Various state laws forbid employers to ask for photos. Many states also have laws against asking you to list:
- Age
- Ancestry
- National origin
- Race
- Religion
Would it be appropriate to consider several different types of resumes for several different types of jobs?
Yes. But don't try to combine all the features of Chronological, Special Skills, Functions and Accomplishments resumes in one document.
The older you get and the more experience you have, the more likely it is that you are going to want to present a different resume to each prospective employer. You will have so many different qualities and capabilities that no single resume will tell the appropriate facts for each job opportunity. Don't hesitate to write special resumes. Match your resume to each job opportunity.
How do I handle the fact that I might not have the right experience for a particular job that I am interested in?
Many successful people have had that problem. Be honest but be positive about yourself. For example, you could tell the employer you have a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of education. Emphasize the interest, enthusiasm and education, and you may find those qualities count for more than experience. Employers know they aren't going to find the perfect candidate every time.
Let's say that I have some gaps in my work record. How do I handle that on my resume and in the interview?
It used to be that gaps in employment automatically meant there was something wrong with the applicant. Now employers are accustomed to hearing that someone took six months off to go to Europe, or a year to help take care of an ill relative or two years to be with a child. Whatever the reason for a gap in your employment-just couldn't find a good job, poor local economy - recognize it, let your prospective employer see it and deal with it honestly.
Once I have completed my resume, how do I go about getting some constructive criticism about it?
Ideally, you will find some people who have experience in personnel work to review your resume. (Consider, for example, personnel people at a former employer, business teachers, business colleagues). And ask friends or family members to read it. Get all the comments you can from people who either know the hiring process or who know you.
Any final comments about writing a resume?
Don't reinvent the resume. Almost everybody you know has written one. Learn from them. Ask them what worked and what didn't. Ask where they had it typed, where they had it printed. What would they do differently? At the same time you're asking those questions, you are getting your name into circulation. That is a key element in finding the right job.
Filling out the Employers' Application Forms
Not many of us can remember all the dates, names and addresses called for on employers' application forms. We need some help, such as the practice application form on the following pages. Fill it out at home, at your leisure, where you have such things as your address book, the phone book and records of your previous jobs to help you. This form is similar to the ones used by most employers.
Remember, employers want all the information requested. They may think you're hiding something if you leave blanks. When you've finished filling out the practice form, take it with you to help you fill out actual applications.
