Your employment history may comprise up to 85 percent of your resume. It tells a prospective employer how long you’ve performed duties and realized accomplishments relevant to the job being offered – so if you had
any doubts about its importance, you can put them to rest.
In fact, your employment history may be the deciding factor that makes you stand out as being more qualified than any other candidate for a job. It gives the hiring manager a feel for your reliability, level of commitment and loyalty, and degree of career focus. These are critical considerations as an employer hires for long-term retention and business growth.
How to Write Your Work History
Hiring managers will contact your current and former employers to verify your job titles, descriptions, and start and end dates. While employers generally do not share details regarding performance, inquiries can be made and information divulged off the record via common professional connections.
To ensure the best possible outcome as it relates to your job search:
- Get the facts straight. Be sure you provide accurate information. If you’ve forgotten or are unsure about details, you can buy a self-background check online for a reasonable fee.
- Always tell the truth. There is nothing to be gained by lying or exaggerating anywhere on your resume. In fact, it can come back to haunt you. If so, it may permanently tarnish your professional reputation.
- Emphasize your value. In your employment history, show how you have consistently produced critical, measurable results. This is what defines you as a frontrunner for the job.
- Make it readable. Use a combination of short paragraphs and bullets. Paragraphs describe the scope of job responsibilities. Bullets draw attention to specific achievements while giving the eye a place to rest.
- Cultivate recommendations and references. They will support you and speak in your favor.
What about Employment Gaps?
If you have gaps in your years of work history due to family or other personal reasons, stick to a functional resume format. While dates cannot be omitted, this will allow you to place emphasis on your strengths, experience and talents. Include any courses you took, degrees or certifications you earned or volunteer work you did during your “gap years” as long as it’s relevant.
Do you need further direction in finalizing your resume? Could you benefit from strategic guidance as you continue to advance your career path? If so, contact the recruitment experts at PrideStaff Fresno to see if you could benefit from working with a specialized career coach. We look forward to hearing from you!