Contract work on a resume' 1

[jerry1423]

I am currently working in Engineering as a contract mechanical designer, but I am looking towards getting a permanent job that I can work at for the next twenty-something years that I can retire with.

My career started in High School as a detail drafter. I have both an Associates and Bachelors degree in Engineering Technology. I have moved up the ranks in my 29 year career.

One problem I have is that I have many employers on my resume' because I have done so much contract work. It seems to me like the potential future employers that I have written to frown upon that because it looks to them like I cannot hold a job for a long time.
The contract jobs that I have worked typically went from 1-3+ years, but a couple of them that went less. Almost every company that I have worked at has asked me if I was interested in a permanent job with them, but for whatever reason (usually distance from home) I have turned it down.

In my opinion doing the contract work that I have done, and being part of so many differnt types of projects, should be looked at as a positive thing.
Any suggestions on how I can arrange my resume', or write my cover letter, so that they show this type of work as being a very positive thing?

 

[MintJulep]

Try a functional resume rather than a chronological one. Something like:

Contract Mechanical Designer - Various Companies 1980 - Present

Designed recumbent widgets for companies A, B and C. Worked on project X for company D.....

Employers should understand the nature of contract work.

 

[TheTick]

I am looking towards getting a permanent job that I can work at for the next twenty-something years that I can retire with.

You need to expand your job search beyond reality.

I have a few stretches of contract work on my resume. It does not seem to hinder employer interest.

For longer terms, I list the job and indicate that it was contract work. Recently, I had gone through a spate of short-term (high paying) contracts. I listed those as a two year period of contract work and follow with details of the type of work done.

A few years ago, I noticed my employment chain was getting too long to read. I restructured my resume so that it starts with a "Key Skills" section listing what I am good at. That way, the busy hiring manager without the patience to read a whole page can get what he needs to know from the first paragraph. Response to this has been very positive.

Honesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[IRstuff]

Why wouldn't you simply list the jobs as "XXX Contract Job," followed by a brief description of the contract, and the completion status?

Having taken that into account, I would, unfortunately, still question whether you can sit still at a permanent job, and would query you about that.

At the top of your resume, and in your cover letter, you should stress the desire for a permanent, stable position, that will allow you to grow further in your career, etc., etc., etc.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

I am looking towards getting a permanent job that I can work at for the next twenty-something years that I can retire with

As tick says, you may need to adjust your expectations, this type of job though not extinct is certainly an endangered breed.

I agree with some of the above that a formatting trick like Mint suggests may remove some of the problem. Have you done most of the work for just one job shop? If so you list the job shop as your employer and treat the different contracts as positions with the same employer.

I also have the key skills section at the beginning of my resume, just after a short intro paragraph.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[JLSeagull]

You can avoid the chronological resume'. Also, consider showing temporary job-shop time as "consulting engineer" or something like that.

 

[MadMango]

You may also want to tailor your list of employers, listing only the relevant ones that are similar to the company you are sending your resume to.

 

[IRstuff]

You should, however, avoid using terms like "consulting engineer" as that happens to imply a PE license.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[JLSeagull]

Addressing the point made by IRstuff, being licensed I use consulting engineer. Contract designer conveys the point too.

 

[stanier]

Most jobs are secured not by responding to advetisements. SO I suggest in moving from one company to another as a contractor you enquire about going onto the staff. Be prepared for knock backs as you may not be as good or as popular as you think you are. On the other hand it may just be the company wanting to keep the overheads low.

Network within a professional body like IMechE or ASME and seek out contacts who may put you on for a project.

By the way permanent is not permanent. Many a company I worked for got rid of the staff and kept on the contractors. The contractor could be let go at a hours notice. Once the staff were gone the bottom line improved. Short term outsourcing and improving balance sheets.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Just use 'contract' in the job titles, and use a reverse chronological format.

Other resume formats might work if you can get them into the hands of the Decision Maker directly, but HR departments routinely discard _all_ resumes in alternative formats, precisely because they are used to obfuscate information.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[HamishMcTavish]

Hi Jerry1423

One thing i would suggest (in addition to using reverse chronological order for your employment history) is to only list the jobs going back the last 10 years (unless it's particularly relevant to what you're doing)

Functional CVs are good as long as you don't embellish and put down skills you cannot demonstrate if the interviewer drills down into your employment history!

Going back to your original post you say "one problem" - how do you know this is the problem? Is it feedback from interviewers? As others have said anyone interviewing should realise the nature of contract work, besides 1-3 years is not really short term... There have been other threads talking about how many jobs folk have held in their career, the point is that everyone is different!

Your CV is a tool to get you an interview / foot in the door - everyone has a different idea of formatting but at the very least it should allow you to demonstrate that you have the skills to do the job advertised. And by demonstrate i mean that the reader shouldn't have to plow through several pages to finally judge that you have the right experience. You should be leading them through your experiences to show how well you can do the job. Try looking at a recent book on CV / Applications / Interviews to check you're not missing anything obvious and as others have said network, network and network.

No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary - William of Occam

 

[europipe]

Don't overestimate the value of a resume.
It's more important how the interview is going,
And if it's not like You expect don't take the job.

 

[JLSeagull]

In my experience, HR does not screen resume's. I have seen bogus degrees from diploma mills. I would consider a non degreed person with 25 years experience; and exclude a diploma mill degree. After the mid '80's downturn in my business I saw resume's with titles like hotel manager and time gaps that did not cause me any real concern. Such gaps may soon be repeated depending upon the applicant age.

 

[jerry1423]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was gone on business for the last week so I didn't get a chance to view all the reponses, so I was very pleased when I got back.