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I remember doing that a few years ago. That's how I got the responses that I didn't have enough work experience. I had what I called a "brief" resume that listed all of my skills and technologies and a summary of my experience. I mentioned that I had a detailed resume (that was 3-5 pages long depending on how much detail I included and how far I went back). I work with recruiters and they would ask for longer resume. The 5-page resume would get little response or complaints that it was "too detailed" and the 3-pager would get phone interviews.
Now in 1998, having old experience really helped land Y2K compliance work. After that, it really didn't help. Companies hiring these days seem to want people that can use the latest technology, sometimes they want specialized certification or other buzzword technologies and methodologies. I try to put all of that stuff up front. My current "door-opener" resume contains a summary (5 bullet points with personal and professional highlights over my 15+ year writing career), skills grouped and bulleted by subject (Software/Applications, Languages, Databases, Hardware, Operating Systems, Methodologies, Project Management Tools), professional experience for 10 years with each job (bullets for each: a one sentence description, 1-2 accomplishments, and a bullet that lists the technologies I used), and education. It's 3 pages.
Lauren
________________________________
From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of Ed Wurster
Sent: Tue 1/23/2007 2:04 AM
To: Ned Bedinger
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Getting Hired...Opinion #2500
Two versions may help. Send a 3-page summary, and let them know you
have a detailed version of 5-15 pages. Make sure the 3-page summary
has every keyword. I do this with a keywords section. Listing an
archaic system from the 80's may get you in the door.
You never know where opportunity may come from.
On 1/23/07, Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com> wrote:
> I hate to say it, because I think the advice is business-like, but this
> makes me feel like I'm chasing butterflies, or being reorg'd. Tell me
> again why my resume isn't OK at 5 pages? Is it too fiddly paging back
> and forth from cover letter to resume? Or generally not considerate
> enough of the other demands on your time and attention? For me, this is
> a challenge, putting myself in your shoes....
--
Ed
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