Developing Your Resume 1

Developing Your Resume

This module consists of three individual parts:

Part 1: Understanding the Resume

Part 2: Creating Your Resume

Part 3: Locating Additional Resources

Developing Your Resume 2

Learning Objectives

Understand the main areas of resumes

Identify and correct errors in your resume

Commit to re-doing your resume

Locate at least five different local resources or reference books

Part 1: Understanding the ResumeJob Applicant Contact Information

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Common Errors in Resumes

Spelling errors, e.g., “Costumer Service” Formatting issues, e.g., inconsistent

information/columns do not line up Missing or incorrect telephone number, e.g., wrong

area code in (730) 555-1212 instead of (703)

Missing information in job description, e.g., “helped customers”

Dates out of sequence, e.g., most recent job not listed first

Wrong dates, e.g., list 1898 as HS graduation date instead of 1998

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Common Errors in Resumes cont.

Crazy email address, e.g., LazyGuy@slowmail.com Irrelevant experience, e.g., highlight an astronaut

seeking a job as a florist Capitalization problems, e.g., non-capitalized proper

nouns, 123 elm street or mcdonalds Too many pages (have a small book) Not enough information, e.g., listing just job titles with no

details Repeated information, possibly resulting from “cut and

paste”

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Customize resume for each job opening

Sample Job Opening -- Help Wanted Ad:Customer Service RepresentativeDo you speak with a smile? We are looking for talented Customer Service Professionals for entry-level positions with a rapidly growing firm located in Alexandria, VA. If you are team-oriented, enthusiastic, have a talent for customer interaction, and speak a second language, this may be the right job for you.Qualified applicants will be team players that thrive in a fast-paced environment, with excellent problem-solving, multi-tasking, communication, and organizational skills. Basic computer skills and additional language skills are a plus!

Sample Job Opening -- Help Wanted Ad:Customer Service RepresentativeDo you speak with a smile? We are looking for talented Customer Service Professionals for entry-level positions with a rapidly growing firm located in Alexandria, VA. If you are team-oriented, enthusiastic, have a talent for customer interaction, and speak a second language, this may be the right job for you.Qualified applicants will be team players that thrive in a fast-paced environment, with excellent problem-solving, multi-tasking, communication, and organizational skills. Basic computer skills and additional language skills are a plus!

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Analyze what you can/can’t do

List Employer’s Requirements

Can I meet this requirement?

Notes

Speak with a smile Yes No

Talented Customer Service Professionals

Yes No

Entry-level positions Yes No

Team-oriented Yes No

Enthusiastic Yes No

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Part 2: Creating Your Resume

Personal Information

Career Summary and Objective Statement

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Career Summary and Objective

“An outgoing, bilingual (English/Spanish) Customer Service professional with 3 years of retail experience seeking an Assistant Manager position to utilize XXX skills.”

“A reliable, certified HVAC Technician with 2 years of XXX experience seeking a Lead Technician position to XXXX.”

“A detail-oriented Accountant with 2 years of AP/AR experience seeking an Accounts Payable position that capitalizes on outstanding Excel and QuickBooks skills.”

“A compassionate CNA with 5 years work experience in a retirement home setting seeking XXXX position to make the most of recent XXX training.”

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Indicate relevant skills and work history

Skills

Employment History

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Present or Past Tense

Present Tense Past Tense

If you currently work as a Landscaper, you may write:

Follow planting diagrams, dig holes, and properly place plants, flowers, bushes, and trees

If you used to work as a Landscaper, you would write:

Followed planting diagrams, dug holes, and properly placed plants, flowers, bushes and trees.

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Employment History (I)

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

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Employment History (II)

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

WHAT DID THIS PERSON DO FOR 4 YEARS? WHAT’S UP WITH THIS GAP?

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

WHAT DID THIS PERSON DO FOR 4 YEARS? WHAT’S UP WITH THIS GAP?

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

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Employment History (III)

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

Greenbelt High School Greenbelt, MD 07/01-06/05• Served as Board Member for the PTS• Managed school project budget

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

Employment History

Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-PresentSales Associate/Cashier

Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise

Promote store credit card and specials to customers Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift

Greenbelt High School Greenbelt, MD 07/01-06/05• Served as Board Member for the PTS• Managed school project budget

Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01Waitress

Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them

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Part 3: Additional Resume Resources

Tips and Advice

http://www.how-to-write-a-resume.org/ http://www.howtowritearesume.net/ http://www.myfuture.com/toolbox/

createresume_all.html

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Resume Templates

http://www.myresumeonline.org/resume-templates/

http://www.resumetemplates.org http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/

quickstart/

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Community Centers

Falls Church SkillSource Center Lake Anne SkillSource Center South County SkillSource Center Cherokee Avenue Workforce Center City of Alexandria Joblink Arlington Employment Center Loudoun Employment Resource Center Prince William Workforce Center

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Books

Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer

The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write and Use an Effective Resume In Only One Day

Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work

Expert Resumes for Career Changers

Resume Writer's Workbook

Winning Resumes

The Resume Handbook

Resumes for Re-Entering the Job Market

Resumes for Dummies

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Action Verbs on Resumes

A–D E–H I–L M–P Q–T U–Z

AAchieveAcquireAdaptAddressAnticipateAssist

EEstablishExpand

I ImplementImproveInsure

M MaintainMarketMotivate

Q UUse

B FForm

J N R V

CCalculateCentralizeChangeCollaborateConductConstructCoordinateCreateCultivate

GGenerateGuide

K OObtainOperateOrganizeOriginate

SSet upSimplifySolveSurvey

W

DDevelopDeviseDiscover

H L Launch

PPlanProducePromoteProvide

TTeachTestTrain

X Y Z

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Closing Remarks

Creating a resume that is customized for a specific job; accurate; attractive; error-free; and reflects your skills and abilities will provide a chance to get an interview – which is its primary purpose!