It may not strike you that a résumé can be used by a trucker to further their career. Most times, an application for employment is all that most have to go through in order to receive employment as a driver. I have learned through my experience that not only can one be useful in the business and office world, but it can also be a very functional tool in furthering your trucking career.
Perhaps you, as many others, think of a résumé as an employment document tailored more for someone trying to find a desk job. Perhaps something your driver manager or division manager may have filled out to get their position. As true as this is, it is also beneficial to have one documenting your past employment in the trucking industry. Mine has come in handy on several occasions, one of which was when applying to be a Freightliner Team Run Smart Pro! Before I ever received one phone call or email from Team Run Smart, my resume’ helped to make a first impression on those conducting the screening process and helped guide them to me as part of the process.
The first step in producing a quality résumé is to look for a professional template that suits your own personal character. I change mine from time to time depending on what I am gearing my résumé up for (we’ll touch on that next), but find a great number of free résumé templates through MS Office online. They range from mild plain text all the way to color scheme templates with matching fonts. I tend to keep mine pretty basic and professional, as to make it easier to read. Not too basic though because you want it to stick out in the mind of the person who has to go through many of these for a screening.
The second general rule in creating a résumé is to gear it in the right direction. Remember, this is like your own personal highlight reel, so don’t be shy when it comes to sharing your personal accomplishments. Just be make sure the content matches your desired career goals or position you are seeking. You would not necessarily want a résumé with a lot of time dedicated to highlighting your accomplishments as a fast food worker if you gearing your résumé up for a position as a trucking company division manager. Be sure to include any public service you have completed in your desired field, as well as skillsets in which you have demonstrated great strength.
Another rule in creating an effective résumé is to try and make it short, sweet, and to the point. I have been told by some of my college professors, “less can be more”. Not necessarily less content, just less filler. Stick with the facts when it comes to education, accomplishments, and detailed work history. Think of it from the perspective of the person who has to screen all of these in order to fill a position. Would you rather read a four to five page resume’ full of filler, or a concise and strategically plotted two to three page résumé with nothing but quality content?
The final rule, which is one that should be followed in any important written document…Spellcheck, spellcheck, spellcheck! I can’t count the number of times I have read a paper or digital article that would have otherwise been great, only to stumble so much on spelling and grammatical errors to the point I cannot even concentrate on the subject matter. This being said, grammar checks are great, but nothing beats another set of ears or eyes to proof something before it is used or published.
Perhaps you never want to do anything other than drive your truck, which is a noble choice and is a darn fine job to continue doing proudly. Being a man that always has a back-up plan, I recommend everyone keep an updated résumé, if not just for that reason. Speaking from personal experience though, you never know where one might lead you. Doors open in life and having a résumé detailing your history might just be the key to unlocking that door for you as it did for me!