# Resume advice: 1 company, 3 jobs?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 11, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936 "2010-08-11T15:02:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/1 "2010-08-11T15:02:10Z")

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I spent 11 years working for one company, but did three very different jobs under two different titles. Should each job and/or title be listed separately as work experience? I currently have them all together, but it seems like it might be easy to overlook the breadth of experience that way.

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**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/2 "2010-08-11T15:10:06Z")

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I used to teach resume writing (among other things), and the best way I’ve seen to do this was to feature the highest position you held at the company, but in the bulleted list/brief description section say something like “started as sales associate in 1993, promoted to floor manager in 1995, and promoted to assistant manager in 1997.” Something like that.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/3 "2010-08-11T15:56:58Z")

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There’s no real correct way of doing it. The only correct way is the one that gets you the job.

Be smart, write it up BOTH ways. Then when you apply for a job, send the version of the resume that best suits the advertised position.

Don’t get stuck into the old “only one way to do a resume” thing.

Good luck

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**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/4 "2010-08-11T16:54:05Z")

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> [@Markxxx](#):
>
> There’s no real correct way of doing it. The only correct way is the one that gets you the job.
> 
> Be smart, write it up BOTH ways. Then when you apply for a job, send the version of the resume that best suits the advertised position.
> 
> Don’t get stuck into the old “only one way to do a resume” thing.
> 
> Good luck

Always good advice for resumes.

So, I’d say, the answer depends on what kind of job you’re trying to get. You might want to list the most relevant job, while the description acknowledges the others. Or you could list all the jobs under a larger heading of the company, something like

**MegaCorp** city, state  
_Medical Researcher_, Aug 2007 - present  
Cured cancer, invented polio vaccine, etc.

```
*Diplomat* Dec 2004-Aug 2007
         Brought peace to Middle East, reconciled Bloods and Crips

*Chef* June 1999-Dec 2004   
          Fed 6,000 people daily using 3 loaves and 8 fishes,   

```

**Smaller Cor** p, city, state  
_CEO_ Oct 1996- May 1999  
maximized shareholder revenue by dynamically leveraging synergistic paradigms

and so on

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**Author:** ![Kickback\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/cdc98d/32.png) [@Kickback\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kickback_Joe)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/5 "2010-08-11T18:27:52Z")

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I have been workng for the same company in many different roles for 18 years and have multiple resumes. For internal jobs I use one like Quercus has shown but have another one which is more bulleted around skills and abilities for external employment opportunities.

I recommend having multiple resumes and to keep them updated regularly.

Joe

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**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/6 "2010-08-11T18:30:54Z")

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As someone that recruits and hires experienced staff, I prefer to see resumes as Quercus laid out, with roles listed in chronological order, most recent on top. The movement from one role to another can give insite into what type of employee you will be.

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**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/7 "2010-08-12T00:33:01Z")

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In my C.V., my main body of work experience, as a twenty-something, is my T.A. work in university. I’ve taken to the practice of listing each individual course I T.A.'ed, the duration of the course, and described my specific work duties in that course (marking, teaching, tutorials, etc.). The career counselor I saw seemed to think that it looked nice.

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**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/8 "2010-08-12T05:14:42Z")

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Cheers, folks. I appreciate the insights. Looks like I’ve got some second-drafting to do!

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-advice-1-company-3-jobs/549936/9 "2010-08-13T21:51:00Z")

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> [@Quercus](#):
>
> **Smaller Cor** p, city, state  
> _CEO_ Oct 1996- May 1999  
> maximized shareholder revenue by dynamically leveraging synergistic paradigms
> 
> and so on

Don’t laugh at the last one. From the Continental and United Airlines merger web site:

> [@](#):
>
> The combined company will provide a platform for increased profitability and sustainable long-term value for shareholders.
> 
> It is expected to realize $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion i **n net annual synergies** by 2013, including between $200 million and $300 million of **net annual cost synergies**.

(Bolding mine.) [http://unitedcontinentalmerger.com/](http://unitedcontinentalmerger.com/)

> [@](#):
>
> The merger is expected to deliver $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion **in net annual synergies by 2013** , including between $800 million and $900 million of incremental annual revenues, in large part from expanded customer options resulting from the greater scope and scale of the network, and additional international service enabled by the broader network of the combined carrier. **Expected synergies are in addition to the significant benefits** derived from the companies’ existing alliance and expected from their future joint venture relationships. The combined company is also expected to realize between $200 million and $300 million **of net cost synergies on a run-rate basis** by 2013. One-time costs related to the transaction are expected to total approximately $1.2 billion spread over a three-year period.

(Bolding mine.) [http://unitedcontinentalmerger.com/press-release](http://unitedcontinentalmerger.com/press-release)
