Building Resumes Post-Lockdowns
Since the beginning of Covid lockdowns I’ve had many conversations pertaining to how to develop a strong resume that now features several job changes. Professionals with stellar tenures are now dealing with how to tell a story that will convince a hiring manager that they are not a job hopper. Up until the summer of 2022 I felt a level of understanding and empathy quelled these concerns. Hiring managers also lived through the lockdowns and those lucky enough to retain their position through those turbulent few years seemed to be cognizant of the fact that many professionals were left searching for a new position due to lockdowns, not performance. However, that mentality disappeared quickly and hiring managers were once again asking why a candidate had 3 jobs between 2020 and 2024. I started working with a few colleagues and candidates to put together a format for a resume that is easy to implement and allowed for some explanation beyond the typical bullet point job description and achievements throughout your career. If you are dealing with this struggle, keep reading below…..
To get started, make sure your resume is tight and effective. Positions near the top, your most recent jobs, need to provide the most detail. The last 10 years is typically a good time frame to work with. Think of it this way: most Masters level academic programs will require that you start over if it takes more than 5 years to complete. Technology and our world at large change too quickly. If the position from 15 years ago pertains explicitly to the job you’re applying for, ok, add more detail. Now, for each position you are going to use some format that features your job title, company, and dates of employment. However you want that to look, right underneath it write a brief 2-3 sentence description for the situation pertaining to the role. “I joined company X after being let go due to Covid. This role was to focus on 12 major accounts in our office furniture division. Due to Covid, the accounts closed as they were sending employees home to work remotely.” This is just a fictitious example, but just that simple of an explanation can provide insight. You also may have taken a job that, in normal circumstances, you would have never entertained. However, “I accepted this position because I wanted to stay relevant and continue working in our industry” sends a very strong message regarding your work ethic and professionalism.
If done properly, your resume now reads like a story. Covid lockdowns did impact every person on Earth, it’s amazing how quickly we’ve forgotten that. Don’t assume that hiring managers continue to remember that 30 million people were unemployed in 2020 and not one of them was let go due to job performance. Don’t let that impact your career! For more specialized assistance, please reach out to Mier Talent Consulting. We’re always here to help.
