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Work Experience part 2

When it comes to writing about work experience, it can be really difficult to decide on what information to provide and how to present it. And if there are a few bumps in your story, you might worry that your resume will be off putting. Hopefully, my last post offered some guidance, but I felt it was important to provide my take on questions I have often gotten from others about scenarios that arise across our careers that are seen as barriers. So stay tuned and see if your scenario is addressed below!

Scenario 1: Short Tenure

How do you describe relevant work experience that occurred over a short period of time that was a year or less? Many people worry about being perceived as a job hopper, or unreliable. There are different ways to address these concerns.

- Dates: Regarding dates, some people opt to just list the years in which they work, instead of listing months. This reduces the focus on tenure compared to duties and accomplishments.

- Skills: Another solution could be a resume format where the majority of the page is dedicated to the skills a candidate has (describing how a candidate demonstrated that skill), and work history is strategically listed towards the bottom on the resume. They are many different versions of functional and combination resumes online that do just this.

Scenario 2: Firings

Here is a tough but not impossible scenario. Getting fired is not a permanent black spot that excludes you from ever making money again.

Resumes should always be tailored to a specific job. This may sometimes mean leaving off experiences that are not relevant nor enhance the resume. That being said, I do not recommend omitting work that you have been fired from if you spent a long time with that company, or if that experience speaks to a required skill set for a new opportunity. You do not need to write that you were terminated from a company. Instead, write about all of the accomplishments you have made.

Is it possible that a reference check may disclose that you were fired? Yes. But you still have control over the rest of the narrative. You will have a chance to keep the focus on your skills during the interview (don't discuss it if you are not asked). And if for some reason you are asked about being fired, Be honest. don't ramble on what went wrong or bad-talk your former employer. Rather, explain what you've learned from the experience and how you would avoid such a scenario from the future. Lying looks much worse.

Scenario 3: I've been out of work FOREVER

Recently, I had the pleasure to help a young lady put together a resume for various daycare positions. She was a stay at home mom for a few years, and was worried she could not overcome the gap in her professional history. As we discussed her background, I learned that this stay-at-home mom dedicated years to volunteering in children's ministry at different churches. And there is the skill set that comes with parenting 3 energy-filled children.

As she shared her story, I smiled because I knew I would be able to help her write a robust resume that any day care would be happy to receive! Not all valuable experience needs to be professional. Write about being involved with your children's school, church, community, sports or engagements from when you yourself was in school. Focus on writing about duties and accomplishments that correspond to the job description.

I sure hope this helps! What other scenarios are people encountering that they are not sure how to portray on their resumes? I want to know about it:)