What resume for a chaotic career path?
3 November 2006
Read by 2915 persons

1. Don't cheat on the dates.
Don't even consider changing the dates of your last contracts. Recruiters very often ask for work contracts or payslips when hiring. Being caught red-handed lying is the worst thing that can happen to you.
2. Take advantage of your weaknesses.
Your resume should state your career path as it is, trying as much as possible to explain it and take advantage of it. Here are some examples, if you have:
•Many professional experiences: emphasize the progress throughout your positions and the multiplicity of skills mastered.
• A change of orientation: clearly mark the different sectors when you present the detail of your positions or the training followed. Emphasize the field in which you are currently.
• One or more periods of unemployment : choose a thematic resume rather than chronological to highlight your skills.
• A career break: show that you have kept abreast of the evolution of the profession (professional association, readings, additional training...) and favor a chronological presentation with your professional experiences first.
3. Prepare your arguments for the interview.
When writing your resume, think (and even write on a sheet of paper) the arguments that you will develop orally if you are questioned on these points. Favor vocabulary of the type "I chose", "I decided", "I wanted", rather than "it's not my fault", "I tried everything"... You can already give some explanations in your cover letter, without going into detail.
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