Page 133 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Chapter 8 ➤ Step Three: Been There, Done That

Bonus Check
If you’re a seasoned professional with a few careers under your belt, it may be to your
advantage to mention only your most recent career on your resume in order to avoid age
discrimination. This is a completely acceptable practice, one I recommend if it expedites
your job search.

Years Go Solo
Use only years, not months, when referring to spans of time in
your Work History. Using years makes it quicker for the potential
employer to grasp the length of time and can eliminate the need to
explain gaps of less than two years.
Notice the gap in this presentation: Career Casualty
12/95– 3/99 Manager Friendly’s Ice Cream A void in your work history may
Parlor, Trenton, NJ cause an employer to think that
you are hiding something or that
2/92–12/94 Manager Lyon’s Restaurant,
you might have a past or current
Milbrae, CA
problem (such as substance
abuse, incarceration, laziness, or
Without the months, there is no apparent gap:
instability) that would affect
1995–1999 Manager Friendly’s Ice Cream your ability to work. To gain the
employer’s trust, it’s important
Parlor, Trenton, NJ
to justify your employment gaps.
1992–1994 Manager Lyon’s Restaurant,
Milbrae, CA

Filling in the Gaps

If your unemployment covers two calendar years or more, you need to explain the void.
Consider all the things you were doing during that time (volunteer work, school activities,
internships, schooling, travel, and so on) and present it in a way that’s relevant to your job
objective, if possible.
Someone looking for a medical sales position who took care of an ill parent for two years
might list the following:

1996–98 Home Care Provider for terminally ill relative
An applicant for a travel agent position could refer to a vacation:
1998–99 Independent travel: Europe, Asia, and South America
A mother wanting to reenter the job market as a teacher’s aide might say:
1993–99 Full-Time Parent and PTA Volunteer, St. John’s Academy

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