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I am working on updating my resume for a potential internal promotion, which would put me leading people. Currently I lead a specific functional area of production though I do not oversee individual's careers/goals, just their interaction with my functional area.
I have listened to the Resume podcasts (what is available to non-premium members) and even many on interviewing. I love the format for resumes that M&M set forth but having the following issues when executing.

Problem: I do not have the job history to fill an entire page while adhering to the standards set forth by M&M. I have plenty of job responsibilities and even more accomplishments I could use to fill a page, but I only have two relevant jobs to put on the resume, one of which is my current position. Should I elaborate further on my responsibilities and more accomplishments to fill the entire page or leave blank space? I believe 3-4 responsibilities and 5-6 accomplishments was their recommended max. I could go back further in my employment history but I would have to break chronological order, more or less creating employment gaps in the time line.

wendii's picture
Admin Role Badge

Nhein,

I don't understand the part about 'relevant jobs'. All your jobs need to be on your resume, relevant or not.

If there's gaps (because you went to school, or had an accident or whatever) then there's gaps. You can't change that, you just need to be prepared to answer questions about it in an interview.

Can you explain some more... I have a feeling I'm missing something obvious?

Wendii

nhein's picture

I should have been more clear on the "gaps". I have been with my current company a little over 3 years. We do online marketing solution. Before getting the job here I was pretty much straight out of college. Post college I worked for a small custom cabinetry company, building cabinets and many other miscellaneous tasks, for about 6 months before I landed my job here. All my jobs prior to the cabinet company were just your normal part time jobs in college/high school.

Should the scope of job history be a specific time frame, job amount or whatever fills the space on the page?

asteriskrntt1's picture

Nhein

If you learned anything about people skills or processes, learned a new skill, helped the company improve something, cut a cost, increase a revenue, were acknowledged for superior customer service, your on time record, positive attitude, your sanding skills...whatever, you want that on your resume.... if it turns out you were the best colour-matching stainer in your cabinet company, it goes on there.

*RNTT

nhein's picture

I do have notable accomplishment for the cabinet company job, but I guess I just felt that since I do not have the metrics to quantify it that it was useless.

~ Nathan

asteriskrntt1's picture

Nathan,

Sometimes you just have to use a best guesstimate. There are few people who can actually say I reduced costs by 5% or increased sales by 11% that are responsible for every bit of the reduction or increase.

Think about it for a while. I am not suggesting you fictionalize your resume; however, I am sure you can come up with some reasonable estimates.

*RNTT

nhein's picture

asteriskrntt1,
Thank you. Guestimates should not be an issue, though I lack written record (did not have any career management document at the time as I do and have had for the past 3 years) I do remember my responsibilities and accomplishments.

Thank you all for the actionable assistance!

wendii's picture
Admin Role Badge

Hi Nathan,

here's what I wrote in response to a similar question today:

When we write the resume reviews we say quantify everything, and try and make suggestions for possible quantifications for every accomplishment. We do this for three reasons: one, many people are able to quantify what they have done but haven't thought about it or don't know how; two, many people have no quantification and any % increase improves their resume immensely and three, when they are in their new job, and an accomplishment comes up, the end of a project say, hopefully, quantification will pop into their mind and they will write down the measures for the next time they update their resume. So we bang the drum harder than perhaps it needs to be banged, just to get the message across.

When you create your resume, you must have all your jobs on it. As early in your career as you are, this includes your college jobs. For each one, think about what you achieved, as Asterskrntt1 says. How did you contribute to the organisation's goals?

Even if these are not directly relevant to the role you are seeking, you will be demonstrating that

a) you understand the organisation's goals and how you contribute to them
b) you can set goals and reach them
c) you can communicate about them
d) other skills depending on your accomplishments.

Getting an interview isn't only about the skills you have learnt. It's about demonstrating soft skills like communication, team work and results orientation.

I hope that helps some.

Wendii

tlhausmann's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

nhein,

When relatively new to the workforce part-time experience is relevant. e.g. "You earned your way through school? Great! Tell me about it..."

The person interviewing you may have been (or *is*) a woodworker. You just never know what will generate a deeper conversation.

nhein's picture

Just wanted to follow up.

I received the position I was interviewing for. Between the resume and interviewing skills (Mike, Mark and the rest of the MT staff :D :D :D ) management felt I clearly stood out from the rest.

Thanks everyone!

ashdenver's picture
asteriskrntt1's picture

Well done Nathan

Anyone getting a job offer in this skittish economy must be special! Congrats.

*RNTT

jhack's picture
nhein's picture

[quote="asteriskrntt1"]Well done Nathan

Anyone getting a job offer in this skittish economy must be special! Congrats.

*RNTT[/quote]

It is an internal promotion resulting from my boss moving up. New responsibilities, same employer and same team. :-D

~Nathan

tlhausmann's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

[quote="nhein"]
It is an internal promotion resulting from my boss moving up. New responsibilities, same employer and same team. :-D
~Nathan[/quote]

Congratulations...from one woodworker to another. Well done.