The Targeted Resume – How To Use The Short and Long Forms
To understand the usefulness of your long form resume, let’s look at the short form resume first:
The standard short form targeted resume should be no more than one page for a recent graduate or any job candidate with less than 5 years employment experience. Two pages maximum as job history, experience and career highlights expand.
Regardless if using the chronological, functional, or functional hybrid format, the short form targeted resume includes:
Section I: name prominently displayed, complete with contact information (address, phone(s), email)
Section II: an Objective or Summary statement no more than 3 to 4 sentences long
Section III: identify skills and traits relevant to the position and the organization, using one of the following formats:
- Chronological – listed chronologically by each employer
- Functional – listed in 10 to 12 word bullet points divided in 2 of several sub-sections: Experience, Achievements, Operations, Management, etc.
- Functional hybrid – section ends with list of employers including start and end dates
Section IV: education, military service, professional and community affiliations.
This is a targeted resume, nothing from your Objective or Summary statement through your Professional and Community Affiliations is listed unless it directly pertains to the position and organization. Any other information listed is useless and actually takes-away from the chances of your resume being read.
The long form resume is always in chronological format and will include the following:
- Objective and Summary statements
- Detailed list of all job duties and responsibilities, including explanation of areas where you excelled
- Detailed list of educational accomplishments, specialized classes, certifications, licenses, etc.
- Detailed list of military schools, training, accomplishments, citations, etc.
- Complete list of professional and community affiliations
The long form resume can be up to 4 pages and is usually updated annually to list new achievements, certifications, job duties and responsibilities. In addition, the long form resume usually only goes back 10 years of the most current employment history. This addresses two issues –
- Positions you held more than 10 years ago are usually no longer relevant to positions you are applying for today.
- Listing your full history can eliminate you from the initial list of candidates if the employer has a pre-determined age requirement in mind.
- You have accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and leadership skills that can only be earned with experience. This gives the hiring manager an opportunity to consider significant skills and traits you possess that his target candidate does not.
- Your long form resume contains specific information the hiring manager will want to know during the interview and selection process.
What’s this mean to me?
An effective one – two punch: your short form resume coupled with a targeted cover letter, will get you noticed and on the interview list. The short form targeted resume addresses only those skills, traits, and achievements relevant to the position and organization. The long form resume provides the rest of the story of who you are and your value and versatility to the organization. Contact the Interview Team to learn how best to develop and utilize your targeted resume.
The Interview Team builds successful employment campaigns that center around your behavioral traits and skill-sets. Get started today – discover your strengths – get hired! Contact us Today.
