Resume Question: too many jobs, not enough space

[mssyAK]

During college I didn't have a steady full-time job; I worked at camps during the summer and waited tables during the year.

(Yes, I recognize how unfortunate this makes me look on paper. I'm making the best out of what I've got )

Since the majority of my work experience came after college, there's not enough room on my resume to write detailed descriptions of each of my college employment options, so here is my dilemma:

Do I write all the places I worked, no bullet points, just brief descriptions if they fit (the advantage being: I maintained a 3.4 at McGill and never stopped working in a French city)?

OR

Do I write the most recent job, even if that wasn't where I had the most opportunity/success?

OR

Do I write the job that was earlier in college, but in which I had the most professional development?

ayúdame!

[balderdash]

During college I...

Relevancy wins out. Waiting tables is admirable, but I think everyone will have done some sort of work on the same level (I worked cash register in a grocery store, pulled pints at a pub, and made sandwiches in a deli). Much more important are the work experiences that give you experience, knowledge, and preparation for your intended field of study. Whatever makes you a professional ________ (for me, political scientist) is what they're looking for. That said, if it was something really prestigious or something to which you had a continued commitment, it's probably worth inclusion. Since you said you didn't have a steady job throughout, the latter doesn't apply. But if one of your jobs was, say, interning in the White House, then put it even though it's not relevant.

Edited August 15, 2010 by balderdash

[UnlikelyGrad]

The resume that landed my husband several industry jobs (coming out of college in the middle of a recession) had the following for work experience:

Latest Job: Internship @ Government Institution

Job just previous: Summer Internship @ Government Institution

2 High School Jobs, both Intern @ Environmental Firms

Then he had a category called "Other Experience" which said something like, "I paid my way through college with a variety of jobs: waiter, usher, prep chef..." (I forget all the things he did)

So basically, he put all relevant and quasi-relevant work experience in reverse chronological order and lumped everything else in a blurb at the end.

[Alette]

I agree with the above: include ONLY what is relevant. You can probably write at least three good resumes for various positions - grad school, waitressing, etc. - but when you apply to a position, you want to tailor your information so that it fits the job. Spend much more time on your past coursework, internships, conferences, etc. to highlight the accomplishments that suggest strong potential for an equally accomplished graduate career.

That said, you mentioned that you waitressed in Montreal. If you waitressed in French, that would be something to put down, under languages.