Getting your player ready...
Job seekers often ask how to handle job-hopping and long periods of unemployment on their resumés. But occasionally, someone asks the flip side: how to handle long-term employment with one company. Employees who stay with one company for a significant amount of time may wonder, “Am I a dinosaur?”
The answer, of course, is no. The key is to present your long-term work history as a positive attribute, proof you’re in for the long haul. Recruiting a new employee is an expensive endeavor – companies are always looking for ways to promote long-term tenure – so demonstrate you are a worthwhile investment. Keep learning. Some employers might view your long-term employment as an indication that your skills have stagnated. Prove them wrong by constantly refreshing your skills through formal education and self-study. Participate in professional-development courses sponsored by your employer or paid for out-of-pocket. Create a Professional Development section on your resumé to list your ongoing education. Remove outdated skills and credentials. Obsolete skills are a sure sign of a dinosaur, so omit them. If you aren’t sure, ask a trusted colleague or potential hiring manager whether a particular skill is still current. You can also glean this information by scouring job ads; if the skill isn’t included in job postings, take it out. List different positions separately. Promotions illustrate that your company realized your worth and offered you more responsibility. Even lateral moves indicate your employer recognized your diverse talents. Instead of grouping all of your positions under one heading, give your positions individual descriptions along with distinct time periods. Reinforce your internal mobility with terms such as “promoted to” or “selected by CEO to assist with a new department startup.” If you’ve been in the same position for your entire tenure, show how you’ve grown in this position and made a difference to the organization. Display accomplishments. Your employment description should go beyond merely listing job duties. Your resumé should feature a track record of accomplishments. If you feel stifled in your current position, volunteer for a project outside your core competency to experience new challenges and develop new skills. Use your history to your advantage. Use longevity, dedication, commitment, loyalty and perseverance as selling points, both on your resumé and in interviews.
