The format you choose for your employment section can make a big difference in the visual appeal and readability of your resume. Our clients have reported that the following format (and its variations) has been consistently well received by their targeted employers.
EMPLOYMENT
Balboa’s Steak House, 7/99 to Present
general manager, Miami, Florida, 10/01 to Present. Took over a troubled restaurant, which had had six managers in two years and had incurred losses each month during that time. Resolved serious morale problems, instituted an effective training program, and redesigned the menu. During the first nine months increased lunch revenue 38% and dinner 29%. Losses were eliminated within two months and a consistent profit margin of 14% has been maintained.
assistant manager, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7/99 to 10/01. Redesigned the menu and helped introduce wine sales. Provided extensive staff training that enabled the restaurant to become number one in wine sales in the chain of 20 restaurants. Purchased all food and supplies.
Saga, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida, 9/97 to 7/99
Student manager – For this college cafeteria, prepared food, scheduled part-time workers, purchased supplies, and oversaw lunch and dinner lines.
Following are sample treatments of various types of work histories. One of them should be similar to your own.
Same Company, Three Positions, All in the Same City
EMPLOYMENT
Douglas Bolt Company, St. Louis, Missouri, 8/89 to Present
V. P. Purchasing, 7/99 to Present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................................................
Director of Purchasing, 5/94 to 7/99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....................................................................................
manager, Stock Parts Purchasing, 8/89 to 5/94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........................................................................................
Same Company, Three Positions, Three Different Cities
EMPLOYMENT
Horizon Gear, 8/92 to Present
regional Sales manager, Houston,Texas, 7/03 to Present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................................................................
District Sales manager, Atlanta, Georgia, 3/99 to 7/03. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..............................................................................
Sales representative, Little Rock, Arkansas, 8/92 to 3/99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...............................................................................
In a situation like this you might want to indicate where the headquarters is located. In that case you would show it as: Horizon Gear, Chicago, Illinois, 8/92 to Present.
One Position With Each Company
EMPLOYMENT
Shannon Electric, Garden City, Michigan, 5/95 to Present
installer – ..........................................................................
...........................................................................................
Preston Electric, Detroit, Michigan, 6/88 to 5/95
installer – ..........................................................................
...........................................................................................
Work for a Subsidiary or Division of a Major Company
EMPLOYMENT
Antac, Inc., Subsidiary of A&R Industries, Buffalo, New York, 5/03 to Present
It is seldom necessary to specify the parent company. If you choose to, however, this is the easiest way to do it.
Prior emPloYment
A prior employment section is particularly useful if you are trying to shorten your resume or de-emphasize your earlier jobs. A prior employment section is an effective way to explain how you’ve gotten to where you are without making the reader wade through early and dated experience. Other titles for this section include Previous Employment, Prior Experience, or Additional Experience.
The example below shows the most commonly used format for the Prior
Employment section. This person, currently VP of Purchasing, held the posi
tion of Assistant Purchasing Manager, four jobs and 15 years earlier.
assistant Purchasing manager – 3/90–5/93. Set up and developed an inventory control program to reduce inventory and operating costs. Over the next year reduced inventory by 20%.
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT
Parts manager, Zenith Electronics, Los Angeles, CA, 3/88–3/90 expediter, Hughes Aircraft, Los Angeles, CA, 5/84–3/88 Parts manager, High Lift Equipment, Long Beach, CA, 4/82–5/84
In the above example, the job title, name of company, city and state, and dates were all included. In the remaining examples you will see how personal taste varies. It is generally wise to include the city and state, but if it seems like unnecessary detail for some distant jobs, feel free to discard them. An example of this is below.
Example (starting with the fourth position on a two-page resume for this
person who is currently a district sales manager with responsibility for five elec
tronics stores):
National Computer Stores, Spokane, WA, 5/97-6/99 Sales representative – Sold hardware and software for the largest independent computer retailer in Spokane. Consistently exceeded monthly sales goals.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Food Service Specialist, Johnson Nursing Home (5/95-5/97); Cook, Boyd’s Restaurant (6/92-5/95); Cook, Iron Pig Restaurant (6/90-6/92)
In the following example the individual created a bare bones summary of prior positions within a specific timeframe.
Example (starting with the person’s sixth position on a two-page resume):
Xytelin Electronics, Mountain View, California, 1980 to 1984
Internal Auditor – Discovered weaknesses in the parts inventory control
procedures and recommended remedial action. Responsible for quarterly and
yearly audits.
Prior Experience, 1970 to 1980: Airline Internal Auditor, Cost Clerk, Production Scheduler.
Below, the dates are listed, but not the employers’ names.
Example (starting with fifth position on a two-page resume)
Department of Social Services, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 3/94 to 4/96
Eligibility SpEcialiSt – Assisted families in obtaining all of the Medicaid benefits they were legally entitled to. Provided psychological and social support services.
Previous Experience:
Cashier/hostess, 1/92 to 3/94; sales Clerk, 6/90 to 1/92; long DistanCe operator, 7/88 to 6/90.
The remaining examples provide additional options.
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT
caShiEr -Pay Less Drugs, Elgin, Illinois, 1994–1998 caShiEr -Don’s Rexall, Carbondale, Illinois, 1992–1994 StockEr -Jewel Foodstores, Peoria, Illinois, 1990–1992
Previous Employment
truCk Driver (1998–2000); Warehouseman (1997–1998); maChine repairman (1994– 1997)
Sometimes a person will choose not to describe each position with a partic
ular company, especially for the earlier employers. The writer of the following
section worked for Boeing for 17 years prior to leaving the company in 1998.
Production inspector – 3/95–4/98. Performed final interior, flight line
modification, and wing line inspections on Boeing 737 aircraft. Verified that the production department installed assemblies according to specifications.
Prior Boeing positions: Assistant Production Inspector, 4/90–3/95; Tooling Inspector, 5/85–4/90; Jig Builder, 3/81–5/85.
