Resume Advice

Resume Q&A

Q: I was wondering if it is worth it to hire a resume service or just write my own resume and save the money? - Julie D. Fort Wayne, IN

A: Well, it really comes down to your ability to write. Bottom line, whoever writes the resume MUST be able to communicate in a way that grabs your reader's attention! That is the person who should write the resume. If that is you, great. If not, spend the money for a professional. Don't worry about spending money on your resume. If you do a poor job of it yourself, you will have spent that money and more in lost opportunity costs.

Q: I am concerned about gaps in my employment history, how do I handle that in my resume? - David S. La Mesa, CA

A: You are not alone in this regard. The key in resume writing is to focus the reader (hiring manager) on your strengths, and de-emphasizing your weaknesses. With employment gaps this is best done by using a Functional resume format as opposed to the more traditional chronological format.

In your case, a solid linear employment history is a weakness; so let's push it back in prominence on your resume and highlight your strengths, which should be the skills, abilities and accomplishments you bring to the table.

For a full discussion on the proper use of formatting visit this link.