Start with the Right Structure

In my previous post, I argued that rewriting your resume, like ironing, requires some extra effort but is well worth the time. In the next few posts, I’ll share few tips I picked up as I worked on mine recently, beginning with this one: start with the right structure.

If you’re like me, the first and last time you were taught how to write a resume was in college, when you had little work experience and were happy to take any job you could find. The format you learn then-- education at the top, work experience next (milking all you can out of that part-time library assistant position you held for a year), and all the volunteering and high school accolades you can think of to fill up the page-- is fine for that point in your professional life.

But as you mature in your career, so should your resume. When I updated mine, for example, I realized I needed to switch to the standard format for mid-career professionals, which allowed me to synthesize my varied experiences to explain where I came from and where I want to go.

Depending on your circumstances, you may want to consider restructuring your resume to prepare for a change in fields, re-enter the workforce after a gap, or align with norms for your particular profession. Whatever the situation, starting with the right structure will make it easier for you to write the rest.

So what do you do with all the information that accumulates on your resume as you gain experience? I’ll address that challenge in my next post. In the meantime, if you’d like help thinking through the right structure for your resume, get in touch.