Send me an email in a pm, I'll preview your resume. I ran HR for a corporation before returning to the electrical trade. I've reviewed thousands of resume's (although I'm too lazy to put the accent in the word resume). A bit of blanket advice: There is no right format for a resume. Keep it neat and simple. One page is better than two! Don't stalk the person who requests the resume. Be specific. Be honest. Keep your resume dynamic, every resume you submit should be tailored to the recipient.
I receive at least one telephone call per week of an electrician looking for work. I tell the applicant to send me a resume and we will go from there. Only 5% of the applicants ever get a resume to me.
Here is how the hiring process works in the real world, sad, perhaps, but true:
When the recipient receives your resume, they make an instant decision; yes or no. If no, they should have the decency to say something like, "thank you for your inquiry, but we have chosen to continue our search..." If yes, then the resume reader will usually request you for an interview (verbal or in person). If the interview goes well, you should be asked to fill out an employment application, and or a skills assessment. After deliberation, the employer should either offer you a position, or thank you in writing so that you can both move on.
I realize that in a smaller shop setting the above procedures ma vary drastically. But I took the time to explain how it works, because you would be amazed at how much time it takes for a reviewer to hire someone. That is why it is so important to sell your self within the guidelines that the employer has set forth, and to land the job fast. Personally, I make my yes or no decision based on the first point of contact. And if someone can't follow the instructions, i.e., "no phone calls about this job, they just show up, or whatever else, they aren't getting hired.
In your situation, you might or might not want to mention that you had your own business. Some employers will think that you may steal their customers, or just stick with them long enough to get your self up and running again. The best thing you can do to sell yourself it to stick to the team mentality; prove to the employer how you are and will be an asset to their team.
Send me your resume, and I'll happily work with you on it.
