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Summary of the Same Day Resume book
Citation preview
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
1
1
Michael Farr
Same-day resume:
Write an effective resume in an hour
(Indianapolis, USA: JIST Works, 2007) 2nd Ed
ISBN 978159357836
2
Table of Contents
• Chp 1: Quick tips for creating & using resume
• Chp 2: Do a simple resume in an hour
• Chp 3: Write a skills resume in a few hours
• Chp 4: 15 mins cover letter/ job correspondence
• Chp 5: Use your resume on the Internet
• Chp 6: Write a better resume now
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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3
Chp 1: Quick tips for creating & using
resume:
Contents Highlights
• What is a resume?
• Reasons for not needing a resume
• Reasons for needing a resume
• Resume Basics
• Types of Resumes
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4
What is a resume?
•1-2 page summary of life & employment history
•Presentation of oneself to future employers
•Specific parts of one’s past to get a job
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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5
Reasons for not needing a resume
• Not a good job search tool
• Not all jobs need resumes
• Not all job search methods need resumes
• Alternative names of “resume”
6
Reasons for needing a resume
• Employers often need them
• Structure one’s communications
– Clarify job objective, skills, education, work
experience, achievements
• An effective job search tool
– Presentation of skills to support job objective
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Resume Basics
• Length
– One to two pages
• Errors eliminations
– Proofreading
• Appearance of resume
– Professional looking
• Action words and accomplishments
• Write the resume yourself
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Types of Resumes• Chronological resumes
– Sequential events in time
– Presents career progression
• Skills/Functional resumes
– Tougher to write
– Classify work experience under major skill areas
• Combination of Chronological/skills resumes
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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7 Steps to Getting a Job Fast
• Know your skills
• Have a clear objective
• Know where and how to look
• Spend at least 25 hours a week looking
• Get two interviews a day
• Do well in interviews
• Follow up on all contacts
10
New Definition of an interview
• Any face-to face contact with someone
who has the authority to hire or supervise
a person with your skills – even if no
opening exists at the time you talk to
them
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Chp 2: Do a Simple Resume in an hourContents Highlights
• Chronological Resume Basics
• Writing Major Sections of a Chronological resume
– Name, Mailing address, phone numbers and email address, Job
objective, Education and training, work/volunteer history,
professional Organisations, recognition and awards, personal
information, references
• Final Draft
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Chronological Resume Basics
• Suitable for people with years of work experience
• Acceptable if neat and tidy
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Major Sections of a Chronological
Resume (Part 1)
• Name
– Do not use a nickname
• Mailing address
– Spell out address in full, no short forms
• Phone numbers and emails
14
Major Sections of a Chronological
Resume (Part 2)
• Job Objective (questions to ask?)
– What sort of position, title, and area of work do you want?
– Define area of responsibility
– Name key skills important for the job
– Name specific areas of strong interest to use in next job
– What else is important?
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Major Sections of a Chronological
Resume (Part 3)
• Education and training
– Emphasise most recent education if any
– Not needed if sufficient work experience
• Work and volunteer history
– Volunteer/military experience equally important
– Previous job titles/employers
– Employment dates
– Duties and accomplishments
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Major Sections of a Chronological
Resume (Part 4)
• Professional Organisations
– Worth mentioning
– Job-related, humanitarian, sports, clubs etc
• Recognition and Awards
– Support job objective
• Personal information
• References
– Not needed � employers can ask for them
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Chp 3: Write a skills resume in a few hours
Contents Highlights
• Skills Resume
• Writing Skills Resume
– Job Objective
– The Skills Section
• Tips for editing draft resume into final form
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Writing Skills Resume (Part 1)
• Job Objective
– What sort of position, title or area of
specialisation do you seek?
– What level of responsibility interests you?
– What are your most important skills?
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Writing Skills Resume (Part 2)
• Skills Section
– Also called areas of accomplishment, summary of
qualifications, areas of expertise and ability…
– Features skills important to the job you want
– Refer to next slide for key skills list.
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Key Skills Needed For Success in Most jobs
Basic Skills to keep a job Key transferable skills most likely
needed with higher pay & role
Basic academic skills Instruct others
Accept supervision Manage money and budgets
Follow instructions Manage people / leadership
Get along well with coworkers Meet the public
Meet deadlines Work effectively as part of a team
Good attendance Negotiating
Punctual Organise/manage projects
Hard worker Written/oral communication
Productive Org effectiveness
Honest Goal setting, creative thinking, problem solving
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Writing Skills Resume
• Prove your key skills with a story
– Use work situations if possible
– Other close options like school, volunteer etc…
– Quantify the examples like money saved etc…
– Emphasise results achieved
• Edit key skills proofs
– Select proofs relevant to supporting job objective
– Proofs to be short, clear and powerful
22
Chp 4: 15 minutes cover letter/ job
correspondence• Cover Letters
– 7 tips for a good cover letter
– Writing cover letters to (un)known people
• The Hardworking JIST Card
– JIST card = Small resume
– How to use them
– JIST card paper and format tips
• Thank-You Notes
– 3 times when to send them and why
– 7 tips to write thank you notes
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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7 Tips for a Good Cover Letter
• Write to someone in particular
• Make absolutely no errors
• Personalise your content
– Form letters offend the job employers
• Present a good appearance
– Good quality stationery and envelopes
• Provide a friendly opening
• Target your skills and experiences
– Relevant background of interest to the employer
• Close with an action statement
24
Writing Cover Letters to Known People
• Scheduled interview and specific job opening
– Detail of experience relating to specific job
• Scheduled interview but no specific job available
– Finding job leads which no one is looking
• Interview takes place
– Time to express interest in the job
• No interview scheduled yet
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Writing Cover Letters to Unknown People
• Not practical to directly contact prospective employer
• “To whom it may concern” � not recommended
• Try to find something common with person to contact
(i.e. recruitment agent, employer)
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JIST Card = Small Resume
• Essential info in a short format:
– Name, phone number, email address
– Type of position to seek
– Experience, education and training
– Key job-related skills, performance and results
– Good-worker traits
– Special conditions willing to work under (optional)
• Format of JIST Card � 3 x 5-inch card
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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How to use JIST Cards
• Attached to resume
• Enclosed in a thank you note
• Given to friends, relatives & other contacts
• Sent to everyone who graduated from school
and members of professional bodies
• Put on car windshields
• Posted on supermarket bulletin board
• On the internet, in addition to resume content
28
3 Times to Send Thank You Notes
• Before interview
– Thanking someone for taking time to see you
• After interview
– Creates a positive impression
– Another opportunity to remain in employer’s mind
– JIST to provide employers chance to contact you
• Anyone who helps in job search
– Includes those recruit agents, advisors etc
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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7 Tips for Writing Thank You Notes
• Use quality paper and envelopes
• Handwritten or typed acceptable
• Use a formal salutation
• Keep note informal and friendly
– Not to write “reason for hiring me”
• Sign it in full name if possible
• Send it right away (within 24 hours)
• Enclosed a JIST card (depends on situation)
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Chp 5: Use Your Resume on the InternetContents Highlights
• Adapt your resume for electronic use
– Sample Text-only resume
– Convert resume to electronic format
• The importance of keywords
– Quick tips for selecting keywords
• Use the Internet to go beyond the resume
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Ways to Use Internet for Job Search
• Employers websites
– Check out employees’ blogs for corporate culture
• Inside information
– Google to find out specific employers’ info
• Job boards
• Specialty sites
• Networking
– Facebook,LinkedIn,eacademy etc
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Sample Text-Only Resume
• No graphics
• No lines (equal lines used)
• No bold, italics, or other text formats
• Only one easy-to-scan font (Courier)
• No tab indents
• No line or paragraph indents
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Convert Resume to Electronic Format
• Copy and paste resume text into a new file in word
processor
• Eliminate graphic elements (lines/images)
• Set the margins to no more than 65 characters wide
• Use easy-to-scan font (Courier/Times New Roman)
• Introduce major sections with words in uppercase letters
(instead of bold/italic)
• Keep all text left-aligned
• Use standard keyboard characters (*)
34
Selecting Keywords for Resume
• Think like a prospective employer
– Include keywords to catch employer’s attention
• Review job descriptions from major references
– Different jobs with different expectations
• Look for additional keywords to include
– Through sources like job ads, employers’ websites,
job forums etc
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Chp 6: Write a better resume nowContents Highlights
• Get some help if needed
• Improve Chronological Resume
• Gather info & Emphasize Achievements, Skills & Results
(Refer to chapter 2)
• More Quick Resume Writing Tips
• Tips to Improve Resume’s Design & Appearance
• Tips on Production and Getting Copies Made
36
Get Some Help If Needed
• Professional
Resume Writers
• Career/Job Search
Counsellors
Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011
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Improve Chronological Resume
• Add a job objective
• Emphasize skills and accomplishments
• Expand education & training section
• Add new sections to highlight strengths
• Portfolios and enclosures
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More Quick Resume Tips
• Write your resume yourself
• Don’t lie or exaggerate
– Ethically not right
• Never include a negative
– Present strengths, not weaknesses
• No place to be humble
• Use short sentence & simple words
• Include numbers
• Emphasize skills
• Highlight accomplishments and results
• Importance of doing drafts
• Get independent checks on resume for errors
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Tips to Improve Resume’s Design &
Appearance
• Increase readability
– Short sentences and words, paragraphs
– Narrow columns
– White space to increase text readability
– Use a consistent font type
• Use 2 pages at most
• Consider using graphics
• Edit again for appearance
• Select top-quality paper
40
Tips on Production and Getting
Copies Made• Good Quality photocopies/ Laser Printer copies
– Test the copy quality & high grade paper
• Evaluating & selecting a quick print shop
– Look for specialty shops focusing on small jobs
• How many copies to get
– Having extras for making provisions