Resume Workshop

What is a Resume?

Definition:

A description of who you are: your competencies accomplishments future capabilities

A marketing tool

Purpose:

Applicant’s perspective-

Get the attention of a prospective employer

Get an interview

Reviewer’s perspective: Communicate value Applicant screening

Quick Question

An interviewer will spend, on average, ___________, screening any one individual resume. A. 1 minute B. 3 minutes C. 5 minutes D. none of the above

Do Your Research! Know yourself…

Experiences Skills Strengths Interests Future goals Desired type of

job

Know the employer Mission or Vision Distinctive

services or features

Applicant “fit” CultureTarget your resume.

A GOOD RESUME =CONTENT

The type of information you choose to

put on your resume.

FORMAT

The way you arrange this information.

APPEARANCE

How this information is presented aesthetically.

CONTENT

Content: Guidelines Think about the qualities, skills and

experiences you want your audience to know about.

Relevant experiences can be both paid and unpaid.

You can make custom categories and headings to suit your needs.

One e-mail address A phone number with professional voice-

mail Your current addressExample:

Amanda Smith12234 Main St.

Hometown, VA 00011smithax@yahoo.com

(540) 555-8989

Contact specifics:

Writing Objective Statements:

Focus on how you would benefit employer or grad school- not how they can help you.

Don’t be vague. Be concise and direct. Target your objective to each specific employer.

Key ingredients to a successful objective statement:

Name the job/position for which you are applying. Note how your skill set is a match.

Objective Statements – Yes or No?:

What’s wrong with this picture?

Let’s look at the samples.

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, Harrisonburg, VABachelor of Business Administration, May 2008Hospitality & Tourism Management MajorOverall GPA – 3.1; Major GPA – 3.6

(Usually don’t need to list High School at all.)

Relevant Coursework Bulleted list of 6-8 courses OR Description of 2-3 major projects

Academic honors, special certifications, endorsements, etc.

Educational Background:

Start with your title, the organization, location, and time frame.

Each relevant position should have a list of your accomplishments. Start with a verb in the past tense. Avoid “duties include” or “responsible for”. Quantify, be descriptive, and identify strengths. Example: “Edited a monthly newsletter for the

department, streamlining office communication."

Experience:

Technical Skills: Computer programs/software/languages. “Familiar” or “proficient”?

Foreign Language Skills: “Basic understanding”, “conversant” or “fluent”?

Lab/Scientific Skills: Equipment you can use, processes you can perform.

Skills:

“References available upon request” at the bottom?

When to provide references

What to include for each reference

References:

FORMAT

Chronological Format

Organizes information around dates, stating what you did and when.

Work history is typically related to the job objective.

Jobs/experiences are listed in reverse chronological order.

Titles and organizations are emphasized. Accomplishments are highlighted.

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DOLLY M. MADISON

Current Address: 123 Village Lane ? Harrisonburg, VA 22801? (540) 555-1212 ? madisodm@jmu.edu

Permanent Address: 789 Main St. ? Anywhere, VA 22222 ? (540) 555-0000

OBJECTIVE An entry level position in Organizational Development, specifically in a Human Resources

department, which will utilize my knowledge and experience. EDUCATION JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, Harrisonburg, VA

Bachelor of Business Administration, May 2008 Major in Management, Human Resources Concentration Minor in Communication Studies, Overall GPA: 3.3 Major GPA: 3.7

CAREER OWENS & MINOR, INC., Glen Allen, VA RELATED Intern, Corporate Communications & Human Resources within Organizational EXPERIENCE Development, June 06 – August 06

Coordinated projects such as attendance awards, service awards, and blood drive Gathered and collated information for Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs audit. Helped interview and evaluate potential teammates.

JMU ADMISSIONS OFFICE, Harrisonburg, VA

Tour guide, clerical worker, June 05 – August 05 Gave campus tours to prospective students. Filed and mailed information regarding admissions.

COMMUNICATION COURSE WORK

Conducted communication audits of campus organizations; responsibilities included formulating a questionnaire, interviewing, analyzing and interpreting data, presenting findings in written and oral formats. Conducted a survey of graduating seniors at JMU; responsibilities included formulating a questionnaire, conducting telephone survey, analyzing and interpreting data, presenting findings written formats. Completed public relations project for local company; project entailed producing a brochure, newsletter, press release, and feature article.

AMERICAN HOME FUNDING, Glen Allen, VA

Secretary for Human Resources and General Service, May 04 – August 04 Attended to phone calls and greeted interviewees. Helped conduct a job fair for the Human Resource department. Assisted in ordering supplies for all branches of the company.

OTHER MARTIN, DOLAN, AND HOLTON, LTD., Glen Allen, VA WORK Secretary/receptionist, Winter Breaks 02, 03, and 04 EXPERIENCE Answered and directed phone calls and greeted clients ACTIVITIES Sigma Kappa Sorority; Student Ambassadors; International Association of Business

Communicators; Football Recruiting Hostess; Commission on Undergraduate Studies COMPUTER Word Perfect Professional Write MacWrite SKILLS Microsoft Word CricketGraph ReadySetGo

PageMaker MacDraw MacPaint HyperCard Lotus 123 SPSS-X

Functional Format

Organizes information around functional headings, highlighting major areas of accomplishments and strength.

Allows you to organize content in an order that most supports the objective; not bound by dates.

Titles and work history are secondary. Draws on all sources of experience- volunteer,

activities, courses, work and signifies each as equally important.

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Dolly M. Madison 123 Village Ln. madisodm@jmu.edu 789 Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Anywhere, VA 22222 540-555-1212 540-555-0000 OBJECTIVE Seeking a programmer/analyst position with a dynamic, progressive, and growing firm. EDUCATION James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Bachelor of Business Administration, May 2003 Cumulative GPA: 3.7

Dual Major: Computer Information Systems, concentration in Programming & Analysis GPA: 3.8 Media Arts and Design, concentration in Telecommunications GPA: 3.6

COMPUTER COBOL Macintosh Microsoft Windows SKILLS C Lotus 1-2-3 WordPerfect HTML Microsoft Excel MacWrite AppleShare Microsoft Word Adobe Photoshop Java WS-FTP FileMaker Pro QUALIFICATIONS TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Maintained sports section for the on-line version of the school newspaper, BreezeNet Downloaded, translated, and edited copy into HTML format for BreezeNet twice weekly Assisted in the initial design of the layout for the BreezeNet sports section Developed and maintained a music database for WXJM using FileMaker Pro

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Managed a department of 7-15 staff members and on-air personalities Produced a weekly talk show which explored issues relevant to the listening audience Supervised a staff of 7 employees during each shift Delegated duties and responsibilities to ensure efficient, quality customer service Responsible for training new employees Assisted primary manager in accounting, hiring, scheduling, and marketing functions Led group tours of JMU Recreation Center and served as a customer service representative

COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCE

Effectively maintained contact with at least 40 record company representatives Reviewed and answered customer suggestions and complaints Performed as an on-air personality and disc jockey on a weekly radio program Performed and entertained crowds of up to 2200 people at concerts and dances Conducted surveys with WPGC target demographic group to evaluate their radio listening

habits

WORK EXPERIENCE

WXJM, Harrisonburg, VA- Urban Music Director (9/98-Present) JMU BreezeNet, Harrisonburg, VA- On-line Sports Editor (8/01-1/02) JMU University Recreation, Harrisonburg, VA- Welcome Center Assistant (8/01-1/02) ProPark, Harrisonburg, VA- Assistant Manager (8/00-9/01) WPGC, Washington, DC- Research Intern (6/99-8/99) KPMG Peat Marwick, Washington, DC- Administrative Intern (5/99-8/99)

AWARDS & ACTIVITIES

Beta Gamma Sigma Coors Minority Business Scholarship Dean’s List Student-Athlete Tutor Mobil Disc Jockey

President’s List NAACP Academic Achievement Award Boys and Girls Club volunteer Intramural Referee

Combination Format Combines the best aspects of both the

chronological and functional. Emphasizes skills, accomplishments, interests,

and work experience relative to the objective.

When to use the Combination Format? Use when you want to emphasize previous

activities and or experience while also highlighting transferable skills.

DOLLY MADISON

123 Village Lane Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-555-1212 madisodm@jmu.edu

Objective To obtain a position in the import/export industry and utilize my international business knowledge. Education James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Bachelor of Business Administration, May 2003 Major: International Business Minor: Spanish

CAREER RELATED EXPERIENCE International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, 2001-2003 Committee Head of Interchapter Relations Served as liaison between regional chapters Coordinated social, fundraising and consulting events Organized a gathering of two chapters for 60 attendees Coordinated committee meetings and discussions Committee Head of Alumni Activities Maintained and updated records for more than 500 chapter alumni Gathered and wrote articles for newsletter Organized and assembled newsletter for printing Distributed newsletter to 500 alumni, 3 times per semester Assigned responsibilities to a committee of 5 International Business Club, 2001-2003 Newsletter Committee Head Wrote article relating to topics and activities concerning international business majors Designed and sent newsletter to all international business majors twice a semester Coordinated activities and assignments of other committee members Integrated Functional Systems Course, 2001 Worked in a team with 4 other students to develop a comprehensive, 30 page professional business plan Carried process from brainstorming and logistical stages into functionality and execution

SKILLS Leadership Supervised 6 employees on various functions in busy retail environment Maintained productivity of employees supervised Trained new employees on areas of responsibility, customer service and policies and procedures Communication Handled all special customer service complaints and requests in an efficient and pleasant manner Made 30-40 phone calls per night to solicit funds Maintained and communicated a daily roster of all duties and activities to be performed Interacted with customers from a variety of backgrounds and provided excellent customer service Work JMU Greater University Fund, Harrisonburg, VA, September 2002-May 2003 History -Worked part-time during school to help finance education Food Lion, Inc., Fredericksburg, VA, Summers 2000-2002 Activities Habitat for Humanity Marching Royal Dukes

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Dolly M. Madison

Current Address madisodm@jmu.edu Permanent Address 123 Village Ln. 789 Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Anywhere, VA 22222 (540) 555-1212 (540) 555-0000 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ OBJECTIVE Seeking experience in the area of health fitness and promotion. EDUCATION JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, Harrisonburg, VA Bachelor of Science, Health Assessment and Promotion, May 2003 Major GPA 3.9 Overall GPA 3.39 HONORS President’s List, Dean’s List

World Scholar Athlete Games-selected to participate with 1,500 students worldwide in a program designed to use sports as medium to discuss world issues Academic Athletic Banquet-selected three times based on a minimum 3.0 GPA two semesters consecutively

HEALTH PROMOTION SKILLS Formulated mass promotion materials including a brochure, poster, and fact sheet on HIV prevention Gained familiarity taking blood pressure, doing body composition assessments, calibrating equipment, cholesterol

testing, and giving orientations of weight machines at the JMU Recreation Center Led a group of six writing a grant proposal simulation for class Marketing committee member for a campus-wide “Alcohol Awareness Week” program Certified in First Aid and CPR

EXPERIENCE ROCKINGHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Practicum, Fall 2002

Presented a 25 minute in-service on vegetarianism to several hospital employees Gave an in-service on Health Risk Appraisal results and how to interpret them Created a bulletin board on the dangers of passive smoking Learned about the career duties of Health Promotion Coordinator in a hospital setting

HARRISONBURG/ROCKINGHAM FREE CLINIC, Internship, Summer 2002

Successfully wrote and received funding for a grant proposal for breast education and early detection techniques among the lower class in Harrisonburg

Interacted among members during attendance at board meetings and community meetings Constructed weekly bulletin boards Admitted and communicated with people entering clinic

DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, Student Worker, Summer 2001

Conducted general office management including filing medical charts, photocopying, answering and directing phone calls, and medical data processing on the computer

UNC FACULTY STAFF AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION and DUKE UNIVERSITY Tennis Instructor, Summers 1996-2002

Developed personalized lesson plans for individual lessons Periodically taught private lessons to individuals ranging in ages from 10-50 Provided individual instruction and feedback when teaching groups

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY TENNIS TEAM Occupied #1 position since freshman year Voted Rookie of the Year in Colonial Athletic Conference Voted Team Captain by members of the tennis team senior year Named Athletic of the Week in school paper (The Breeze) Positive Performer in US Today Online, Jan. 28 1997 (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/sfc/sfcppp.htm

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APPEARANCE

Appearance

Don’t use a template. Print on a laser printer. Be consistent with

heading style and margins.

Font: no smaller than 10 point.

Margins: no smaller than 0.5 inches.

Paper choice matters.

Check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Use one font style and size (except for your name).

Fill the page. Try to stick to 1 page in

most cases. Paragraphs vs. bullets. Use bullets, not dashes.

A Few Final Guidelines… Do’s

Revise your resume often. Have a variety of people give you feedback.

If a position is still in progress, indicate so:

“Fall 2006-present”.

Vary your verbs. Talk about the big

picture, i.e. what impact your action had on the organization.

Proofread beyond spell check.

A Few Final Guidelines…… Don’t include

hobbies. Don’t use “I”. Don’t describe

duties in paragraph form - use bullets.

COVER LETTERS

Key Elements:

Contact Information Content

Purpose of Letter Special Skills Follow-up Intent