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I am looking at beginning to apply to jobs within my company.
I have not touched my resume in over 7 years. I have stayed with this company since my college internship.
Any advice on updating my resume? Obviously my career has been with this company so my job section is small.
Is there something you should specifically focus on when applying internally.
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Chelsea, you have received some great advise here! I especially agree with Joan and Kia.
I just want to add ... change your mindset. Yes, you have been with the same company for 7 year. Yes, you have been in the same role. But, as you mention that role has evolved and so have you. That's what you highlight... the increasing responsibilities. The projects you have successfully completed. The dollars you have potentially saved. The processes you have improved. The skills, transferable skills, you have honed. Your job section will be anything but small, but full of great accomplishments and experiences.
You Got This! All the Best!!!
Have you been in one position for all those 7 years? If not, your job section isn't small, it's just with one company.
Regarding the resume, read and re-read the job description, If they're looking for experience or a skill set and you have it, make sure it's reflected in your resume. You're not going for subtle in a resume - you gotta smack them over the head with your experience so they say "ooo - she's just what we're looking for".
GOOD LUCK!
I have actually held the same position for 7 years. I know its weird. The position has changed as the business has grown which is why I have stayed in the same position for over 7 years.
First - you got this Chelsea.
Second - when it comes to your resume, the substance and relevance of your experience(s) are what matter to recruiters and hiring managers. In other words - it's about quality. Not the number of companies or job titles. It's about what you have to offer, relative to what the role (that you're pursuing) is asking for. One role/job in your career does not equal one career experience.
Rest assured that you have PLENTY of experience Chelsea. Not all of it however, will be relevant for every role that you pursue. Your resume strategy should be the following:
1. Study the job descriptions thoroughly.
2. Think about of all the different experiences that you've had over the past 7 years (including your internship.
3. Identify those particular experiences that strongly correlate with the requirements of the role you're pursuing.
4.Use an action-result approach to your resume bullet points (i.e. "Identified and reconciled 85 budget redundancies resulting in $250K operational cost savings year-over-year). This is how you achieve differentiation; by articulating how you specifically brought value to a particular situation.
Now kick butt Chelsea!
Thank you Kia! Your advice was worded exactly how someone with my thinking mindset needed! I really appreciate it. You also gave me confidence I didn't know I needed.
You want to ensure that the resume is fresh and current with vocabulary. Ensure that you are using job specific verbiage that will be relevant to your new role. Definitely want to highlight results from your actions. Lastly any organizations, clubs, extracurricular activities that you are a member of or play a role in you would want to highlight that as well.
Your job section doesn't have to be small...you did an internship and now are in a working position. Have details for both of those.
Make sure to not only state what you did in your bullet points but how you did it with the results of those actions. Preferably with a number attached to those results if you have them.
Mention increasing responsibilities. You may have been in one position, but your level of responsibility probably increased exponentially over seven years. What were you doing at the beginning, what were your tasks in the middle, what are you currently doing? You may have worked with others in other departments on joint task forces - ask if you can use them as references. I typically did a lot for senior management, and they were always willing to supply a reference when requested. Talk about your contributions to cost avoidance. Talk about how well you work with other teams or multi-disciplinary task forces. Mention personal and professional growth. Indicate professional organizations to which you belong, publications to which you subscribe (even if they are electronic) What tasks have you completed that saved the company a boatload of time and money because you used your knowledge to their benefit? Mention in the interview, unless there is an option to add an essay, how your skills and subject matter expertise have increased over your time at this company.
Next, and do this consistently for the rest of your career, keep your resume updated at least annually. The principal at my son's high school told me that people should be interviewing at least three times every year, even if they love their jobs and want to stay in their current position. If your resume is updated regularly, you won't forget what you have accomplished at a particular position.
Best wishes!
I'll second highlighting accomplishments and your role in those. Specific numbers of savings or growth numbers where possible.
Include any activities outside work (boards, organizations, clubs, etc.) that would show skills relevant to the positions you are applying to such as leadership, organization, planning, etc.
Good luck in your applicaitons!
I would focus on the duties of your position(s) at the organization. I would include numbers/percentages where I could to support accomplishments.