Resume Writing

1
Resume Writing
2
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Chronological Resume Format

• Disadvantages
• Emphasizes gaps in employment
• Highlights Frequent Job Changes
• Emphasizes employment but not skill development
• Emphasizes lack of related experience
• Points out demotions/setbacks

• Advantages
• Widely Used
• Logical Flow
• Easy to Read
• Showcases career progression
• Shows impressive titles
• Shows company loyalty

3
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Chronological Resume Format

• Best used by
• Individuals with steady work record
• Individuals with experience that relates directly
  to the position applied for.

4
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Functional Resume Format

• Advantages
• Emphasizes skills rather than employment
• Organizes a variety of experience (paid and
  un-paid or other activities
• Disguises gaps in work record or a series of
  short term jobs

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

5
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Functional Resume Format

• Best used by
• Individuals with no previous employment
• Individuals with gaps in employment
• Frequent job changers
• Individuals who have developed skills from other
  than documented employment

6
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Combination Resume Format

• Advantages
• Highlights most relevant skills and
  accomplishments
• De-Emphasizes employment history in less relevant
  jobs
• Combines skills developed in a variety of job or
  other activities
• Minimizes drawbacks such as employment gaps and
  absence of directly related experience

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

7
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Combination Resume Format

• Best used by
• Career changers or those in transition
• Individuals reentering the job market after some
  absence
• Individuals who have grown in skills and
  responsibility
• Individuals pursuing the same or similar work as
  theyve had in the past

8
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Targeted Resume Format

• Advantages
• Personalized to company
• Shows research
• More impressive to employer
• Written specifically to employers needs

• Disadvantages
• Time consuming to prepare
• Confusing if not well organized
• Should be revised for each employer

9
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Targeted Resume Format
Best used by Everyone Any format can be made
into a targeted resume
10
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Dos Donts

• DO list your achievements and how you solve
  problems
• How you increased operational efficiency
• The amount of money you saved or raised
• The number of people who used the service or
  product
• The action that came about as a result of your
  efforts

PAR
Write these items in phrases that identify the
problem, note the action (solution), and describe
the result
11
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Dos Donts

• DO write your resume to show employers the three
  Rs
• Responsibility
• Results
• Relevancy

RRR!!!
If possible, keep an electronic copy of your
resume so you can easily make changes
12
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Dos Donts

• DO use statistics or numbers.
• Size of organization
• Number of people supervised
• Length of report
• Time involved
• Size of budget
• Amount of money raised

13
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Dos Donts

• DO use action verbs

Devised
Managed
Coordinated
Implemented
Analyzed
Supervised
Expedited
Streamlined
Directed
Designed
Marketed
Installed
Administered
Analyzed
Facilitated
Programmed
Coached
Distributed
Developed
Recruited
14
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Dos Donts

• DONT
• Include the names of your references
• Mention salary
• Use military terminology
• Staple documents together
• Stress your weaknesses
• Print on the back side of the resume
• Use bright colored paper
• Exaggerate

• DONT mention
• Marital status
• Names, ages, and number of children
• Spouses job
• Age
• Race
• Photograph of yourself
• Religious/Political affiliations
• Height or Weight
• Salary for previous jobs

15
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Contact Information

• Name
• No Nicknames
• Address
• Spell out Street, Avenue, etc.
• E-mail
• Professional
• MarySmith_at_email.com
• vs.
• marylovesbubblegum_at_email.com
• Phone
• Never leave a number for a machine that has
  something cute or funny as a greeting.

16
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Objective Statement

• The most effective, well-written objective
  statement is targeted for a specific job with a
  specific company.
• Has become more important in recent years. Such
  as
• When applying online
• When applying to large companies
• Posting on job search sites (AJB)
• Resumes for scanning
• Becomes a keyword in the screening process

17
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Summary of Qualifications

• Highlights your professional background as it
  relates to the needs of the company
• Draws attention your specific qualities and
  skills
• Can be in the form of a paragraph or bullet
  statements

Remember a resume is a sales tool and this a good
place to catch someones interest and to brag
about your best qualities and what you bring to
the table.
18
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Employment History

• Depending on the style of resume you select, it
  will dictate where and how you will organize the
  information
• Quantify your Experience, Responsibilities and
  Accomplishments

Results sell, job descriptions dont!
19
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Creating Accomplishment Statements

• Snapshot so the employer can SEE you in action
• Very important to describe your exact role
• Become the basis for questions during the
  interview

20
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Creating Accomplishment Statements

• Step 1 Identify the PROBLEM you faced
• A task you performed alone
• A project you worked on alone
• A challenge you overcame in the job setting
• A problem you solved
• A goal you set

21
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Creating Accomplishment Statements

• Step 2 Identify the ACTION you performed
• Planned, organized and directed a 4 day training
  exercise
• Troubleshot, disassembled and repaired mobile
  over 300 pieces of communications equipment
• Recorded, documented and tracked daily, weekly
  and monthly reports.
• Formed, created and lead special security force.

22
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Creating Accomplishment Statements

• Step 3 Which RESULTed in
• Reduced accidents from 30 to under 2 in 2
  weeks.
• Enabled constant communication in 4 different
  states.
• Increased the training rate of employees by 45
• Provided search and recovery support for disaster
  victims.

End with a positive and measurable conclusion
23
Veterans Job Search Workshop
Veterans Succeeding in the 21st Century Workforce
4
3
5
6
7
1
2
Resume Writing
Education

• Include education or training that is relevant to
  the job
• Start with the most recent
• List the location of the school, no dates
• (Especially, if your knowledge of the technology
  is not current)