Functional or chronological resume? 5

[floattuber]

I'll be changing careers shortly and I've been doing some research on resumes. A lot of places say if one is changing careers then a functional resume (or a combined resume) should be used, but some industries are conservative and don't like it.

My current job is failure analysis for the computer industry, meaning SEM work and other contamination analysis. I've been working here for 5 years (first job) now but it's time I get back into real mechanical engineering. I'm targeting aerospace and similar industries.

Is the mechanical engineering industry a "conservative" industry and therefore I should stick to the familiar and comfortable chronological resume or go with functional/combined?

As hiring managers, would you trash a functional resume? Or does it not really matter?

 

[TheTick]

I started using a modified chrono resume. I start w/ a short section I label "Key skills", which I tailor to match the job I am seeking. Then follows the traditional chrono routine. This has worked well to attract opportunity and get interviews.

I changed from straight chrono after I had the opportunity to help a former boss hire a new person for a position parallel to mine. I screened all resumes and did the "warmup" first 20-30 minutes of interviews to save my boss time.

What I learned is that hiring managers are very busy (duh). Do not force them to search for what they want. If they don't see something they like in the first half page, they move on. If they see something interesting, they keep reading.

I could be the world's greatest underachiever, if I could just learn to apply myself.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[IRstuff]

The typical rule was that you had about 20 seconds to make your point in your resume.

Just be aware that the gap between your present position and a design position is pretty large. Effectively, you're looking at an entry level position about 5 yrs behind the curve. I'd suggest boning up on your school work. Get familiar with whatever tools your targeted industry is using, e.g., CAD tools, analysis tools.

TTFN

 

[ewh]

My resume is similar to The Tick's. First part lists achievements and key skills, followed by a chronological listing. In the chronological listing, I also include skills used and achievements at each position.
While you are shifting areas, I think this may be a good approach for your situation, as it will show the reader your capability for adapting to differing situations.

 

[RDK]

The best format of a resume is one that works for you.

There is no hard and fact rule in résumé formats. Use one that best shows off your skills, talents and abilities for the position that you are seeking. The only hard and fast rule with resumes is that they have to be letter perfect in spelling, grammar and punctuation. With a word processor that should be easy.

Mine is a skills format but I also have a chronological one to use if the need is there, tailor each one to the position and put the skills or experience in the same order that the advertisement has them listed.




Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[Hoagie]

My tip. Spend just as much time developing a good cover letter as you do your CV. Don't sweat the format..it's content that matters.

The cover letter is the first thing that HR sees/reads. If the letter doesn't flow well, is clumbsy, or isn't original in any way, then you are putting your resume at a disadvantage.

One last thing: Be careful of using generic and trendy wording such facilitate, multi-faceted, multi-taker, etc... these selections are just plain goofy.

Good luck,

H.

 

[Ashereng]

I have 2 resumes - one functional and one chronological.

I submit the functional resume. At the bottom, I state that a chronological is available upon request (I work a lot of projects, and the chronological resume is 8 pages long).

Most people don't really care where I worked, what projects I worked, who I worked for until after they are interested in my skill set and experience.

 

[MadMango]

I tend to side with Hoagie to a point. A good cover letter will get your foot in the door. Just don't make the mistake of repeating your cover letter information in your resume, or vice versa.

I also follow The Tick and EHW's resume layout. Listed skills and achievements in bulleted format for easy & quick digestion, followed by more in-depth chronological listing of positions (all tailored for the position you are after).

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[floattuber]

I like that hybrid approach, I think I'll do that. I've done a few interviews, but mostly warm up interviews so I've looked over some resumes. The few that I've reviewed have mostly been chrono so it's familiar to me. When I look at sample functional ones on the internet I'm not sure where to start. I guess I like order.

And yes I realize I'll be starting at the bottom again, but better now than later.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Tomfh]

I use Tick's resume layout. I graduated about a year ago and I got heaps of hits using that approach. Slick formatting and 100 gsm paper also help.

 

[IRstuff]

I used to worry about the paper quality, until I found out that the original resume winds up in HR and the interviewing manager gets a marginally clear copy of a copy.

TTFN

 

[Ashereng]

I can attest to what IRstuff posted.

The copy I get is usually not the original, IF an original one was even a paper copy. Most of the time, I get a printed out copy or a photocopy of a printed out copy. I once even used a fax machine to make a copy (bad idea) - the old fax paper was difficult to write on.

Most resumes we receive are soft copies, emailed in, or entered into our web site. Very few people come into the office and drop off a paper copy.

 

[floattuber]

Same here, most of the resume's I've read have been emailed to me.

 

[Tomfh]

Oh well, there goes my good paper theory...

 

[imagitec]

FORMAT

A functional resume is OK for someone with vast and diverse experience. And some people use it to draw attention away from job-hopping or a prolonged break in employment. Neither case applies to you. Stick to the more standard chronological resume - it gives the screener one less reason to reject you.

COVER LETTER

I spend a lot of time on my cover letters, but they don't always make it to the hiring manager. I speak from my own experience and my wife's, who works in HR. At her former employer, cover letters went straight into the trash. If you want to be absolutely sure the hiring manager knows something about you, put it on the resume, too.

RESUME CONTENT

An objective is a waste of space. Your objective is to get the job you're applying for. I replace it with a summary, which makes mine a kind of hybrid resume. This one is a couple of years old:

Licensed professional mechanical engineer with eleven years of design and six years of project management experience in ISO 9001 and 9002 environments. Design of optomechanics, precision mechanisms, and power transmission systems. Structural, thermal, and modal FEA and motion simulation. Advanced materials selection. Semiconductor, imaging, and medical devices and equipment. Supervision and mentoring of cross-functional teams of engineers, designers, and technicians. Budgeting, scheduling, and expediting of multiple, concurrent projects. Master of Management Science and BS Mechanical Engineering.

Someone may argue that an objective is appropriate because you're chaning careers. I think it means you need to work twice as hard on making your resume sell yourself. The summary is the place to start. Highlight the analytical and problem solving aspects of your current job; increasing responsiblities; and longevity (five years isn't bad in today's world). Mention your degree. It's the one direct qualification you have for a mechanical engineering job; make sure they can't miss it.

Expand on your summary in the employment section. Be as specific as possible - calculations, techniques, problems you analyzed and solved. If there is any possible way to get the slightest design experience at your current job, find a way to get it. If that means designing and fabricating fixtures to assist your analysis in your free time, do it.

Your situation is not that different from that of a new graduate, so the education section is important. Include relevant highlights and your GPA, if it's good. Don't list the core courses that everyone took. Include relevant electives and special projects that gave you design experience.

Good luck.

Rob Campbell, PE
Finite Monkeys -

http://www.livejournal.com/users/robcampbell

 

[imagitec]

I second IRStuff about boning up on your coursework and becoming familiar with tools like CAD and FEA. You can get working demos of many of the mid-range CAD platforms. Get them and do the tutorials. Use one to design fixtures that would help you in your current job, even if they never get built. There is no replacement for going through the actual design process, which requires designing something you know about.

Then put those skills on your resume - in the summary and again in a list of technical skills.

Rob Campbell, PE
Finite Monkeys -

http://www.livejournal.com/users/robcampbell

 

[imagitec]

I wouldn't spend much time getting familiar with FEA, and certainly wouldn't mention it on the resume (except as part of your education, if applicable). If Eng-Tips let me, I would have just deleted it from my previous post.

Rob Campbell, PE
Finite Monkeys -

http://www.livejournal.com/users/robcampbell

 

[rnd2]

When you send your resume in, assume at least three people will expect a copy. Send in three clearly separated, but original copies. That way you may just have the little edge needed.

 

[floattuber]

Wow, thanks rjc. Good examples.

I do know solidworks and do design fixtures once in a while for work. I also have played with cosmosxpress some.