Resume WritingResume Writing

One of the most important tools of a One of the most important tools of a successful job search is your resume.  successful job search is your resume. 

A resume is an "advertisement" of your A resume is an "advertisement" of your significant qualifications and experiences.  significant qualifications and experiences. 

Careful planning and preparation are Careful planning and preparation are necessary prerequisites for a clear and concise necessary prerequisites for a clear and concise

resume.  resume. 

Resume UsesResume Uses

• Answer employment advertisements by Answer employment advertisements by mailing resume with an appropriate cover mailing resume with an appropriate cover letter. letter.

• Mail to potential employers with a letter of Mail to potential employers with a letter of inquiry about current and future job inquiry about current and future job vacancies. vacancies. 

• Disseminate to business and personal Disseminate to business and personal (networking) contacts for direct referral to (networking) contacts for direct referral to employer associates employer associates

• Present to employers when making direct Present to employers when making direct contact i.e. career fairs, interviews. contact i.e. career fairs, interviews.

• Give references to refresh their memory Give references to refresh their memory

Five Key Resume Tips Five Key Resume Tips

1.1. Your resume is about your future; not your past.Your resume is about your future; not your past.

2.2. It is not a confessional. In other words, you It is not a confessional. In other words, you don't have to "tell all." Stick to what's relevant don't have to "tell all." Stick to what's relevant and marketable.and marketable.

3.3. Don't write a list of job descriptions. Write Don't write a list of job descriptions. Write achievements!achievements!

4.4. Promote only skills you enjoy using. Never write Promote only skills you enjoy using. Never write about things you don't want to repeat.about things you don't want to repeat.

5.5. Be honest. You can be creative, but never lie.Be honest. You can be creative, but never lie.

Self-Analysis Self-Analysis

• What type of job are you seeking? What type of job are you seeking? • What work experiences have you What work experiences have you

had? had? • What activities, honors, and What activities, honors, and

personal accomplishments can you personal accomplishments can you list? list?

• What are your special skills or What are your special skills or unusual combinations of skills? unusual combinations of skills?

• What are your job-related or What are your job-related or technical qualifications? technical qualifications?

• What job-related outside interests What job-related outside interests do you have? do you have?

• Have you belonged to any Have you belonged to any organizations or professional organizations or professional groups? groups?

• What positions of leadership and What positions of leadership and responsibility have you held? responsibility have you held?

Take an inventory of your skills, talents, strengths,

work experience and activities.

Resume HeadingResume Heading

• The heading on your The heading on your resume consists ofresume consists of– Your nameYour name– AddressAddress– Phone NumberPhone Number– Fax NumberFax Number– e-Mail Addresse-Mail Address– Web AddressWeb Address

ObjectiveObjective

• Your objective should focus on what you want to Your objective should focus on what you want to do, for the employer.do, for the employer.

• Describe the Describe the – skills you want to use on the jobskills you want to use on the job– the job function you seekthe job function you seek– the environment/industry in which you want to work.  the environment/industry in which you want to work. 

• Mention the position that is of interest to you. Mention the position that is of interest to you.

• State the level of responsibility you are seeking.State the level of responsibility you are seeking.

• This is a marketing piece, not your life history!This is a marketing piece, not your life history!

Gives your Gives your resume focus and resume focus and strength.strength.

Weak ResumeWeak ResumeObjectiveObjective

• Your job objective statement should be as concise as Your job objective statement should be as concise as possible. Some resumes mistakenly have fluffy opening possible. Some resumes mistakenly have fluffy opening statements with job objectives buried in them. statements with job objectives buried in them.

• When formulating your objective, When formulating your objective, AVOIDAVOID terms such as: terms such as: – GrowingGrowing– dynamic companydynamic company– opportunity for advancementopportunity for advancement– challenging positionchallenging position– position dealing with peopleposition dealing with people– a progressive company.  a progressive company. 

• These phrases have little meaning to the person who will These phrases have little meaning to the person who will make a decision for an interview invitation and in fact may make a decision for an interview invitation and in fact may indicate the candidate has no idea about his/her indicate the candidate has no idea about his/her professional objectives. professional objectives.

""Desire a rewarding Desire a rewarding position in a challenging position in a challenging environment using my environment using my people skills and problem people skills and problem solving talents."solving talents."

Strong Resume ObjectiveStrong Resume Objective

Tailor your objectives Tailor your objectives to your own to your own – SkillsSkills– EducationEducation– Professional goalsProfessional goals

To obtain a secondary teaching position in biology and chemistry in grades 5-12, in order to contribute to the scientific development of junior and senior high school students.

Secondary Teacher

Summary Summary StatementsStatements

The Summary of Qualifications section on your The Summary of Qualifications section on your resume is composed of three to four brief resume is composed of three to four brief statements that say why you're the ideal statements that say why you're the ideal candidate for the job mentioned in your objective candidate for the job mentioned in your objective statement.statement.

• ExperienceExperience• CredentialsCredentials• ExpertiseExpertise• Personal ValuesPersonal Values• Work EthicsWork Ethics• BackgroundBackground• Anything that makes you qualified for the jobAnything that makes you qualified for the job

Good Example:

Reputation for writing clear and concise explanations for technical and non technical

users.

Resume FormatsResume Formats• Chronological Chronological

– Within each section, information is organized in reverse chronological Within each section, information is organized in reverse chronological order-most recent first.  order-most recent first. 

– Over 60% of all resumes follow this format.Over 60% of all resumes follow this format.– Advantages:  Many employers are more comfortable with the Advantages:  Many employers are more comfortable with the

chronological format; highlights a steady employment recordchronological format; highlights a steady employment record– Disadvantages: This format clearly exposes gaps in work history.  Disadvantages: This format clearly exposes gaps in work history. 

Sometimes emphasizes work areas you prefer to minimize.Sometimes emphasizes work areas you prefer to minimize.

• FunctionalFunctional– Organizes experience by skills or job functions.Organizes experience by skills or job functions.– Advantages: Highlights skills and accomplishments Advantages: Highlights skills and accomplishments – Disadvantages: Some employers are suspicious of this format.  They Disadvantages: Some employers are suspicious of this format.  They

may think you are trying to hide something. may think you are trying to hide something. – Extra care must be taken to be clear and concise to overcome initial Extra care must be taken to be clear and concise to overcome initial

unfamiliarity.  unfamiliarity.  

• CombinationCombination– 1) A career summary 1) A career summary – 2) Areas of expertise 2) Areas of expertise – 3) Accomplishments and/or achievements 3) Accomplishments and/or achievements – 4) Experience section that highlights skills.4) Experience section that highlights skills.

Chronological vs. Functional

Resume Do’sResume Do’s

1.1. Use phrasesUse phrases

2.2. Keep phrases to ten or twelve Keep phrases to ten or twelve words and paragraphs to words and paragraphs to three or four lines.  three or four lines. 

3.3. Statements are clear and Statements are clear and concise.concise.

    4.4. Avoid the pronoun “I”.Avoid the pronoun “I”. 5.5. Use action words. Use action words. 

6.6. Make statements positive, Make statements positive, omit negatives. omit negatives. 

7.7. Emphasize capabilities and Emphasize capabilities and skills, especially transferable skills, especially transferable skills such as “coordinated, skills such as “coordinated, initiated, supervised”, etc.initiated, supervised”, etc.

    8.8. Stress accomplishments.Stress accomplishments.

9.9. Target resumes to different Target resumes to different jobs, using more than one jobs, using more than one resume with different resume with different objectives.objectives.

  

Resume Do’sResume Do’s

10.10.Use numbers to quantify Use numbers to quantify achievements whenever possible.achievements whenever possible.

11.11.Use “white space” to emphasize Use “white space” to emphasize separate sections. separate sections. 

12.12.Use Use boldingbolding, , underliningunderlining, , CAPITALIZATION and bullets.  CAPITALIZATION and bullets. 

13.13.Limit resume to two pages.  Limit resume to two pages. 

14.14.Have resume printed on 8½"x11" Have resume printed on 8½"x11" good quality bond paper, one side good quality bond paper, one side only.only.

15.15. Use white or off white paper Use white or off white paper which will photocopy well.  which will photocopy well. 

16.16. Block, center and balance text Block, center and balance text on page.on page.

17.17. Use clear, sharp print such as Use clear, sharp print such as type with letter quality or laser type with letter quality or laser printer.  printer. 

18.18. Proofread - use perfect spelling Proofread - use perfect spelling and grammar.  and grammar. 

19.19. Send resume with matching Send resume with matching cover letter and envelope cover letter and envelope

EducationEducation

• Your education is almost always a point of Your education is almost always a point of interest to a prospective employer. interest to a prospective employer.

• This section is usually positioned at or near This section is usually positioned at or near the end of the resume. the end of the resume.

• You may position it in the Summary of You may position it in the Summary of Qualifications section near the beginning of Qualifications section near the beginning of the resume:the resume:

• If your education is highly relevant to your new If your education is highly relevant to your new position.position.

• If you're a new graduate.If you're a new graduate.• If you have no employment experience in the field you If you have no employment experience in the field you

are going into, but have a degree or training in that are going into, but have a degree or training in that field.field.

EducationEducation

• Dates are optional. They sometimes indicate how Dates are optional. They sometimes indicate how old you are and how current your knowledge is, old you are and how current your knowledge is, so be conscious of that when deciding whether or so be conscious of that when deciding whether or not to include them.not to include them.

• Majors, minors, theses, dissertations, internships, Majors, minors, theses, dissertations, internships, and coursework should be listed only if they are and coursework should be listed only if they are relevant to your job objective.relevant to your job objective.

• You can spell out the degree (e.g., Bachelor of You can spell out the degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) or use the representative letters (e.g., BA or Arts) or use the representative letters (e.g., BA or B.A.).B.A.).

Build Upon Your ResumeBuild Upon Your Resume

• This section is your technical, personal, and This section is your technical, personal, and professional details. Some possible additional professional details. Some possible additional headings to build upon:headings to build upon:

- Personal Interests- Personal Interests- Community Service- Community Service- Professional Affiliations- Professional Affiliations- Publications- Publications- Awards- Awards- Computer Skills- Computer Skills- Certifications- Certifications

Potential Employer Potential Employer

• Be sure to include a list of references that Be sure to include a list of references that will provide your potential employer with a will provide your potential employer with a good recommendation for you.good recommendation for you.

• Always prepare a thank you letter to thank Always prepare a thank you letter to thank the interviewer for their time and re-the interviewer for their time and re-enforce your interest in the position.enforce your interest in the position.

• Mail thank you letter immediately after the Mail thank you letter immediately after the interview.interview.