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Developing Your Very Own
Winning Resume
A Writer’s Workshop
Presented by
Jeff Tolley
Review of packet
General DO’s and DON’T’s resume tips
Tools: Internet, Resume Templates, Optimal Resume
Hands-on step-by-step resume creation
Guidelines for follow-up assignment
Wrap-up and evaluation
Plan: Consider your audience and your purpose.
Organize: Review the resume checklist, outline the information, then determine the format.
Create: Write a first draft using samples and templates.
Revise: Confidently make changes to your resume that will lead to your goal: Getting an interview.
A brochure that promotes a product. YOU are the product!
Likely your first contact with the employer. Make an impression!
Used by employers as screening tools.
Emphasize relevant qualifications and accomplishments.
Qualities: well-organized, factual, clear, eye-catching, easy to read, and truthful.
GOAL: Get the interview!
The type of opportunity you seek from the company.
Who you are.
What you know.
Your personal and work experiences.
It helps the employer get a sense of your potential as an employee.
1 - 2 pages in length
Use easy-to-read fonts, white space, and bolding for emphasis (limit italics).
Use bullet statements or short paragraphs.
Use vivid action verbs.
Use descriptive adjectives and accomplishment statements.
Begin with most important material first.
Quantify your experience.
Avoid personal pronouns.
Be neat! No errors, so smudges, clear printing
Proofread! Proper grammar and spelling say a lot.
Be consistent in formatting. Use the same style and font throughout the document.
Avoid the use of artwork, elaborate headings and script fonts.
Use quality printer (laser!) and neutral bond paper. Stark white copy paper is not your best choice.
Your resume, cover letter, and envelopes should all be the same color, style, and weight.
Personal contact information (address, e-mail, phone)
Career Objective (what job do you want?)
Qualifications summary, special competencies/skills (list what you can do; cash register, MS Word, etc.)
Education (degree, major, special training. HS counts!)
Study abroad (Foreign exchange, special programs)
Relevant paid or unpaid work experience—it all counts! Babysitting, yard work, tutoring, student aide.
Community service (church, Scouts, other groups)
Professional affiliations (School clubs are important!)
Interests/hobbies (If you are applying as a lifeguard and you are a competitive swimmer—mention it!)
References/portfolio—include them!
Always review your own resume before you
print it, and them again after you print.
Always have someone proofread your resume
for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation,
and facts.
Your resume should be eye-catching. It should
not be too busy, but it should not have too
much white space, either.
What are the reasons
that a resume would
get Screened out?
Categories missing Unclear objective Wrong job target Generic and
unfocused Lacks relevant
experience/education Explains job
descriptions not accomplishments
Hard to understand Irrelevant information Time gaps
Boastful or dishonest
Slick, gimmicky
Poor physical layout
Too long, short, or condensed
Wordy, bad spelling, poor grammar
Lengthy phrases, sentences, and paragraphs
Poorly reproduced
Too many fonts, fancy fonts, wordiness, long paragraphs
Personal data
Unnecessary abbreviations
Justify type set (equal side margins)
Too many UPPERCASE LETTERS, underlining, and italics
Empty words – various, duties included
Emphasizing what does not exist (in other words, be truthful!)
Sample Resume Headings
John A. Smith [email protected]
123 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (Website URL)
802/999-9999 (IM Address)
John A. Smith123 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 999-9999
(Website URL, IM address)
•Beginning of the resume or in cover letter
•Target it to a specific job or employer if possible
•Keep it concise, avoid unnecessary words
•Avoid the “all purpose” type of objective
Sample Objectives
•To participate in the Sandia National Labs summer
institute as a chemical engineer intern.
•To join the staff at UNM pool as a Summer, 2013,
youth swimming instructor.
•Summer employment as a customer service
representative at Cinemark Movie Theaters.
•A part time, permanent customer service representative
at The Home Depot.
•Dining room server and hostess at El Pinto restaurant
in a part time capacity.
Functional specialty/title
Overall picture of your qualifications
Years of experience in the field
Certifications, licenses
Accomplishments/recognitions/results
Key talents/special knowledge related to target job
Language skills
Technical and special skills
Two years experience operating cash registers
YMCA-certified babysitter
Three years experience with MS Office software
Six years experience with i-Phone and 4G technology.
WSI and CPR certified
Project management and problem-solving skills
Financial experience (P&L, cost control, budgeting)
Multi-tasking ability and flexibility
Organizational skills and attention to detail
Bilingual in English and Spanish
Networking ability (to cultivate new business, for
example)
Leadership or supervisory experience
It is important to:
List the schools you have attended and when you expect to graduate. A high school diploma is important until you have a college transcript.
Emphasize what sets you apart from other students.
Emphasize leadership roles and duties: team captain, club officer, responsible for funds.
List before work experience for recent graduates in reverse chronological order
Cibola High School, Albuquerque, NM; graduation May, 2017
Write out dates; no abbreviations
Degrees, major(s), and minor(s) for college
Licensures, certifications, endorsements
Include special training, relevant workshops
Emphasize Advanced Placement and Honors courses
Honors: Graduated Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, GPA above 3.0 class rank above 3.5, scholarships, awards
Relevant academic projects, special training, study-abroad
Extra-curricular, athletic and leadership activities
Club memberships and committee work
Number of hours worked to help finance your education
Presentation of Your Education
Credentials, Campus Involvement
and Academic Achievements
CIBOLA HIGH SCHOOL, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Diploma with honors anticipated May, 2013
• Maintain a 3.85 GPA (4.0 scale) while working 15-20 hours per week.
• Honor roll all semesters.
• Student aide to administrative staff.
• National Honor Society sophomore, junior, and senior years.
• Three year varsity letter winner in soccer and track.
• Member of yearbook staff, sophomore and junior year.
• Three year member of Operation Smile.
Use an internet search engine to find a desired job title and description; use it in your resume.
Tailor a resume toward the company you want to work for. Go to their website and then use their terminology in your resume.
Ask questions of people who have experience with job applications and resumes: teachers, parents, grandparents, older siblings, and business owners and managers you know.
Talk to friends who have jobs about how they applied for their jobs.
Job title, employer, location (city, state), dates
Reverse order/relevant before non-relevant
Include relevant paid and volunteer experience (full time, part time, summer): retail sales, administrative assistant, home childcare, camp counselor, tutor, Special Olympics Volunteer.
Group similar jobs with one job description.
Use action verbs/industry jargon to describe experience in specific achievement oriented terms.
Younger applicants won’t have many groups.
Not just job descriptions, but rather your skills and verifiable contributions
Advancements
Bonuses
Performance Evaluations
Recognitions
Awards/accomplishments
Transcripts
Certificates
Include non-related jobs and volunteer work if they help create a picture of stability and work experience. Important when lacking experience.
Concentrate on skills you developed that are important to your career or job objective.
Include promotions, management and supervisory responsibilities, customer service, technology, and directly relevant coursework.
Omit jobs that were very brief. Many employers do not look favorably on long term jobs that ended prematurely.
List memberships and responsibilities that relate to your career or job objective.
Demonstrate that you are keeping up to date in your chosen field.
Include organizations that show community involvement.
Special interests, travel, and hobbies may help to show ability and experience.
Have a minimum of 3 references - people who can attest to your work habits, skills, and accomplishments. Always ask beforehand!
Current or past employer(s)/supervisor(s)
Inform reference of your career objective and give them a copy of your resume
Professors, teachers, principals
Advisors, mentors, tutors, ministers/priests
Coaches
Internship, field experience, or community service supervisor
Name, title, company, address, phone #
Never indicate on the resume that “References
are available upon request.” When managers
have a pile of resumes and applications to sift
through, they want the whole story in front of
them. They likely won’t take time to call you
for a list of references. The next resume is
probably just as good as yours.
References
John A. Smith [email protected]
123 Main Street,
Albuquerque, NM 87111 505/999-9999
Mr. Charles Amey, IIIDirector of Hospitality Hilton HotelsP.O. Box 670 [email protected], NM 87123 (505) 321-0987
Mr. Milton JonesField Experience SupervisorABC Conference Center208 Main Street [email protected] Nowhereibeen, NM 88000 (505) 888-8888
As a general rule, have at least three references.
Proof… proof… proof!
Understand your audience and speak to it.
Be sure your resume is easy to read.
Plan! Be well organized
Be honest! Dishonesty is a termination offense.
Dynamic Diction! Choose descriptive words.
Be flawless in every aspect of your resume
Update your resume whenever there is a change in ANY information.
Resume development is on ongoing process.
As a second-year student, you are just beginning the process.
Enhance your experience, personal qualifications, and leadership qualities over the next two years.
Keep a folder of your accomplishments.
Update your resume regularly.
!
Everybody applicant wants that
call!