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Does Your Resume Communicate

The Right Message?

MIT Career Development CenterRoom 12-170 (617) 253-4733

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/Bob Dolan dolanb@mit.edu

Jan 2010

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/http://web.mit.edu/career/www/

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Does Your Resume CommunicateThe Right Message?

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Understand the purpose of a Resume Learn a strategy to develop and write a resume that

drives impact Practice writing an accomplishment statement

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Job

Search

Resumes, Cover Letters,Interviews, Networking!

FocusingWhich organizations are a good fit? What do Ineed to be competitive? Who can connect me tothese organizations? Networking!

Action Plan

ExplorationWhats out there? What options do I have? What jobs fit my skills?

What careers and industries can use them? Networking!

Self AssessmentWho am I? What are my interests? What kinds of skills do I have? What are my work-related values? What is my work style? Networking!

Career PlanningA Lifelong Process

Adapted from Peter Fiske: To Boldly Go: Practice Career Advice for Scientists, Workshop at MIT

Modified from Stanford University Career Planning and Placement Office

Todays

Workshop

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The Purpose of a Resume

Your Resume serves many purposes: A Marketing Tool

You are the product your resume is selling Your resume must be user friendly

A Calling Card and A Reminder

Brief summary of what you have done

Impression of you remains after the interview

A Way to Direct the Interview Specific accomplishments can direct the interviewers attention

Your Resume should be externally focused !

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Resume Development

Content

Format

Style

All threesend amessage

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Content - Strategy

Tailor your resume content to both youraudience and the job description

Hiring Manager may look for technical expertise Human Resources may look for behavioral

attributes

Exclude data related to salary expectation,religious or political affiliation, geographicalrestrictions, age, relationship status, etc.Your hiring should be based upon your ability to do the job, and nothing else

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Content - Strategy

Only include data relevant to the position for which youare applying

Choose, prioritize, and tailor headings andexperience relevant to the targeted position

Know your audience, and give them what they need !

A good resume piques the interest of the reader andprompts them to invite you in for an interview

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Content - ?

How do you know what to write?

The Job Description provides all of the vitalinformation and requirements about the job

Information gathered during Networking and yourindividual research can provide content thats on-point

Your resume message should target job relatedrequirements, both technical and behavioral

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ContentActual Job Description Entry Level

Entry Level Civil Engineer Job Description:

An Aerotek client, a leading utility firm is seeking an entry Level Civil Engineer. The civilengineer is someone who wants to get their foot in the door and grow within a well

established firm. The individual will be responsible for the design and drafting of civilengineering and construction projects. Must be comfortable working with a team ofdesigners to focus on large town/city projects.

Job Requirements:

* O-1 years of experience.* BS in Civil Engineering.* EIT preferred.* Excellent witting and communication skills.* This position involves travel to other locations will also be required.

Be prepared to talk tothese requirements as

well

Highlight the key responsibilities and requirementsand make sure your resume addresses their needs

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ContentActual Job Description - Experienced

Project Engineer Job Description The Project Engineer will be assigned to one of multiple planned commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol

projects. He/she will be the point-person for the identification, tracking, coordination and resolution oftechnical issues between project team members, including Verenium project management and processengineering, contractors, vendors, and external engineering entities.

Responsibilities include: -Being the the focal person for the project engineering change management process, including Engineering

Change Notices (ECNs) and Requests-for-Information (RFIs).

-Tracking and expediting of documentissues, submittals, reviews and approvals to ensure timeliness andcompleteness of performance. -Participating in design and constructability reviews, and as well as assist in the tracking of material quantities

as detail design proceeds. The Project Engineer will be based in Cambridge; however, he/she will be spend considerable time at the engineers

offices and project site during the design and construction / start-up phases of the project, respectively.

Requirements: Bachelors degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Civil, Structural or Electrical Engineering with 5 10 years experience

related to the design, engineering, construction, and/or operation of chemical process plants. EIT orProfessional Engineering Registration is preferred.

This candidate must have experience in the following areas: Interaction with engineering service suppliers, contractors and equipment vendors. Demonstrated excellence in applying modern software and hardware tools to solve practical problems. Ability to work well in a teamencompassing many disciplines as well as independently with minimal

supervision. Ability to read and analyze engineering drawingsfor quantity determination purposes. Ability to organize and manage large volumes of data, and to summarize and present such datain a clear

manner. Ability to prioritize and structure multiple-front work efforts to meet deadlines.

Looka typo

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ContentActual Jobs and Descriptions in CareerBridge

Log onto Career Bridgehttps://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student

Go to: DatabasesJobsSearch

Enter current date in first Expiration Date box,Leave second box blank, and click Search

As of Jan 13, 2010 (today) there were 1,025 open jobs in thedatabasefull-time positions and internships

Click on jobs of interest, review the Job Descriptionsand use this data to develop your communication

https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/studenthttps://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student

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Top Qualities/SkillsEmployers Want

Communications Skills (verbal & written) 4.6 Strong work ethic 4.6 Teamwork skills 4.5 Motivation/initiative 4.4 Interpersonal skills 4.4 Problem Solving skills 4.4 Analytical skills 4.3 Flexibility/adaptability 4.2 Technical/Computer skills 4.1

Detail oriented 4.0 Organizational skills 4.0 Leadership skills 3.9 Self confidence 3.9

5.0 Scale

NACE National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2008 Survey

Does your resumecommunicate theseskills & attributes?

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When Deciding on Two Equally

Qualified Candidates,

Hiring Managers Look At:

Has held leadership position 4.0 Major 3.9 High GPA 3.7 Co-curricular activities 3.6 Volunteer work 3.0 School attended 2.9

National Assn. of Colleges andEmployers, 2008 Job Outlook Survey

5.0 point scale, where 1 = no influence, 5 = extreme influence

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Content - Headings

Personal Contact Information:

Name, Address, Phone, e-mail, etc

Summary of Qualifications If you have work experience

Education degree(s) and date of graduation

Relevant Courses/Projects

Scholarships/Awards (if applicable)

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Content - Headings

Experience or Work Experience Accomplishments/Professional Achievements

Key MessageValue Added Contributions

Relevant Skills Section Computer, Languages, Technical, Lab, Equipment, etc

Other Headings, if Applicable Relevant Presentations/Publications

Professional Affiliations Leadership/Service

Activities/Interests

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Content - Message

The way you express yourself in written form will be evaluatedby the readers and will unveil your thought process Consider using the following format when describing your skills:

PAR Statement (P=Project, A=Action, R=Results)

Example:Project = Upgrade Defect Sensing and Marking DevicesAction = As Project Manager, researched, analyzed andidentified process improvementsResult = Eliminated human inspection on line, saving $200,000

Transfer to Resume as Accomplishment Statement:Managed project to upgrade defect sensing and markingdevices resulting in the elimination of human inspection online, saving $200,000 per year

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Content - Message

Quantify experiences to convey size and/orscale of projects, budgets, and results

makes a stronger impression what was value added about your contribution?

Lists relevant accomplishments and skills,

NOT job duties and responsibilities

Your Resume is not an Autobiography

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Content = MessageExamples

Before Responsible for the development of enterprise-wideQuality Engineering services

After- Created Strategic Quality Engineering services for

enterprise-wide solutions resulting in greater effectiveness ofE-Commerce organization

___________________________________________________________________________________

Before - Responsible for product optimization across U.S.manufacturing operations

After Developed and managed a common product releasecycle initiative for a multi-site manufacturing operations thatresulted in a 60% performance improvement within 100 days

Dont list what you were supposed to do, list what you did!

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Content = MessageExamples

Before Responsible for merger and acquisition duediligence which included financial and sensitivity analysis

After- Performed comprehensive M&A due diligence and

financial analysis including management evaluation,historical results, sensitivity analysis, and relative companyvaluation materials

___________________________________________________________________________________

Before - Responsible for improving reliability of optical

networks After Developed and optimized a lightpath diversity scheme

that achieved instantaneous response to multiple networkfailures for ultra-reliable optical networks, leading to a morereliable product.

Dont list what you were supposed to do, list what you did!

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Content = MessageExamples

Before - Duties included assisting in project administration, fieldmeasurements and records, project inspection, setting up andtracking project using Microsoft Project, and developingcomputerized material take off sheets

After- Initiated and managed tracking systems used for the BayDistrict water decontamination project which decreased staffallocation time by 20% and saved $100,000 on overall project

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Before - Responsible for chairing the Graduate Student

Promotional Committee After - Chaired promotional committee of 15 that resulted in a30% increase in ticket sales

Dont list what you were supposed to do, list what you did!

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PAR Statement PracticeLets write one (takes ~ 3 minutes)

Think about a job or project that you wish toinclude on your resumedescribe the job or

project:

P: What was the Project?

A: What were your Actions?

R: What was the Result or Impact?

On the next page, write the answers to the

PAR Statement beginning with an actionverb

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PAR Statement PracticeLets write one (takes ~ 3 minutes)

P: The Project__________________________________________________________________________________

A: Your Actions____________________________________________________________________________________

R: The Result or Impact______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Format

Reverse Chronological (Most Used) - list your experiences inreverse chronological order, beginning with your most recentposition

Be consistent with tenses

Functional - Functional resumes promote and headline specificjob skills and responsibilities, without emphasizing where or whenyou developed those skills

jobs, job titles, and employment dates are inconspicuouslyplaced toward the end Not recommended for students and

recent graduates

Combination utilizes reverse chronological order as well asorganizes experiences in order of importance

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Style

Use high-quality bond paper Print on one side only Use white, ivory color paper Do not use school letterhead

Use one conservative typestyle Example fonts: Times New Roman, Arial,

Helvetica, etc.

Size 10 12 size font are recommended

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Style

Use bolding, italics, and CAPitalization to helpemphasize what is most importantminimally andconsistently

The use of Bullets is effective in directing the readerseye

Margins should be no smaller than a half inch Dont overcrowd your resume

Only include what is relevant to the position Use white space to emphasize what is most

important

Rememberyour Resume is not an autobiography

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Final Tips

Proofread - use spell and grammar check andhavesomeone review your resume for errors

Have several people critique your resume Counselor, friend, critical proofreader, someone

familiar and unfamiliar with the field/industry

Make sure the reproduction is good, with noblurring, stray marks, or faint letters

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Final Tipscont.

How many pages? length is performance based Always have a one-page version available Advanced degrees and extensive work experience may

result in a two-page document Patents and Publications may be included on an

Addendum

Avoid jargon (acronyms, course numbers, etc)

Avoid word repetition and the use of I Less is more; Leave out unnecessary words or phrases Tailor resume to your audience and job

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The Do Nots

Do Not: List references

Exaggerate Include a photo of yourself (youll scare them)

Over-emphasize

Include extraneous or personal information

Use odd sized paper Forget to proofread

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Why Proofread?

ITS ALL SO OVIBOUS

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingshuinervtisy, it deosnt mttaer in waht oredr theltteers are in a wrod, the olny iprmoetnt tihng

is taht the frist and lsat ltteers are in the rghitpclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and youcan sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs isbcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by istlef,but the wrod as a wlohe.

Readers Digest

You cant proofread your own writinghave someone else do it

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Career Resources

MIT Career Development Center - 12-170

617- 253- 4733 http://web.mit.edu/career/www/

We offer One on One counseling

Mock Interviews (behavioral based)

Resume and Cover Letter reviews

Job/Internship Search tips

Negotiating Job Offer advice

General and Tailored Workshops Preprofessional Advising (Pre-Med Pre-Law)

Daily walk-in hours check schedule for times

Plus a lot of other wicked good stuff !!!

Take Advantage of these ResourcesWe Work for You

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/http://web.mit.edu/career/www/

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Does Your Resume CommunicateThe Right Message?

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Understand the purpose of a Resume Learn a strategy to develop and write a resume thatis impactful

Practice writing an accomplishment statement

Did we accomplish the intended outcomes?

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Q & AResume Messages

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Resumes Messages

The greater danger for most of us lies

not in setting our aim too high andfalling short; but in setting our aim toolow, and achieving our mark..Buonarroti

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Bob joined the MIT Career Development Center in 2007 as a full-time Career Development Counselor afterserving three years on campus as a seasonal career consultant. He is a Certified Job Search and CareerTransition Consultant with experience in the field of career management since 2001. He is also certified toadminister and interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) psychological assessment instrument.

Before joining MIT, Bob had a private Career Consulting practice and worked with clients across multipleindustries, as well as, providing career consulting services for Lee Hecht Harrison, a leading global Career

Management firm. Bob's clients spanned all industries and positions ranged from company Presidents toadministrative staff.

Prior to choosing a profession in Career Services, Bob worked in several industries as a member ofCorporate Finance Management teams. Bob holds a BS in Business, an MBA, and worked in the Publishingindustry, Chemical industry (polymer sciences), and 12 years in the High Technology sector, predominatelyin telecomm. During this time, he managed local and global finance organizations supporting CorporateFinance, Tax, R&D and Manufacturing Engineering functions. Bob was also a company trainer, deliveringseminars on workplace diversity, effective presentation skills, and conflict resolution.

As a hiring manager for over twenty years, Bob brings a unique blend of "real world" and career servicesexpertise to his clients. Since 2003 Bob has been on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the CareerCounselors' Consortium of New England, a Boston-based non-profit organization established for theedification and advocacy of practitioners in the Career Management field.

Bob DolanCareer Development Counselor