Page 134 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Part 2 ➤ Six Steps to a Perfect Resume

Bonus Check
You’re free to state your date ranges either with the century digits in both years (for
example: 1998–1999) or with the century digits in the first year and not in the second
(for example: 1998–99). The key is to be consistent throughout your resume.

Character That Counts
Even if your activities during your unemployment have no apparent
relevancy to your job objective, you need to account for the gap.
Explain what you were doing in a way that is honest and feels comfort-
able to you. If your main activity was something you don’t want to
talk about, think of something else you were doing during that time,
Job-Hunt Hint even if it doesn’t relate to your job objective, and refer to that activity

Presenting only years in your instead of using a job title in your Work History. Some suggested sub-
Work History may not only save stitutes for a job title include
you from having to explain gaps
Full-Time Parent
of unemployment, but will also
make your resume easier to read. Home Management
Months complicate the presen-
Family Management
tation and make it harder (and
therefore longer) for someone to Family Financial Management
figure out. Remember the eight-
Independent Study
second scan? Providing just the
years will help you pass that Personal Travel
eight-second test.
Adventure Travel

Travels to (fill in the place you traveled to)
Professional Development
Freelance Work (replace Work with the type of work you did, such as
writer, artist, or plumber)
Student
Career Casualty Consultant

Don’t refer to personal illness,
Contractual Work (replace Work with the type of work you did, such as
unemployment, or rehabilitation
administrator, accountant, hair stylist)
in your Work History. These top-
ics usually raise red flags, so avoid Relocation from abroad
mentioning them at all cost.
Volunteer
Civic Leader

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