The resume addendum works well if your job history is long
Any job posted on online boards today gets hundreds of resumes
submitted. The quantity received by HR recruiters is so overwhelming
that jobs are frequently taken down within hours. With so many resumes
hitting a recruiter's desk, how can you differentiate your application,
particularly when your experience is unconventional?
Although it's recommended to tailor your resume to the job, with only
hours to spare, it's not always time-efficient to rewrite a resume. To
respond in a timely fashion to unique opportunities I created a new
technique - the Resume Addendum.
Why I Needed an Addendum
In my job search, I was attracted to posts in industries where my skills
were applicable but my most recent industry affiliations were not. I
had been a marketing director for many years, but in the latter years my
resume was heavily weighted in the media. Since my resume had been
tailored to highlight just the last 15 years of my career, much of my
original experience and training in alternative industries such as
health care were no longer obvious.
The first key difference was in the opening of each document. My resume
started with my contact info and a summary of my senior-level marketing
experiences. In stark contrast, the addendum started with an aggregated
total of specific industry experiences, and showcased relevant education
certifications and conferences that were not in my resume.
Although my masters' degree was on my resume, it was at the bottom well
after more timely professional experience, and it did not mention the
health certification. The degree on my resume served to qualify me for
positions that required advanced degrees, but the certification was not
relevant. On the addendum, the certification was critical to show
industry-specific training.
Addendums versus Resumes
Other contrasts between the two documents included:
- The Resume had dates. The Addendum did not.
- The Resume had no health care references and some association experience. The Addendum only had health and association references.
- A Resume can be longer than one page. An Addendum is one page.
In general, my resume showcased my most recent and digitally engaging
marketing accomplishments. In contrast, my addendum highlighted older
training and experience relevant for the targeted industry.
For instance, in my job at the Press of Atlantic City my resume
highlighted my digital revenue projects, audience growth initiatives in
social media, and events management. The addendum detailed the health
care clients and projects that fell within my larger job
responsibilities.
Resume Example:
Addendum Example:
After the intro shown in the resume example, my detailed Press
experience fills a full half page of a two-page resume. The Press
experience on the addendum is limited to exactly what's shown above, but
only discusses health-oriented experiences.
Resumes Rule
The Addendum never replaces a resume. It is, as titled, an addition to
the resume to provide pertinent information. In my case I had two
addendums. One was specifically for association jobs in any field from
construction to engineering. The second combined health care and
association experiences and was sent to associations such as the
American Heart Association and National Celiac Foundation, both of which
resulted in interviews.
The addendum serves one other purpose. With dozens of resumes that
essentially look alike, the Addendum can catch a recruiter's eye just
because it is different. It's a case of adding a page to catch
attention. A Resume Addendum is not for everyone, but for several job
postings it worked to get me an initial interview, and it may work for
you.