Any tips on what kind of resume to create for a person who has just had a lot of jobs, but no career?

Anonymous

June 20,2022 at 10:13PM UTC

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Any tips on what kind of resume to create for a person who has just had a lot of jobs, but no career? And isnt sure what it is they are looking for beyond some vague notion of freedom/flexibility, doing something that obviously helps people, and being able to do it well, and a little bit of stability. All i want to say on the resume is I'm a person. I have to work because work is how i earn money and I need money and healthcare and basic things so I have no option other than working. I think I could probably do something well but dont know where to go to get the types of experiences that will help me excel. And Im conventionally ugly. But I also have to work so hire me. And that sounds crazy....so I'm stuck.

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JJJune 21,2022 at 12:11AM UTC
A simple one with a theme—bundle your experience for specific jobs.
AnonymousJune 21,2022 at 12:33AM UTC
You are keeping it real and it sounds like you are over the bs rat race. If the actual job itself doesn’t matter much, what about the working conditions? Think about:
Remote or In Office
How many people do you want to interact with
What benefits do you want
What work schedule do you prefer
Hourly or salary
Are there any in-demand skills you want to cultivate
Perhaps this can help you narrow down your options and tailor a resume.
AnonymousJune 21,2022 at 12:59AM UTC
I would look for tutorials on a Functional Resume.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterJune 21,2022 at 2:06PM UTC
Definitely NOT - I have written well over 1,000 resumes, and never a functional format - for the reasons I listed above.
Cheryl NeasJune 21,2022 at 12:27PM UTC
I was told by a career counselor that functional resumes are a turnoff because they imply you are hiding something, but that was two years ago so the general advice may be different now. In any case, I would organize your work experience into a master document by function, and then you can pick and choose what to pull into a traditional chronological resume depending on the job.
You will probably want to have a few different summary and key strengths statements for different “themes” (customer service, project management, mission-focused). You won’t need to exactly rewrite your whole resume for each application but you can put together different puzzle pieces each time.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterJune 21,2022 at 2:06PM UTC
Absolutely correct on the functional resume - AND the ATS cannot parse a functional resume properly, so you won't be identified as having the qualifications the employer is looking for.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterJune 21,2022 at 2:04PM UTC
Your first step HAS to be getting clarity on what you are looking for. A generic resume that covers too much ground will not resonate with employers. I strongly suggest a career coach who can walk you through a process to get the focus and direction you need.