How Does Resume Writing Even Work????

December 10, 2019 3:13 PM

I've made it to my late 30s without ever having had to go through a normal job application process, and so have almost no practical experience with writing a resume or cover letter. I am absolutely desperate for non-bullshit advice as to how to go about this.

Possibly important details:
-- I've been freelance since 2007, and am trying to apply for in-house jobs
-- I work in a creative field, so my work history is a mix of personal projects and freelance gigs
-- I'm applying for semi-creative jobs at creative companies (think "producer")

This questions is a direct result of the twin panic attacks of "what the hell am I supposed to list as skills" and "how am I supposed to organize my giant list of gigs and publications and how far back am I even supposed to GO."

I don't really know enough about this to be able to google for advice, since I have no idea how to separate the useful guidance from SEO nonsense, so really, ANY help at all would be EXTREMELY appreciated!!

posted by Narrative Priorities to Work & Money (9 answers total)

Best answer: Alison Green of Ask a Manager has got you covered: How to Get a Job. I’m a freelancer and former hiring manager who reads her blog regularly, and her advice is 100% on the level.
posted by ottereroticist at 3:46 PM on December 10, 2019 [8 favorites]

Seconding Allison and Ask a Manager, for sure.
posted by firei at 3:56 PM on December 10, 2019

I found reading the Knock Em Dead series by Martin Yates helpful. If you're in the US, your library almost certainly has them.
posted by hoyland at 4:44 PM on December 10, 2019

Best answer: Short. Focused. Hirer's don't have time to read an extensive resume. Tailor your skills and experience to the requirements of the job. No fancy; no colored paper; just one font; bullets.
posted by tmdonahue at 5:01 PM on December 10, 2019

Get your resume done professionally the first time.

Subsequently you can re-use the original after updating with your current info.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 5:02 PM on December 10, 2019

It would absolutely be worth paying someone to help you do this. I don’t know if a recruiter would do just a few hours work, but maybe! Or a career coach. I’d expect it to cost a couple hundred dollars ($150-300) for the initial “interview” with you/working session and a couple revisions.

Given your extensive project work, I would make personal portfolio website if you don’t already have one. I have done a lot of hiring and I look at LinkedIn and portfolio websites more than resumes, especially for designers/creatives.
posted by amaire at 6:50 PM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I think that what you want is a project-focused resume. Basically, if you've been freelancing, you put "Freelance, whenever - whenever" and then the bulk of the resume is "selected projects" where you pull out specific gigs that you think are the most relevant for the job you're applying for, and then what you did on those projects.

I sometimes interview/hire software developers who are moving from freelance to in-house, and this is what they do.
posted by Ragged Richard at 7:22 AM on December 11, 2019

Best answer: I do some hiring. I agree with the recommendation of Ask A Manager and her emphasis on achievements in resumes rather than job descriptions, second rather be jorting's excellent advice, and also:

"what the hell am I supposed to list as skills"

Use the Skills section for specific software programs you know like the back of your hand, certifications you have, and other technical skills relevant to your field. I do not recommend listing things like "writing" or "teamwork" in Skills and I also don't recommend listing basic office suite software like Microsoft Word.
posted by capricorn at 7:23 AM on December 11, 2019

The Brooklyn Public Library may be able to help you - they do one-on-one resume help, among other things.
posted by lyssabee at 10:38 AM on December 11, 2019