Resume Advice: Work Histroy Issues 1

[Japher]

I have 5 jobs in the past 10 years. My first job was an operator and lasted only 1.5 years. My second job was a Chemical Engineer I and was promoted to II, and I left after 4.5 years. My third job turned out to be rotten, so I was only there for 1 year. My fourth job I was at for 1.5 years and was laid off. I have since been working at the same place for 1.5 years.

People I have spoken with (mostly recruiters and screeners) say that my job history is crowded or that I have had too many jobs. However, once I explain to them the lay off it all makes sense to them and it's not such a big deal. Also, my current job has been more of a place holder or a part-time job while I finished my second degree, and my first job was entry level at best.

So, how should I present this on my resume? Should I bother explaining on the resume, should I leave something off? Ideas please.

Thanks.

 

[kelowna]

I am surprised that the recruiters did not offer any advice.

I would not leave anything out, I might organize it as a functional resume (by roles and responsibilities) rather than a historical resume.

Many recruiting firms offer a free service helping you to improve your resume. They are the 'experts', so I would use them.

 

[photoengineer]

Japher,

Five jobs in 10 years actually doesn't sound odd to me. I've seen a lot of engineers resumes that are as crowded as yours.

The only question I have....your employed now, so why are you looking for a new job already?

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[swivel63]

keep everything on there, and just explain what happened.

 

[tygerdawg]

That isn't such a bad record. Times have been very tough over the past decade, there are a lot of train wrecks out there. Most of the hiring managers know this, unless they're too young to have experienced it.

Emphasize your accomplishments, skills, and knowledge that you can bring to the company and use to help them solve their problems. List, but de-emphasize, the work history at the bottom of (second?) page. Be prepared to explain it in honest terms.

Ignore the recruiters or find others. Better yet, quit using them and make your contacts directly. I have nothing nice to say about recruiters at all. They are only working to place yous somewhere, anywhere, so that they can make their commission. So of course they want the best, easiest placement for their own benefit.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[Japher]

Thanks for the advice. It's good to know that I'm not an outlier.

I am looking, or at least feeling out the job market, because I just received my masters (MBA) and would like to see if I could get a better job out of it. I am a technical consultant that doesn't make much as it's not in a field I have experience. It is a good job, so if nothing surfaces I won't be disappointed.

I'm not a big fan of recruiters. Unfortunately they are apart of the job hunt scene and are near unavoidable. I do make my own contacts and have a pretty solid network. The job market is tight right now, so I'm casting a wide net.

My resume is functional at this point, with work history last (bottom of last page). I guess I won't change anything, and will just tell the recruiters I can't change the past all I can do is try not to relive it.

 

[stanweld]

Never was a problem for me; had 4 jobs in 10 years, started fifth after 10 years.

 

[zappedagain]

I'm on my 7th job in 21 years. I have a two+ page resume. The first page lists my qualifications by area (analog, digital, programming, etc.). The second page(s) shows my work history, and accomplishments at each position. People are usually impressed enough with the first page that they don't care about seeing three jobs in three years on the second page.

Remember, your cover letter is the most important part!

Z

 

[ColonelSanders83]

I have had 3 jobs in the past two years, no one has batted an eyelid about the matter. It all depends on your presentation.

Always remember, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it!

 

[Waidesworld]

The problem you might see is that while you can be told this by the recruiter, you have no idea how many HR people are reading it and seeing just the job change. I know some companies in their online forms have a "reason for leaving" section. Maybe you might feel better if you add that, especially considering why you want to leave your current position.

drawn to design, designed to draw

 

[plasgears]

Try to limit resume to two pages regardless of work experience. Earlier jobs can be listed as one liners. My experience is that employers are looking for that special fit into the job at hand. List all experiences even when peripheral to your regular duties.

Many of my jobs were landed with unrelated experience. I landed a Sr Editor job on a tech magazine because of 10 yrs with Toastmasters. I proved competency after getting several readership approval awards one year.

 

[Careful]

I've received the same type of criticism from recruiters. I think they only want to see the jobs that relate to position you're applying for. Makes their job easier if they don't need to slog through a bunch of non-beneficial job info. Maybe use a skills based resume?

 

[rmw]

I agree with the above by careful. I tailor my resume for the job I am submitting on. I have enough experience by now (lots more years than you have to deal with) that if I listed it all for each earlier employment, it would be a novel. I just highlight the specific experience that I had at each prior position that is applicable to the position for which I am applying.

rmw