Page 128 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Part 2 ➤ Six Steps to a Perfect Resume

If you’re a functional resume writer, Work History will be listed in one
section at the bottom of your resume. The following functional resume
template highlights the area I’m talking about.
The next step is to put the Work History section in your resume.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? But what if you have a situation that’s
tricky to present in your employment history? This situation could be
Job-Hunt Hint any of the following:

There is no prescribed order in
➤ Dates that go back so far that they trigger age discrimination.
which to list your work history
➤ So little employment history that you appear too young for
components (date, job title,
the job.
employer’s name, city). For
instance, the President of ➤ Gaps in your work history.
Universal Studios might present
➤ Multiple positions at the same company.
his work history in any one of
these ways:
Take a look at the following resume templates, with the Professional
1999–pres., President, Experience and Work History sections highlighted. Let’s take a closer
Universal Studios, Los look at some Work History issues and figure out ways you can resolve
Angeles them.
President, Universal
Studios, Los Angeles,
1999–pres. Fight Age Discrimination
Universal Studios, Los “How far back should I go in my work history?” is a good question to
Angeles, President, ask yourself as you set out to document your history. In general, you’re
1999–pres. not expected to go back more than 10 years, but you can if it’s to your
Universal Studios, Los benefit. To help you figure out how far back to go in your work history,
Angeles, 1999–pres., consider the following:
President
➤ How relevant your earliest positions are to your job objective
Prioritize the elements according
➤ How old you want to appear on your resume
to your job objective’s relevance.
Age discrimination is illegal, but like it or not, employers usually try to
figure out your age using the dates you give. Most employers have an
age range they consider to be ideal for a particular job, based on the
following factors:
➤ Salary expectations
➤ Skill level
➤ Ability to supervise or be supervised
Career Casualty
➤ Amount of life experience needed
Of all the sections of your
➤ Company or industry image
resume, your Work History is the
most likely to be verified by a
potential employer. Be sure your
entries in this section coincide
exactly with the information
your former employers will give.

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