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BUILD A BETTER RESUME F O R A L L C A R E E R F I E L D S
Rita Boratav [email protected] | CORNELL CAREER SERVICES
AGENDA
Ø OVERVIEW Ø THE BASICS Ø FOCUS YOUR STRENGTHS Ø ELEMENTS OF A RESUME Ø RESUME POINTERS Ø SUMMARY Ø QUESTIONS
Cornell Career Services offers:
- CCS Career Guide - Career Counseling/Advising - Resume/Cover Letter Critiques
OVERVIEW
• Establish a focus • Know your target: Learn about the organization or industry
• Do your homework: Use the job description as a reference
Keep in mind…
Understand WHY you are writing this resume (Know Yourself)
FIRST THINGS FIRST
THE BASICS PERSONAL QUALITIES
High energy level
Enthusiasm
Assertiveness
Initiative
Resourcefulness
Good judgment
Attention to detail
FUNCTIONAL SKILLSAnalyzing data
Public speaking
Written communication
Event coordination
Supervising others
Mediating
Problem-solving
RESUME FOCUS: SAMPLE POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Make sure your resume is based on careful self-assessment demonstrated through…
- Objective statement (optional) - Content + structure
THE BASICS • Use succinct, strong language • Start descriptions with action verbs, not “I”
• Quantify! • Show qualitative results; emphasize level of
responsibility/interactions • Eliminate extraneous material
Don’t forget…
Stay within one page, optimize readability, and be consistent with all font, spacing, and headers!
DEMONSTRATING STRENGTHS
LANGUAGE
CONTENT
Role/Title Tasks Skills
Head Lifeguard In charge of other lifeguards Opened and closed pool; cleaned pool
• Trained and supervised 10 new lifeguards • Oversaw cleanliness and safety of pool facility used weekly by 150+ patrons
President, Student Club Ran meetings Worked with other student groups to plan fundraiser
• Facilitated monthly meetings for executive board of 5 and weekly activities for 60+ members • Collaborated (or Partnered) with 20 student groups to organize campus event that raised $2000 for local charity
THE BASICS DEMONSTRATING TRANSFERABLE SKILLS/STRENGTHS
THE BASICS
• Competent in handling market data. Completed courses in Statistics and Survey Research.
• High energy level. Worked 70 hours per week last summer; have worked at least 10 hours per week at Cornell while remaining active in two organizations and maintaining respectable grades.
• Enjoy speaking before groups. Provided campus tours and information sessions to prospective students and parents. Presented to department managers at Sears. Offered teaching assistantship in public speaking course.
Keep in mind…
Back each one up with clear, specific examples and facts.
DEMONSTRATING STRENGTHS
IDENTIFY YOUR RELEVANT SKILLS AND ABILITIES
THE BASICS
Instead of this: • I worked with the professional staff. I helped them feed, care for, and examine
the animals. I took care of sick animals. I was also responsible for getting the conference room ready for the weekly staff meeting. I attended weekly meetings.
This is better: • Worked with technicians in caring for and examining animals. In charge of
monitoring sick animals. Got the conference room ready and attended weekly staff meetings.
Keep in mind…
Be consistent throughout your resume; create a good balance between text and blank space
DEMONSTRATING STRENGTHS
THE BASICS
And instead of this: • Worked with technicians in caring for and examining animals. In charge of
monitoring sick animals. Got the conference room ready and attended weekly staff meetings.
This is better still: • Collaborated with team of five technicians in caring for and examining animals.
Monitored up to 20 sick animals. Prepared conference room and attended weekly staff meetings of 35.
DEMONSTRATING STRENGTHS
THE BASICS
• Chronological* • Functional (strengths- or skills-based) • Combination
* Most used and most preferred by employers * Put experiences in reverse chronological order within each section
Keep in mind…
The only “wrong” resume is one that is not truthful/accurate. Effective resumes are clear, concise, and appeal to the reader.
RESUME STYLES
ELEMENTS CONTACT INFORMATION: SAMPLE LAYOUT OPTIONS
KIM CARDELLA [email protected]
Permanent address: 16 Eastview Lane, Buffalo, NY 14120 • 716/268-4132 Current address: 614 Bryant Street, Apt. #3, Ithaca, NY 14850 • 607/257-6913
Peter M. Chu [email protected]
Current Address: Permanent Address: 112 Sage Place, Room 911 134 West 53rd Avenue Ithaca, NY 14850-4479 Queens, NY 11226 (607) 227-6051 (516) 393-7717
ELEMENTS
Keep in mind…
If included, an objective statement must… - Provide focus and direction - Be specific and simple
OBJECTIVE STATEMENT
OBJECTIVE A position applying operations research and economics skills to analyze and solve manufacturing problems.
ELEMENTS
EDUCATION
ELEMENTS
Keep in mind…
Use headings strategically to highlight your qualifications based on your experiences
EXPERIENCE
ELEMENTS
Keep in mind…
Be prepared to discuss confidently in an interview any activity, experience, or skill that is on your resume
ADDITIONAL SKILLS & ACTIVITIES: SAMPLE LAYOUT OPTIONS
RESUME POINTERS • Choose a style that best represents your strengths for your target • Be consistent throughout • Use appropriate tenses (past vs. present); discuss future plans
(research, study abroad) in cover letters • Don’t include personal data such as age, citizenship, “native”
language, religion, etc. • Use headings strategically to highlight your qualifications based
on your experiences • Prepare to discuss confidently any activity, experience, or skill
that is on your resume
Make use of your resources…
Resume critiques, mock interviews, career counseling: - CCS in Barnes Hall - Your college career office
RESUME POINTERS • Develop and recommend an annual operating expense fudget. • College, August 1880-May 1984. • Proven ability to track down and correct erors.
• Maintained files and reports, did data processing, cashed employees’ paychecks.
• Responsibilities included checking customers out.
• Overlooked all areas to ensure overwhelming success. • Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse. • I’m a rabid typist. • I never take anything for granite. • Suspected to graduate early next year. • Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain operation.
Keep in mind…
Proofread, proofread, proofread!
OOPS!
TYPOS
GRAMMAR
WRONG WORD
SUMMARY
• Have a focus, and demonstrate an understanding of your strengths,
skills, and personal qualities relative to it • Be truthful, without underselling your skills and abilities • Use effective language: action verbs and succinct, descriptive phrases • Quantify your accomplishments and show results • Be visually appealing; use samples from the Career Guide and avoid
use of pre-programmed templates • Be limited to one page (two pages sometimes acceptable for graduate
students)
Keep in mind…
You can’t include everything on your resume; focus on those things that contribute to the story you’re telling about yourself
YOUR RESUME SHOULD:
WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS?
