Downplaying your resume

[crystal_dance]

A job opportunity has come up that I really find interesting... only problem is that as far as my experience goes, I'm in that awkward spot where I don't have enough experience for senior analyst roles and I'm over experienced for entry level analyst roles...
I attended the information session today and while everything sounded promising, the problem was that one of the recruiters said that the position was aimed at undergrads and grad students just finishing up college without much work ex. I have 1 1/2 yrs worth of experience.

Is there anyone here who downplayed their resume to get a job they wanted? Like took off certain jobs or achievements? i find that dumb as hell - like a sell out.

Is it possible that if I do get the job, I can work for a year and then maybe apply for a position with more responsibility (at the same company?)

Your thoughts...

[yankeeyosh]

No. I put everything in all the time, but all I get in the end are mindless, meaningless entry level Corporate cog jobs.

[cache]

A job opportunity has come up that I really find interesting... only problem is that as far as my experience goes, I'm in that awkward spot where I don't have enough experience for senior analyst roles and I'm over experienced for entry level analyst roles...
I attended the information session today and while everything sounded promising, the problem was that one of the recruiters said that the position was aimed at undergrads and grad students just finishing up college without much work ex. I have 1 1/2 yrs worth of experience.

Is there anyone here who downplayed their resume to get a job they wanted? Like took off certain jobs or achievements? i find that dumb as hell - like a sell out.

Is it possible that if I do get the job, I can work for a year and then maybe apply for a position with more responsibility (at the same company?)

Your thoughts...

Your resume should be fine tuned to every position you apply for. Obviously, for each position, you want to focus on certain things. Most people don't do this, but rather make one resume and use for everything. By making your resume specific for a specific position, you make yourself into a better candidate.

That being said, if you are interested in the position, go for it. When you tweak your resume, just don't lie or purposely be deceptive. Like you said, it is about downplaying certain things.

[crystal_dance]

Just to bring back this old thread of mine. Given the current job environment is so very different from 2006, is anyone downplaying their resumes or conversely playing up their resumes for positions they may not be qualified for?

[caostotale]

No. I put everything in all the time, but all I get in the end are mindless, meaningless entry level Corporate cog jobs.

Same here. I'm about a hair away from starting to completely make shit up just to see if it shakes things up a bit.

[wordsmith]

Downplaying my resume/experience? Not likely. Being honest has worked well for me thus far.

[Minipan]

I'm curious as to why you'd even want that type of job. If you've been in the work force for more than a couple years, and are currently employed, moving into an entry-level position just sounds mind-numbing.

[awhitmer83]

I've actually made an altered resume for some of the job I'm applying for. Many of them are more entry level, so I left off my master's degree completely (it's not lying - I do have the bachelor's degree!) and made my previous job titles/duties more ambiguous. If I can get in the door for an interview, I explain to them what I did and that I did that to avoid the assumption that I'm "overqualified." I've had two interviews so far with this resume and both times the HR person seemed to understand why I did things that way. Of course I didn't get either job, so I'm not sure if it helped or hurt, but at least I got the chance to interview.

[wordsmith]

I'm curious as to why you'd even want that type of job. If you've been in the work force for more than a couple years, and are currently employed, moving into an entry-level position just sounds mind-numbing.

I'd imagine that it's out of necessity, not desire to take a demotion...mind-numbing is generally preferable to being evicted or foreclosed upon, no?

There are plenty of laid off people here in my city waiting tables.

[Minipan]

I'd imagine that it's out of necessity, not desire to take a demotion...mind-numbing is generally preferable to being evicted or foreclosed upon, no?

There are plenty of laid off people here in my city waiting tables.

That's why I included the "and you are currently employed" part.

[crystal_dance]

I'm curious as to why you'd even want that type of job. If you've been in the work force for more than a couple years, and are currently employed, moving into an entry-level position just sounds mind-numbing.

Because I'm a laid off wall streeter. Given the current environment, I'd rather have an entry level position as stop gap employment versus a big gaping hole in my work history.

Note that this thread was started in '06 and things have changed since.

[callyna81]

There's a difference between downplaying and lying though.

Better to have a job without any job.

[oldmanwinter]

I'd rather have an entry level position as stop gap employment versus a big gaping hole in my work history.
I can understand why you might want any job during this period for the income, but if money is no object, why is a big gaping hole so undesirable? Just play it off as a period of self-employment if you believe employers will look down upon the time. It isn't a lie and if you are passionate about your career at all I'm sure you will do some work in the field, if only as a hobby.