SavvySugar

Definition: Functional Resume

SavvySugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:30:09 -0700

The most common type of resume is in chronological form and lists job experience starting with your most recent position. Another type of resume is the functional resume, which lists experience and skills in a nonchronological format. A typical functional resume includes a section highlighting qualifications and elaborating accomplishments; another section with places of employment, job title, and dates employed; and other sections with education and community service participation.

Functional resumes are most often used by job hunters with gaps in employment history, and they're sometimes used by people hoping to change careers or those who have had many different types of jobs. Dates of employment are still included on the functional resume, but the hope is that an employer will see past any gaps because the applicant's skills are a good match with the skills required for the open position.

Source

Words That Should Never Appear on Your Resume

SavvySugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:58:52 -0700

Most of us have presented several drafts of resumes over the years, beginning with our glamorous first jobs and interning experiences, and constantly evolving during our tour of the workplace trenches. Writing resumes is somewhat of an art form, and if you've been the author of your own resume then you've undoubtedly come across lists of attention-grabbing action words. Maybe you're thinking that if everyone is using the same list, then how are you ever going to stand out in the eyes of an employer? Don't go there, at least not by abusing your thesaurus. Let your experience speak for itself (with the help of those action words) and see my list of words that should never appear on a resume when you read more

Fantastic, splendid, amazing, phenomenal, awesome, cool, spectacular, etc: Stick to the facts and save your enthusiasm for the interview - your interviewer will determine how amazing your computer skills are or if your phenomenal presence is worthy of a job offer.
Hate, love, joy, happiness, despise, abhor, pleasure: Avoid using any words that are meant to convey your feelings about a job function. If you get the interview, they might ask you what you liked best or least about a particular job, but don't jump the gun on your resume.
Hot, attractive, bombshell, gorgeous, beautiful, all-natural: Unless you're applying for a position with the Emperor's Club, your resume isn't an appropriate forum for your looks no matter how proud you are of what stares back at you in the mirror.
Liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, monotheistic, polytheistic, atheist, agnostic, etc: You get the gist - your resume, and for that matter the job interview, is no place for showcasing politics or religion. Resumes are about facts, not distracting opinions or unrelated personal details.
Healthy, strong immune system, flu magnet, terminally ill, food allergies: Providing health facts isn't just too much information, it's information that your employer has no business knowing. Employers can ask if you have any issues that would prevent you from performing your job function, but even those details don't belong on a professional resume.

Back to Basics: 9 Critical Career-Related Words and Phrases

SavvySugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:30:58 -0700

Keeping up with career and job market terms is key to staying ahead. Sure, you may sound like a dork when you describe your co-worker who fabricates problems to make herself look better as a "Munchausen at work," but I guarantee you will send your manager on a Google mission. Most of us agree that wordiness isn't always necessary for the workplace, but I encourage you to stay in the know. Here are some words and phrases that will help you come across as particularly savvy. Just don't pack them all into one conversation.

Elevator Speech	Functional Resume	Furlough
Golden Parachute	Manage Up	Munchausen at Work

Personal Brand

Soft Skills

Sabbatical

Ask Savvy: Is It Acceptable to Apply For Multiple Positions at One Company?

SavvySugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:32:59 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I am in the post-grad school job search process and am wondering if it is appropriate to apply for more than one position within the same organization? I'm worried that it may show a lack of commitment, but they are all positions I'd be interested in and mostly qualified for.

To see my answer just read more

I don't think that applying for more than one position within the same organization shows a lack of commitment; in fact, I think it shows just the opposite. That you're interested in multiple positions doesn't necessarily mean that you're not focused on a certain position, but it does suggest how much you'd like to work for the company in question. As long as your qualifications meet the requirements for each position, you shouldn't be in danger of an employer viewing your application as frivolous.

The key is to treat each position as a unique opening with its own specific requirements. The most effective way to prove that you're not just applying for every available job under the sun, and are in fact interested in the jobs for which you're applying, is to tailor each resume for each position's requirements. Tedious? Maybe, but it's important to treat each position as though it is completely unrelated in order to present yourself as a distinctive candidate for each role.

If the company specifically says they don't want you to submit a cover letter, then I'd recommend including each job title in the objective section of your resume. I'm usually anti-objective, but this is one time that it would actually have a sensible function. If the positions fall under different departments and ask that you submit your application to different managers, be sure to include cover letters (if applicable) with each one.

Source

Ten Best Paying Nonprofit Job Opportunities

SavvySugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:53:32 -0700

If you've been assessing where your career is headed and the thought of sending your resume to a nonprofit has crossed your mind, you first need to step back and consider if it's really the right move for you. And if you've gone through all of the important considerations of working for a nonprofit and are convinced there's potential for you to be happy in the nonprofit world, you should look at the kinds of jobs available in most organizations. The salaries are typically lower than those at for-profit companies, but you need to evaluate whether the work is worth a possible pay cut. According to "40 Best Fields for Your Career," here are ten of the best paying jobs in advocacy, grantmaking and civic organizations that also have the greatest growth potential in their field.

General and operations managers: Responsible for the day-to-day functions of the organization for an average salary of $76,783.
Public relations specialists: Handle all of the media and campaigns and earn an average salary of $44,080.
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants: Perform general office functions while earning an average salary of $35,085.
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks: Handle the financial affairs for an average salary of $28,796.
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors: Organize and direct leisure and athletic activities and earn an average salary of $21,411.

There are five more jobs on the list so just read more

General office clerks: Keep the group offices organized while earning an average salary of $21,405.
Receptionists: Answer and direct calls and earn an average salary of $20,116.
Janitors and cleaners: Perform a wide range of cleaning and maintenance duties while earning an average salary of $17,965.
Recreation workers: Work at community centers, health clubs and fitness centers run by nonprofit organizations for an average salary of $17,404.
Childcare workers: Look after children enrolled in nonprofit programs while earning an average salary of $15,988.