Résumé Help Needed - How to Highlight Old Experience?

MorPhiend

MorPhiend

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I feel kind of strange asking this advice here, but I haven't had any luck searching the internet for it.

As I was let go from my University job I had for the Fall/Winter because they did not need as much help in Summer, I am looking to submit a résumé for a Tech Support job at the University. I worked at the help desk/IT department for the 2 year school I went to a few years back for most of the time I attended there. But I have had 6 or 7 jobs since then. Any advice on how to highlight the old experience and still keep the résumé to a page? Isn't it expected to list all recent experience and not skip any jobs? Even if I did that, most of the jobs I have held have been with the University I am at so if I did skip jobs in the experience section, they would know if they cared to check it out.

I really want this particular job as it pays $11/hr. in a city/region where $7-8 is pretty normal (especially for a college student/non-grad). I just noticed the job listing Friday night before I went out of town. I just got back today and the listing has either been removed or expired. So I am really antsy to get this problem solved tonight and submit the résumé before working hours commence in the morning in case they have received enough applications. I figure if I do that, I just may slide onto the top of the stack.

Thanks in advance.
 
[quote name='MorPhiend']I feel kind of strange asking this advice here, but I haven't had any luck searching the internet for it.

As I was let go from my University job I had for the Fall/Winter because they did not need as much help in Summer, I am looking to submit a résumé for a Tech Support job at the University. I worked at the help desk/IT department for the 2 year school I went to a few years back for most of the time I attended there. But I have had 6 or 7 jobs since then. Any advice on how to highlight the old experience and still keep the résumé to a page? Isn't it expected to list all recent experience and not skip any jobs? Even if I did that, most of the jobs I have held have been with the University I am at so if I did skip jobs in the experience section, they would know if they cared to check it out.

I really want this particular job as it pays $11/hr. in a city/region where $7-8 is pretty normal (especially for a college student/non-grad). I just noticed the job listing Friday night before I went out of town. I just got back today and the listing has either been removed or expired. So I am really antsy to get this problem solved tonight and submit the résumé before working hours commence in the morning in case they have received enough applications. I figure if I do that, I just may slide onto the top of the stack.

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]


Post your current resume minus private information (your real name, address, etc) and clear off any company name and we will see what we can do.
 
You can format your resume to your favor and remove some of the spaces taken up by information. For instance, don't use bullet lists, use slightly smaller text (still legible though), and format the columns.

Also, you might want to consider just highlighting everything that you feel is really important. For resumes, 10 years or less experience should be one page. But I have two resumes, one I submit to jobs in my field, and one I submit to everyone else. The one I submit in my field only has my current job and previous one, but it's very detailed in the work that I do. My other resume that I submit to everyone else has all of my jobs, but I only briefly list my duties.

Usually it's best to put together a resume to fit a job description. I think a really good resume is one that you can quickly alter to fit best with any given job description. If that means not listing one of your old jobs, or writing a short statement of older jobs, then do it.
 
Just cut out whatever jobs aren't relevant to the position you're applying to. It's expected that you have other work experience not on a one-page resume. I usually bring a copy or two of a "full" resume to my interviews, with all of my work experience on more than one page.

But definitely put down the work experience at that college and your most recent job, and cut out the rest.
 
[quote name='lordwow']Just cut out whatever jobs aren't relevant to the position you're applying to. It's expected that you have other work experience not on a one-page resume. I usually bring a copy or two of a "full" resume to my interviews, with all of my work experience on more than one page.

But definitely put down the work experience at that college and your most recent job, and cut out the rest.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree. Tailor your resume to fit the position you are applying to and don't worry about leaving off jobs that are irrelevant to the position you're applying for.
 
[quote name='lordwow']Just cut out whatever jobs aren't relevant to the position you're applying to. It's expected that you have other work experience not on a one-page resume. I usually bring a copy or two of a "full" resume to my interviews, with all of my work experience on more than one page.

But definitely put down the work experience at that college and your most recent job, and cut out the rest.[/QUOTE]

yup. just cut down on the non relevant jobs. they arent going to care if you dont list working for starbucks for 3 months 2 years ago. just make sure you have a clean looking resume, one page long and just list the most relevant experience.
 
-Personal Information
-Education
-Relevant Experience (make this part the most thorough)
-Other Experience (just bullet points are fine)
-Activities (a single line, or bullet points if you want to take up more room)
-Awards (single line/list)
-Skills (single line separated by bullet points)
 
I cut out some of the jobs that were the least similar to a computer job. Mostly jobs that I had 2 or 3 jobs simultaneously. That way there was a higher degree of continuity. I didn't eliminate bullet points, but I was able to take multiple related points and put them on one line. It actually looked pretty nice in the end. I turned it in before the advice started pouring in, but hearing suggestions of what I decided to do in the end makes me feel a lot better about it. I was worried that selectively listing things would be a bad thing to do. Anyway, thanks everyone. :)
 
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