Should I list skills on resume from previous unrelated jobs?
I am applying for a legal assistant position, and my previous work experience is not 100% relevant to this job. During the summer of 2007, I took part in an internship at a plastics company. The only relevant skill between the two jobs is attention to detail, given the fact that I inspected plastic parts for defects. Should I list this skill on resume, even though plastic parts have nothing to do with legal office procedures? If so, how? Otherwise, what should I list in place of this.
Prometheus2008-03-13T20:31:37Z
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i would say yes. as QC in plastics you are looking for errors in product. as assistant wouldn't part of your job be looking for errors in paperwork?
No one gives a crap about your skills when reading a resume, really. I assure you, you are not unique hundreds of thousands of people have the same skills as you. I've addressed this in other messages. If your resume is well written the reader will know exactly what the heck your skills are. Hiring managers were hired not because they were idiots but because they have some skills. As silly as it sounds although most are not formally trained in hiring/interviewing they have the ability to read and extract information from resumes.
Toning it down a notch :) ...... I assure you it is a bore when people write a lengthy list of 'skills' or things they have done in the past. SO WHAT. Give me results on your resume.
I am: Smart Pretty Articulate People Person
UGH!
I change toilet paper rolls I input data into a computer data base
UGH!
So what, so what... So do millions of people.
I worked with the accounts payable department to resolve _______(insert something there) on a daily basis resulting in saving the company $40,000 a month. (In the interview tell how you did it, why & why you did it better than anyone else). Leaving out the why and how is also a cliff hanger. As they are reading it they will wonder, “How did she do that?” “WoW! That is awesome I want to hear more”…..
Write 3 bullet points per job. With each bullet point tell them what you did. Then quantify and supply the result/benefit of what you did. 2-3 sentences per bullet 4 ok on occasion.
No No NO not 2 pages. 1 page… Yes, 1 page make it fit, make it fit.
Employers do want to know what relevant skills you have, even a skill like driving a car when the job does not appear to require that. But I think this particular skill may not be of interest, and your failure to realize this would count against you.
On one resume I read the applicant had a title 'unrelated and irrelevant skills'. We immediately understood that the applicant knew those were of no likely significance to the job applied for. But we put the person to work using one of those irrelevant skills while waiting 3 months for a more appropriate job to open up. (not the job advertised).
of cource Desiree you can add previous jobs at the end of the resume. When you see negativity refer gently to them as a hard working past. I wish i help you darling!... G.