Resumes

Resumes are subjective. What one person loves, another person hates.

The key to an effective resume is understanding who will be reading it. It pays to research the company or recruiter you want to work with; know what they expect in a resume and modify yours accordingly.

To further confuse things, standards vary wildly:

- In the US and parts of Asia, resumes should be concise: no more than 2 pages, in most cases.

- In Europe, and in scientific and academic jobs around the world, the CV (curriculum vitae) is required. Think of a CV as a long list of everything you've ever done: every job you've held, every speech you've given, every class you've taught, every presentation you've delivered......you get the idea.

- Students should have a 1-page resume, with the Education section at the top. (Template coming soon.)

Types of Resumes

Chronological resumes present your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job first. Chronological resumes work best when you have a steady work history with no or very short gaps between jobs. Advantage: easy to tell how recently you've used the skills you claim. Disadvantage: can pigeon-hole you; can also hide other strong skills not tied directly to a job.

Functional resumes work best for people returning to the workforce after a long absence, or for people making a big shift in their career. Advantage: this format shows your skills to their best. Disadvantage: hiring managers want to be able to tie your skills to recent work experience.

A combination resume combines the best of chronological and functional resumes. This format calls out both your top skills and includes work history, so it works well when you're making a big transition. Advantage: makes it easier to tie skills to jobs.

More content coming soon, including sample templates you can download.

Need help with a resume? Call us at 877-JOBS-417 or email us at resumes@douglas-partners.com.