I work for a trade school in which we have a very wide range of student demographics. Some are fresh out of high school and some as young as 70 year old!
The resume is always a challenge for them as many do have a very diverse background and they seem to think that because they are entering a new profession, they should not mention anything that isn't relevant to the new trade they are applying for. I disagree. All job experience is vaulable and can help a potential employer understand the depth of your knowledge by the variety of skills you have gained during your employment history.
The secret is to briefly highlight those skills without writing a book.
It also tells the employer that you are not a complete novice as an employee. You've learned the ropes as an employee before and technically, will / should require less formal training and overall supervision. The other thing is to put the most relevant info for the job you are applying for close to the top of the resume. The rest becomes supportive information.
Robert,
I'm sure it's a welcome relief for employers (assuming they themselves have a sense of humor)to come across a resume like yours. And I relate-I have myself flipped my share of hamburgers :)
Elizabeth Kemler
I think that it is necessary to create specific resumes targeted to the different skills that they possess. Grouping skills such as graphic design, journalism and related computer skills can make sense; however, adding janitor and short order cook to that list may not be appropriate.
That said, the tag line on my own resume use to say "...and I've flipped my share of hamburgers." Many times during interviews I was told that I got the interview because of that line. I suppose it demonstrated a willingness to work my way thru the ranks, and also a sense of humor.
Juan ,
The most important thing to do is find a few common threads in the various jobs; for instance, were there certain skills or abilities they utilized at all the jobs? If there is nothing obvious you may have to get a little creative-but you can almost always find a couple of things.
Elizabeth Kemler
