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How to write my resume?
I’m retired. Been asked to provide a resume. I don’t know how to list my history. Only worked for three companies in 65 years of employment!
Note: this question was asked anonymously by a learner
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4 answers
Francesca Ceppi
Talent Acquisition (Recruitment)
1
Answer
Warrington, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Francesca’s Answer
Hello there! When it comes to job hunting, resumes are your golden ticket.
I'd suggest using a site like 'canva' (www.canva.com) for formatting. It provides a variety of templates that make your information stand out and easy to comprehend.
As a professional who often reviews resumes, here are the key areas I suggest you focus on:
1. Personal details: Include your name, location (like Atlanta, Georgia), contact information (email and phone), and your work eligibility status (if applicable).
2. A brief overview or 'about me' section: This is where you sum up your career journey so far, spotlight your skills, and hint at the kind of job you're looking for.
3. Skills: List your top 5 skills that you believe set you apart.
4. Experience: Detail your past jobs, including your roles, responsibilities, job title, employment duration, and location. Don't forget to mention any significant achievements or successes you had in those roles.
5. Education: Share your educational background or any special training you've received.
6. Extras: This can include languages you speak, certifications you hold, awards you've received, or anything else that makes you unique.
Remember, the person reading your resume doesn't know you. Your resume should offer a glimpse into who you are and what you can bring to the table. You can then delve into more specifics during an interview or call. Tailor your resume to fit the job you're applying for, ensuring your skills align with what the job demands. Including a picture is optional.
I hope you find this advice useful. Best of luck with your job search!
I'd suggest using a site like 'canva' (www.canva.com) for formatting. It provides a variety of templates that make your information stand out and easy to comprehend.
As a professional who often reviews resumes, here are the key areas I suggest you focus on:
1. Personal details: Include your name, location (like Atlanta, Georgia), contact information (email and phone), and your work eligibility status (if applicable).
2. A brief overview or 'about me' section: This is where you sum up your career journey so far, spotlight your skills, and hint at the kind of job you're looking for.
3. Skills: List your top 5 skills that you believe set you apart.
4. Experience: Detail your past jobs, including your roles, responsibilities, job title, employment duration, and location. Don't forget to mention any significant achievements or successes you had in those roles.
5. Education: Share your educational background or any special training you've received.
6. Extras: This can include languages you speak, certifications you hold, awards you've received, or anything else that makes you unique.
Remember, the person reading your resume doesn't know you. Your resume should offer a glimpse into who you are and what you can bring to the table. You can then delve into more specifics during an interview or call. Tailor your resume to fit the job you're applying for, ensuring your skills align with what the job demands. Including a picture is optional.
I hope you find this advice useful. Best of luck with your job search!
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1664
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
You want to start by looking at the job description of the position you are interested in. A resume is definitely NOT an autobiography - you just want to list the relevant experience. The fact that I can safely operate an emergency vehicle in rush-hour traffic is not relevant for a job as a library aide!
Then you will want to list the history in reverse chronological order, using a bulleted format. Please do not write in paragraphs - you want to show that you are considerate of the reader's time! if you held multiple positions at one employer, you can list them separately, or, all under one heading but with separate bullet points. Normally the past ten years or so is all that is listed, so, unless experience you obtained 65 years ago is super-applicable to the position you are applying for, please don't list it! Plus, if you don't want them knowing how old you are, definitely don't list 65 years of work history!
The above is a resume format known as "chronological."
It's possible that a "functional" resume will work better for you. It allows you to choose 3-5 skills that you want to highlight, and list your work history (with years) at the very bottom. This hopefully allows the reader to get "hooked" on you before realizing how long ago you actually had the experience you are speaking of. There is plenty of info on-line on this. It takes a little time if you have never done it before, but, could prove worthwhile.
Good luck!
Kim
Then you will want to list the history in reverse chronological order, using a bulleted format. Please do not write in paragraphs - you want to show that you are considerate of the reader's time! if you held multiple positions at one employer, you can list them separately, or, all under one heading but with separate bullet points. Normally the past ten years or so is all that is listed, so, unless experience you obtained 65 years ago is super-applicable to the position you are applying for, please don't list it! Plus, if you don't want them knowing how old you are, definitely don't list 65 years of work history!
The above is a resume format known as "chronological."
It's possible that a "functional" resume will work better for you. It allows you to choose 3-5 skills that you want to highlight, and list your work history (with years) at the very bottom. This hopefully allows the reader to get "hooked" on you before realizing how long ago you actually had the experience you are speaking of. There is plenty of info on-line on this. It takes a little time if you have never done it before, but, could prove worthwhile.
Good luck!
Kim
Connor Adams
Technology Consultant
23
Answers
Provo, Utah
Updated
Connor’s Answer
Hi there,
Crafting a resume is crucial. As someone who frequently reviews them, I can tell you that the little things like format, grammar, and alignment truly matter. I strongly suggest you seek out a resume template online as a starting point. Moreover, if you're targeting a specific career, don't hesitate to ask friends or professionals in that field to share their resumes with you. This can provide a great example to follow.
Best of luck!
Crafting a resume is crucial. As someone who frequently reviews them, I can tell you that the little things like format, grammar, and alignment truly matter. I strongly suggest you seek out a resume template online as a starting point. Moreover, if you're targeting a specific career, don't hesitate to ask friends or professionals in that field to share their resumes with you. This can provide a great example to follow.
Best of luck!
Sid N
Entrepreneur
1
Answer
St. Augustine, Florida
Updated
Sid’s Answer
Hello, You can use online resume builders most of them for a small fee. Or you can use chatgpt to put in your information and ask to build a resume for you. You can do a lot more with it so you will be glad you tried.