Building a Resume

1
Building a Resume

• Public Accounting

2
Critical Elements-Content

• Objective
• Summary
• Education
• Facts and Figures
• Skills
• Experience
• Interests and Activities

3
Critical Elements- Format

• Chronological traditional format
• 20 Seconds first review
• Job Listing note skills required
• White space increase eye appeal

4
Summary

• Statement form an introduction or invitation
  to keep reading
• Three to four sentences about your value add.
• Illustrating your positive attributes
• Energetic
• Motivated
• Willing to learn
• Bullet form easy way to highlight your most
  important characteristics
• Four to five bullet points about your
  qualifications
• Objective
• Quantifiable

5
Objective

• An opportunity to define your interest
• Tax
• Assurance/Audit
• The first chance to present your selling points
• Contribute my _______ and ___________ skills to
  an assurance position at KPMG

6
Education

• List highest degree first
• Do not include transfer degrees
• List graduation date or Expected Graduation Date
• Bachelor of Science, Business Administration,
  Accounting
• No need to list specific accounting coursework
  unless you have taken some unique classes
• Can list honors and deans list in this section

7
Facts and Figures

• GPA This is imperative! Firms will learn your
  GPA.
• Cumulative All course work
• Accounting All accounting classes including
  lower division
• Business All business coursework
• CPA Sit date
• Eligible for the CPA May, 2005
• CPA Exam May, 2005
• Will complete 150 hour requirement for the CPA
  June 2005

8
Skills

• Firms are selecting candidates based on two skill
  sets
• Technical Skills
• GPA
• Internships and accounting related jobs
• Soft Skills
• -Problem solving -Novel problem solving
• -Attention to detail -Performance under pressure
• -Communication -Abstract thinking
• -Teamwork -Customer service

9
Experience

• Clean and easy to read information about jobs,
  internships, and substantial volunteer activities
• Chronological - most recent position first
• Include positions that are not directly related
• Illustrate the skills
• Technical from an accounting internship or a
  bookkeeping job
• Non-technical from non related work, student
  organizations, volunteer work

10
Interests and Activities

• Accounting Related illustrate technical skill
• BAP
• Tax assistance
• Volunteering in a tax role
• Other illustrate soft skills
• Mountain climbing or softball
• PTA or Neighborhood association
• May choose to stay away from political or
  religious activities

11
General Rules

• Clean font 10-12 pt. depending on the font
• Never use font smaller than ten pt.
• Name should be larger
• Contact information
• Phone (not work)
• Email (not cute)
• Spell out numbers ten and smaller
• Do not use contractions and abbreviations
• One page for undergrads without significant
  accounting work history

12
20 Seconds

• Average recruiter spends 12 seconds looking at
  resumes in the first sort
• Lead with what you can contribute and what value
  you add-
• Objective
• Summary
• Education
• Use Bullets not blocks of dense text
• Prime the reader with positive pre-resume review
  interaction

13
Job Listing

• Title first
• Teller
• US Bank, Beaverton OR May 2003-Present
• Right justify dates
• Can combine job categories
• Food Server
• Chilies, Beaverton OR May 2003-Present
• Mos, Lincoln City OR March 2000-April 2003
• Successfully managed as many as 8 tables
  concurrently, offering courteous service in a
  timely manner

14
White Space

• White space is essential at the top of the page
• At least .5 margin at the bottom of the page
• Even left and right margins no less than .7
• Avoid large tabs or indentations in order to make
  the most of your space

15
Resources

• Set up an appointment to review your resume by
  calling
• Fran Moga 503-725-3710
• Jim Bombino 503- 725-3746
• Resume Book Deadline 8/18
• Critique Thursday - some spaces remain