A well-drafted Remodeler Resume should highlight various duties and tasks, such as replacing windows, creating wood structures, repairing roofs and floors, installing kitchen cabinets, coordinating laborers, collaborating with skilled craftsmen, assessing the site for remodeling, performing carpentry work, replacing plumbing fixtures, replacing drywall, installing flooring, and making repairs. The best spot for a career break on your resume is in the experience section, which should include a name for the “position”. It’s important to highlight how your self-employment makes you qualified for your target role by adjusting the job title on your resumes so it mirrors the language from the job description.
To increase your chances of finding a job as a remodeler, consider including great skills to put on your resume. There are 100 resume skills examples included, and if your resume profile is closer to a summary that highlights your key qualifications and accomplishments as they relate to a given job, tailor it very carefully for each application. To determine what skills to include on your resume, look through the job posting or description to see what the employer is looking for.
Remodeler resume samples should highlight abilities such as carpentry and construction expertise, problem-solving orientation, time management, teamwork, customer, and more. The most common important skills required by employers are Home Improvement Sales, Project Management, Construction Experience, Troubleshooting, Scheduling, and more. A self-employed home improvement contractor resume example with 20+ years of experience can be downloaded in PDF and Word formats.
To write a contractor resume, simply call it a job and put it under work experience. “Renovation Contractor” and list what you accomplished under the bullets can help increase your chances of finding a job as a remodeler.
📹 5 Things You Don’t Need on Your Resume Anymore
If you think your resume is not performing well, then you’re probably right. If your resume is like most peoples, you have a lot of …
How do you describe handyman skills on a resume?
A handyman resume should showcase skills in various repairs and maintenance tasks, customer satisfaction, effective communication, relevant certifications or vocational training, safe and efficient use of tools and equipment, flexibility in responding to emergency repairs, and effective time management. The experience section in a resume is crucial for showcasing work history and achievements in previous roles.
To avoid excessive details, candidates should focus on keywords essential for the role and demonstrate these key requirements throughout the resume, using accomplishments from their roles. This approach ensures a comprehensive and effective application for the job.
What is the best description of work from home?
Work from home refers to an employee who works from home instead of an office environment, either temporarily or permanently. This can be temporary, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, or a part of a home or hybrid working structure. Work from home job roles are diverse and can be performed from anywhere. Benefits of working from home for employers include reduced travel costs, increased flexibility, and increased productivity. Employers can support their teams who work from home, offering various support options to ensure a smooth transition.
What is a construction worker summary for a CV?
The individual is a skilled construction laborer with over two years of experience in various venues, capable of operating construction equipment and tools. They have excellent interpersonal, organizational, and social adjustment skills, and can work under pressure and meet constraints. They are experienced in electrical, plumbing, and general mechanical fields. The individual is dedicated to customer satisfaction and contributes to the company’s success.
They are problem-solving, brilliant, and have a strong work ethic. They have completed major projects on schedule and budget, ensuring the safety of the team and the public through proper transportation methods and flagging. They are also a logistics specialist and service representative.
How do you describe remodeling?
Remodeling is a process that involves restructuring a property, such as expanding a kitchen, adding a bathroom, or building a sunroom. It also involves major tasks like relocating infrastructure, such as adding or replacing electrical wires, plumbing, or adding central AC to a historic home. These tasks often require permits or approval from local authorities, especially for historically registered properties. When hiring a contractor, it is essential to choose the right type for the project.
For large projects involving multiple surfaces and systems, a general contractor is the best option, as they work with subcontractors and set up a schedule. For smaller jobs, hiring subcontractors may be possible, but it requires managing schedules and budgets while making design decisions.
What is the job description of a remodeler on a resume?
A remodeler is responsible for designing, building, installing, and repairing structures, fixtures, furniture, and other items using various tools and materials. Their daily responsibilities vary depending on the property and the building and repair tasks. Core duties are universally the same, whether they work independently or within a company dynamic. They assess work sites where remodeling work is desired and determine what needs to be done to complete the requested remodel work.
What is a remodel job description?
A remodeler is responsible for transforming a property into a functional living or business space. Their duties include planning and designing architectural elements, recommending and selecting design elements, identifying and removing necessary walls, ceilings, and floors, installing new walls, ceilings, and floors, building and installing fixtures and cabinets, and painting and finishing walls, ceilings, and floors. To be successful, a remodeler must have a wide range of skills and qualifications, including a bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or a related field, as well as work experience.
Key skills include strong knowledge of construction best practices, building code regulations, ability to interpret blueprints, communication skills, creative design, strong project management, collaboration with clients, contractors, and professionals, and knowledge of modern design trends and techniques.
How to write a resume for a work from home job?
When creating a resume for work-at-home jobs, it’s crucial to highlight your experience with remote collaboration tools, ability to meet deadlines independently, and previous remote work experience. Emphasize your proficiency in digital communication platforms and adaptability to changing work environments. With 98 of workers expressing a desire to work remotely, tailoring your resume for remote roles is more crucial than ever.
Your resume should highlight your skills and demonstrate your ability to thrive in a self-directed environment. Whether targeting a creative field or a traditional sector, your resume must convey that you’re fully equipped for the future of work, where remote jobs are not just a niche but a norm.
How do you put construction work on a resume?
A skilled construction worker’s resume should highlight their experience with specific projects, teamwork abilities, and relevant certifications. It’s essential to include proficiency in operating machinery, knowledge of safety regulations, and strong problem-solving abilities. Construction requires skills beyond physical strength, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and extensive knowledge of safety practices. A polished resume can reveal these strengths and help secure a job. A comprehensive guide can help build a strong foundation and create a resume that stands out in recruiters’ minds.
How do I say I’m working from home?
The sender is planning to work from home due to a dangerous storm and will be available via email and video conferencing. They are asking their employer to consider remote work to ensure flexibility and meet expectations. To do this, they should consider the reasons for wanting to work from home, the benefits for their team and themselves, and the benefits of working from home gradually. They should document their progress on practice runs, gather data about others in their field, and word their request correctly.
The 2022 State of Remote Work Report found that hybrid workers prefer working from home for activities like focusing, creative thinking, and independent work. However, it can be challenging for collaboration, consensus-building, and career advancement. While many workers would prefer to stay at home, it is not always necessary, as it depends on the type of daily tasks performed. The sender’s request should be worded correctly and tailored to the specific needs of their team.
What is the role of remodeling?
The term “remodeling” is used to describe alterations made to the structure or form of a building, particularly with the intention of improving living conditions. As time passes, older items may become outdated and in need of updating to ensure comfort.
What is Remodelling of house?
Remodeling is a complete transformation of a room’s design, layout, structure, or style, transforming it entirely. It is a better solution to poor home design issues, such as navigating through different rooms or freezing water due to outdated water supply lines. Renovation, on the other hand, involves reviving or repairing the house, but it has a lower return on investment (ROI) due to the cost of repairing and updating basic features. Therefore, remodeling is a more cost-effective and efficient solution to improving a home’s overall design and functionality.
📹 How to Become a Remodeling Contractor
A remodeling contractor needs to develop specific technical and business skills by undertaking an apprenticeship or studying in a …
When I got out of prison I decided to put my felony convictions on my resume so that I didn’t waste time interviewing with companies for which that would be an automatic disqualification. You know what I learned from that? A lot of interviewers don’t even read the resumes they solicit. I had several interviews, two of them quite long, for jobs where I eventually found out I couldn’t be hired because I was an ex-offender. That wasted my time and the interviewer’s time. The place that eventually hired me, and where I’ve been working for the past fifteen years, didn’t ask for a resume.
I have come to the conclusion that if you watch 10-15 different experts on resumes, you will get 10-15 disparate ideas on what to include/exclude in a resume. I’ve made a complete circle following advisors who invariable think IT type careers are the center of their universe and rarely think outside a handful of career areas. Biotech skillsets are relevant for MUCH longer than 10 years!
From this article I learned the following: 1. The only thing outdated is the HR department 2. The CV must be written to cater to the equivalent of a toddler deciding to eat scrambled eggs or fries, who then decides for neither. 3. The experience of a person who has been working for more time than most of the recruiter’s lifespan is less valuable than the recruiter’s opinion. 4. Applying with a personalized CV sounds good on paper, it doesn’t work when there are 600+ other applicants. A customized CV is not even ATS-compliant and it will be buried, no matter how well it is written. I tested it multiple times. 5. What is the second-best written resume costs $1800. Thanks.
I’m thinking if I should write a resume that says something like “We both know the chances of you reading this specific resume is pretty slim. IF you do, here is a QR code to my work portfolio, which I hope will prove more of my skillset than this piece of paper can do. Otherwise, I really look forward to hearing from you, I am clean, diligent and only bite people the first tuesday of every third month, IF I happen to be really angry that day. Thank you for listening.”
Great article, Don! Further thoughts: 1) Arial is a VERY dated font. Don’t use it. Calibri is more up to date and very readable. Avoid fancy fonts. 2) As for resume keywords, use those found in the job advertisement itself. The resume harvesting software will pluck that resume out. The recruiter may also be drawn closer to your resume than others. For example, if the advertisement reads, “Banking IT specialist” make sure that phrase appears under your Skills section. Everything else sounds great. I learned a lot. Thanks!!
So many companies are doing everything but actually hiring. They are building resume banks, helping HR look busy, doing due diligence for public tendering, keeping the market cap of the company up by pretending to grow, or if there actually is a real job opening, looking for THE cheapest candidate. Even the interviews seem to be a kind of pre-qualification, in case that role ever actually appeared.
The weird thing is, I find different recruiters want different things off of your resume. If you were psychic and could read their mind for what they are looking for, you’d have a 1,000 different versions of THIS YEARS resume. If you are looking for the best over all effect and are playing the averages..most of the advice in this article is fine. I use to think that the more you have on your resume the better. But what I am starting to notice, is that when recruiters do interviews with me, they have barely even looked at my resume. And I end up having to go through my resume with them, anyway. You’d be amazed how often they DO ask for older skills. I get the idea that sometimes, even if a skill is now useless, they think your experience with it means that you will actually be better handling skills that are more contemporary. Its a kind of soft skill thing.
I am retired now, but when I applied for a post-military job, I sent in the usual two page resume. They kicked it back and told me they basically just scan the resume and do a keyword search if they need to. They told me the more detailed the better. They wanted education going back to high school including any certifications and special courses. They also wanted a detailed work history going back to high school graduation. I ended up with a 24 page resume. It was a technical job offshore. I did get the job. My personal default font is not Arial or Times New Roman, but 12 pt. Century Schoolbook. For extended reading, I find both of the latter to be less fatiguing than both of the former.
I was a computer contractor for 15 years and as such was constantly looking for my next gig at head hunters. I have heard both sides of the employment detail argument. Different headhunters looking at my same resume, one would say I had too much detail and another would say I had too little. Same with how far back to go. I like to keep my resume to max 2 pages. I have had head hunters complain I went back too far and others not far enough, same resume. You can’t win.
I stopped using an objective statement many years ago. I figured at the time that my object was pretty clear when I applied for a position with a company – that particular job or something like it. I think by putting an objective statement on your resume, you are in effect limiting what that recruiter or hiring manager can envision selecting you for if you are not the best candidate for that particular position you applied for. They might think, “Ok, you weren’t the best candidate for that job but your objective statement does not align with this other position we have available.” And you might very well have been a good fit there and the best candidate but you’ll never know. Also, quite honestly when objective statements are typically used, they are lame boilerplate verbiage and a waste of some valuable real estate on your resume that would be better used. I typically cringe when I read other’s objective statements.
I follow Erica on social media and she actually clarified why the objective statement is outdated. It takes up space, and should be replaced with a candidate summary statement highlighting accomplishments. If you’re a recruiter, what would you rather read? Option 1: I am seeking a job as an IT specialist in the healthcare industry. Option 2: Award-winning IT specialist with 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Worked with Fortune 500 companies to fix bottlenecks and save 2% annual budget from department line item. Option 2 is clearly the superior option.
I would only disagree with paying $800+ for a two page resume. I’ve seen them and it’s also a template. The price does not mean it’s going to be the best out there, much less targeted to the job description. I would say $60 is an affordable price for a two page resume. But more importantly, it’s the quality and the reviews that you should “pay” close attention to. And if you were getting $1,800 per resume, you would still be doing it.
I thought cover letters were an outdated concept…when I attended my military retirement workshop in 2014, the presenters told us that cover letters were passé; if a company requires one, reconsider applying, as that company is living in the past. We’re also told to, generally, limit resumes to 2 pages, unless it is is for a federal job; then up to 5 pages is alright.
This guy is right,but in reality,I found that I have to apply to any kind of job that I think I can do.I have bills to pay and I want to eat everyday.Another very important point to mention here,I was turned down for jobs I have the most experience in and matches my resume exactly.I have been turned down for jobs I went to school and got a degree in.The majority of the jobs I get are jobs I have the least experience in,not to mention,jobs I least like or desire.
I have revamped my resume on average of 30 times based on different feedback from different people, professional resume writers, recruiters, leaders, etc. I thought it was convienient to apply online but realized it is actually very complicated based on the ATS system used. Also, HR software from companies like Workday that most Fortune 500 companies use, is not transparent, and I get a very quick automated rejection response or no response at all. I have applied for thousands of jobs tailoring my resume to each one to increase my chances of getting an interview. I have come to the conclusion that it depends on who is writing the algorithm and the criteria they select. However, I continue to remain positive and apply hoping I get the right opportunity. Even though you may feel as if you are in the Matrix, don’t give up and continue to refine your resume. Good luck!
I just realized this morning that I need to apply for jobs that I have some passion for. There’s things that I’m good at and that I like..but I really don’t want to do it long term. It’s like being in a new relationship with someone that is good enough for now…after awhile you’re trying to find your way out.
If a recruiter/hiring manager cannot take the time to read a one page summary of older experiences, then it’s likely they’re not going to invest a lot of interest in you anyways, so why would you work for someone like that? Years of work experience means something, especially to the individual who earned them, if it means nothing to a company, then it’s likely that company won’t be that interested in you, even if they hire you.
If you have the time and resources, I do recommend applying to jobs that may not be a perfect fit for two reasons: 1) It gets your name out there in case of future or alternative roles, 2) if you get selected for an interview, you can practice selling yourself. I used this technique to get through a few interviews for jobs I didn’t even want, which really helped build my confidence and home my responses for when the right job interview rolls my way.
Ancient IT skills – There’s a LOT of them I stopped listing a long time ago. But there are a surprising amount of very old systems that are still in production. Those systems have to coexist with modern tech, so if you know both, that can be the purple duck someone desperately needs. But I’ve never admitting knowing COBOL, for I don’t want to have to code in COBOL. 🙂
Generally good advice. As someone who has gotten several major contracts and positions because of a combination of work done towards the beginning of my professional career (1980’s), in combination to some of the most recent accomplishments and positions; how far back you should go depends on what your old work history and accomplishments are, and how/if they relate to the job/contract/position you are applying for.
If anyone is paying someone else to write their resume, they’re wasting their money. (And the amount mentioned here is downright predatory.) A resume is just a tool to get into a job interview. A strong resume should only take 2 or 3 hours to write, and you’ll be able to write it better than anyone else could. Just make sure that you include the relevant details on the first page and that you have no (I mean zero) spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.
There is so much same advice out there about not putting whole work history out there, but companies habitually nitpick and grill on work details and chronology. Selective/related job listings will create gaps which will get you out of consideration immediately and cast a shadow on you. job hunting is a demeaning process because it is a sleazy corrupt system. It is solely based on conjecture and not the real talent.
Challenging example: You’re older and were forced 12 years ago to take a job well beneath your education and experience because your age kept getting in the way (your industry is especially ageist), and it was all taking too long. Anyway, your best experience was over 20 years ago and currently only as a freelancer. What to do?
I disagree with only sending out 2-3 resumes a week for jobs you really want. I believe finding a job is a numbers game. For every 100 resumes you send out, depending on the current job market you may get 2-3 responses and perhaps 1 interview. I have been an MS-Access/VBA developer for 30+ years. It is a dying art. I know for a fact there are only a hand full of people with my level of experience in Toronto, a city of 7 million. Yet I have applied for actual MS-Access positions that looked like they were created for me. I thought I’ll at least get a response and more than likely an interview. Nope and nope. If your resume is not crafted properly, you may actually be rejected by an automated process before your resume is even seen by human eyes. You may lose out because of diversity requirements. So unless you want to be unemployed for years, paint your city with your resume.
I’ve always felt the main reason to not list your address is because: 1. You don’t want to share that over the Internet. 2. The employer can see how far your commute will be. If they think you live too far away they’ll likely toss your resume. 3. If you get hired they’ll eventually need it from you anyway.
As a business owner and employer, there are a few things I find important with CVs, and I want to point them out here to correct or clarify a few things from this article: 1. While your specific address is not important, it is important to indicate what part of the city you’re living in, so the employer can see how far from your would-be work location you live. (For instance, I always prefer candidates who live near the work location since they stay much longer, and I automatically sort away anyone who lives beyond a certain distance. People who don’t mention where they live may lose out on job opportunities.) 2. The work history should include ALL your previous employments (not only the ones that are relevant to the position you are applying for). That information is really important to me as an employer and I don’t like seeing CVs that leave out big chunks of information in that respect. If you have 30 years of experience, by all means list it all if possible. If I don’t want to see it all, I can myself decide to ignore whatever part I feel is not relevant for my purposes. (However, as Don says, there is no need need to detail specific job tasks under each employment.) 3. As for the verbs, use the verbs that most correctly describe what you actually did. If you only “helped” then by all means use that verb. Avoid “powerful verbs” if they exaggerate your importance or achievements. Employers don’t like BS and exaggeration and we appreciate people who are down to earth and grounded and sincere about what they’ve actually done.
Taylor your resume to match what the Job description is asking for. Show them that you have the specific skills they need. you may need to write a new version for each job application and keep track of what you sent where. You have 15 seconds to get their attention, before the recruiter goes to the next resume.
I been in my industry for over 25 years. All my work history are related and complements each other job wise as the skills helps each jobs. However, I’m also a Veteran who spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy which was over 25 years ago. Asked on what you’re saying, then I shouldn’t put the fact that I spent time in the U.S. Navy or acknowledge I’m a veteran by default. The fact that I spent that time in the military has direct bearing on what I still do today and was the source of much my skills. Why would that not have some relevance in who I am vs not acknowledging that time at all whatsoever?
Throughout my professional career I’ve submitted over 500 applications to companies since 2009, easily. I can’t and will not support the notion that you need to tailor your resume to each and every position – this is 2022. You know what you’re capable of as an employee, you know your abilities; and if the hiring manager uses a tool that incorrectly knocks out qualified applicants or can’t correctly qualify on their own then you’re probably best off not working under such management.
As a hiring manager, I agree with all of that recruiter’s suggestions, with one caveat. The objective statement may be necessary when you’re A) trying to change jobs – and by that I mean your experience is primarily in one area but you want to shift and/or explore another area, or B) are targeting a specific company. The content of the resume should indicate what your skills are and therefore whether you will be right for the position at hand. I keep a high-level resume on LinkedIn, but otherwise I tailor my resume to a company that I want to work for and only include what’s relevant to their needs, and that will sometimes include an objective statement incorporating that company’s mission and values. The problem in my area is that few companies directly hire IT, most go through consulting or headhunting firms. Those firms do not tell the recruits who the company is or even what the position is (beyond title) until the company already looked at the resume and agreed to schedule an interview. So you either have to use keywords hoping for a hit, have a really good rep who understands you, or finesse an objective statement to pique the interest of the company you want.
“Stop detailing your entire work history” — you’ve discussed this advice from several different angles, except the exact one that I’m stuck with since my last job search. Let’s say my experience is 6–10 years (software engineer). Should I still include every employer, even leaving out all bullet points for some? (the latter will be necessary to stay within the single A4 page — I had to go through more than my fair share of jobs)
Don, thank you so much for this succinct and insightful article! I am an employment skills/ job readiness trainer. I work with populations who have mostly labor and service industry experience. They do not have the knowledge of LinkedIn, and especially access to career advice or resume writers. 3 years ago I transitioned from the public school education industry and was searching for a position where I could maximize on my transferable skills. Somewhere along the way I came across talent development. I have enjoyed learning the content area and especially the instant gratification that comes with helping people to develop themselves! I am always scouring the internet for more content to add to my knowledge base. Great to see if actually learned some things, though I enjoy learning things and sharing them with my class participants – those things which I hadn’t thought of as well. Thanks again.
I lost my job unexpectedly and resume for dummies and used a targeted hybrid format posted on indeed got tons of feedback and interviews so I watched many articles on interviews. Went to the first to a lady in jeans and tee show me the job and hand me the application to get hired asked no questions I did not return the application. I filled out an application got the interview for simple position and got offered a manager position and told that by my application they knew I was looking for. Happy baffled and excepted
After I graduated from college, I included that I was fluent in speaking Japanese, and could read and write passably well. I was getting NO replies to this resume, until I took that line OFF my resume. Then I got 3 interviews in a month, and 2 job offers. Conclusion = don’t include a capability that would make you more likely to be promoted above the person that hires you. In fact, even after I was hired, that capability just never seemed to come up in my conversations with co-workers.
I might suggest that the purpose of the resume – once it leaves your hands – is not to get you a job, its purpose is to make clear to the interviewer/reviewer what value you can add to their company in relation to the role you are applying for. It’s a marketing document. If you tailor your objective statement (or career summary) to FIT THE DESCRIPTION FROM A JOB POSTING you are making it easier for the reviewer to choose you. i.e. Its not about you, its about them. No-once cares if you like working with people, want a quiet office, or like working with animals or data, UNLESS THAT HELPS THEM.
I can’t stand when applications ask for references and ask if they can contact past employers which is giving the references. Many that once worked together don’t always keep in touch once you don’t work there any longer You want a job filled hire them. Most can do most jobs once you show them what and how they want it done
I detest applying for a job that presents a job application that wants every job listed with start/end dates that want mm/dd/yyyy. Why more than a year or month and year? If they get this ridiculous, I won’t go ahead and apply. Also, I have already explained in my resume what I have done at previous jobs, yet they want that written again on the application. That is so annoying! Why write a resume if they want it all again? I pass over many of these employers, too.
I have the experience, resume as noted, target open jobs only. How is it I can’t get an interview to a job ? I’m no longer going to work in pvf steel industry because I’ve been through multiple layoffs and done with zero career growth. I want to work for an employer who wants me. I lost my job to covid, buyouts, watched entire mgt teams let go…and these pvf employers get in financial crunch or whatever. Then another layoff. I’m tired off it.
1 – Stating the full address. Not necessary. Nobody writes letters anymore. Just mentioned country and city. These are relevant if relocation is required. 2 – Objective statement. It has to be more long term and general of how you can fulfill your dreams and achieve a good work-life balance. Obviously, you won’t express that you want to be a data analyst if the post is for salesperson. 3 – Especially, for those with a long work experience, summarize to the minimum description focusing on one or two experiences that could be relevant to the position you are applying for. 4 – If replying to a post, use the verbs that are in the job description. Mimicking the tone and statements in the post. 5 – In case of international positions overseas keep in consideration that running background checks is a normal practice. That statement might be necessary. 6 – CVs are screened by dedicated SW (now with the help of AI) which can already extract what’s relevant for the recruiter. A CV’s main objective is to get past that SW screening.
I agree with Google about the objective statement. I would instead use a strong introduction statement especially if you are further in your career. Plus corps already know what your objective is. That could be why she has that as a recommendation. The intro says “why” hire me versus coming off as though you are asking for something, aka objective. Older experience can be helpful. minimized it to 1 sentence and use it if relevant to career. Like, I’m leaving retail off if I’m now a Project Manager. However, older work descriptions 1) can be shaped to show a full career path or skillset, and 2) show the 20 years. I’d examine before removing the old stuff.
A couple of thoughts. First, so many folks advise using words like “streamlined, implemented, strategized, etc” but for most people searching for jobs, they aren’t anywhere near the level that they do those things. Buzzwords are meaningless terms that turn a resume into word salad. I hate reading buzzword filled resumes; I want to know your skills and your ability to learn & grow. I The other thought is I don’t mind seeing a long history resume when someone is applying for a senior level job. It shows a history of growth into that position vs someone who is trying to jump right into it that lacks the experience to perform it properly.
To my experience, none of these right or wrong. It depends on which country you are applying to Europe has a style,SEA has another style. More than that, if you directly have experience with the role or graduated from a top ranked Uni or with a good grade, no matter how you write the CV. They gonna choose you anyway. So, focus on the contents, not patterns
In relation to the number of jobs applied for, in Australia we HAVE to apply for a set number dictated by our job provider. If they say you have to apply for 15 a week, then you have to do that and upload the evidence to the portal. Failure to do so can see your benefit suspended or entirely withdrawn. Always check the facts and the local rules on this one.
About showing only the last ten maybe fifteen years of employment… what if one of your greatest notable accomplishments, something publicly visible, or altered the course of some area of science, medicine or business, a key role in making a billion-dollar movie, or something a bit more modest yet worth mentioning, was 20 or more years ago?
Nice article except the ending where he says an ideal one-page resume takes 40 hours to write. Pretty sure you don’t need a college degree to write a good resume. No matter how much attention to detail you spend a resume is still a resume. Pick a good font, remove the clutter, make sure the first page sells your skills and is visually appealing(font size and spacing between content), add the other details afterward, and use grammar check. No matter how you spin it this isn’t more than 2 days work.
Your ideas as to objective are outdated. Pennsylvania state career links have been teaching no objective statement since 2021. Objectives waste space where you could instead be sharing key words in a summary about the skills you have. Objectives are quantified later in behavioral interview questions.
I agree with her about removing the objective statement. Reason being is it’s only going to state the obvious – that you want a job and one that’s in their industry or field. What you could do instead is to do an Outline section of who you are and your achievements within the workforce in DOT POINT FORM! This is important because it’s not your autobiography and employers won’t read long sentences and paragraphs. They’ll scan read. Some examples of these outline points might be: – A sum of your experience including total years and the various industries/fields you are MOST experienced in, don’t just list all of them (15 years customer service experience and 8 years in administration) – Recognition for achievements that you wouldn’t write anywhere else (Proven ability to exceed sales targets) – Outline of you as an employee as if summing up your resume in one sentence (Proficient customer service professional with 12 years experience in customer facing roles) – Working gap explanation (Returning to the workforce after 1 year of medical leave)
This is all great, but I have to be honest, in the vast majority of jobs I’ve applied for, the resume wasn’t even ever actually handled by a human. In some cases it was extremely obvious – the job application website would “ingest” your resume and then try to fill in predetermined fields in the job application itself, but the resume file itself never showed up again anywhere. They probably did keep the resume document itself, but I doubt any recruiter was actually viewing the resumes themselves. Also, some of the things that people talk about not including might be required by the job application (someone mentioned not including dates in a comment), and I’ve also seen outright threats, i.e. “not including jobs/experience is equal to misrepresentation in your resume which can result in immediate disqualification.” None of this even considers automated resume screening (I’ve seen the ads and live demos of resume screening tools, they’re advertised to recruiters as “make your job easier”.) In short, the job seeking market is brutal and recruiters are never your friend. 😛
I can see eliminating the objective statement if you are applying to a specific job opening. Maybe a job opening has opened in your company. Maybe you have been invited to apply for a specific job. The job objective is tacitly understood so why take up space on your resume. I say this because my daughter was invited to apply for a job within a large company. The objective was understood. No need to take up space on the paper.
As a graphic designer i created a really cool and highly stylized resume and it looked amazing on a computer screen. But never got many calls for interviews. Then at one interview I saw a stack of resumes PRINTED OUT and mine was on the top. And it LOOKED HORRIBLE! I had never imagined someone would actually print out my beautiful full color resume into plain B/W. At the interview I always have my resume on a tablet for them to view and that is what I immediately brought out and handed to them so that they didn’t have to see that printed crap they had. After that, i went back to a normal mostly text readable in B/W boring resume.
i agree that a resume is like a list of medal for some, or a decoration to place on empty space when there are some big one, and the idea seems to be like… have a guitar in the back to be cool and sexy even if you are already old and loose your hairs. The best is to not play a fake game and show who you really are instead to discredit yourself to be dissonant.
AGEISM – That’s another reason to remove some of your older jobs if you’ve been around for awhile. HR will know you are “older”, and they might discriminate. They are often looking for the young guns freshly out of college who are still single and able to grind out long hours at nights and weekends for the company. Older married people don’t have the time or energy for that.
As a hiring manager, I disagree with you that you should keep the objective statement. Either the candidate will just copy/paste from the job description, or they will have an objective that doesn’t quite match the job. Either way, it doesn’t help me at all. At a minimum, it is a waste of space (which is valuable on a resume). At worst, it could cause me to second guess an otherwise qualified candidate.
“Don’t” – thank you for confirming focus! And tailoring…I’m closer to your age than most perusal. And all my ‘relevant experience’ was over ten years ago, both knocking me out of the job hunt. The claim historic labor shortage, but I know a lot of unemployed (a lot) folks with skills that are being kept out. I’m thinking of deleting my LinkedIn profile due to what you say – lack of focus/ targeting, too much info and too constraining. I don’t want to put in catch all bullets for jobs that don’t care. What do you think? I’m very intrigued how shitty L/I has become. It was a networking tool at first, then a job seeker, now a social network to find prospects (for ‘coaches,’ realtors and financial advisors…no thanks.
Looks like you stole that glass from a cheap dinner. That’s not typical of a glass you’d find in the average kitchen. I would have expected it to be filled with coke and tube ice. The thing about LinkedIn is that you can write anything and there’s absolutely no verification that someone did or didn’t do something. I’ve read plenty of profiles from people I worked with that I completely disagreed with. If I were to say I’m on the extra terrestrial advisory board with NASA, could you say I’m not or that I am, with any certainty? As far as I’m aware. I was the only one in my previous workgroup telling the truth on LinkedIn. As a result I no longer have a profile there and have no social media. Information found online about someone can often be wrong. As an example. A prospective employer investigated me and told me I owned a racing boat and could fly a helicopter. In fact I was an adventurer/extraordinaire. If you see me in the pilot seat of a helicopter. I would advise you not to get in.
This is one person’s idea of what should and shouldn’t be on a resume. It doesn’t make her right or wrong. She simply is a data point. EVERYTHING she said will be a suggestion by someone else at an equally big and profitable company. Candidates already twist themselves into knots trying to figure out what the employers want to see. NO REASON to add more minor issues to their plate like these. As soon as you leave off an objective statement, some HR person will say “Well we didn’t know what type of job experience you were looking for because you didn’t include an objective statement.” Companies should post want they want to see with each job listing and what they don’t want so we can stop this stupid guessing game and being penalized when we can’t read their minds.
hmmmm, I agree with the address…however, someone with a VERY common name, may still need it. The objective statement is also a great way to get your resume disregarded as the recruiter can make a snap judgement right from it. It also can limit your consideration as that brief statement constricts your potential match. The last thing you want is to derail the person reading your resume, and the objective statement can do that.
$800-1000 for a “professionally” done resume? 😂This a new level of scam. From my experience, resumes are a hit or miss with EVERY employer/HR dept as there is actually no real standards to follow, even within the same industry. For example, you can apply for a sales position at different companies with the exact same responsibilities and I guarantee you that each company HR person has a preferred format, which obviously you don’t know. Just make sure it looks professional enough and that there’s little to no punctuation errors or misspellings and hope your resume is not reviewed by one of the many idiots/hiring managers in HR that can put your resume in the trash bin cause they didn’t like how you formatted the resume. DO NOT pay these so called resume experts these insane fees, even if they tell you they spent 48 hours writing the final draft. A “professional” writer should not take 48 hours writing a 1-2 page resume, EVER!
I can see where the objective statement is better off not being included. Lets say you just got out of school and you went for a particular degree like idk, web design. You aren’t seeing a lot of openings in your area for that…but you just got home from college and what you really need immediately is a job so you can start to pay off that student loan. Suddenly your brand new resume tailored to reflect your hard-earned major is working against you because taco bell doesn’t want to hire a guy who is passionate about getting a web design job. In fact, you look like a flight risk. If you omit your long term goals from the top of the resume, you might have more of a chance.
E-mail, not snail mail is the “paperwork” transfer medium of choice, Name state and city are sufficient to establish physical residency. The Objective statement should give the position they would be employing you in and overall professional area. Do Not Include skills that are no longer germane to the position. Pronouns are not required, action Jackson yourself. Life saving skills used to save lives, Already trained on current equipment, organized, promoted, realigned, assessed, analyzed, repaired, built, designed….. keep it to one and a half pages and put the highlights up front.
Why use an objective statement? The objective is inherently the job you are applying for. If I get a resume from someone seeking a junior analyst job who wants to really be a day trader, forget it. Apply for the day trader job and see how you go; otherwise swallow the humility pill and show your best for the junior analyst position.
Also one thing hiring manager also provide what they actually expect from candidate during interview time? If they discuss clearly about the project and hiring position role then this is helpful for both. Otherwise if sometimes they selected and skills and experience not suitable for candidates so this create problem. Why I told this thing because I am faced this issue before. I am from support background usually from Linux environment and they hire me for cloud role and after onboarding they put me on Java based project.. Manager need to understand. I don’t underestimate they have good experience but if someone from different domain comes then this is impossible to working with java platform..and problem is occured when if they don’t have proper resources for providing KT and their expectations is too high…..
I’ve been with my current employer for 23 years and am looking for a new career. My more relevant job experiences for the job I am seeking comes from the jobs I had prior to my current one. Either I’m going to have a small work history section using only my current position which won’t be helpful in my job search, or I add ancient work history that could be viewed as outdated by potential employers. How do I market myself in this situation?
Just a note of caution with the objective statement: don’t make it too specific or limiting, e.g. make sure it aligns with any job you might be applying for, and be careful about seeming demanding about managerial level positions if that’s not the job that was posted and/or your experience doesn’t include thorough preparation for management.
OBJECTIVE STATEMENT: i want a job so that i can pay my mortgage. i could tell when a job offer BECAUSE of the amorphous and vague language used in the listing: “leverage”, “strategize”, “grow”, etc. as a science writer/editor for 25 years, THAT is the kind of wishy-washy BS that i used to replace all the time. be direct, be precise, be simple. what does “leverage” mean? use? then say use.
The entire way resume’s and hiring work is a problem, I shouldn’t have to put a resume in for a company that’s going to have me fill out every piece of info that’s on the resume on another application after applying with the resume. This world is entirely screwed because worthless people were allowed to normalize this garbage way of seeking employment.
And if you aren’t a manager or didn’t develop anything but are simply middle management or middle-level employees, exactly what do you say? You follow orders or perform a task, but you aren’t in charge. I would be terrified of putting such on my resume, actually becoming hired, and them discovering that not only am I unqualified, but I am happy in that middle place. If you have been out of work, and you’re trying to get back to working, what then? Everything you’ve referenced is in industries that I have zero experience 😂
Imo, I say it depends on who read the resume. 🤣I don’t really believe how HR really go to the detail about resume, but merely they also just human. What, they become psychologist now. 😄 If they cannot tolerate languages typing, words, etc. yeah, to me, don’t be an HR person. They supposed to look for a person, not analyzing resume strategically sound. Meaning, I do not believe all seeking jobs are master in making resume. We may need to have some empathy and not just see professional in making resume. “It might look wrong or odd” on the resume but should give a chance if the person is not good on explaining their expertise, professional experience on a resume but looks fine. Filtering is good, but atomic filtering is bad idea Imo.
Question: Say you leave off the first 20 years of your job experience from the resume, and only include the last 15 years. Can you bring up the previous experience during the phone screen, or actual interview? I am concerned the interviewer will feel this was desecptive to leave off the resume. And they may look badly towards you as a candidate.
“Oh, you are so wrong. ‘Why”, you say? because modern-age computerized systems are so robotic that nowadays, when the crap hits the fan, the operator does not understand the problems. Air France 447, falling from the sky, is a great example of computer incompetence in the modern world. Old-timer pilots knew how to manage when the screens went black on a stormy night. Airline companies are scrambling to re-teach basic ‘Needle-Ball-Airspeed’ techniques; Do not forget the very lowly Magnetic Compass., the most important instrument on board the Flight Deck- No more COCKPITS either- it is called FLIGHTDECK.
I disagree with what you say about the objective statement. It is outdated. As a hiring manager, I don’t need that statement. It just takes up valuable space on your resume. Regarding length, if you are applying for a more senior position, it is OK for your resume to be 2 pages. But all of this advice is going to come down to the person who is evaluating your resume. Using your connections is the #1 thing you need to be doing
The more and more I come to the conclusion that recruitment is some kind of ritual. Cult leader is expected you to pronounce some irrelevant phrases and you are to answer them in the required manner, using the right words. Then may be Gods will accept you with their grace and grant you the happiness of working for them…
Remember who is looking at your resume! I created a fancy resume for graphic design work. Colorful, with different font types, a logo, and unique layout. But recruiters are NOT designers and so that stuff is meaningless to them and was passed over a lot. That same info distilled into a simple normal resume got much more attention.
I find resumes so interesting, as an Employment Counsellor that is the part I like the most – how do I market this person, how do I showcase their skills. Every resume is a puzzle, every Employment Opportunity is a new puzzle on how to target their skills on their resume. Keep in mind this is the North American way, many of my clients are newcomers and the way they apply for jobs is very different. It’s really important to adapt your resume to the style of the country you are working in. Very cool stuff. I love Don’s article’s, he is very direct and informative.
Forget the formatting, at least if you’re submitting online to a company with more than 50 employees. Write text that a computer can parse for the ATS (applicant tracking system). Also, keep a master resume, but rewrite every submission to be customized to match the job description (using true facts drawn from your master resume). If your experience is long and complicated, use a functional resume instead of a traditional job history. If you do these three things, you’ll be much more likely to get an interview. Respectfully submitted. Best wishes to all.
So called “outdated” skills are FOUNDATIONAL skills. I”m a secretary (also an oudated term, the new term is administrative assistant), I list my experience with skills in BASIC on a TRS-80 computer. I list my typing skills on an IBM-Selectric typewriter. The valve of a bicycle tire is identical to a car tire. Bicycles are the foundation of cars. Without foundations, you’re just an idiot born yesterday.
Nice article post. As far as objective, I do try to streamline that by instead saying; Position Sought. But, there are sometimes that a more global objective proves helpful – and if your target employer happens to be one of the few that needs a CV more than a resume.. wise to “fill out” that area more. Great article, 100% agree with your assertions and advice. Too bad I’m retired, now..
Many thanks. A lot has changed on job hunting. I used to believe that more was the merrier but actually, it’s really heartbreaking the way you have to condense knowledge to a single page, specially if it took so much time and effort to actually learn and master it. Quick question. You said that we should have our LinkedIn profile with a revised version of our resumee. That means that it should be a compact one or a full fledged and filled with all data? I’ve seen other articles out there that suggest using external pages for a propper way of sharing skills. Like putting code into Github, or loading your graphic designs into Behance, or sharing documents over Medium. But does a headhunter jump from one site to the other to see each specific portfolio on those places linked on our linkedIn resume?? (no pun intended) Thanks a lot again for all your insights.
Hi Don I have a dilemma the position I’m applying for has all of the skills and experience listed in the position fits what I did in the military and education but was more than twenty years ago. If I could avoid the chronological date situation I’d be able to meet every single qualification the job requires should I maybe try a functional resume what do you suggest.
Im never getting hired.😂 Quit my last job to find an employer that actually wants a hard working man. Not a social butterfly who physicalltly gets nothing done. Like working at a casino. Totally useless work … Except for the actual workers like building and grounds, maintenance techs etc. Im not a social butterfly. I spent all my life building actual life skills and abilities. Nope. They want social butterflies. Ill go clean sewers or something. Alone. By myself, because nobody has the work ethic that i have. No company can make me happy as an employee. Theyre all a bunch of lazy attention whores!😂😂 I must start my own business. Doing actual physical work and not just some “attention seeking service position.” 😂😂😂 Im gonna stay unemployed. Slowly work on my credit score. Start a business with a proper EIN. Get business credit. Start the actual business!😂 Why work for some stupid company when you can just skip all the drama and work for yourself! I like working as a handyman or something. Working on homes etc. I thought an RV tech would be a cool business! With right ambition and business model you should be able to get a loan and start whatever you want! Theoretically speaking of course!
Why in God’s name would anyone take advice from anyone at Google about anything. It’s a horrible place to work, and they’re horrible people. I know, I turned down a job there because the interviewer was such an unfathomable misogynist. I’ve had friends who got jobs there after layoffs at much better places, and they’re all miserable. Here’s the truth. It doesn’t matter what you put on your stupid resume. It’s a crap shoot, no matter what. Your entire goal is to get past the amateur psychologists in HR, and talk to your actual manager, to discover whether or not they’re insane. Your other task is to figure out when the CEO will lay off a bunch of people just to bump their stock price up and score a bonus. That’s when you want to already have your next job lined up. Because trust, THEY DO NOT CARE ANYTHING ABOUT YOU. You’re a cog.
My resume: Software languages I work on. Period. Cover letter? Why, nobody reads them Offered contracts based on computer match. By the way, previous employers will only verify that you worked there. Lie. Every programming language does the same thing. Move data in. Manipulate data. Move data out. Cleverly using newly invented verbs. In fact I’ve written code to convert verbs I understood to the new language. Nowadays, there is ChatGPT.
Great info, thank you for this vid. I’m curious, should we have “Activities & Interests” near the end of our resume. This was added by resume professionals about 20 years ago so I just left it there but do we still need it? Do you recommend I delete it completely or keep a brief version there. Presently shows 15 items which is way to much anyways. These are all personal items and seems more like a butt kissing tactic to show I have hobbies similar to the position I am applying for. It seems cheesy when we’ve got a lot of experience under our belt but what is your suggestion? Thanks again
I think you were being a bit overly critical of the recruiter’s advice because of her title and company rather than focusing on her purpose. You honestly could’ve just added on your advice in conjunction with what she said. I’m also a senior recruiter at a large tech company focusing on candidates with 15+ years of experience and you’d be surprised how many people still use “responsible for”, have complete addresses and not only have “references upon request” but actually list out their references. The article went viral on TikTok so the audience is younger and some of them really don’t know. There are also regional differences when you recruit globally. Also, the summary section has replaced the objective.
Google???? I think I would pass on that. I like a bit more of a position working in technical sciences like Chemistry, Metallurgical Chemistry, Materials, Mineralogy or Electronics. I remember when IT was Industrial Technology and not associated with routers, terminals, printers, wifi or other black boxes.
I have education in Project Management. I’m trying to get into IT management. My background is diverse from Digital Media to IT and Cybersecurity and now Project Management. I have 6 months of experience as a Lead Security Officer and 4 years experience as a office adminstrative assistant as a volunteer. I was wondering if I should put that volunteer work related experience in my best “work section” it’ll be smaller but more efficieint looking for work.
All of these nick-picky things do not matter. Although the resume` may serve you in the initial sorting, I will not win you the job. Having landed competitive jobs and later (as a manager) hiring many employees, have found that the real value is in the interview itself. Make sure there is nothing on the resume` that you cannot back-up 100%. In fact, be a little humble and state the minimum. When they ask about a particular subject, you can then expound in more detail. This gives them the sense there is much more to you than what the resume` reveals; they will become much more interested. Build your people-skills and learn how to captivate the interest of the employer. As a side-note, most large-scale employers will have a set of template questions provided by HR. The intent is to provide consistency in the interview process while providing documentation of selection. Although this provides a simple method for lazy interviewers, a smart manager will be looking for traits that cannot be taught as well as the prospective employees’ motivation, aptitude and resilience. Enough said….
Not sure Google is the golden standard anymore. A long work history is still an indication of consistent work ethic. If the content is there they can still ignore it. “References available on request” says I’m too lazy to list references. 1.5 pages? What the hell, are recruiters really that lazy? There is NO way you can fit 15 years experience/work history on 1.5 pages.
How would it work for a long time recruiter in the financial and professional services industry who took 10 years away from work to focus on family? If I went back 10 years from today, I would only have, say, 5 years of work experience to show. In this case (again, as someone looking for a recruiting role or contract in those industries), should I provide 15 years of work experience up until the year I stopped working?