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Resume WritingWorkshop

Instructor -E-mail - Phone-

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Expectations and Concerns 2

3What is a resume?

• It is a powerful marketing tool showcasing your qualifications for the job.

• It is a memorable presentation of your experience, skills, knowledge, and expertise in an easy-to-read format.

• An effective resume clearly answers the employer’s question, “What can this job applicant do for me?”

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What is the Purpose of a Resume?

• To get the interview

• To structure the interview

• To remind the employer of your best points during the selection process

5Homework!

Do Your Homework First!• Tailor the resume based on your research• Highlight your qualifications based on the employer’s

needs• Follow the employer’s application instructions to the

letter!

Leads/Sources• Job Descriptions & Job Announcements • Human Resources • Company Website• Internet

6Format Guidelines

• 1-2 full pages• Easy to read

Phrases vs. sentencesLists vs. paragraphsPriority order of most important information

• Good use of white space; ¾ - 1” margins • 11-12 point for main body• Arial or Times New Roman • Conservative use of bullets, underline, bold, and

italics • No errors – “Hire” a proofreader!• Use high quality bond paper

7Content Guidelines

• An average resume tells the employer what you did on the job • A great resume tells the employer how well you did it• Use “action” verbs• Quantify job duties – use #s, %s, $ amounts, and state

positive results • Remove all personal pronouns . . . You, I, My, We, They• Use accepted terminology . . . avoid jargon and abbreviations• Include job title, company name, city, state and dates of

employment• Do not include supervisor’s name, company mailing address,

salary, or references • Omit “References Available Upon Request” • Generic resumes are NOT effective• If you want the job, do your homework and tailor your resume

to meet the employer’s expectations

8Five Basic Sections

1. Contact Information

2. Summary Statement

3. Skills List or Summary

4. Experience

5. Education and/or Training

9Other Sections

• Other Sections

Licenses and Certifications Affiliations Volunteer and Community

Involvement Honors, Recognitions, and AwardsProfessional DevelopmentValue to an Organization Personal Reference

10Contact Information

What to INCLUDE:

• Name (bold, larger font) • Complete Address (including

zip code) • Phone/Message phone

(including area code)• Appropriate Email Address• Linked-In Profile

What NOT to Include:

•Social Security Number•Date of birth •Marital status/children•Personal Data (height/weight, health, ethnicity, etc.)•Photo

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Summary Statement

• A clear, concise statement of your experience tailored to the job you are seeking.

• Emphasize what you bring to the employer rather than what you want from the employer.

• 2-3 key phrases.

When writing your summary statement, consider including the following:

• Job Title• Core Competencies• Industry • Years of Experience• Highlight of

Accomplishments• Degrees/Certifications• Language Skills • Technical Skills• Management Style

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12Other Choices

• Summary Statements can be called:

Career Summary Field of Experience

Profile StrengthsCareer Profile ExpertiseCareer Highlights Strengths & ExpertiseProfessional Profile Qualifications Professional Summary Summary of Qualifications

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Objective Statement: What I Want!

• Seeking a position as a valued member of a successful human resources department where I can use my skills, energy, and talents in a position with potential for advancement.

Summary Statement:What I Bring!

• Human Resources Manager with 5 years experience. Skilled in identifying superior job candidates. Proven record of building competent and cohesive work teams.

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14Skills Summary

• List skills that most relate to the job target

• Easy-to-read format (i.e., columns)

• Include 9-15 skills

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15Experience

• Use reverse chronological order – list last job first• Go back 10 years, with less detailed job descriptions

on positions further back in work history• Use concise accomplishment statements (#s, %s, $

amounts, rankings)• Use action verbs• Experience can include full and part-time

employment, paid and unpaid internships, volunteer work, and temporary positions

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Education and/or Training

• List most recent education or training first• Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A.), major,

institution attended, courses taken – if applicable• List military or specialized training when appropriate• Certifications or licenses may be added in this

section• Education can include in-service classes, workshops

and seminars, and on-the-job training• GPA: Include GPAs that are 3.5 and above• Leave dates off if they “date” you!

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17Other Sections

• Licenses & Certifications• Affiliations• Volunteer & Community

Involvement• Honors, Recognitions &

Awards• Professional Development• Value to an Organization• Personal Reference

Based on individual circumstances, add, delete, or change sections in order to market your qualifications most effectively

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COVER LETTERS:Another Marketing Tool

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19Cover Letters

• Always include a cover letter when submitting a resume

• Personalize the greeting whenever possible

• Answer the employer’s question “What can this applicant do for me?” • Select 4-5 skills from the job description

(homework) and briefly describe how your qualifications match with the employer’s needs

• Express your knowledge of the company

• No errors! “Hire” a proofreader!• If faxing or mailing, sign your

cover letter using a black pen

The cover letter is an introduction to your resume & an additional opportunity to showcase your skills to the employer

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How to Critique a Resume

Critique a resume through the eyes of. . .

• A Graphic ArtistHow does it look?

• An English Teacher How does it sound?

• A Future Employer Does it answer the employer’s question “What can

this job candidate do for me?”• Your Eyes

Does it market your skills and qualifications in the best possible light? Do you love your resume?

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Resumes & Cover Letters Activity

22Emailing Your Resume

Extension for Microsoft office. Consider saving as a Word 97-2003 document to ensure readability

Can be read and edited by many different word processors. Most word processors will allow you to save in this format.

Also called ASCII or plain texts, or .txt files. Recognized by all word processors and text editors. Often used for special purposes or in situations where formatted text is unsuitable (i.e. job boards).

File will look the same on the screen and in print, regardless of what kind of computer or software package was originally used to create it. Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view file.

23Online Resumes

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RESUME PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 24

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Criminal Background

• If training or work opportunities were obtained during an incarceration period, write the name of the facility and your title under “Work Experience” and list skills or contributions just as you would other jobs.

• This information is best handled in a face-to-face interview when an explanation can be provided regarding how you have learned from your mistakes and are currently interested in making a positive contribution to the employer’s operation.

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26Experience

• Lead with whatever makes you most qualified for the position which you are applying

• Start with “Professional/Relevant” experience and education that relates to the job you are seeking

• Put your unrelated work history in a separate section entitled “Additional Experience” or “Prior Experience” at the end of the resume

• Apply for jobs where you meet the minimum qualifications

•Education with Limited Work Experience

•Lack of Experience

•Unrelated Job Experience

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Religious and/or Political Experience

• If your religious or political experience will enhance your skill base for the job you are seeking, include it in “Complementary Experience” or “Community Involvement”

• Be selective and general in your titles and descriptions

• Steer away from naming specific religions or political parties

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Dates that Date You

• Don’t list education dates if they are more than 10 years old

• List dates year-to-year or total number of years worked

• State the information differently (e.g. “More than 10 years successful experience...” is the same as “Twenty-five years successful experience…”

• Take the risk and leave dates off completely

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Gaps in Work History

• Show the gap without comment and be prepared to address it in an interview

• De-emphasize dates by listing them year-to-year (1999-2000) or actual amount of time worked (1 year) or (18 months), etc.

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Too Many Jobs in a Brief Period of Time

• Include relevant jobs only and list dates year-to-year• Consolidate 2 or 3 related jobs into one title• List the companies and dates year-to-year• Combine all your accomplishments from each

individual position into one job description• Show all the jobs without comment and be prepared

to address it in an interview

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31Questions?