09 02-10 Mark Stryshak - Master GO! Network Resume Writing

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Anheuser-Busch Training & Development Group

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Creating an Effective Resume_________________________________________________

Mark StryshakVP, People Continuity

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

February 10th, 2009

GO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com

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Agenda

• Style

• Resume do’s and don’ts

• Cover letter

• Gaps in employment

• Applying on-line

• Staying connected during your job search


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Why are resumes so hard to write?

• Many people are uncomfortable speaking about their strengths and shy away from bragging

about themselves.

• We are most familiar with our own experience

and forget to include key accomplishments.

• We have a tendency to generalize and not write about our job history and skills effectively.


• Most people aren’t objective about their resumes. The biggest issue is that often

people are not comfortable talking about their strengths and their accomplishments.

• They may also not be aware of their strengths and therefore don’t write about them

effectively or in order of preference or development.

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What makes a resume successful?

• It’s all the truth!

• It offers essential information to the reader.

• It looks attractive and is easy to read.

• It is succinct.

• It’s targeted to the position for which you are applying.

• Employers write job descriptions with their ideal candidate in mind.

– Pay close attention to the job description and tailor your resume

to match the requirements and responsibilities of the position for

which you’re applying.


• Resume “inflation” and false degrees run rampant. Be sure to be honest about your

work experience, education, and skills.

• Formatting is important. A resume should be easy to read. Bulleting is often

recommended as it helps break up a resume visually. Refrain from using long

sentences or worse yet, paragraphs to describe job experience.

• Important to keep your resume as succinct as possible.

• Keep in mind that a Recruiter may have several hundreds of resumes to review for a

single position. On average, a Recruiter will spend one minute reviewing each

resume. If that Recruiter can’t determine within that one minute if you’re qualified

for the position, you won’t move forward in the recruitment process.

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Picking a resume style - Chronological

• Chronological -

(it’s really reverse chronological)

• Start with most recent experience and work

backwards.

• Easy to see career progression

• Most common type of resume and makes sense to use if you have a straightforward background.

• Company names and position titles are prominent; work history timeline is clearly outlined.


• The chronological resume is a good way to get started. Anheuser-Busch prefers

functional resumes, but the best way to start writing a functional resume is to first

write down your basic information in a chronological (reverse) format.

• This will give you the basic outline of your previous experience, and you may find

that other employers may prefer this style.

• It creates a clear straightforward work history.

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Template for creating a chronological resume


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Picking a resume style - Functional

• Functional• This format is used to assert a focus to relevant skills that are specific

to the type of position being sought.

• This format works well for the following types of backgrounds and careers since skills can be easily grouped into broad categories

• Information Technology, Engineering, Administrative Support, HR

• Useful if you are trying to change fields or emphasize a particular skill set.

• Useful if you have a mixed career background with a collection of jobs not specific to the type of position being sought.

• Appropriate for someone returning to a previous profession, where the

most recent experience is not as directly applicable to the job currentlysought.


• The functional resume is preferred here at Anheuser-Busch; and can often form the

basis for the structured interview.

• Functional skill headings can also be useful as they can dovetail with the defined

core competencies that form the basis for the interview process at Anheuser-Busch.

• A well written functional resume can help you in the interview process by giving the

interviewer a basis for asking certain questions.

• Once you have written a functional resume it is easy to take your different

functional skills areas and move them around to create a different emphasis

depending on the requirements of the position for which you are applying.

• If you think of your bullet points under your skill titles as a heading, specific

examples can be a subset that you can draw on in the interview process.

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Template for creating a Functional resume


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Example of Functional/Chronological

Functional

section

Chronological

section


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How to get started on your resume

• Set the stage for your reader; giving the size and scope of your area, and your role within that organization.

• When you write a first draft of a resume – over write. It is always easy

to come back later and discard things that aren’t necessarily important.

• Include your education.

• Mention any certifications you possess.

• Are you affiliated with any professional organizations? If so, include on

your resume

• Add community or volunteer involvement.

• List computer and technical skills.


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What font should you use?

• Use an easy to read font.

• Not Courier, Not Times New Roman

• Sans (Without) Serif fonts are recommended – Arial, Gill

Sans, Franklin Gothic Book, News Gothic, Tahoma,

Trebuchet, and Verdana.

– These fonts are more easily scanned, e-mailed, faxed and uploaded

for electronic applications

– These fonts make your document look crisp and clean.

GO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.comGO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com

• If you aren’t comfortable with the graphic design elements of a resume, ask a friend

to review what you have decided to use.

• Always remember your audience. If you find out what the specific supervisor wants

to see, tailor your resume to their preferences.

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First things first – your contact info

• Name – use your formal name, no clever nicknames. If your name does not identify gender, include a middle name or Mr. or Ms.

• Address - list current home address or P.O. Box.

• Phone - home and cell numbers. Have an appropriate voice message on your phone.

• E-mail - make sure your personal e-mail is appropriate for business purposes.


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Objectives

• Objectives are appropriate if they are

targeted and clear – otherwise, don’t use

them.

• Objectives must match the job description.

• A summary is more useful if you have varied

work experience and want to create

emphasis for a particular area.

• A summary can be targeted to a specific job.


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Summary

• A summary is a brief description of your

background and work history highlighting the experience and skills you want to emphasize to a

future employer.

• Focus on skills and ability to make a contribution based upon previously demonstrated expertise

• If you are applying for a specific job – include key

words from the job description in your summary.


• The summary is your chance to put your overall experience in a light that is focused

toward the position that you are seeking – not just a description of what you have

done in the past.

• If possible use some of the language that was in the job description of the position

for which you are applying.

• If education is a requirement and you have that level of education, include it in the

summary.

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Example objective and summary


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Education

• Include formal education and degrees.

• Not necessary to include somewhere you haven’t

completed a degree, unless the education is applicable to the position you’re applying for

• If reinforcing, include major(s), minor(s), GPA,

scholarships, honors, leadership roles, and involvement with particular organizations.


• If you do not have a degree in an area that is asked for in the position description,

but you have hours in this subject area include it. The same thing goes for internal

training or specialized seminars.

• On the job training (hours) can also be included for an area you are seeking to

expand into.

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Education continued

• Include special training, certificates, continuing education if relevant.

• Languages, computer training, etc. Place this first if it’s critical to the position, after work experience if not.


• Some jobs require a degree, but there are times when a position requires an

advanced degree when you may still be considered if you have one degree and other

work experience in the field.

• When we talk about networking we will talk about how you can learn more about

job requirements as opposed to the ideal candidate requirements that may allow you

to get past the gate keeping aspects of some educational requirements.

• This is also a place to reflect upon the fact that if an employer wants to hire you –

they can think of any reason to do it and make certain exceptions, and if they do not

want to hire you they can also find almost any reason not to do so.

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Education examples


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Professional experience

• Professional experience can include full-time, part-time, internship/co-op and volunteer positions.

• Clearly state name of organization, location, position title.

• Put dates of employment on the right.

• Use numbers, 8/01 – 7/04,

instead of words.

• Focus on accomplishments and results more than just activities.

• Helpful to use bulleting.


• Unpaid internships, volunteer activities, and avocations can be included in

experience particularly if they relate directly to the job you are seeking.

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Action Verbs• Use action words – write in simple past tense or

active voice, whichever is appropriate.


An “Action Verb List”

is included as handout.

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Quantifying achievements

• Emphasize scope of your activities. Most people under-estimate the

breadth and depth of their work. Use amounts and #’s whenever possible.


• One of the biggest mistakes that people make on their resume is not giving enough

information about their accomplishments. Many people talk about responsibilities –

which is what the job asks you to do, but few give any information about the

outcomes.

• What were the results for the organization of your work? How did you save money,

make money, and generally create a positive outcome for your group that was a

direct result of your activities.

• You are trying to differentiate yourself from others, and outcomes will help you do

this.

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General Formatting Tips

Unique way to

include reference

comments.

Clearly states

current profession.

• Resume should be

visually pleasing to

the eye.

• Resume must be

clearly formatted so

it’s easy to read.

Contact info is

prominently

displayed.


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How long should your resume be?

• Many people think you should have a one

page resume – not necessarily true.

• Say what needs to be said.

• Don’t short change yourself.

• Don’t let format be the ultimate decision.

• Two pages is probably the limit.


• Ask people what they have heard about the length of a resume.

• In some organizations there are format issues for resumes and some managers want

them to be a certain length and no more.

• Again, this is a place where networking can help people with creating a resume that

meets their target.

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Resume do’s

• If you are willing to travel and/or relocate, be

sure to include this.

• When mailing or hand delivering your resume, print on medium to heavy weight bond paper.

– Use only white or off-white paper as that is most

professional.

• Make sure the font size of your resume is

readable (no smaller than 10 font).


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Resume don’ts

• Do not mention ethnicity, religion, personal data such as age, marital status, or if you have children.

• Memberships or activities that could be perceived as controversial, unless it is extremely important to you.

• Do not include photos in your resume.

• Not necessary to include personal interests such as: “I enjoy shopping, playing tennis, etc.”

– Keep your resume professional.


• Ask for examples of an activity or interest that might be considered too controversial

to be included on a resume.

• Emphasize that the resume can be a ‘ticket’ to an interview –which is the goal.

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All resumes…

• Must be perfect, no typos or misspellings.

– Ask someone to proofread your resume not only for

typos/misspellings, but to ensure your resume

makes sense to an external audience.

• Must be accurate and truthful – don’t stretch.

• Must be easy to read and have contact information

readily available.

• Must be a positive reflection of your background and

experience.


• Emphasize that the resume and cover letter are the candidate’s first work product for

a new job.

• This is, once again, something that the candidate has in her or her control.

• If they do their homework about the job, and write a good resume, they will be more

likely to get an interview.

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Website referencesThe internet is a great resource for career information, in particular resume

writing tips.

• www.monster.com – this site offers resume samples and articles on

resume writing.

• www.mycareerguide.com – a free site with a significant amount of career

advice.

• www.therileyguide.com – a longstanding informative career information

site.

• www.careerjournal.com – a site of the Wall Street Journal, it offers

numerous articles on all aspects of the career process.

• www.careerinfonet.org – a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site

that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers,

students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent

development in a global economy.


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The value of a cover letter

• The value of a cover letter is the ability to present your

intentions, qualifications, and availability to a prospective employer in a succinct, appealing format.

• First impressions are lasting ones. A well written cover letter

acts as an introductory handshake for your resume, and by

extension, for you

• While your resume gives the specifics on places of employment, responsibilities, and educational background, a

cover letter is your first chance to make an impression on

the job screener and personalize the attached information contained in the resume.


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The value of a cover letter

continued

• The cover letter is where you tell the employer about your soft skills, penchant for attention to detail, and willingness to

devote the extra time necessary to complete assigned

projects on time.

• Yes, you can usually touch upon one or two of these

intangibles in your resume, but any more than that and you

run the risk of your resume coming off as fluff and loaded with filler.

• Take the time to craft your resume and cover letter to

accurately present your skills and experiences, and your

efforts will be rewarded.


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Example cover letter


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Gaps in employment history• Reasons for gaps in employment history:

– Taking time to raise a family

– Serving in the military

– Having been displaced at some point in your career

– Caring for a sick family member

– Recovering from an illness or injury

– Returning to school for higher education or technical training

• A chronological format can draw undue attention to gaps in employment.

• A functional resume may be more effective because it will portray

transferable skills attained through such activities such as domestic

management, leadership roles within the community, volunteer work, etc.

• A functional format provides a platform for you to showcase your varied

strengths, talents, and experiences.


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A cover letter can address employment gaps

• If you have extensive gap(s) in employment, you

may want to address it in a cover letter.

• Include a brief one or two sentence explanation,

but do not go into detail about a long illness or a frustrating job search.

• Rather, state that you were out of the workforce

for whatever reason, and explain that you are eager to return.


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Using the cover letter to explain gaps in employment

• For example, a returning teacher may include a sentence or two in

the cover letter such as:

"As you can see on the enclosed resume, I have a Masters Degree in Special Education and have more than 10 years of teaching experience in the XYZ and ABC School Districts. While I have taken a leave from teaching over the past five years to raise my two daughters, I have recently begun working as a substitute teacher in several local school districts and am anxious to resume a full-time teaching position."

• The applicant is focusing the employer’s attention on his or her 10

years of relevant teaching experience and is also providing

information that he/she is pursuing current experience in the field

through substitute teaching.


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Using the cover letter to explain gaps in employment continued

• An operations manager who was displaced and took time off to go back to school in preparation for a career change may

include the following information in his cover letter.

"I would like to transfer my strategic planning and

project management skills into the financial management arena where my interests are targeted. I

have already completed six hours towards my MBA in Finance and would like to build a new career in the

financial services field."

• Again, the job applicant is stating that he has skills and experiences in a different industry but that he is redirecting

his efforts, attending graduate school, and seeking an entry into a new field.


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Applying on-line• In today’s digital internet age, more and

more companies use an on-line application

process.

• Many companies now refuse to accept

paper resumes due to governmental

compliance, and documentation requirements.

• It is likely you will have to apply on-line for

some job openings that interest you.


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Applying on-line: application tips

• Follow directions – be careful to enter the correct data in the correct field.

• Tailor your application information as well as your

resume to the specific position you’re applying

for.

• Helpful to incorporate as much of the verbiage in the job description in regards to requirements

and responsibilities into your resume.


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Applying on-line: keywords

• Use keywords in your resume as many employers screen resumes by keyword searches.

• Review the job description to pick out the most appropriate key words for the particular position, then include them in your resume.

• In the following example, the keywords have been underlined and are in red.

– Conducted cross-functional management for initial and follow-up contact.

– Coordinated marketing campaigns and special events.

– Managed customer database, product updates, and upgrades.

– Functioned in project management role.

– Oversaw procurement, allocation, distribution control, stock levels, and cost compilation/analysis.


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Applying On-line Reference Sheet

• Please refer to the “Applying On-line Reference Sheet” for additional information

about successfully applying on-line.

• The following items are covered with more

detail in the sheet:

– The need to have an e-mail address/account

– Completing the application itself

– Uploading your resume to your on-line application

– Following up on your electronic application


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Staying connected

• Just because you are not working doesn’t mean that you can't keep busy.

• Keeping busy means staying involved in your

profession.

• It is easier to re-enter the workforce if you

keep your skills sharp and your job knowledge up to date.


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Staying connected continued

• Here are some suggestions to help you stay connected to your career while conducting your job search:

– Find a consulting assignment or project. Many times, employees who are “in-between” jobs supplement their knowledge (and income) by taking contract or consulting assignments. Sometimesthese assignments can result in full-time, permanent positions.

– Take a class in a subject related to your profession.

– Volunteer with an organization or become a mentor.

– Read trade journals and attend seminars in your field of expertise.

– Write an article for a publication in your area of expertise. Many freelance writing assignments pay well.


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In conclusion

• Keep in mind there are differing opinions about

resumes.

• You should cater your resume for each position you

apply for based upon the position’s job description.

• Helpful to have a functional as well as chronological

version of your resume you can edit each time you

apply for a position.

• Resumes are changing documents and need to be

updated on a regular basis to keep current.


• Because there are different ideas about resumes it is always a good idea to find out

what the norms are for the position and department for which you are applying.

• Remember that the resume is a changing document and that it will be adapted

frequently.

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Questions?


Career

09 02-10 Mark Stryshak - Master GO! Network Resume Writing