Resume for long timer

[Sharon]

I have been employed by the same company for 30 years. For various reasons I need to get a new job. I started in an entry level position. Since I have been employed there I have finished my college degree and moved through various positions within my department.

My current title has nothing to do with what my actual job has been for the last 4-5 years. The company doesn't really care about job titles and multiple people have hybrid type jobs.

How do I make a resume with this mish mash of experience and job titles.?

[Opti]

First you have to figure out what types of jobs you are applying for and write resume(s) tailored to that.

I'm currently reading several resume books to slog through and do that for myself. I'd recommend whatever the current version of Knock 'em Dead Resumes not sure if each version is by Martin Yate C.P.C or not. I have an older version of Nail the Resume by Ron and Caryl Krannich which has useful ideas too. Lastly, if you are in NJ I'd strongly recommend joining your local PSG group through the NJ DOL. Most offer resume reviews which will give you in person suggestions of what to do based on the job description you are pursuing. (I need to sign up myself. )

[Deleted]

Step One is to just start writing it :-) Don't edit it as you go, just pour it all out at first.

List out the job title, put a slash and then what the general job market would call the job.
Under each job title either write a paragraph or bullet point your contributions to the company (don't write a job description, write the cool stuff you DID for the business & dollarize anything you can in savings, new processes, efficiencies, headcount savings and stuff like that)

You can find resume templates in MS Word or via Internet search.
You will list your company name, the total start to end dates - do not bold this (some templates do) because you are not highlighting the company but the roles you have had there.
I bold each job title to differentiate each section from the next.

If your very early experience is not applicable to the jobs you will be applying for, then I put a one liner in that says "Progressively Responsible Roles In: A, B, C, D, E
This shows the progression through jobs but without committing to a paragraph for each.

My job coach told me NOT to list all my job experience & to set the dates about 10 years less than actual on the resume, so don't show your original start date if you follow this advice. I did that for a while, but then I decided if someone is going to intentionally screen out on age, they're going to figure it out at the interview anyhow! So I have gone back to listing full dates. I'm not seeing any difference in receptivity on the resume, so I'm not sure it was truly valid input (I am not applying at the companies that only want young-uns anyhow).

If you need help finding templates, just hollar. If you want any feedback on particular paragraphs/statements for your resume, feel free to PM them. I have done a lot of resumes for others that have worked & mine seems to be getting responses and interviews also. I have also been an interviewing manager, so I also know that you better get my attention in about one minute & on the first page content!

[Sharon]

Message deleted by Sharon.

[Deleted]

General Comments

Consolidate the last 3 jobs into one as 'Supervisor/Data Entry' title with date Aug 81 - Aug 85.
Description short & sweet and describing skills that are applicable to current work you will be applying for: Supervise # data entry employees, Mainframe support, Quality Circle Leader.

Listing Technical Skills & HIPAA Skills up front - I like that.

Job descriptions read like a job posting (list of tasks) which is good starting information, but doesn't show the impact of your work, or the quality level of your work. I think this is a good base, and now you need to look at those sentences from the employer point of view & decide what you did that was meaningful to the employer.

By example: "Perform the gap analysis between the HIPAA 4010 version and the HIPAA 5010 version" .. might be 'Accurate Analysis of Regulation Changes. Develop High Quality Implementation Plans to ensure rapid and complete adoption of critical regulatory changes."

So more skill based than task based

"Coordinated the conversion between our former clearinghouse and our current clearinghouse." might be: 'Successful implementation coordination (or project management?) of clearinghouse vendor conversions'

I see several HIPAA references in first paragraph, so there is probably a way to summarize those together to say something like:
Responsible for analyzing and driving all HIPAA compliance activities in the XYZ organization.
- then bullet point a couple of the specific projects that are key.

[Sharon]

Thank you for the input. This weekends project will be revisions.

[Deleted]

Here's a link to a page that shows some good action words to get into the resume: www.seekingsuccess.com/articles/art110.php

And here's one on writing a High Impact Resume: www.hiretowin.com/index.asp?id=155