Here is an example of an Awesome Applicants resumé that is working.

On the Forums site, there was a request for more information about writing an effective Awesome Applicants resumé. Workampers asked to see forums user SandysMom's resumé. They agreed and so here it is. (SandysMom is Jim and Kathy's Forums username.)

As it so happens, I met Jim and Kathy last summer at their Workamping job at Willard Bay State Park in Utah. They wanted to work in the area because of family and found a perfect position for them. After talking to them, I could see that Jim and Kathy know what they want, focus on that and find it.

Jim & Kathy's Resume

Please allow us to introduce ourselves - we are the Xxxxxs- Jim and Kathy - Casey the Camping Kitty and Sandy, the world's cutest dog. We are both in our mid 50's, married for over 30 years and have been Workamping the summer seasons since.  Jim retired from the Air Force in 2000. Jim is a Certified Lifeguard both at the pool and waterfront and is well versed in pool maintenance and chemicals. He currently holds a CDL with a passenger endorsement and enjoyed the summer of 2004 as a Guided Tour Bus Driver in BOSTON! He is very organized and is capable of taking on new tasks and learning them in record time.  Kathy is very proficient around computers, phones, offices and busy work places. She has held Workamper jobs teaching Arts and Crafts to children and adults, organizing theme weekends and activities, handling promotions, correspondence and advertising and is also comfortable working around the pool. She is also very organized and has never met a stranger. She is a very capable public speaker and is up for a new challenge. We both hold current CPR Certificates. Both of us work at tax preparation offices in the winter months so would not be available until after the first of May. Due to family in the area we desire a location that is within a few hours of Utica, NY for the summer 20XX season. Jim is looking for a driving job and/or a pool maintenance/lifeguard position. Kathy would like an office or activities/hospitality/recreation position. A camphost position sounds like an ideal way to spend the summer, also.  Both of us are very capable of working unsupervised and also enjoy the camaraderie of a hard working team. We have been camping for many years and enjoy the interaction and sharing that comes with spending time with other campers. We both hold multiple college degrees and after many years of traveling around with the Air Force are at ease adapting to new places, people and challenges. We are flexible with work schedules and responsibilities and are known for our 'work hard until the job is done' attitude towards our duties.  We just bought a 2005 Jayco Travel trailer so we are ready to begin a new adventure. Please contact us with any questions you may have and so we can get to know you. I'm sure there is a perfect match for all of us.

Contact Information (Removed)

Additional Contact Information

FAX # 123-xxx-xxxx Machine is always on. [NOTE: you can obtain a free fax # to receive faxes via email at www.efax.com

Preferred Work Setting(s)

• National Park Forests Concessionaires
• RV Park/Campground/Resort (Gov't/Non-profit)
• RV Park/Campground/Resort (Commercial)
• Wildlife Refuges/Preserve

Preferred Salary/Benefits  Open to All Possibilities

Preferred Work Schedule  Part Time Negotiable

Current Availability Season Preference  Summer Only

Available After  05/01/20XX

Preferred Work Location(s)

• New York
• Pennsylvania

Strong points of their resumé are

• They let the employer know both their Workamper and pre-Workamper experience. Without going into a lot of detail, they clearly communicate their experience.
• They include possible key words: pool maintenance, lifeguard, computers, office, activities, and recreation.
• They include many characteristics that are needed in a seasonal job: proficiency, organized, can work unsupervised but can also work as part of a team, flexible, work hard until the job is done and up for new challenges.
• They state what they are looking for and when they are available.
• I love the phrase "Kathy has never met a stranger.”

Advises Kathy, “Be casual and friendly rather than stiff and structured, I think. You are not applying to work in a bank but in a family oriented fun industry. You have to show the owner/manager that you are fun guys, thus the picture of our dog instead of our rig. I mention the rig so the owner knows we don't have a rust bucket.” I believe Kathy and Jim’s resumé conveys just that.

Other comments:

Some employers really like the AA resumé because it is not formal. They like getting a feel for what the person/couple is like. Other employers would like the resumé to be a little more straightforward, having an objective and clearly spelling out your relevant experience. In Sandy’s Mom’s résumé, Kathy does clearly state what they are looking for. She could put that first.

The other suggestion I would have is to break the resumé into paragraphs. I would break into a new paragraphs at: "Jim is a Certified Lifeguard..."; "Due to family in the area..."; "Both of us are very capable..."; and "Please contact us..."

Kathy and Jim may feel this breaks up the casual feel, but, in my opinion, it separates the ideas and makes it easier to read. Their resumé is, however, working for them, so they might want to leave it alone.

Says Kathy, “We get what we want every summer so something is working. By the way, our compensation package this summer is: paid for every hour, FHU site, free use of all facilities, store discount, etc., etc., plus a year end bonus of $1 for every hour worked if we honor our written contract that says we work until Labor Day Weekend.”

This summer they are working at Splash Magic Family Campground and Resort. Jim is the “pool guy,” and Kathy leads crafts and activities. They've also worked at Willard Bay State Park as campground hosts and at Normandy Farms in Massachusetts where Jim worked pools and drove the tour bus and Kathy worked pools and indoor recreation. Their other jobs were in New York at Jellystone Park in Cooperstown and three years at Lebanon Reservoir Campground where Jim was a lifeguard at nearby Colgate University and Kathy did crafts and activities.