Resume Writing Workshop

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Resume Writing Workshop

• Career Services
• 1048/1058 Williams Center
• 912-681-5197
• www2.gasou.edu/sta/career

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Your Resume is Your Marketing Tool

• Highlights skills, knowledge, and experience you
  have to sell to an employer.
• Provides a quick overview of your educational and
  employment experiences.
• Concise, easy-to-read document that clearly
  reflects your qualifications.

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Skill Assessment

• Evaluate the skills you have to offer and develop
  your career objective.
• Make a list of all your skills, abilities,
  experiences, and achievements.
• Include classroom experiences, jobs, internships,
  co-ops, activities, volunteer work, etc.

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Resume Content

• Contact Information
• Objective
• Education
• Work Experience
• Military Experience
• Special Skills
• Activities
• Honors

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Resume Content

• Professional Affiliations
• Research/ Publications
• Relevant Courses
• Interests/Hobbies
• Availability
• References

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Resume Content

• Your resume is very flexible
• Adapted to highlight your skills or experiences
• Information can be included or deleted according
  to your needs
• Order information is presented can vary too.
• USE THE CATEGORIES THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOU!!!!!

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Contact Information

• Sally Jo Smith
• 1212 Elm Street, Apartment 12
• Statesboro GA 30460
• 912/681-1234
• sally_at_gasou.edu

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Career Objective

• Possibly the hardest part of the resume.
• Important to be clear and explicit.
• Answer the following questions
• 1) What do I want to do?
• 2) Where?
• 3) With whom?
• 4) At what level of responsibility?
• 5) Any special conditions?
  

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Objective

• What do I want to do?
• Where?
• With whom?
• Responsibility level?
• Special conditions?

• Teach
• Public schools
• Autistic children
• Head teacher-- not aide
• Room to be creative and innovative

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Completed Objective Statement

• A position as head teacher of autistic children
  in a public school where I can use my skills as a
  creative, innovative educator.

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A Final Thought on Objectives

• The objective should be expressed in the fewest
  possible words and your goal should be justified
  by the education and work experience that will
  follow it in the resume.

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Education

• Colleges attended
• Degrees received
• Dates of degree or attendance
• Major
• Minor
• G.P.A.
• Certifications/Licenses
• Special training

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Education Examples

• GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Statesboro GA
• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, December 1999,
  3.19 GPA
• Georgia Southern University, Statesboro GA
• Bachelor of Science Nursing, May 2002, GPA
  3.42
• East Georgia College, Swainsboro, GA
• General Studies, August 1999-2001

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Work Experience

• Internships
• Cooperative Education
• Volunteer work
• Part-time jobs
• Summer jobs
• Research

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Work Experience Example

• K-Mart Statesboro, GA
• Cashier, May 1994-Present
• Handled cash and credit transactions
• Trained five new part-time cashiers during summer
  and holiday breaks
• Awarded Associate of the Month, April 1998.

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Skills

• Career Services has several handouts to help you
  assess your skills
• Possible areas to highlight include
• Communication Teaching
• Leadership Computer
• Teamwork Sales

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Activities

• Professional Groups (SHRM, AMA)
• Campus clubs (fraternities and sororities,
  Baptist Student Union, Triangle Club)
• Sports (varsity or intramural)
• Community groups (4-H, Optimists, church groups)

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Honors

• GPA over 3.0
• Major GPA
• Deans List
• Special awards or recognition
• Scholarships

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Other Possible Headings

• Relevant Courses
• Hobbies/Interests
• Certification/ Licensures
• Special Training
• Military Experience
• Volunteer Work/Community Service

• The possibilities are endless.
• Remember to use this resume in a way that best
  highlights your skills and qualifications.

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Examples

• Activities
• Kappa Delta Sorority, Treasurer 2001-2002,
  Rush Chairperson, 1999-2000
• Intramural Sports soccer and flag football
• College Republicans
• Honors
• Hope Scholarship
• XYZ Scholarship for scholastic achievement,
  2000-2001

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Tips When Writing Resume Text

• Omit personal pronouns (I, me, my, etc)
• Emphasize your SKILLS
• Avoid wordiness- use phrases instead of
  sentences.
• Start job descriptions with an action verb.
• Do not use a lot of dates and numbers.

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Tips When Writing Resume Text

• Use perfect punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
• Do not exaggerate or try to make up
  qualifications.
• Do not use passive phrases.
• Keep your resume up to date and current.

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Resume Appearance

• Use margins no smaller than 0.5 inch. One inch
  margins are preferred.
• Use 8.5x11 high quality, neutral colored
  stationery.
• Use bolding, underlining, italics, etc. to
  highlight areas that are important.
• Print your resume on a laser printer.

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Resume Appearance

• Resumes should be one to two pages in length.
  Most recent college graduates only need a one
  page resume. NEVER have 1.5 pages.
• Dont be cute or fancy when it comes to layout
  and presentation.
• Hold your resume out at arms length. Does it
  look pleasing and organized?

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References

• Who can you list as a reference?
• 3-5 professionals who can attest to your
  abilities-- professors, supervisors, co-workers,
  advisors.
• NOT friends, relatives, or peers.
• Always ask for permission.
• Always use current information.

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Sample Reference

• Dr. Bob Jones
• Professor of Management
• Georgia Southern University
• P.O. Box 1234
• Statesboro, GA 30460
• 912/681-1234

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Scannable Resumes

• Maximizes the computers ability to read your
  resume
• Maximizes your ability to get hits (a hit is
  when one of your skills matches the computer
  search)

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Tips for Preparing a Scannable Resume

• Use white paper.
• Provide a laser printer original. Do not send
  copies or dot matrix printouts.
• Do NOT fold, staple, or paperclip.
• Use font size of 12-14 points.

• Avoid italics, underlining, and shadowed text.
• No pictures or graphics.
• Avoid two column format.
• Place your name at the top of each page.

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Tips for Maximizing Scannability

• Use jargon and acronyms specific to your
  industry.
• Increase your list of key words by including
  specifics. Example list the names of software
  you use such as Microsoft Word and Lotus 1-2-3.
• If you have extra space describe your
  interpersonal traits, for example, dependable,
  high energy, time management.

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Keyword Examples

• For a HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALIST position keywords
  may include BBA, Management, 401K, Defined
  Benefits, Disability Plan, Employee Benefits,
  Flexible Benefits, Pension, Service Award.
• For a NURSE (RN) keywords may include Catheter
  Care, Community Health Care Development, Infusion
  Therapy, Peripheral Line Management,
  Maternity/Child Rotation, Acute Care, Disability
  Management, Intensive Care, Post-Op Care, Suture
  Removal.

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Keywords to Highlight Interpersonal Traits

• Ability to Delegate
• Adaptable
• Assertive
• Communication Skills
• Customer Oriented
• Detail Minded
• High Energy

• Innovative
• Leadership
• Multitasking
• Organizational Skills
• Public Speaking
• Team Player
• Willing to Travel

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Final Thoughts on Scannable Resumes

• You may want to have two versions of your resume
• One for the computer to read in scannable format
• One for people to read with a more creative
  format. Carry this one to the interview.

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Introducing. Career Connections (formally called
RE WEB)

• Write your resume on-line at http//www2.gasou.ed
  u/sta/career/ ( Just click on the RE Web button!
  )
• Provided to students free of charge through the
  Technology Fee.
• ID number issued from Career Services
• Submit your finished resume online to download
  into database.

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Resume Writing Handouts and Other Related Topics

• Scannable Resume
• References
• References Make Them Work For You
• Building a Cover Letter
• Thank You Letter

• Sample Resume for each major
• Assessing Your Skills
• Personal Characteristic Assessment
• Buzz Words

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Career Services

• Rooms 1047/1058 Williams Center
• P.O. Box 8069
• http//www2.gasou.edu/sta/career
• 912/681-5197
• Hours of Operation
• Monday through Thursday, 800 am - 700 pm
• Friday, 800am-500pm

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Any Questions?

• Thats all folks!