Consultants - how to present a work history

Hello. I clicked on this link because I am also someone who has had several long term contracts; and received push back from recruiters about the apprearance of "Job Hopping". As a corporate recruiter I think I have pertinent experience with reviewing resumes. In my opinion I would prefer to see the jobs listed out. This makes it easier for me to see where you gained specific experience. The reason I feel this way is that some industries have specific processes and cultures. From my own experience my job at a defense contractor is different than working at a Environment Product Manufacturing Firm. So I have to disagree with the advice that was supplied.

This is terrible advice. I'm a staffing professional in my 13th year - placing only high level consultants. Decision makers want to see the dates of all your contract positions, what you did, and who for. Lumping it together and calling it "steve's Consulting Business" will make decision makers think your hiding major gaps or overstatring your real experience.

I also have worked as a consultant: I presented as follows:
ABC Consulting Company 2000 to 2007
Consulting to the following organizations:
123 Company (9 months)
listing of experience
456 Company (6 months)
listing of experience
789 Company (3 months)
listing of experience.
Gives recruiters the "snapshot" without looking like you job hopped

The format that would satisfy recruiters and remove the appearance of the job hopper is to put your consulting business name and years of service. That is one [business] name who you worked for. Then list relevant projects and clients when you describe your skills, expertise and experience.

I split my experience to management and technical when I was looking to make a move inside a [big] company I am working for. That allowed me to present my experience in different BUs of the corporation and highlight important skills required for the current group.

Horrible advice...put the actual company names you worked for in the resume, and call the position you held 'consultant'. No full-time employer wants to hire someone who worked for Joe Blow Consulting - they want to know you worked for Fidelity, Bank of America, etc. Also, the more you emphasis the self-employment, the more questions you bring up regarding how loyal and long-term you would be as a full time employee.

I consulted for 25 years in my own business and stated so on my resume. Like someone else, I chose the most recent, relevant contracts to highlight on the front page of my resume. I also had a 2nd page with specific projects stated, depending on the particular job I was applying for. If you state that you are working for xyz company as a consultant, some hiring manager may think you were an internal consultant, call the company to verify your employment, and write you off as a liar when they say you never worked there. There will be no personnel file on you. Write up your consulting projects well, identify what company they were at, and there will be no problem.

This is exactly right. I have been an independent consultant for over 10 years, but have taken a variety of long-term assignments as well as short-term ones, and have also executed contracts as a firm, hiring subcontractors. I present this on my resume (I am not looking for a full-time job, but many prospective clients want to see a resume) in a manner very similar to what Pattie Hunt suggests. The only material difference is that instead of saying explicitly that I am an independent (and solo) consultant I present my work as something done for my employer, which happens to be the LLC I own.

Here's how I handle it:

XYZ Company, Boston, MA
Project Manager
December 2007-June 2008 (Term of Project)

Each job entry is separate, as it would be if I had been in a staff position. But I add (Term of Project) after the dates to make it clear that I was hired for a specific project and not a staff position.

I don’t think this is a horrible advice at all. One size does not fit all. I, instead, like the idea.

Many consulting jobs are also included subcontracting or outsourcing. Sometimes, you are not supposed to disclose whom or which company you are working underground for on the resume or to the public.

In addition, many hiring managers are more interested in what expertise areas you have had or experienced with … than the name of companies you have been working for. For me, I also would care more what types of projects you have done.

Of course, all completed info is always nice if you have plenty of space on your resume. For a very limited space, you have to apply and customize what is fit you the most and what is the best for you.

Regards.

I don’t think this is a horrible advice at all. One size does not fit all. I, instead, like the idea.

Many consulting jobs are also included subcontracting or outsourcing. Sometimes, you are not supposed to disclose whom or which company you are working underground for on the resume or to the public.

In addition, many hiring managers are more interested in what expertise areas you have had or experienced with … than the name of companies you have been working for. For me, I also would care more what types of projects you have done.

Of course, all completed info is always nice if you have plenty of space on your resume. For a very limited space, you have to apply and customize what is fit you the most and what is the best for you.

Regards.