a couple resume' questions

[Igovert500]

Ok, so somehow mine got deleted and I'm making a new one as I type this.

Question 1:
Now I'm applying to alot of jobs asap. I have a decent work-history in sales, so my old resume's Summary had something geared 100% towards sales like, "self motivated, great at sales, customer relations, communicating effectively, blah blah blah, seeking a sales position with a company.....

Now, I am applying to quite few companies for a sales position. But I'm in desperate need of money, so I'm also applying for a few customer service and data entry temp-type jobs in the immediate area. Now I don't want to make a summary that says ' seeking a data entry position with a company...' So, do I make 2 different resume's? Do I stick with the sales one, and use it for all the jobs? Or do I just write, 'seeking a position with a company that recognizes and rewards outstanding achievement' and leave what position out completely? What do you think?

Question 2:

I've been outta the sales thing for like 2 years now. 1 year I detailed cars (not something I really want on my resume, plus I didn't leave on teh greatest terms with upper management) And the 2nd year I basically played poker to get by...again, not something I really can put on my resume. Should I just leave those off entirely? Now technically, I was an independent sales rep with the last company, so while I'm listed as inactive, as I havn't sold anything in 12 months. I never 'officially' left, so should I just put that as '02-present? My old manager is a great guy who wouldn't screw me on anything like that if they called him for a reference.


More questions to come I'm sure.

[ghostrx7]

id probably do two or the last idea u said, thats actually pretty good. i may do a resume soon, ive been hear as rental manager for 7 1/2 years, but its really tough battling this economy in this business, and im ready to move to florida instead of freezing in connecticut, stressin each month.... goodluck with the hunt, i havent been to an interview in like 10 years!

[Oz]

Write a different resume for each job, stressing appropriate experience or qualifications for the position you're applying for IMO.

You want them to be get the idea that you're more than capable of doing the job, and have done something like it in the past.

[drunken monkey]

i) i'm not sure what the standard is in the states but in the UK, you tend to have a CV/resume that is purely about you with which you attach a cover letter. As such, the cv itself is almost purely selling your history and the letter would be the place where you state why you are suitable for the position and where you can be more emotive.

ii) if you are going to for the 2 years thing regarding emplyoment period, it would be best to run it by the guy/ ex-boss first so he isn't put on the spot IF he gets called up as a reference(they're not always called). That would also give you a better idea if he would or wouldn't mind.

as to what you've been doing for the last two years; that's a tought one. If you omit something and they ask you what you've been doing and you have no answer, you're screwed. If you put something you aren't too keen on them knowing, then well, you're still screwed (sort of).
your first year of detailing cars I would be inclined to list as it is still employment and in reality, unless your reference is an arse, they don't tend to say bad things about you. the year of poker playing..... I think you're going to have to think of something else.
a year of job seeking while doing short part time jobs maybe; something that explains how you survived but why no long term references.
know anyone with a small business who can pretend to be your part time boss? anyone who can explain away 3+ odd months would be good.

[00accord44]

I second what DM said for the most part. You should definitely prepare different resumes for different fields. Temp agencies don't usually stress too much on the fields highlited in your resume... they're mainly concerned with your capability to perform a variety of tasks. But it could be a little more important if you plan on doing a temp-to-perm agency

And most definitely give your old boss a heads up if you wanna do some "creative editing" of your resume. Gaps in employment stand out, so definitely come up with an explanation. Your stint in automotive detailing could become "a time when you decided to get away from the desk and pursue your passion of automotive detailing and customization". The time not covered by typical employment can then become the time you were "self-employed" working on free-lance projects for local clients.

A future employer is less likely to check up on your attempted career in automotives than the other jobs since it has the least relation to the position they need filled. But how far you wanna push those odds is up to you.

[Igovert500]

Thanks for the advice guys. I seemed to have worked out most the issues. I sent it out to a few jobs to test the waters, after I had it proofread, etc. by 4 people. They all seemed to think it was good. I gave my old boss the heads up, and he's fine with it.

The detailing job is most definitely not going on the resume. All the decent management quit within 2 months of me quitting. The only ones that stayed were jackasses that I complained about when I quit, so I don't want to count on them giving me a mediocre-at-best review. I don't have a problem explaining away the time I had off. I did alot of general construction for a few months out of state helping friends and family who had been hit by flooding. And hte poker I can easily equate to sales, social psychology, reading people, accessing risk, etc. Interviews are never a problem for me. It was basically just the wording of the resume that was holding me up...so thanks for the advice.

[TexasF355F1]

If you really want to up your resume, look at resume services. I had mine done, including a cover letter and what a difference. It was more than worth the money.