “buzz words” listed in the position description (e.g. “must be proficient with Microsoft office, etc.).
Throughout my “journey” I have found that 99 percent of the application materials you prepare will be submitted electronically (i.e. via the internet/e-mail) and you should consider yourself “lucky” if you receive an e-mail “confirming” receipt of your application materials and/or that you have been “rejected” for further consideration. In the instance you do “land” an interview, even if you are not offered the position, you should consider yourself extremely lucky if a “live” person calls you to deliver the news!
Based on my experience, I would recommend you not apply for jobs for which you are overqualified as the probability of being “rejected” is 99+ percent as the employers know that you’re likely to quit the position “once the economy” improves”. As no one (including the management of the firm with whom you are applying) has any idea when the economy will improve, this statement may sound a bit “odd”! However, I have been “rejected” for a multitude of positions which, for example, required only a four year degree and five years experience. Lastly, as noted by “crookedtune”, do not be personally offended if you are “rejected” for a position as you will definitely be “rejected” for positions, often with absolutely NO exchange of information.
The most important thing to remember is, when no one else seems to have any confidence in you it is imperative that the level of confidence you have for yourself exceeds 200 percent!
