If you have ever called the Specialized Services team at Town & Country Resources asking about Personal Assistant, Household Manager, Estate Manger or Chef positions, you are probably familiar with our most popular request: “Please send us your resume.”

Oh, the daunting resume.  How to cram years of experience managing household staff, taking the dog to the vet and searching for that perfect sweater on the internet onto a single piece of paper? The Specialized Services team reads dozens of resumes each day and has come up with some great tips and suggestions to help with this task. Whether you are creating a resume after several years of working in the industry or creating a new resume suited toward this industry, here are three quick tips to get you started:

1: Keep it Simple

We find that a simple, bullet-pointed format is the most effective.  Be sure to include your title, the months and years you were at each position, the company or employer’s name (or Private Residence) and the location of the position.  Below that information, include a bullet-pointed list of the specific job duties you performed in this position.

In the event that you have held more than one part-time position at the same time, list your jobs by household instead of by title and list the relevant dates and specific duties performed at each position.  When jobs and duties are lumped together, it is difficult for prospective employers to ascertain exactly what you have done at each position.  Always write in the third person.  Do not use “I.” 

2: Details, Details, Details

Be very specific when listing your job duties at each position: 

DO:
-Managed five household employees including two housekeepers, two nannies and a gardener

-Planned monthly dinner parties and twice-yearly events

-Responsible for maintenance schedule of three vehicles

-Managed family’s calendar and tracked appointments

DON’T:
“Performed all duties related to managing a busy household.” or “Managed all aspects of a large estate.”

3: Show off your Skills
A skills section at the bottom of your resume is a great place to highlight your computer and language skills, as well as any other relevant job skills.

Above all, remember that the resume is meant to be a representation of your work experience and your unique skill set.  Keep it simple, direct, and focused.  If you have questions about your resume, consider joining us at our upcoming seminar, Tips on Enhancing Your Career as a Household Professional, on March 13th at our Palo Alto office.  For more information call 650-326-8570 and ask for Diane, Michelle or Nancy.

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