Resume help please?

[TinysMom]

I'm working on my resume to get back into the clerical field and I've done some googling about resumes and rereading notes from when Art got out of the military and they gave him help in writing resumes, etc.

My question is sort of basic - sort of not basic....

There are two types of resumes. One is a chronological resume where you list your jobs (in reverse order - with the most current at the top)...the other type is a "functional" resume...where you list your skills and then your employment below. Let me show you part of a sample from a website:

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ARG - I closed the window with the sample...but it went like this:

Person's name & contact info

Objective:

SKILLS:

Communication skills


Leadership skills


Other types of skills



Employment:
Place A, location, date - brief one line listing only that information
Place B


I don't remember if it had references at the bottom...

[line]

I lean towards doing a functional resume (especially since I have a list of action words to use on a functional resume) - largely because my office experience is 4 years old (at best) and spotty....but when you look at the skills I've used in both merchandising and clerical work - well - that's different.

Here's my resume right now - without the companies listed...and I've removed my contact information and the references.

[line]
Contact information

Objective:

Challenging people-oriented position that will need my clerical and customer service skills

Education:

A.A.S. – Business Administration
Western Oklahoma State College, Altus, OK, 1995

Continued education towards Management degree at:
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2003-2004
Park University (Laughlin AFB Campus), 2004-2005

Self-taught:
MSWord, MSExcel, MSPowerPoint, MS Outlook, FrontPage2002





Relevant Employment:

Merchandiser –
June 2008 – current

Complete work required by several different companies on an “as-needed” basis including distribution checks, audits, inventory, POP placement, pulling old product and processing returns, placing orders and building relationships with store managers for the various companies

Reason for leaving: Currently employed as such but want more mentally challenging work

Customer Service Representative –
August 2007 – April 2008

Answer incoming calls regarding customer’s credit card account including balances, due dates, disputed charges on account, address changes and more.

Reason for leaving: Personal

Secretary (Dietary Department)–
July 2003 – June 2004

Research products and complete purchase orders; balance daily cash receipts against sales reports; distribute incoming mail and packages; compile vendor invoices for accounts payable; coordinate filing system of invoices; oversee employee records; prepare quarterly reports for association; organize handouts for staff meetings; analyze sales for trends.

Reason for leaving: Moving with spouse

Receptionist/Administrative Assistant –
October 2002 – May 2003

Answer phones & transfer calls; generate office calendar for headquarters staff; distribute incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail and packages; process expense reports; oversee office supplies for headquarters office along with satellite offices nationwide; file contracts; accurately manage petty cash for company headquarters; summarize travel arrangements to create itineraries for travelling staff; formulate spreadsheets for annual contract re-bids; support President of the company as administrative assistant by anticipating needs as often as possible or researching information when immediate needs arose.

Reason for leaving: Health

Merchandiser – Anchorage, Alaska & Andrews AFB, MD area
October 1998 – May 2002

Complete work required by several different companies on an “as-needed” basis including distribution checks, audits, inventory, POP placement, pulling old product and processing returns, placing orders and building relationships with store managers for the various companies

Reason for leaving: Moving to a small town with few merchandising opportunities


Receptionist –
October 1997 – August 1998

Answer phones & transfer calls; tactfully and politely handle customer inquiries and complaints; prepare outgoing mail and packages; distribute incoming mail and deliveries; update advertising database with address changes; code purchase orders, expense reports and accounts payable for submission to company headquarters; control and inventory office supplies.

Reason for leaving: Temporary job – assignment ended


Skills:

10 key; cash register; computer (typing 65+ wpm); photocopier, scanner & fax machines; multi line telephone; postage meters; intercom systems & more
[line]
Help?

 

[Elf Mommy]

I would definitely go with functional.

 

[BethM]

I would go with functional. Listing your skill sets at the top gives employers a quick overview, and then they can read the job experience for additional information.
I use a functional resume, with skills at the top, job experience in the middle, and personal interests/pursuits at the end.

 

[pla725]

I would remove the reason for leaving. They will ask that on the application. Also just add a line at the bottom stating that references are available upon request.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Peg, I used to be in personnel and ER for a major nationalsafety organization. When I was going through applications and resumes the most important thing was that it was easy to read, and I would prefer the Functional resumes.

Be sure to make subject titles Bold, and keep it simple. You will have time to explain yourself more in interviews - be prepared for that! You can even take notes.

One page is the best if you can manage it but no more than 2.

SELL SELL SELL PEG...... that's the objective.


I don't think you need to put down WHY you left jobs. Just be prepared to answer it if asked.

 

[JimD]

Hi Peg,

I agree with taking the "reason for leaving" out.

There's a lot of good stuff there.

Let me talk to MrsD.

She's been in HR for more than 30 years.
Unfortunately her company closed the facility she was at...and she's been out of work since the end of October.

She's going to an outplacement program, and they're having her redo her whole resume.
I'm sure there's a general format that you might be able to use.

I'll have to wait until tomorrow though...everybody's sleepin' right now...:shhhh:

 

[aurora369]

I would go functional as well.

I do mine chronological (I also only have a few years of experience), but I also have sections. Mine is a technical resume for engineering, so I have technical projects, education, work experience, and then volunteer. They are ordered as listed, and each section is chronological.

If you want to PM me your e-mail address, I can e-mail you a copy of mine. I think my lay out is really sharp and I worked a really long time on it.

--Dawn

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I learned how to do resumes in high school as I took an office occupations course. We were taught to do Chronological as well, so mine has always been that standard. It looks great as well. It depends I guess on how you want to sell yourself. Let me have another look tomorrow so I concentrate, Im so tired now. I'll give another opinion perhaps.

(I have used almost nothing but resumes to get jobs for the past 13 years.)