Charles Ferree ⋅ Charleston, SC Boeing ⋅ 6 years experience

Jerry
Thank you for your service.
Let me ask you.. Is your resume geared towards the job that you want?

I will suggest that you make a generic resume that has all of your accomplishments, talents and skills. This will be your master copy.
For each application- select the bullet statements that show that you have the skills, experience or qualifications that a potential empoyer is looking for.

Good luck

Phil C. ⋅ Fort Worth, TX ⋅ 3 years experience

Jerry,

Charles and Bill have great advise. Those simple tips are what I used to write the resume that got me my dream job. I would like to add to their already stellar advise by recommending a linkedin account. They are free and are a great tool for networking. You can also make a unique URL for your linkedin page and put it on your resume right next to your email address. This is like going from M16 to a .50 Cal . Your resume, coupled with linkedin will reach further and hit harder. You can set one up in 10 minutes. Additionally I would also add an "Interests" section at the bottom of your one-page-only resume. Put your interests in there. Seriously. One of the guys in my interview panel liked the fact that I played guitar and was into aviation history. He was a guitar player himself. Stuff like this allows you to connect more with those who have never served and let them know you are still a human being and not a robot. If you are running out of room, have no fear! You can spread the margins out almost to their max and gain a few more lines. Additionally, if you are using MS Office, you can select bullets and turn them into to double columns with a click of the mouse. This all to make sure you DO NOT violate the one page limit. I would also go as far as making sure this file is uploaded in PDF instead of .doc format. If you have any professional/academic projects, convert them to PDF and upload them as well. This all combines to make a VERY effective resume that grabs the attention of HR and the hiring manager.

Bill Carpentier ⋅ El Dorado Hills, CA GlaxoSmithKline ⋅ 33 years experience

Jerry
The resume should always reflect the following:
1) IT SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARD THE JOB FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING. If you send out the identical resume to all prospective employers, they will quickly recognize that and you will not be taken as seriously.
2) IT SHOULD CONTAIN THE LANGUAGE/TERMS/SKILLS USED IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THAT POSITION. How do you know what words, phrases, or skills are key in a job description? You simply look for the same skills that are repeated 2-3 times in the list of duties or responsibilities and / or you look for the ones that are listed at or near the top of the job description. The most important skills are almost always listed first. If you are speaking the same "language" as the employer, your chances are much improved. Alway emphasize the skills you have that are transferrable to the job you're seeking.
3) KEEP YOUR RESUME TO ONE PAGE. Even the president of the US can present a resume one page long. It forces you to focus on what's important relative to the job you're seeking and not to get too wordy regarding anything that can be elaborated upon in an interview.
The resume is supposed to get you an interview. The interview is supposed to get you the job!

Cliff Balzer ⋅ New Port Richey, FL JPMorgan Chase ⋅ 40 years experience

Jerry,
Thank you for serving.

I wouldn't jump to something being wrong with your resume, just yet. A job search includes both applying for jobs and uncovering jobs via networking.

When you apply for jobs the competition is intense and you are totally relying on your resume.

When you uncover a job via a networking contact, you have much less competition and have had a bit of an interview already (you've talked to someone), so you are not totally relying on your resume - in fact, the person you are talking with has probably not yet seen your resume.

Please feel free to send me your resume. I've worked for 12 different employers across 4 industries and have been a hiring manager as well. My e-mail is: connectionscliff@gmail.com

Regards,
Cliff

Dave Zimmerman ⋅ West Palm Beach, FL ⋅ 7 years experience

Jerry,
All outstanding Advice!!!

My two cents, they scan your resume to see if you are qualified, so follow the instructions from Bill, use their jargon and descriptions in short synapsis of your position. Next, don't rewrite the job qualifications as the bullets, tell me what you did with what you had. Quantify it - reduced hours loss by 60%, increased efficiency by 12%, was number one in safety out of 18k person organization.

More; first interview is why I shouldn't hire you; basically do you have the qualifications. That or next interview is "tell me your different", what did you do with what you had. Also, we hire who we like and are like ourselves.

Good Luck
DEZ

Diane Standish ⋅ Bonita Springs, FL Collier County Sheriff's Office ⋅ 25 years experience

Jerry, Thanks for all that you have done for this country. I agree with Jamie's advice. If you would like to message me with your resume, I would be glad to review it for you. Also, if you have a specific job opening in which you are interested, we could go over the resume in light of it point by point.

Diane

Jamie Doud ⋅ Houston, TX JRD Consulting; (Prior): Easton Sports ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Jerry, thanks for your many years of service to our country, my Father was in the USAF.

I've been in H/R for 30 years, with an MBA and GPHR Certification (Global Professional Human Resources). I have been a Director/VP of HR and OD for some large global companies. (* I tell you this so you will understand why I am giving you the advice below, which goes against some of the other advice you rec'd above).

I like the advice you rec'd above, but I don't competely agree with the "one" page resume with someone who has 31+ years of experience or more (if you have 15 years or less, and only worked for 1 or 2 employers the one page works). Two pages are fine for you, if they are specific to the goals, skills, education, certification and job experience you have. You don't want to try and "cram" everything from 31 years of experience onto one page and leave gaps, and not let the reader know exactly what you have accomplished (it will just look like a laundry list of employers, trust me I don't even look at these type resumes).

Most employers use automated systems to "mine" for specific "buzz" words, experience level/years of service, and educational level (BS, MBA, etc.) for the specific job they are recruiting for. The relevant resumes their "systems" identify are "greenlighted" and then automatically put into a "review" bucket for the recruiter to read. Nowadays, recruiters don't sit there and read the 100+ resumes they receive for each job opening, they don't have the time. That is why they use computer "mining" systems to "weed" out resumes that don't meet their minimum buzz word requirements, etc. That's why the one-page resume suggestion is not really relevant for someone with your many years of experience.

Be sure to put together a "generic" one page cover letter (this is where one page is always the case). Then modify it each time to the specific person/company to whom the cover letter will be addressed/sent. Be sure to catch their "attention" in the first paragraph with the key experience, skills, attributes, etc. that you have, that match their job description. Some prospective employers won't even review your resume without a recent/up-to-date cover letter.

And you rec'd excellent advice above concerning the creation of a profile up on LinkedIn. Make sure it matches the information, skills, education, etc. that is contained in your resume. Keep it up to date, it is a great place to be seen, look for jobs, and network with others.

That's it I hope this helps and gives you another perspective on this issue.

Good luck with all.

David Alhadeff ⋅ Buffalo Grove, IL Lighthouse Consulting LLC ⋅ 29 years experience

Jerry,

To build on Bill's comment above, you should make sure to call out specific accomplishments and successes that relate to the job for which you are applying. Results are more important than responsibilities, and if you are trying to keep it to one page, you have to make decisions on how to best use that space. If you have any clients or documents that you think would help your case, you can always put into the resume ...(project documents or references available upon request) ... or something like that. Definitely get your name into LinkedIn. That has become the default sourcing tool in corporate America. Happy to review your resume if that would be helpful. Thanks for your service !!