I have a broad range of experienses that do not map directly to any one job skill.  I tried to create a career path as an IT Asset Manager but the market was not available in my area.  Most of my work since leaving the Navy has been some sort of Analyst role, Process, System, Business etc. with and Project Management as an added bonus.  I realy want to bevelop a career path for myself and would like some advice on the best format for updating my resume and targeting my audience.  I feel that my strengths lead me towards a Business Analyst role or PM role.  Without a BA or cretification, it has been hard to get managers to understand that I have the Knowledge, Skills and Experiance to do the job and with my background I am a fit in just about any business vertical.  Any advice on how to set up a resume the highlights my strengths and minimizes my weeknesses?

Thanks,

Mike 

Hi Mike,

I would advise that you keep your resume in chronological order - most recruiters I've met want to look for any job gaps at a glance so they can ask you about them.  If you go away from this format, they may think to themselves 'what is he trying to hide'.

If you are trying to go for a specific job, use the first 2-3 bullet points from each previous job as an opportunity to highlight your accomplishments, duties, etc. that realte to that specific job you're going out for, even if they were not the main part of your previous job.  For instance, I've been a Systems Analyst, Computer Analyst, and Project Manager, but when I started applying for BA jobs I highlighted my specific and traceable BA experience in each of these previous positions.  I also listed 1-2 other somewhat relevant points that pertained to my main duties for the old jobs.

In my experience, this clearly shows the recruiter/HR manager that while you are moving into a new area, you have some experience that will lend itself to a new role and that you have thought about what you have done in the past that will help you achieve your goals. 

Hope this helps.