You’ve worked in the same company for several years, but now find the work experience column on your resume coming up a little short. You want to know, how can I best leverage those inter-office movements or new roles?
There are several expert guidelines to writing a resume. In this particular instance, using a concise and systematic approach towards outlining your advancement within the same organization can win you some brownie points from a recruiter. However there’s more that can be done to play down any repetitiveness and play up your varied roles in the same company on your resume.
For starters, choose the right resume format
A chronological resume is the best for listing multiple jobs within a company because it outlines your career progression while working for a single employer. It starts with your current or most recent job profile and lists your positions in reverse chronological order. Functional resumes, on the other hand, generally don’t include specific jobs.
Stack similar job titles together
If the jobs held are similar in nature, like a move from associate editor to editor, you can stack the job titles together under the company header. You may add bullets for individual accomplishments after collectively listing these job titles. Remember, highlight your best work; don’t spell everything out.
For example, you can type:
XYZ Publishers
Editor (January 2012-Present)
Associate Editor (January 2011-January 2012)
Accomplishment 1
Accomplishment 2
Accomplishment 3
You can add a separate bullet to mention the achievement that led to your promotion, to show how you earned it. (Say, “Helped the company secure XYZ deal that led to Rs 2 crore profit.”)
If you’ve held different roles, separate job titles
If you’ve moved from, say, sales executive to associate editor in the same company, list the company once and the job titles and accomplishments under each role separately. Again, outline those achievements that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.
For example, you can type:
XYZ Pvt. Ltd.
Associate Editor (January 2012-Present)
Accomplishment 1
Accomplishment 2
Accomplishment 3
Sales Executive (May 2009-January 2012)
Accomplishment 1
Accomplishment 2
Accomplishment 3
Highlight promotions and accolades
Your talents and qualifications are your marketing tools. Which is why it is important to indicate promotions and transfers for each position you held. For example, in the description of a marketing manager title, you could state, “Promoted from sales person to marketing manager in 11 months.” This clearly shows that you moved up from one position to a senior role while working for the same organization. If you have taken on a new role in the company that is a step up rather than a lateral move, highlight the elevation by saying something like “promoted due to demonstrated team leadership skills”.
Writing the perfect resume can be a challenging exercise. But with a few small tweaks, you can spin a one-company resume to your advantage. Instead of appearing risk averse and closed to new experiences, you can come off as loyal and willing to stick around for the long haul. After all, recruiters are always impressed by qualities such as dedication and steadiness.
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