The fictional character Hajji Baba of Persia experienced many career changes in his quest for upper mobility.  During the Eighteenth century, Hajj received his job leads through people  he knew and luck.  There was no resume or hand carved rock that revealed the job history of  this physician's assistant, executioner's helper, whirling dervish, or keeper of the smoke-- only some of the "careers" he  sought as he tried to improve his situation.

     The resume of today is a relatively recent invention.  Despite the fact the average employer may spend less than 20 seconds reviewing your resume, it  is still  the number one marketing tool used to interest a potential employer in your background.  The Internet has brought significant changes to resume writing   during  past three years.  The Electronic Resume, one of  the latest  incarnations of the resume, has changed the process of applying for a job for many people. Written in key words  that can be easily scanned and uploaded to different job sites on the Web, within seconds your resume containing your skills and, employment history can be scanned into a database where potentially thousands of employers can view and download it.  When an employer is interested,  you may receive an e-mail or a telephone call.  Jobs are frequently listed at job sites  where  you may be able  to paste or attach  your resume on-line. Even ads in the newspaper  include an e-mail or fax number that you can use to send your resume.   Because of the large volume of resumes submitted for a position advertised in the paper or over the Internet, scanning files sent from potential candidates makes sense because it saves time and money.  Resumes are chosen for review by headhunters or employers because they contain certain key phases which match a job description.

  ASCII text is the simplest format in which to save a file.  Although this type of file format cannot save  bolding, bullets, or indents, it  is popular  because the text can be downloaded easily without errors. Microsoft Word for Windows  is popular for creating  and  downloading resume files because the software captures fonts, indents, and  bolding that is retained after the resume is downloaded.  Resumes created in HTML or Java that are part of a web page, represent  another "resume" format that can be accessed through "links" on  the Internet.  This layout  gives the author  an opportunity  to present credentials as well as demonstrate creativity and mastery  of web development skills.

   In the past,  job seekers applied for jobs by  writing  an  Application for Position that was used for almost sixty years to launch  job campaigns. This document resembled a curriculum vitae more than the resume of today and was sent along with a cover letter to a potential employer.  Experience was listed  in  chronological order  and included biographical information.  During the 1930's  job applicants were told by experts not to toot their own horn or boldly tell a potential employer what they had to offer because it might seem conceited. Today's resumes highlight accomplishment and may even inflate them. As late as the 1940's, experts instructed  that you include vital statistics in your  Application for Position  such as your age, weight, height, and information about  the origin of the country of your parents and a  3/4 photo of yourself neatly groomed in a suit  Revealing the clubs you belong to as well as your other interests was considered desirable.  Since, the 1960's this type of  information  is no longer required in your resume; although under special circumstances you may want to reveal you play golf or were captain of your football team.

  Today's "hard copy"  resume sent through the mail or presented to an employer is much more personalized than in the past and reflects the taste of the author. The purpose of  your resume is to capture the attention of a potential employer  to get  an interview and the opportunity to sell yourself.  Although, an average employer spends less than 20 seconds reading your resume or nano seconds in the case of  resumes that are scanned,  your resume is still important attention getting device.   Today's resume tries  to marry the  format of the resume with content.  Fancy fonts and  unique formatting is a recent invention that is easy to achieve with  desktop publishing packages. There are many software applications available for the computer which provide templates for different resume layouts.

  Current resumes contain a job objectives and a summary which highlight experience, skills and the personality of the writer.  Two familiar formats are the chronological resume which list job history information based on dates and the functional resume that highlights experience according to job titles.  The functional resume minimizes or  may not include dates.  It is used when someone wants to highlight a specific  type of  work experience they had during a variety of jobs.  Other resume formats combine the chronological and functional styles. The cover letter can be used to target a specific job and sell an employer on  specific skills and experience as well as ask for an interview.  Although, may types of jobs are advertised on the Web, the majority of them are computer related.  It is pretty standard for a programmer or systems analyst to upload their resume to apply for a job on the web while, lawyers, doctors, and business executives  still send their resumes by mail.
 
    Greater freedom in the choices of fonts, paper and formats began after the mid-eighties  with the
revolution in personal computers and desktop publishing software.  During the 1970's before the
computer revolution,  you may have typed your resume on a Selectric Typewriter.  This  resume contained few embellishments.  Fonts styles were limited and  the ability to get rid of errors easily was considered innovative. Energy was placed on producing a clean resume which contained no errors rather than a creative one.  The Selectric was a great labor saving device, since a cartridge of correction tape was loaded into the machine  which allowed  you to "lift-off"  typing mistakes.    Before the Selectric, people relied on a manual or  electric typewriter to type their resume.  Good typing skills  were required as well as the ability to change a cloth or plastic ribbon.  Before copying  machines were invented carbon paper was used  to make copies.  Carbon paper was placed behind a sheet of white bond and inserted into the typewriter and rolled and adjusted behind the metal guide.  White-out, a low tech solution  to eliminating of errors was used to  cover up mistakes.  After the area was dry you typed over your mistakes and tried to neatly make the corrections on the carbon paper.
 
     During the early part of the twentieth century men and women  were encouraged  to show up at an employers office to be interviewed  by the forman  and fill out an application to compete for  factory and retail jobs.  Vacancies  were posted outside a place of business or advertised in the paper.  Men who worked for the railroad or in trades as apprentices were required to complete training. Even as early as 1910, the Federal government  provided jobs for the handicapped and unskilled.  While there were always women lawyers, writers, and doctors, woman who had professional careers were in the minority.  Professional jobs were applied for  through letters and recommendations.  Young women  and men were recruited  out of school from small towns to work for the government and  stores in large metropolitan areas like New York .  Employers often provided housing as well as food for  workers.  Girls under 14 were prohibited from working  more than 55 hours per week. Workers were not eligible for social security until they turned 16.

  Throughout the years, people have always had tips for getting hired.   One advertising executive who
offered advice in 1929 said  job hunters should be aware that they are judged more by their  nuisance
value than their IQ  The job candidate in his opinion should consider how much of a pest he or she was
to other people.
" Do you ever act like a  Moll ? Does you office manner  resemble  the subservient Dickens character
called Uriah Heep? Do you begin every sentence with I."
  Another  executive advises, " People interested in getting jobs should go about the business just as they would any other selling proposition.  Only they  are proposing to sell themselves. A job hunt should be run like a sales campaign; just as though you were  selling soap or real estate. Only you, yourself are the product.  Instead of asking for a job sell your services."
 
   During the fifties the word Resume was used for the first time replacing an " Application for
Positions."   New rules for writing resumes were established which are similar to the present day.  Experts
suggested  limiting yourself to writing only a one page resume and providing an opening summary.  The
chronological or functional format was considered the best ways to structure your resume.  Under a
section called Personal Data, you were advised to list  knowledge of  languages; membership in professional associations; and published articles.  Job candidates were advised to leave out , information about salary, references, reasons for leaving past employment and the fact you  may be
unemployed.

   With the advent of the computer age, resumes changed again.  In the past resumes were
plain and to the point.  Now with word processors and  many of fonts to choose from, resumes have
became much more creative and personalized. The corporate work place is more relaxed with casual Friday  which allows many workers to show up in slacks or jeans and a greater tolerance towards accepting different  formats for resumes.  However, what is okay in one part of the country may  be considered  in bad taste in another.  For example, graphics, colored paper, and unusual formats are considered too "wild" in Washington, D.C.  where conservative type and white paper is still very popular.  In California, for instance, one businessman's resume displayed a graphic showing a  cartoon character  painting  a fence with puddles of paint decorating the margin of his resume.  In another case, an artist created a  very attractive folder that contained a lithograph mounted on special paper and  her resume printed on velum.

   More women joined the work force during  and after the Vietnam War. Today many women work  as well as raise a family. There is a continuing need to redefine the format of resumes for targeting careers in upper management  to get  better paying jobs and work which offers job satisfaction and  growth.
 
    During the 1980's a plethora of books on resume writing appeared  offering advice on writing the perfect resume.  If you are an actor, engineer, teacher,  mortgage banker, or federal worker there is  a book available which discusses how to write a resume for your  specialized industry.  Now with downsizing  of major corporations,  resumes books emphasize how to decide what career change to make. Although, the economy has been good for Americans in 1997, economists  forecast further job lay-off and a slowing of the economy as a result of the financial crisis in Asia.  Coupled with the communications revolution and the explosion of the internet, resumes are destined to undergo further changes along with the  jobs available in the nineties.  For more information about Resume Books and Career  Counseling click on Book Store located on the index page of this web site.