Building Your Resume When You're Starting Over

Your resume is a marketing document, not a confession. Its job is to get you an interview—nothing more. That means highlighting your strengths strategically while being completely honest.

When you're starting over, this requires extra thought. But a well-crafted resume can open doors you didn't think were possible.

The Foundation: Know What Employers Want

Before writing a single word, understand what employers are looking for:

1. Can you do the job? - Skills, experience, capabilities
2. Will you do the job? - Motivation, reliability, work ethic
3. Will you fit in? - Culture, communication, teamwork

Your resume needs to answer "yes" to all three, even if your path has been unconventional.

Resume Structure That Works

Contact Information
- Name, phone, email, LinkedIn (if professional), city/state
- No need for full address—it can trigger bias

Professional Summary (2-3 lines)
- Who you are, what you offer, what you're looking for
- Example: "Dedicated warehouse professional with 5+ years of experience in inventory management and team leadership. Known for reliability, attention to detail, and solving problems proactively. Seeking to contribute to a growing logistics operation."

Experience
- Most recent first
- Focus on accomplishments, not just duties
- Use numbers whenever possible: "Managed team of 8" not "Managed team"
- Start bullets with action verbs: Led, Created, Improved, Delivered, Solved

Education
- Degrees, certifications, relevant training
- Include courses, workshops, or programs related to the role

Skills
- Technical skills, software, languages, certifications
- Tailor this to the job description

Additional Sections (optional)
- Volunteer work, community involvement, relevant projects
- These can fill gaps and show character

Addressing Gaps and Challenges

Employment gaps: You don't need to explain every gap on the resume itself. Use years instead of months to minimize appearance of gaps. If asked, have a brief, honest explanation ready.

Career changes: Lead with transferable skills. A header like "Relevant Experience" lets you prioritize what matters most for this role.

Limited experience: Focus on transferable skills from any context—volunteer work, education, personal projects, life experience. Entry-level roles value attitude and potential as much as experience.

Troubled history: The resume isn't the place to explain past challenges. Get the interview first, then address concerns in person where you can provide context.

Making It ATS-Friendly

Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan resumes before humans see them. To get through:

- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
- Include keywords from the job description
- Avoid tables, graphics, or unusual formatting
- Use a standard font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Submit as .docx or PDF depending on instructions

Tailoring for Each Application

The same resume shouldn't go to every job. For each application:

1. Read the job description carefully
2. Identify key requirements and keywords
3. Adjust your summary to match
4. Reorder or rephrase experience bullets to emphasize relevant skills
5. Add or highlight skills they're looking for

This takes extra time, but it dramatically increases your success rate.

The Mindset

Your resume doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to be good enough to get you in the door.

Don't let perfectionism stop you from applying. Don't let shame about your past keep you from highlighting your strengths. Don't let comparison to others make you feel unqualified.

You have more to offer than you think. Your job is to help employers see it.