Are you trying to reenter the working world after a hiatus, or are you an older individual who wants to change careers? There are a few tricks that you can utilize when developing your resume to show employers that you have what it takes to work for them. Careerealism writer, Robin Schlinger, writes about some of these tricks in a recent article, Resumes for People Over 50+, but her advice can be used to benefit any job seeker.



1. Chronological versus functional. The first suggestion I recommend to those I work with, and something that Robin also mentions, is to try and follow a chronological resume format rather than a functional resume. The functional resume can raise red flags to an employer and make them wonder what you are trying to hide. That is not to say functional resumes cannot be used, but try to consider all options before employing it.



2. I have enough experience to fill 10 pages! The second suggestion for those of you with many years of experience or who have held a multitude of jobs, making the task of fitting that experience into two pages seem impossible, is to consider grouping jobs that are related together. To do this, you can list the bullet points of two or three similar jobs together, thus creating space, but still showing the trail of employment and skills. For those of you who have held multiple jobs that do not seem to relate, you can go with the old standby and list experience from the previous 10 years, if you’d like.



3. For the not-so recent grads. Another tip is that if you are not a recent graduate- that is, if you have graduated in the last 10-15 years- I recommend omitting your graduation date from your resume. You can leave the degree and university listed, but omit the month and year of graduation, each of which can be provided if requested by the employer on a later date. Don’t forget to omit your high school information (some government jobs may ask for it, but majority of them do not!).



In addition to all of these tips, perhaps one of the most important is to remember that experience can be your admission ticket to a great job. Employers are looking for someone that has what it takes to enhance their organization and get the job done. To do this, you will want to make sure that you relate your experience to the position description by, if possible, using the same language used in the position description. Transferable skills are another great way to show the employer that you have the experience and can benefit the organization right away, if hired.



Remember: In the end your resume is more about the position and how you’ll benefit the company and less about you!



This article was first featured on OnlineCareerTips.com