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Tips, Tools & Technology Presented by

Shelly L. Robinson

Résumé Tips

1. What’s the true PURPOSE of a résumé anyway?

The purpose is to get your foot in the door at ABC Company.

Keep in mind that a résumé is a self-promotional tool that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview.

It's not an official personnel document, job application, "career obituary“, or a confessional.

2. What should the résumé content be about?

It's not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next.

A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.

3. What's the fastest way to improve a résumé?

Remove everything that starts with "responsibilities included" and replace it with on-the-job accomplishments.

Use action verbs so employers can see the value in your transferrable skill set. (Use words such as coordinated, managed, championed, increased, facilitated, etc.)

4. What is the most common résumé mistake made by job hunters?

Leaving out their Job Objective! If you don't show a sense of direction, employers won't be interested. Having a clearly stated goal doesn't have to confine you if it's stated well.

No objective also leads employers to believe you think they should decide where you belong in the organization. Take control…especially when trying to move forward to the next level of responsibility.

5. What's the first step in writing a winning résumé?

Decide on a job target (or "job objective") that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is probably "fluff" and indicates a lack of clarity and direction.

This can often be combined with a summary of skills. If you choose this route, 2-3 sentences will work. Remain direct and to the point.

6. How do you decide whether to use a Chronological vs. Functional résumé?

The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers, and works well if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile).

Only use a Functional format if you're changing fields, and you are certain a skills-oriented format will show off your transferable skills to better advantage; and be sure to include a clear chronological work history!

7. What if you don't have any experience in the kind of work you want to do?

Get some! Find a place that will let you do some volunteer work right away.

You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day a week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your résumé.

8. What do you do if you have gaps in your work experience?

You could start by looking at it differently.

General Rule: Tell what you WERE doing, as gracefully as possible--rather than leave a gap. If you were doing anything valuable (even if unpaid) during those so-called "gaps" you could just insert THAT into the work-history section of your résumé to fill the hole.

9. What if you have several different job objectives you're working on at the same time? Or you haven't narrowed it down yet to just one job target?

Then write a different resume for each different job target. A targeted resume is MUCH, much stronger than a generic resume.

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10. What if you have a fragmented, scrambled-up work history, with lots of short-term jobs?

To minimize the job-hopper image, combine several similar jobs into one "chunk," for example:

1993-1995 Secretary/Receptionist; Jones Bakery, Micro Corp., Carter Jewelers -- or

1993-95 Waiter/Busboy; McDougal's Restaurant, Burger King, Traders Coffee Shop.

NOTE: Don't drop a job, even a short one if it is where you acquired important skills or experience.

11. What's the best way to impress an employer?

One way is to fill your resume with "PAR" statements. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results; in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what you did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results.

"Transformed disorganized, inefficient warehouse into smooth-running operation by redesigning layout; saving company thousands of dollars in recovered stock."

12. What if your job title doesn't reflect your actual level of responsibility?

When you list it on the resume, include a more appropriate job title (say "Office Manager" in addition to "Administrative Assistant" if that's more realistic)

Example: Office Manager/Administrative Assistant

13. How can you avoid age discrimination?

If you're over 40 or 50 or 60, remember that you don't have to present your entire work history! You can simply label THAT part of your resume "Recent Work History" or "Relevant Work History" and then describe only the last 10 or 15 years of your experience.

Below your 10-15 year work history, you could add a paragraph headed "Prior Relevant Experience" and simply refer to any additional important (but ancient) jobs without mentioning dates.

14. What if you never had any "real" paid jobs -- just self-employment or odd jobs?

Give yourself credit, and create an accurate, fair job-title for yourself. For example:

A&S Hauling & Cleaning (Self-employed) -- or Household Repairman, Self-employed -- or Child-Care, Self-employed

Be sure to add "Customer references available on request" and then be prepared to provide some very good work references.

15. How far back should you go in your Work History?

Far enough; and not too far!

About 10 or 15 years is usually enough - unless your "juiciest" work experience is from farther back.

16. How can a student list summer jobs?

Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply, such as "Spring 1996" or "Summer 1996" rather than 6/96 to 9/96.

This also implies temporary and eases concerns that the candidate is a job jumper.

17. What if you don't quite have your degree or credentials yet?

Use something like:

Eligible for U.S. credentials -- or Graduate studies in Instructional Design, in progress -- or Master's Degree anticipated December 1997

18. What if you worked for only one employer for 20 or 30 years?

List separately each position you held there, so your job progression within the company is more obvious.

Include a customized section called “Career Highlights / Qualifications.” This section of the resume is usually a series of bulleted points that emphasize your most important career experience, your skills, your personality traits and characteristics, and some key accomplishments from your work history as they relate to the job for which you are applying.

19. What about listing hobbies and interests?

Don't include hobbies on a resume unless the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective, or clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective ( you’re not dating). For example:

Your hobby, Sky Diving (adventure, courage) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Security Guard?) but not to others.

20. What is an appropriate length for a résumé?

There is no rule, but if you can keep it to one page – Perfect. (new grad, less than 10 years of experience)

If you need two, it should be worth the employers time to turn the page AND keep the most important items on Page 1.(above entry-level, technical, CV)

How do I find a job?

Newspapers (Want ads) Professional Associations, Journals, Websites,

Newsletters, Alumni Associations, etc. Search and research on the WWW (targeted mailings,

cold-calls) Career Fairs, Virtual Fairs, Recruiting Events (on and

off campus) and other Networking Events Family, Friends, Past Co-Workers, etc. (word of

mouth) Posting your resume in Resume Books, Resume

Blasts, and Job Boards (resume searches and referrals)

Head Hunters, Third Party Recruiters, Employment Placement Agencies, etc.

In-Person Visits

Resume Tips

Resume Content Checklist

List your complete name, address, and telephone number at the top of the page.

Place summary and/or objective directly under your name and address to lead the reader's eye to it immediately.

Whenever possible, eliminate information not directly related to this position.

Resume Style-

List work experience in chronological order from most recent experience backwards.

Mention awards and community activities that support your targeted job. Present them in ways that reflect your enthusiasm, versatility, and other attributes. Make every experience appear to be a positive one.

Include white space by consolidating information where possible.

Avoid repeating the same or similar information.

Choose words carefully to catch the reader's attention.

Be sure your resume is clear, attractive to the eye, and easy to read.

Use a quality printer with a clear, sharp typeface.

Use a heavy bond 8 1/2" by 11" paper.

Keep resume to one page in most cases.

Begin sentences with action verbs, like initiated, organized, developed.

Avoid using abbreviations, overly technical jargon, or slang.

Check verb tense for consistency.

Include all education, formal and informal, relevant to the desired position.

Include only relevant work experience.

Avoid excessive detail in relating your experience. For example, don't write "opened mail, sorted correspondence" unless directly related to the position you seek.

Use truthful, quantitative detail.

Avoid using "I" (e.g., say "Wrote and edited manual" instead of "I wrote and edited the manual").

Exclude data that could be used in discrimination (age, social security number, religion, salary expectation, weight, height, marital status, or political affiliation).

Double-check all spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Never print names and addresses of references directly on the resume.

“References Available Upon Request” is a given.

Quantify -

Utilize numbers or percentages whenever possible. Don't say you merely increased sales. Say you "Increased sales by 75 percent while reducing waste by 25 percent."

Be concise -

Combine information in one clear statement, beginning with an action verb.

Example: "Implemented new computer system for accounting department in accordance with client and sales staff requirements, training office personnel on new procedures including going online with electronic communications."

Be active -

When stating the action you took to improve a situation, express specifically how it was beneficial to the organization.

Be as dynamic as possible. Explain how you improved efficiencies, saved time, or streamlined procedures.

"Provided critical market analysis to the marketing and promotions staff which resulted in a 50 percent increase in direct revenues."

Use whatever is on your list of achievements to your best advantage. No matter how ordinary or small the task may seem, it’s a selling point if you saved your past employer time and increased productivity.

Web Tools

These are some of the most popular job search engines on the Web today. Users can create alerts, apply directly through the site, and allow employers to view their resume.

Web Tools

CareerOneStop has been around for a while, but includes employment resources, service locator, career coaching, career videos, and a skills profiler.

Specialty niche sites include:

•CoolWorks.com (seasonal jobs) •SnagAJob.com (part-time and full-time hourly jobs) •Myfirstpaycheck.com (jobs for teens) •OneDayOneJob.com and OneDayOneInternship.com (jobs/internships for college students and recent grads) •Risesmart.com (executive level jobs) •Workforce50.com (jobs for older job seekers) •Womenforhire.com (jobs, fairs, and advice for women)•Idealist.org (non-profit jobs)

More Tools

Maximize your search by using job aggregators such as Indeed, Simplyhired, and LinkUp.com. Although you cannot submit your resume directly from these sites, these job search engines more than make up for that by being meta search engines, seeking out jobs from multiple job search boards at once.

LinkUp publishes job openings that are listed on over 11,000 corporate and employer web sites from around the country. As a result, the listings are from real companies, there are no duplicates because they are only pulled from a single source, and they are always current. No spam listings either!

More Tools

Jobfox matches job seekers with employers and provides a professional web page for personal branding, and has a selection of tools, including text messaging, resume tracking, and Instant Messaging (IM) to manage your job search.

Realmatch works a little like an online dating service, but with jobs. The system matches you with employers and presents the results according to how good the match is. Realmatch takes job seekers skills and qualifications and matches them up with jobs posted by employers. Employers post jobs for free, then view a graded and ranked list of pre-qualified candidates. They pay only to contact the candidates they are interested in.

Other Technology

Meeting people is a must. People get you jobs! Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, and Ning are a few sites to look over. Ning is an online platform to create your own social network. LinkedIn combines the best of two worlds: the ability to scour the Internet for jobs with its job search engine, and the opportunity to network with like-minded friends and individuals to deepen your job search.

Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time..

A VisualCV is an online version of your resume, but, like a portfolio, has much more - images, videos, and links to your accomplishments. It's an excellent way to showcase your skills and present your personal brand.

More Technology

Job hunting is more complex than ever, use these resources to educate yourself:

• Jobradio.fm (advice)• iTunes Podcasts (Business/Careers)• RileyGuide.com (advice)• Secretsofthejobhunt.com (advice)• Job-Hunt.org (advice)• JibberJobber.com (career mgmt)• Glassdoor.com (employers)• JobsinPods.com (employers)

Do's: for the interview

DO tell yourself you deserve the job. (That doesn't mean they owe it to you. You must convince them.)

DO introduce yourself by name first. "Hello, my name is ________." Use your first and last name. Look the person in the eye and speak clearly.

DO take out your pen and notebook to take down notes --or just to look prepared.

DO be friendly. Give a firm handshake, make eye contact, smile and speak up. A little small talk to start is fine. For example, comment on the nice surroundings or a book you notice on the shelf.

DO feel free to explain how well your special skills match up with the employer's needs.

DO try to define your strengths and weaknesses. If you can't think of a weakness, try: "I'm over-responsible" or "I'm incredibly organized."

DO be prepared to talk about your professional goals.

DO be enthusiastic, courteous and alert throughout the entire interview.

DO sit calmly --if you tend to gesture a lot when you talk, try clasping your hands in your lap.

DO ask for a business card so that you can send a short and prompt thank-you note.

Don'ts: for the interview

DON'T bring a friend or child along.

DON'T be insincere -- fake flattery shows.

DON'T wear flashy jewelry (keep it simple and small) or a facial piercing.

DON'T flirt, even if the interviewer flirts with you -- be friendly but business-like.

DON'T use the word "fired" or mention that you didn't get along with a past supervisor.

DON'T be afraid to ask why this company would be a better employer than its competitors.

DON'T start with questions about your salary or about not working -- such as, "How much vacation do I get?"

DON'T be afraid to say, "I really want this job; I know I could make a real contribution."

DON'T slump, yawn, smoke, chew your nails or chew gum during a job interview.

DON'T panic if you trip, knock something over or drop something. Show how cool you are under pressure.

Ace that Interview

Learn about the company. - Do research. The more you know about the company and job you are applying for the more confident you can be. By finding out information ahead of time you will be able to determine where you will fit. One way to get information might be the company's web site. You can view their information and get a feel for the company. The company may also have literature you can review.

Arrive early - About 10 minutes is early enough. Check out the directions before the scheduled interview. Leave plenty of time on the day of your interview for the unexpected traffic delay. If you carry a cell phone, turn it off.

Have a firm handshake - Regardless if you or the interviewer is a man or a woman have a firm but not too tight a handshake. You don't want to have a feeble or damp handshake. If you are not used to shaking hands, practice.

Address the interviewer by name - This will help you remember it, too. Don't call the interviewer by their first name unless invited to do so.

Wait until you are asked to be seated. Allow the interviewer to offer you a seat. Of course if they don't, ask politely if you may have a seat.

Ace that Interview cont.

Speak clearly - Do not have gum or candy in your mouth during an interview. You want to be able to speak clearly. Having something in your mouth will be distracting to you and the interviewer. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking at least one to two hours prior to the interview, especially in the age of smoke-free offices.

Communicate positive body language - Have good eye contact. Use your listening skills. Emphasize your qualifications and smile. Project a positive impression of yourself. Be self-assured, not self-important.

Avoid distracting behaviors - Do not handle anything on the interviewers desk. Do not use exaggerated hand and body gestures. Avoid fidgeting and slouching.

Information for the interviewer - Have questions and answers prepared - Ask meaningful questions. Also, think about what you might be asked and have answers already in mind. Practice with a friend or mentor. If available, tape record or video record how you sound and look.

Have a notepad and pen - You may need to take notes.

Resources

This presentation is for educational purposes only and is an adaptation of the thoughts and ideas of many online resources including the following:

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/topjobsdb/a/bestsites.htm http://www.secretsofthejobhunt.com/ http://bx.businessweek.com/executive-job-search/8-top-job-search-tools-you-

didnt-know-about http://jobsearch.about.com/od/joblistings/tp/jobbanks.htm http://websearch.about.com/od/enginesanddirectories/tp/jobsearchengine.htm http://www.damngood.com/jobseekers/tips.html