(From The Maquiladora Survival Guide) (Maquiladora is the term for foreign owned manufacturing plants in Mexico where I worked most of my career)
There are those who say that a resume doesn’t get you a job. Perhaps the fault is not with resumes in general but in the manner in which they are written. I have reviewed many resumes in my career and consider them quite important in the process of hiring.
We have a vacancy for an industrial engineer who is capable of laying out a high–production assembly line, setting work standards, writing manufacturing instructions and designing assembly fixtures. The traditional resume focuses on where the candidate worked and how long he or she worked there. We then have to search through the work history to determine if the work experiences have given the candidate the skills desired.
Let me propose a different style—one that places emphasis on what you can do rather than where you have been and for how long. At the beginning of your presentation provide a listing of your major skill areas:
—Production line distribution
—Work standards generation
—Application of ergonomics
—Fixture design
—…………………
Below the list be more specific; describe your range of knowledge in each of the areas listed. In the case of “Production line distribution” you might include something like this:
Production line distribution
Able to create and implement a high–volume production layout from product drawings and delivery requirements. Include manufacturing instructions, visual aids and assembly tooling in each station.
(1, 2, 4)
Implemented a 30 operator high–volume electronic power supply line in three weeks without interruption in deliveries.
(2)
The numbers at the end of the example refer to a last page which include a numbered list of your educational and work history in chronological order. The number 1 might be the university where you earned your degree. The 2 might be the company that you are currently working for.
If you have attended seminars or taken special courses you might want to add them to the list since they contributed to your skill. Under each skill area, present an example of a successful application of your skills.
Employment and Educational History
University of Mexico 1980-1984
1991– Current
ACME, Inc.– Manufacturer of electronic devices
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Position held: Senior Industrial Engineer
1984 – 1991
Smith, Inc. – Manufacturer of electronic devices
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Position held: Industrial Engineer
May 1992
Just–In–Time seminar
Presented by the Association of
Industrial Engineers of Juarez.
Jan 1993
Total Quality Management Seminar presented
Presented by the Quality Control Association
This type of resume makes it easier for the potential employer to match his or her needs to the skills of the candidate.