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Module 02: Build your toolkit Part I: Crafting high-impact résumés

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key elements résumé types

top ten tips

references

A well-crafted résumé is a key element of your work search. As a marketing tool, the main goal is to present a positive first impression to prospective employers - one that demonstrates how your skills, experience and accomplishments meet their specific requirements. The effectiveness of a résumé depends on the information included, how well it is tailored to the position you are applying for, and your use of keywords and accomplishment statements. emailing résumés

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Contact Information* * Appears on each page of

your résumé

Key Elements

Example:

312 – 2555 Commercial Drive Vancouver BC V5N 4C1

P: 604.123.4567 E: johnsmith@gmail.com

John Smith

• First and Last Names • Address and Postal Code • Home and/or cell phone numbers • Work search email address

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Objective: • Do not use the word

“objective,” instead use the Title of the position you are applying for

• Optional - alternate titles related to your target occupation and related work experience

Key Elements Example:

312 – 2555 Commercial Drive Vancouver BC V5N 4C1

P: 604.123.4567 E: johnsmith@gmail.com

Communications Assistant

Marketing Representative | Social Media Expert

John Smith

SEE ALSO REFERENCE • Tailoring your

Objective and your Summary of Qualifications

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Summary of Qualifications: • Briefly summarize

and match your top qualifications to the job’s requirements

• List your relevant education, training, key skills and accomplishments

Key Elements Example:

312 – 2555 Commercial Drive Vancouver BC V5N 4C1

P: 604.123.4567 E: johnsmith@gmail.com

Communications Assistant

Marketing Representative | Social Media Expert

Graduate of the Communications degree program at Simon Fraser University with 3+ years of experience managing online marketing for a not-for-profit organization on a volunteer basis. Social media expert with experience in creation and on-going maintenance of Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and LinkedIn accounts.

John Smith

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Employment History: • The Job Title,

Employer Name, Location, Duration, Responsibilities and Accomplishments

• Limit yourself to key and relevant responsibilities and accomplishments

Key Elements • Use actual numbers,

keywords, and action words to convey your knowledge and experience

• Be consistent in your use of past (previous employment) or present tense if you are still employed

• Use years instead of

months to minimize time gaps

• Clearly identify volunteer or unpaid work experience

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Employment History:

Key Elements Example:

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Volunteer Coordinator | ABC Association | Vancouver BC 2013 – Present • Research and identify target audiences for marketing services via social media

including Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and LinkedIn. • Assist with the development and implementation of professional standards for

online delivery of services and content. • Write and post content to websites in keeping with established guidelines. • Increased the number of subscribers to social media accounts by 50% by

introducing the addition of links to all marketing materials. Barista| Coffee Shop | Burnaby BC 2012 – 2014 • Provided excellent customer service by welcoming customer to the store, and

preparing orders quickly and accurately. • Recognized as “Employee of the Month” for providing exceptional service.

SEE ALSO REFERENCE • Describing Your

Duties • Writing

Accomplishment Statements

• Action Verbs

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Education & Training: • List your most formal

education first • List all degrees,

diplomas and relevant certificate programs completed

• Include the credential, name of the school and completion dates

Key Elements • Combine related

seminars and workshops in a single statement

• If you lack work experience, include any awards or accomplishments that strengthen your application

• If you have a degree

or a diploma don’t list your high-school diploma

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Education & Training:

Key Elements Example:

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Communications | SFU | Burnaby BC 2016 • Majored in Online Marketing and Social Media Development • Completed an internship with • Complete list of courses available on request

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There are three basic types of résumés: • Chronological • Functional • Combination

The type of résumé you select is based on your work experience and the position you are applying for.

Résumé Types

SEE ALSO REFERENCE • Sample Résumés

and Reference

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Chronological: • Best used if you are

applying for a position that aligns with your work experience, training and formal education

Résumé Types • Preferred by

employers because it is easy to read and highlights relevant points quickly and concisely

• Presented in reverse-chronological order

• Starting with the

most recent position, list and describe each position using concise, action-oriented words

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Chronological: • Best used if you are

applying for a position that aligns with your work experience, training and formal education

Résumé Types • Preferred by

employers because it is easy to read and highlights relevant points quickly and concisely

• Presented in reverse-chronological order

• Starting with the

most recent position, list and describe each position using concise, action-oriented words

Disadvantages: • Highlights

employment history rather than skills

• Frequent job changes, gaps in employment, and lack of career progress made obvious

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Functional: • Best used if you are

making a career change and your previous work experience is not directly related to the position you are applying for

Résumé Types • Emphasizes skills and

accomplishments • Draws attention

away from gaps in employment, frequent job changes and previous or little work experience

• Easily tailored to

reflect an employer’s specific needs

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Functional: • Best used if you are

making a career change and your previous work experience is not directly related to the position you are applying for

Résumé Types • Emphasizes skills and

accomplishments • Draws attention

away from gaps in employment, frequent job changes and previous or little work experience

• Easily tailored to

reflect an employer’s specific needs

Disadvantages: • Does not appeal to

all employers • Employment history

and career progression are not as obvious and may take longer to assess

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Combination: • Best used if you have

a variety of work experience in unrelated fields and you want to emphasize certain skills or parts of your work experience for a specific job target

Résumé Types • Combines the best

features of both the chronological and functional types

• Highlights relevant qualifications and skills, and includes a condensed employment history

• Works well when

you’ve performed similar functions for different organizations

• Allows you to group related experiences together

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Combination: • Best used if you have

a variety of work experience in unrelated fields and you want to emphasize certain skills or parts of your work experience for a specific job target

Résumé Types • Combines the best

features of both the chronological and functional types

• Highlights relevant qualifications and skills, and includes a condensed employment history

• Works well when

you’ve performed similar functions for different organizations

• Allows you to group related experiences together

Disadvantages: • Can be confusing if

not well written • Requires more time

and focus to organize

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1. Think ahead. If you wait until the last minute to hand in your résumé, you could miss the deadline and risk not being considered for the job.

2. Tailor your résumé. Include information on your résumé associated with the job you are applying for.

3. Chunk it out. If there is a lot of information, break it into separate sections with specific headings.

4. Use action words. Focus on things you have accomplished, and avoid starting every sentence with “I”.

5. Proofread. Never rely on spell check. 6. Repeat Tip 5. Seriously, even one misspelled word

could put you in the “do not consider” pile.

Top Ten Tips

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7. Make it presentable. Make sure your résumé looks clean and organized. Use white, letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11-inch) and a font that’s easy to read, like Times New Roman or Arial.

8. Keep it concise. Try to keep your résumé as short as possible—ideally one page, two pages maximum.

9. Be honest. Lying on your résumé is never a good idea. Many people who lie on their applications end up losing their jobs when their employers find out the truth.

10. Be professional. Remember, this is a business document, so don’t include unnecessary embellishments like flashy paper or a picture of yourself.

Top Ten Tips

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During an interview, you may be asked for a list of references – a list of people who can comment on your personal character, work ethic or past work experience. Include the following statement at the end of your résumé: “References Available Upon Request” and always take extra copies of your résumé and reference list to an interview.

References

SEE ALSO REFERENCE • References • Sample Résumés

and Reference

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How many? • Typically, a minimum

of 3 professional and/or academic references

• Include personal references only as needed (not friends or relatives)

References Suitable references: • People from past

and present situations, who know you and your work and would have positive comments to share with a potential employer

Permission: • Ask for permission

before you add someone to your list of references

• Provide them with as much information as possible about the position you are applying for

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To determine what résumé

type to submit, read the job

posting carefully for the required information

and prepare a draft

Email Your Résumé and your cover letter should be in a single document when emailing. In this case, your cover letter will be the first page

Copy and paste your cover letter into the “body” of your email Before you send it off, email the documents to yourself (or a friend) to be sure it can be successfully opened and read

Tips for submitting your applications via email

As per the employer’s requirements, save your résumé

document as a MSWord file (*.doc), or a Portable Document

Format (*.pdf) file

Provide the document with a meaningful name

e.g. JohnSmith Application-Jan2017.doc

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Resources: • Tailoring Your Objective / Summary of

Qualifications • Describing Your Duties • Writing Accomplishment Statements • Using Action Verbs • References • Sample Résumés Worksheets: • Résumé Worksheet Please proceed to Module 02: Cover Letters

Additional resources and worksheets

Informational Bulletins: • Choosing References • Online Applications • Screen Your Résumé