Last week, I addressed writing resumes when you’re a person who works full time while also taking on meaningful consulting work. It spoke to several of you! Check out this reader response and my answer below:
Ana- your recent post about "When you do TOO much" resonated with me as I am also an entrepreneurial focused individual who generally always has a W2 role to have access to health insurance. Is it possible for you to share a sample resume that reflects the guidance you provided (having an executive summary and creating a section for main leadership roles aligned to target roles)? Also, what happens when a consulting role is better aligned with the target role?
To the person who submitted this question - Thank you for feedback and questions! Here’s a template to help you and others who have full-time traditional leadership roles and big consulting gigs:
Name
[Add relevant credentials, if applicable]
Headline
[Aligned to your target role, e.g., "K-12 Operations Leader" or "Senior Education Consultant"]
Executive Summary
• High-level Overview [ Summarize your job function, e.g., "Senior Operations Leader with 2+ decades scaling operations for charter school networks."]
• Key Achievement 1 [Highlight a major related accomplishment, e.g., "Built foundational HR, Finance, and Operations functions for Apple Charter District as it grew from one to ten campuses."]
• Key Achievement 2 [Showcase another achievement that emphasizes additional relevant skills or experiences.]
• Consulting Expertise [If applicable, highlight consulting work, e.g., "In addition to leading operations at Apple Charter Network, provided strategic consulting to education clients such as [name big clients] in areas of strategy, talent, and operations."]
Relevant Experience
[List your most recent, aligned full-time roles here. Include job title, employer, and dates worked. Add concise, relevant bullet points as necessary.]
Example:
Chief Operating Officer | Apple Charter Network | 2015–Present
• Scaled operations from one to ten campuses, implementing systems for HR, finance, and compliance.
• Improved talent retention by 15% through strategic initiatives.
Director of Operations | Orange Public Schools | 2010–2015
• Oversaw operational strategy across five campuses, including transportation and facilities.
Consulting Experience
[Detail your consulting projects here, either under one umbrella role (e.g., Your Name LLC) or by listing individual projects.]
Option 1: Consolidated Format
Education Consultant | Your Name LLC | 2015–Present
• Advised charter schools on operational efficiency, including [specific accomplishments].
• Collaborated with [name big clients] on strategy and talent management.
Option 2: Client-Specific Format
Curriculum Writing Consultant | Client Name | 2022
• Developed a comprehensive K-12 curriculum aligned with state standards.
Operations Consultant | Client Name | 2020
• Designed and implemented financial systems for a growing network of charter schools.
Additional Experience
[List older or less relevant full-time roles here. Include only job title, employer, and years worked.]
Example:
Operations Manager | Blue Education Group | 2005–2010
Administrative Assistant | Yellow Academy | 2000–2005
Education & Certifications
[List your degrees and relevant certifications here.]
Example:
Master of Education in Leadership | University of Education | 2008
Certified Operations Specialist | National Charter Network | 2015
Optional Sections
[Consider adding these if relevant.]
Example:
Volunteer Experience: [Include roles, organizations, and dates.]
Publications/Presentations: [List significant works or speaking engagements.]
To answer the second part of your question, what happens when a consulting role is better aligned with the target role?, you can play around with resume order. For example, in the “Relevant Experience” section, start with your consulting experience and go deep in adding many bullets! Then, in the “Additional Experience” section, include your less relevant traditional roles. If you’re worried this might confuse a reader, you can always ask someone you trust to quickly review your resume and tell you if it’s clear, expand on your experience in a cover letter, or add a clarifying bullet to the “Executive Summary.”
