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Post being replied to

Quick thoughts by Barney68

Do not think of a single resume but, rather, a baseline version that you customize, emphasis "customize", for each opportunity. One size fits all really fits none.

1. You have 30 years experience so you also have 20 years experience ... and 10 years. Truncate things as needed to get your resume to the "let's talk to this fellow" stack. It's the truth, just not "the whole truth."
2. You have degrees from a few years ago. Do both of them apply to THIS OPPORTUNITY? You are not required to reveal the law degree unless it helps as there is no crime in understating your qualifications. Ditto the dates. Do they help in the particular case at hand?
3. Veteran status: does it help? Many employers, Northrup comes to mind, might see it as a major plus. Others as a "so what?" Some might see it as a negative (no, I can't think of an example).
4. "Unexplained" is the key word. It's long ago, 1998 to be precise, but I quit a job without a go-forward plan and found myself with lots of time on my hands. "What I did on my summer vacation" makes a better story than saying I was employed for those months.

You didn't ask, but:

5. Network, network, network. The jobs that are advertised are not the ones you are looking for and getting to the hiring manager by going through the HR department is doing it the hard way.
6. Find ways to spend your free time productively.
6.1 Consulting is a great way to combine keeping busy with networking with getting some money coming in. I've been doing it since '98.
6.2 Volunteer work always gets mentioned but is rarely defined. What do you enjoy? There are always charities in need of help, politicians who feel as you do on the issues, etc.
6.3 What is your passion? Perhaps you should write that book ...
7. Plan. Implement the plan. Update the plan. Implement the update. There are a lot of issues that you may want to consider including finances, location, personal marketing (network ...), and the like.
8. Keep your spirits up. That means doing things that are meaningful to you. Maybe this is the year to take a month and hike part of the Camino.

Good luck!