Types of Resumes

Types of Resumes

When it comes to applying for jobs, your resume is the first chance that you have to make a first impression.

This is the single document that will get your foot into the door for you to take the next step.

A great resume will get you to the top of the applicant pile. The first step that you need to take is to choose the type of resume that you will write for yourself.

All resumes are not the same basic template and you need to be aware of this before you write your resume.

There are four types of resumes that you can choose from, chronological, functional, combination, and targeted.

Functional

If you do not have a lot of work experience, you may want to choose a functional resume. This type of resume is a great way to focus on the skills that you have that would help to distinguish you from the other applicants.

This resume will focus on your skills rather then your work experience. You may want to choose the functional resume if you are changing careers or you have large gaps in your employment history. This is also a good type of resume to use for first time job hunters.

Chronological

A chronological resume is the most common type of resume that people use. This resume lists your work history first.

The list of your jobs starts at your most recent and working your way back through the rest of your jobs. It gives employers a glimpse at your work history. This is why this is one of the most popular types of resumes with recruiters. The chronological resume gives them you work history at a quick glance.

Combination

The combination resume is a way to combine the parts of a functional resume and a chronological resume. This type of resume lists your skills and experiences first.

The next part to this resume is a list of your work history in reverse chronological order. This resume helps you to highlight skills that you possess that will get you the job that you are applying for, while showing your work history as well.

Targeted

The final type of resume is the targeted resume. This resume is the most difficult type to use because you need to update it for each individual job that you apply for.

In a targeted resume, you showcase the skills that you have that are relevant to the position that you are applying for.

For each job that you apply, you will need to change the skills that you focus on.

Laid Off

Being laid off one of the

Being Fired

      The 3 most dreaded experiences of your career are being fired for under performance or work ethics, being laid off due to company or economic instability or not being hired for a perfectly suited position. I have unfortunately in the past 3 months had to experience all 3 of these scenarios. So I have decide to voice my opinions of the 3 experiences and will analyze the scenarios to help others who may be facing one of these situations or may be in the process of recovering from an experience of their own.



      Being fired in my experience can be a very depressing experience and is a huge blow to self esteem due to feelings of rejection, unworthiness and it is sometimes done in an unprofessional manner that can leave a person bitter and angry.  In my case I was fired for being late so the reason was justifiable and the manner was also professional since it was a strict corporate environment.  It was initially hard on me emotionally but in time I began to feel glad that it happened because I was not doing something I loved and worked in a field where respect and compensation are just about as bad as it gets.  So in the end I was glad that it pushed me to explore other career options and I would now never apply for a job in that field.  Also on the positive side it is important to understand why you were let go so that you have the opportunity to improve upon the area where you under performed or ethics were below acceptable.  Understanding why is also essential to ensure you don't repeat the same mistake or suffer the emotional consequences again.  Self improvement is key to overcoming the negative emotions and not allowing the impact of being fired to spread and disrupt other aspects of your life.  If one can understand, cope with the emotions, learn from the mistakes and put effort into self improvement than being fired will never keep you down.

Trick Questions

In case you ever wondered whether or not interviewers would actually ask you a trick question, well the answer is yes.  So in effort to assist those who may run into a bit of trickery during an interview I have compiled a list of the most common trick questions asked and how to respond.

1.) Can you recall a bad experience with a previous employer?

This is actually not so much a trick question but more of a way for the interviewer to gauge how well you respond to being put on the spot.

2.)  Give an example of a time you were unable to complete an assigned task on schedule and how you managed to overcome it.

This question is simply to get you to admit you have failed to perform as you were expected by your employer

Work at Home Jobs

As the technology age advances so do opportunities for those looking to take advantage of the capabilities of today's computers, phones and office machines and earn a legitimate income from the comfort of their own home.  The benefits gained by work at home employees include eliminating a long commute, savings at the gas pump, more time with loved ones and the increased productivity attained by working in a less stressful environment with fewer distractions.  On the other hand employers also prosper greatly from the utilization of remote employees by reducing overhead costs of office supplies, utilities and office space.   Though these perks may seem very enticing the work at home employee also faces some undesirable disadvantages such as isolation and difficulty separating home from work. If you think you have what it takes to be a successful work at home employee below you will find a few companies that offer legitimate work at home opportunities.

http://www.telework.gov/ - Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 passed by Congress allows federal agencies to employ remote support  staff.

http://ArRecovery.com - Employs work at home billing and collections representatives for law offices, healthcare companies and bank lenders.

http://www.salesroads.com/ - One of the few to offer a guaranteed hourly rate plus commission, hires work at home lead generators and appointment setters. 

Temp Jobs

For many unemployed the steadily growing demand for temporary workers has become their ticket out of unemployment and back into the workforce.  However these temporary positions can also become a dead end for employees whom eventually find a better offering that usually encompasses things such as health insurance, retirement savings options, paid sick and vacation time and the guarantee of a 40 hour work week. As for employers temporary staffing appears to be a cost saving way to maintain optimal staff however will inturn produce higher employee turnover which means wasted money on new employee training, additional recruiting expenses and less productive staff due to the constant need to train new employees so maintaining the same level of output is impossible.

The number of temporary positions held by employees today makes up 2% of the total workforce which amounts to approximately 2.8 million jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Not Employing Smokers is This Legal ?

I recently encountered a situation that I feel is unfair discrimination and should not be legal.  I have been in search of a new job after being fired 2 weeks ago so I applied to several local hospitals all of which are owned by the same company and after doing some research on the company I came to realize that I would not be hired by them because

they do not hire smokers.  There career website states that a pre employment nicotine test will be performed and if the results are positive they will rescind  the job offer.  My first thoughts were anger and outrage then my mind turned to the legality of this.  Is it legal for an employer to discriminate in such a manner?  The answer is yes in 21 states and here is what else I found.

• Tobacco-only laws: Eighteen states prohibit discrimination against tobacco users. These states are Connecticut, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• Lawful consumable products laws: Eight states protect employees from discrimination if they use lawful consumable products, which would include tobacco. These states include Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
• Lawful outside activities laws: Four states say employers can't discriminate against employees who engage in lawful activities outside of work. Those states are California, Colorado, New York, and North Dakota

So however unfair it may seem I can do nothing but look for employment elsewhere.  The thing that is most upsetting is that I would attempt to quit smoking since its a disgusting habit that I need to break anyway but I would not be able to utilize any of the smoking cessation aids available such as nicotine gum, nicotine patch or vaper electronic cigarettes since they all contain nicotine.