Tales from the Resume Reef - Dating Advice (for Employment History)

It's time for a blunt statement about dating - dates for your employment history:

You need to have them!
They need to be in reverse chronological order!
They need to "line up" with the jobs and accomplishments/skills you list!

1. You need to have dates of employment on your resume. In 10+ years of recruiting and career services, I've yet to run into the employer who says "I don't want to know ANYTHING about how long that person was at any job." Truth is, it's necessary for the employer to get a clearer picture of your work history. As we've stated, the easier you make it for the employer to read your resume, the better for you!

2 examples
1/01-2/08 Supervisor, Helpdesk Department Interfake Tampa, FL
2001-Present Supervisor, Helpdesk Department Interfake Tampa, FL

Some folks may say you need month and date (it's my preference,) while others may say that years are enough. Be certain you choose one format and use it the WHOLE way through your resume.

2. You need to list employment dates in reverse chronological order, which is a fancy way of saying to put your most recent job first. Next, list the one before that, etc.
What you have done most recently is usually the most important issue for hiring folks, but not always. However, this style is what employers tend to find easiest to read. Essentially, they can "track" your work history from now to the start.

And that's a whole lot easier than starting with your first job and then working your way "back" to your current job. Yes, I've seen resumes that start in 1981 - and I get way down the second page before this century's work experience makes an appearance. Bluntly, it's a waste of the reader's time to lay out a resume this way, and does NOTHING to help you market yourself.

Plus, keep in mind that employers normally spend 15-30 seconds on their first view of a resume; thus, you make it easier for them to see your RECENT accomplishments by listing your most RECENT jobs first!

3. The dates need to "line up" with the jobs and accomplishments/skills you have. Here's where I may create controversy, but write this I must. "Functional" resumes are sometimes very good for career transitions; however, employers STILL want to know where you worked and when, as well as what you did there. If you list a bunch of skills or accomplishments, that's great. If you leave them at the top of the resume, and don't tie them to specific jobs or volunteer efforts, that's a mess.

The result: the functional resume that doesn't function.

Look at the difference below:
10/05 – 5/06-Staffing Specialist/Recruiter-Amtran Services Tampa, FL
-Assisted in creation of start up staffing firm.
-Provided ALL Placement services, from recruiting to sales to placement
-Inside sales (75-100 outbound calls per day.)
-Created initial policies, procedures and forms and bill rates for Contract and Direct Hire.
-Recruiting and placement for Contract and Direct Hire positions.
-Concepted company website and wrote copy.
-Wrote all recruiting ads for Monster.Com and Tampa Tribune.
-Placement in IT, Graphics, Marketing/Sales.

VERSUS

10/05 – 5/06-Staffing Specialist/Recruiter-Amtran Services Tampa, FL

Of the two, which gives more information? Which one tells an employer more? Which one gives a more complete picture of skills, duties and accomplishments?

The answer is easy, and easier for an employer to read.

Important, yet not difficult at all!