CAREER SERVICES

1
CAREER SERVICES

• RESUME WRITING

Optional print off a pre-test and a post test.
2
Types of Resumes

• There are basically two types of resumes.
• Chronological
• A resume wrote in a chronological order usually
  by time.
• Functional
• A resume that groups skills and experience in a
  way to best demonstrate a persons match for a
  particular job.
• We will focus on the chronological resume.
• The chronological resume is a good format for a
  person with little experience such as a new
  college graduate

Example of Chronological Resume
3
Resume

• A resume is your brag sheet your chance to
  sell yourself for a particular job.
• Stay focused a resume should contain only the
  facts that demonstrate your education,
  experience, and ability to perform the job.
• And it is perfectly acceptable to have a two-page
  resume, as long as the content is substantial.
  Most people should have enough work experience
  and other activities to fill two pages. Do not
  try to cram too much information on one page.
  However, if you do not have much experience,
  stick to one page.

4
Always

• Be relevant. Stay focused on specifics that
  relate to the job for which you are applying.
• Be positive. Emphasize your strengths,
  accomplishments (not just responsibilities), and
  experience.
• Be accurate. DO NOT exaggerate or mislead.
• Be neat. Go for eye appeal. Not too fancy, no
  colored paper.
• SPELL CHECK!!!! Spend some money on a
  professional service if necessary!

5
Also

• Make sure all dates are correct. Be prepared to
  explain any gaps.
• List your education and experience in reverse
  chronological order from the most current back.
• Use key words and action words.
• Key words are words used in professional
  jargon.
• Use quantifiable numbers.
• Wrong Helped increase sales substantially while
  in position.
• Right Increased sales by 35 in nine months.

Action word list.
6
Also

• List jobs that either
• Show experience in a particular field, or
• If you dont have actual experience in a
  particular field, list miscellaneous jobs that at
  least show that you were employable, dependable,
  responsible, etc.
• Recruiters look for involvement and leader ship.
  
• Join student organizations, run for office, get
  involved!

7
Also

• Include all pertinent activities that relate to
  the job for which you are applying. Do not
  include activities that are not relevant.
• Be careful if including personal activities or
  religious affiliations.
• Hobbies or outside interests are not necessary
  and take up valuable space.
• DO NOT include personal information such as
  height, weight, age, marital status, etc.

8
Big Mistakes

• Any lie or untruth.
• Too long, too wordy, unfocused, generally full of
  unnecessary filler (i.e. BS).
• Unprofessional -
• Poor grammar, typos, misspelled words.
• Anything handwritten, cutesy.
• Unorganized
• Not in chronological order, confusing,
  unexplained gaps, few details.
• Pictures. ANY personal information.
• Remember that a resume focuses on your ability to
  perform the job.
• Borders or graphics are OUT.
• Colored paper, textured paper, landscape
  orientation, anything gimmicky is out.

9
Additional Tips

• ALWAYS send a cover letter with a resume.
• In the letter, you can expand on (but do not
  repeat) the info in your resume. In the letter,
  mention the things that are listed in the job ad
  and tell why you are the person that fits that
  job. Also, address the cover letter to a
  specific PERSON not To Whom it May Concern!
• List your strongest area first
• If you have a lot of work experience, start with
  that. If you have always been in school and have
  had only part-time jobs, start with your
  education.
• Ask your references first
• Get their permission to list them on your resume
  and tell them which job you are applying for. It
  is also helpful to give them a copy of your
  resume and transcript so that they will know what
  your qualifications are. Follow up with them and
  let them know if you get the job a thank you
  note is nice!

10
Additional Tips

• KEEP RECORDS
• Buy a folder and keep all your job search
  information together. Keep copies of EVERYTHING
  ads, letters, resumes, applications, notes,
  etc. Get organized early!
• GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR FINAL PRODUCT.
• Have someone a professor, a business
  acquaintance, someone in Career Services look
  at your resume before you send it out. It always
  helps to have an outside opinion.

11
Formatting

• A resume is printed with the margins set on 1 on
  all 4 sides.
• Use only 10 to 14 pt font, no italics, no
  underlines, no graphics.
• Be sure to include your name and your complete
  contact information at the top of the page. This
  information is the most important thing on your
  resume.
• Add your name and the page number on the second
  page and any page thereafter.
• If you include a list of references, put them on
  a separate page and place them last.
• Use bold print and bullets to make your resume
  easy to read.

See an example
12
More about your contact information

• Include your current and permanent address and
  phone number.
• Use a professional sounding email address.
• If you use a signature in your email, do not add
  anything to it such as quotes, funny lines,
  etckeep it professional.
• Do not use a nick name.

See an example
13
Categories

• There are several category headings you can use.
• Objective
• Education
• Experience
• Honors/Awards
• Skills
• Activities

14
Objective

• Be brief and to the point. You do not want your
  stated objective to be too vague nor so specific
  that you limit your opportunities.
• It can be the most powerful sentence on the
  resume.

How to write a job objective
Objective examples
15
Education

• Start with your college education reverse
  chronological order.
• Spell out your degree and major.
• Never put the date you started college
• that tells your age and how long it took to
  finish.
• Always put your college graduation date month
  and year is sufficient.
• If you have not yet graduated, put your
  anticipated graduation date. When putting an
  anticipated date write it as though it has
  already occurred. Do not put expect to
  graduate or Will graduate

The right way.
The wrong way.
16
Education

• You may include your high school, (but its not
  necessary).
• If its recent, and
• If there is something relevant about it -
• such as using it for networking, or
• if you were valedictorian, or had some other
  academic distinction
• Never put dates for high school, it gives away
  your age.
• Include your GPA if its above a 3.0
• Put your accumulative GPA
• Never round up a GPA. If its 3.99 it must read
  3.99, not 4.0
• You may also include your major GPA or other GPA
  such as in your emphasis.
• If you include anything other than your
  accumulative, make sure you can back up your
  figures.

17
Education

• You may include relevant courses taken.
• If they are outside the required course work for
  your major and is relevant to the position you
  are seeking. You can list from two to six.

A good example.
A bad example.
18
Experience

• Again use reverse chronological order. Use short
  concise phrases and positive action words.
• This does not have to be paid work experience.
• It could be any experience relevant to the job
  you are seeking. It could be an internship,
  student teaching, part time summer employment, or
  even volunteer work if the duties were relevant.
• Give the name of the company, time frame you
  worked, and brief description of your duties,
  accomplishments, and any awards or special
  recognition you received.

Good Example
Good Example
Bad Example
19
Honors

• List all honors and academic awards. If it isnt
  self-evident from the title of the award, you may
  need to include a brief description of the award
  or indicate which institution granted the award.
• Also list campus or civic awards or recognition,
  as well as employment-related awards (e.g.
  Employee of the Month).

20
Skills

• Use this section to highlight special skills.
  These can include computer skills (e.g. Microsoft
  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, desktop publishing,
  Java, C, etc.), laboratory and /or research
  skills, communication (verbal written) and
  organizational skills, foreign languages, etc.

21
Activities

• List clubs or organizations to which you belong
  (be sure to note any leadership positions you may
  have held and the date(s). Indicate volunteer
  experience, sports activities, and any special
  interests or hobbies that may be relevant to the
  job for which you are applying.
• If listing hobbies only list those that are
  relevant. Reading is not relevant, but building
  web sites may be.
• Be careful when listing activities that indicate
  personal information or religious affiliations.

22
References

• The names of your references are NOT included on
  your resume, but it is a good idea to assemble
  this information now. Academic advisors,
  professors, or former employers can be asked to
  serve as references. Try to have a minimum of
  three and be sure to get their permission first!
  Prepare a separate page (coordinating in paper
  and style with your resume) that lists the
  names/addresses/phone numbers/e-mail addresses of
  your references. Then, when an employer requests
  your references, you can provide them with a copy
  of this list, or send it with your resume if that
  is what the employer requests.

23
Your Final Draft

• For those who have paid for full registration
  with Career Services, you may bring in and leave
  your resume or email it to us for review. Please
  allow 24 hours for us to review it and have it
  ready for you.
• Dont forget to call Career Services if you have
  other questions.

Really Bad Example
More Resume Tips - Printable