Is your resume your friend or enemy?

     As I prepared for this blog,  I googled the word "resume" and the results were interesting.  Let me share some of the results:

1. "A resume is a personal summary of your professional history and qualification.  It includes information about your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honors and any special skills you might have. A resume written for an entry-level position should not be over one page long.  owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/640/1"
2. "A monthly publication by the water court of a summary of water rights applications filed in the water court that month.  www.extcolostate.edu/pubs/Crops/04717.html"
3. "A summary of education and employment experience.  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/resum%C3%A9

Naturally, my mind jumped to the following questions: Does your resume meet these definition?  Did you get professional assistance developing your resume?  Are you using quality paper?  How organized is your  resume?

        However, as I continued my search I found another, interesting fact.  Resumes can be used a source of discrimination.   The EEOC is currently investigating claims that employers discriminate against the unemployed.  Sounds strange doesn't it!  You were let go because your company went belly up or moved.  Your work record clearly indicates that you are well educated, motivated, have a great work ethic, productive and an asset to your former employer but you are unemployed.  Unfortunately, this simple fact is being held against you.   What are you to do?

     There are basically two types of resumes.  They are the chronological and functional resume.  The use of the functional resume would conceal gaps in employment.  However, online applications seldom accept functional resumes.   They want chronological resumes.  So, what can you do?
 
      I have given this form of discrimination some thoughts and there seems to be only one solution.  Don't be unemployed.  You can achieve this by doing volunteer work, consulting or becoming self-employed.  I did read articles where people created factitious employers.  I don't endorse this approach.  This misrepresentation will be illuminated during a background check and could be a reason to be discharged.  In addition, to addressing the gap in your employment doing volunteer work is a great way to acquire new skills and refine present skills.  Being self-employed or consultant are great ways to network and promote yourself.  Your resume will serve as a basis for your brochure, any clients could serve as references,