WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME

1
WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME

• BY
• Career Services
• Cooperative Ed
• Job Service ND
• 280 McCannel Hall

2
GENERAL GUIDELINES, 1 of 2

• Keep your resume organized easy to read
• Write your own resume!
• Keep it one to two pages
• Always lead with your strongest suit
• Keep it positive and refrain from using any
  negatives
• Write brief, clear, informative statements

3
GENERAL GUIDELINES, 2 of 2

• Use the proper tense
• Never underestimate the power of appearance
• Have someone critique your resume
• Dont send out a resume that is not 100 spotless

4
Things to put on a resume, 1 Of 3

• OBJECTIVE
• SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
• EDUCATION
• RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
• COMPUTER SKILLS
• LANGUAGES
• RESEARCH

5
Things to put on a resume, 2 of 3

• HONORS/AWARDS/ACTIVITIES
• ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
• VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
• COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• STRENGTHS
• INTERESTS

6
Things to put on a resume, 3 of 3

• REMEMBER
• Most important information on Page One.
• Page One should be able to get you the interview
  all by itself.
• Page Two are all of the extras that go along with
  the great candidate described on Page One!

7
HEADER

• Name
• Full current mailing address
• Telephone Number (s)
• Email address

8
OBJECTIVE

• In ONE or TWO lines tell what job or position you
  want
• Example
• Operations Research Analyst position with
  Midwest International, Inc.

9
QUALIFICATIONS

• List accomplishments and skills that show you can
  handle the job
• Begin with those most relevant to the position
  you are seeking

10
EDUCATION

• Degree Awarded
• School Name and Address
• Date degree awarded
• Optional
• - GPA
• - Scholarships
• - Relevant Classes

11
WORK EXPERIENCE

• Job Title
• Employers Name and Address
• Years of employment
• Description of your responsibilities
• - Begin with your most important

12
SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• List the things that you can operate
• Software knowledge
• Procedures you know
• - List everything that will help you
• in your new job

13
Resume Tips in a Nutshell

• Use bullets NOT paragraphs
• Use ACTION verbs to start your statements
• Highlight areas of importance
• Keep resume to 1 or 2 pages
• Always TARGET it to a specific job
• It MUST be 100 error free!

14
THE DESCRIPTIVE OBJECTIVE

• Briefly describes the type of job youre
  interested in
• Works best in being seen as an overall candidate
• Used if there are no specific openings

15
THE TITLED OBJECTIVE

• Names the SPECIFIC job title for which you are
  applying
• Best used if you are applying for a specific
  position and do not want to be considered for any
  other positions

Specific stuff
16
DO NOT USE OVERDONE CLICHES

• A chance to use my skills
• A challenging opportunity
• An opportunity for growth
• These have been used so much they dont even
  register!

17
TWO WORDS TO USE CAUTIOUSLY

• ENTRY LEVEL
• Most companies are not looking for entry level
  employees - they are looking for employees who
  can contribute to the growth and development of
  the organization

18
Your Resumes MOST IMPORTANT Feature is...

• THE SUMMARY SECTION
• This section is the 10-second sound bite
  that draws the reader into the remainder of your
  resume.
• This section is CRUCIAL in the high speed resume
  review world we live in.
• Make sure it is there and bulleted!

19
RESUME TYPECHRONOLOGICAL , 1 of 2

• ADVANTAGES
• Widely used logical flow easy to read
• Shows growth in skills responsibilities
• Shows promotions and titles
• Shows company loyalty

20
RESUME TYPECHRONOLOGICAL , 2 of 2

• DISADVANTAGES
• Shows gaps in employment
• Highlights frequent job changes
• Emphasizes employment not skills
• Emphasizes lack of related experience
• Points out demotions and career set backs

21
RESUME TYPEFUNCTIONAL , 1 of 2

• ADVANTAGES
• Emphasizes skills rather than employment
• Organizes a variety of experiences
• Disguises gaps in work record or a series of
  short term jobs

22
RESUME TYPEFUNCTIONAL , 2 of 2

• DISADVANTAGES
• Viewed with suspicion by employers due to lack of
  information about specific employers and dates
• De-emphasizes growth/job titles

23
RESUME TYPECOMBINATION , 1 of 2

• ADVANTAGES
• Highlights most relevant skills and
  accomplishments
• De-emphasizes employment history in less relevant
  jobs
• Combines skills developed in a variety of jobs or
  other activities
• Minimizes employment gaps and absence of directly
  related experience

24
RESUME TYPECOMBINATION , 2 of 2

• DISADVANTAGES
• Confusing if not well organized
• Requires more effort and creativity to prepare

25
RESUME TYPE TARGET , 1 of 2

• Personalized
• Shows research
• More impressive
• Written specifically to employers needs
• ANY format can be made into a Targeted Resume

26
RESUME TYPETARGET , 2 of 2

• DISADVANTAGES
• Time consuming to prepare
• Confusing if not well organized
• Needs to be revised for each employer

27
Name Address City State Zip Phone and email
OBJECTIVE STATEMENT SUMMARY OF
SKILLS EDUCATION RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE RELATED
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE OTHER WORK AND/OR VOLUNTEER
EXPERIENCE

28
COMPUTER SKILLS ORGANIZATIONS/CLUBS AWARDS AND
SCHOLARSHIPS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOBBIES INTERES
TS
29
SOME PET RESUME PEEVES
These peeve me off!

• More than 2 pages
• Outlandish or poor quality paper
• Clerical mistakes
• Handwritten corrections
• Inflated responsibilities

30
OTHER RESUME PEEVES
What is THIS stuff???

• Old jobs that dont mean anything
• Fancy graphics
• A photocopy of a photocopy
• Pictures

31
TIP DISTILL BULLETING

• Long dense paragraphs makes finding
  information too hard with too much effort
• SOLUTION DISTILL!
• Create bulleted, focused statements.
• Short powerful lines show the reader, in a
  glance, why they should keep reading

32
TIP HOW TO BULLET, 1 Of 2

• ACTION OBJECT OUTCOME
• BULLET STATEMENT
• Action Verb
• Object What, quantity or size subject, type or
  kind
• Outcome For whom, purpose or final results

33
BULLETING, 2 of 2

• Use most of the elements when you want to
  emphasize an experience
• You are not expected to use all of the elements
  in every statement sometimes you may use only a
  few

34
BEFORE DISTILLING.

• Before distilling
• Im just a bunch

35
BEFORE DISTILLING, EXAMPLE 1

• Primary Duties Computer repair and assembly,
  software troubleshooter, Internet installation
  and troubleshooting.

36
BEFORE DISTILLING, Example 2

• Responsibilities included assisting with artist
  releases, compiling sheets based on information
  given from reservationists and box office
  attendants, handling photo and press release
  mailings to media, assisting in radio copy
  writing, and performing various other duties as
  assigned.

37
AFTER DISTILLING..

• Im smoother and easier to consume!

38
AFTER DISTILLING, Example 1

• Assembled and repaired Dell, Compaq, Gateway and
  other PCs
• Analyzed and troubleshot software malfunctions
  for Windows 95
• Installed and debugged Internet systems for such
  businesses as Rydell Chevrolet, GFG Foods and
  Daytons

39
AFTER DISTILLING, Example 2

• Assisted artist press releases that attributed to
  an increase of sell-outs by 23
• Compiled and maintained mailing list of 10,000,
  Burtness Theatres largest ever
• Handled press release mailings to all area TV and
  radio stations
• Contributed to the copy writing of promotion
  radio commercials for selected events

40
Attract attention to your skills

• Employers want to see results
• Use percentages and numbers
• Outline actions you took and emphasize the
  resulting benefits
• List information in order of importance

41
Sell your skills every chance you get!

• ESPECIALLY COMPUTER SKILLS!
• List all the software programs you have knowledge
  of
• If you dont have computer skills - GET THEM!

42
TIP TARGET YOUR RESUME, 1 of 2

• Tailor your resume to each position
• Vague, general resumes may get lost in the
  shuffle
• An effective resume supports and strengthens your
  objective

43
TARGETED RESUMES, 2 of 2

• Highlight your experience when it is relevant
• Focus on why you are qualified not necessarily on
  what you have done

44
TIP Use ACTION Verbs

• Descriptive words add
• POWER
• Some examples are
• - organized
• - prepared
• - streamlined
• - established

45
TIP Be Concise

• A 3-page or longer resume may not even receive
  the typical 15-second glance
• Best results are achieved with a one or two page,
  well-organized resume
• Keep your resume...
• short
• well organized
• to the point

46
TIP MAKE IT INVITING!
YOURE INVITED!

• Capture your readers attention by making it
  attractive to the eye
• Emphasize important information by bolding,
  italicizing, using different fonts

47
TIP Be Complete

• Emphasize your professionalism by giving complete
  information
• Avoid abbreviations, slang, negatives
• Avoid the overuse of the personal pronouns I or
  MY

48
TIP BRAG BUT DONT EXAGGERATE

• Be Honest! Play up your skills but never lie or
  exaggerate
• An effective resume must sell as well as tell.
• Are you good?
• Can you do the job?
• Do you want the job?

I can do anything!
49
TIP Proof and Edit

• An effective resume is 100 error free, not 99,
  not 99.5 but 100
• Use spell check but do not rely totally on it
• Always check for grammar, punctuation and
  capitalization errors
• Proof at least 4 times
• Have someone else proof it

50
TIP USE VERBAL PROOFING
My fellow Americans...

• Read your resume aloud
• Grammatical mistakes and faulty construction are
  often most obvious when you hear them

51
TIP ASK FOR OTHERS OPINIONS
Ask me, Ask me Ask me!!

• A 2nd opinion can be more objective and make
  worthwhile suggestions
• A 2nd eye can also find errors you may have
  overlooked
• Who do you ask ?

52
TIP DO NOT INCLUDE PERSONAL STATISTICS
Of course Im old enuff

• This includes information about age, marital
  status, height, weight, health, etc.
• Requesting this info violates anti-discrimination
  laws so do not volunteer it

53
TIP NO PHOTO COPIES!!

• An effective resume is an original, not a copy
• Use a computer and good word processing software
  so revisions can easily be made

Whew!
54
TIP Use Quality Paper Envelopes

• Never use copy paper
• 20-wt bond is superb
• Use white, off-white, ivory, or light gray - -
  Stand by for some exceptions!
• What envelope to use
• - Perfectly matched
• - 10 business
• - 9 x 12 manila

55
TIP TO FOLD OR NOT TO FOLD

• The 9x12 envelope is a sure eye catcher
• Consider the USPO Priority envelope. Its bold
  red, white blue colors scream importance
• Always follow-up with a phone call. Most dont.
  So take this simple step to stand out from the
  crowd

No-Please dont fold me!
56
TIP Get your resume noticed - Use COLORED
PAPER!

• Not flashy neon, but a conservative pastel
• A resume on colored paper will ALWAYS stand out .
  
• It will also identify you as someone who wants
  to be noticed
• Use salmon, light blue or green, or light
  blue-green

WOW!
57
YOU SAID WHAT?
HUH?

• Received a plague for salesman of the year
• Wholly responsible for two failed financial
  institutions
• Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a
  Midwest chain store

58
OTHER INFAMOUS QUOTES!
HAHAHA.. Oh..my tummy hurts!

• Various employment during college helped defraud
  educational personal experiences
• To use my IRS background, I enjoy travel
  confrontation
• Enclosed is my residue

59
COVER LETTER FORMAT

• Your Cover Letter should cover these important
  topics
• WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE COMPANY?
• WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE COMPANY?
• WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE COMPANY?

60
COVER LETTER TIPS, 1 of 2

• Send to a specific individual
• Have a strong, positive opening statement that
  mentions the position and something about the
  company
• Convey enthusiasm and commitment
• Be brief and focused

61
Cover Letter Tips, 2 of 2

• Identify something unique about yourself that is
  relevant to the position
• Highlight your strong points that relates to the
  specific job
• Three or four paragraphs long - thats it!
• State how you will follow-up - and then make sure
  you do it!

62
Cover Letter Paragraphs, 1 of 2

• PARAGRAPH 1
• Why you are writing.
• State your strongest point and the job for which
  you want to be considered.
• PARAGRAPH 2
• Explain why you want to work for this company and
  why you desire this position

63
Cover Letter Paragraphs, 2 of 2

• PARAGRAPH 3
• Highlight your skills and qualifications that are
  relevant to this job and company
• PARAGRAPH 4
• Request an interview and state how you will
  follow-up

64
TIP Envelopes Send Messages, 1 of 5

• I never open envelopes with dot-matrix printed
  pressure sensitive labels I regard them as junk
  mail and I simply dont have the time for
  ill-targeted marketing attempts

65
ENVELOPES, 2 of 5

• I never open anything addressed to me by title
  but not by name

66
ENVELOPES, 3 of 5

• I will open envelopes addressed to me by
  misspelled name, but I am looking with a
  jaundiced eye already and that eye is keen for
  other examples of sloppiness

67
ENVELOPES, 4 of 5

• I always open correctly typed envelopes that say
  personal and/or confidential, but if theyre
  not, I feel conned. I dont hire con artists

68
ENVELOPES, 5 of 5

• I always open neatly handwritten envelopes.
  Whats more, I open them first, unless theres
  another letter that is obviously a check

69
Your resume is Alive

• Remember
• Your resume is a
• living
• document
• Continue to add and upgrade as your career
  progresses

70
HEY - WERE HERE FOR IDEAS HELP!
Ideas? Im full of them!

• COME SEE US!
• UND Career Service
• UND Cooperative Ed
• Job Service ND
• 280 McCannel Hall

MARK