Writing A Winning Resume

1
Writing A Winning Resume

• Presented by
• Steve Kravinsky, Director
• Liberal Arts Sciences
• Career Services
• 351 Catt Hall
• 294-4841
• srkravi_at_iastate.edu
• www.las.iastate.edu/careerservices

2
Functions of the Resume

• Initiates first contact and provides first
  impression with a potential employer
• Assists in obtaining an interview
• Provides a summary of education, experience,
  skills, and goals
• Facilitates the interview
• Shares your information with persons assisting
  you in intern/job search

3
A Good Resume Should

• Be your advertising/promotional brochure
• Invite the reader with a clear layout
• Be concise (one page, two maximum)
• Have consistent format throughout
• Start phrases with action verbs
• Use the vocabulary of the industry
• Contain only most relevant information
• Not include potentially controversial or negative
  information such as religion, age, or politics

4
Resume Components

• Identifying Information
• Career Objective
• Education
• Relevant Coursework
• Career Related Experience
• (Other) Work Experience
• Computer Skills

• Foreign Language Skills
• Awards Honors
• Activities
• Volunteer Activities
• Professional Affiliations
• References
• Portfolio
• optional/when applicable

5
Identifying Information

• Ima Student
• imastu_at_iastate.edu
• Present Address
  PermanentAddress
• 502 W. Wall Street 7542 Greenhill
  Road
• Ames, IA 50010 Phila. PA.
  19151
• [phone] [phone]
• Or
• Ima Student
• 502 W. Wall Street
• Ames, IA 50010
• [phone]
• imastu_at_iastate.edu
• __________________________________________________
  ___________________
• Comments
• Convey a professional image when choosing a
  phone message and e-mail address.

6
Career Objective

• To obtain a/an (full-time/intern) position in web
  site design and development best utilizing my
  computer, communication, leadership and
  organizational skills.
• To obtain a full-time position in a human
  services or related position (with special
  interest in youth services or whatever) best
  utilizing my _________, _________, and_________
  skills.
• To attain a management position in the Human
  Resource Department of a health-care facility
  with interests in employee relations, in-service
  training and employee motivational programs.

7
Education

• Bachelor of Science May 2006
• Iowa State University Ames, Iowa
• Major Computer Science Minor Finance
• G.P.A. 3.10/4.00 Major G.P.A. 3.54/4.00
• Study Abroad, Spring 2005
• University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
• Coursework 15 semester hours
• Enhanced independence, cultural sensitivity,
  global perspective
• Associate of Arts May 2004
• Delaware County Comm. College, Springfield, PA
• G.P.A. 3.20/4.00

8
Relevant Coursework

• Software Verification and Testing,
• Object-Oriented Analysis and Design,
• Computer-Based Information Systems,
• Advanced Programming Tools,
• Fundamentals of Public Speaking
• Writing for Business Applications
• __________________________________________
• Comments
• Use upper-level coursework
• Use ONLY coursework relevant to your career
  objective
• Give the name of the course, not the course
  numbers

9
Action Verbs

• Administered
• Advised
• Analyzed
• Built
• Compared
• Compiled
• Coordinated
• Designed
• Developed
• Evaluated

• Guided
• Handled
• Implemented
• Interviewed
• Managed
• Organized
• Planned
• Reported
• Supervised
• Trained

10
Career Related Experience

• Web Site Development Intern Summer, 2005
• XYZ Web Design, Inc., Phila, PA.
• Designed and developed 12 web sites for clients
• Responsible for maintenance of web sites
• Called on clients to troubleshoot web problems
• Enhanced customer service and time management
  skills
• President Fall/Spring, 2004
• ISU, Computer Science Club Ames, Iowa
• Marketed group through presentations and
  promotions
• Increased group enrollment by 20
• Developed and designed web site (www.cscisu.org)
• Extensive use of organizational and leadership
  skills

11
Other (Work) Experience

• Camp Counselor Summer 2004
• Prefontaine Running Camp Eugene, Oregon
• Organized and planned daily activities for 15
  campers
• Developed and designed workout schedules
• Motivated campers to maximize their talents
• Developed excellent communication, motivational,
  leadership and time management skills through
  this position
• Group Leader Summer 2003
• West Philly Boys Girls Club Philadelphia, PA.
• Developed and implemented activities for up to 35
  children
• Designed the Stretch for Success program (life
  skills program)
• Organized, developed and implemented a summer
  long track meet series for over 100 local youth
• Enhanced organizational, public relations and
  leadership skills

12
Computer Skills

• (Formatted for Technical Majors)
• Languages C, HTML, Java, Visual Basic, D and
  COBOL
• Operating Windows XP, UNIX, LINUX, Mac OS
• Systems
• Software Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader and
  Writer
• _______________________________________
• (Formatted for Non-Technical Majors)
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Writer

13
Foreign Language Skills

• (formatted for international students)
• Chinese, native speaker
• English, near native/fluent
• French, fluent
• Spanish, conversational
• ____________________________
• (formatted for domestic students)
• Spanish, near native/fluent
• Mandarin Chinese, fluent
• French, conversational
• Russian, conversational

14
Professional Affiliations

• Computer Game Developers Association
• Computer Research Association
• Iowa State Computer Science Club

15
Activities

• Iowa State Track Field team member, Fall
  2003-present
• Letter winner, 2003, 2004, 2005
• Team Captain, 2005
• Academic All- Big 12 Honors, Fall, Spring 2005
• Computer Science Club, Fall 2004 present
• President, Fall/Spring 2005
• Treasurer, Fall/Spring 2004
• Career Day Ambassador, Fall 2003,
  Spring 2004
• Intramural Sports Spring 2003-present

16
Awards Honors

• Deans List, Six semesters
• Honor Society, Fall 2003-present
• Hixson Scholarship Recipient, 4 year award
• IOU Scholarship Recipient, Fall 2002
• Computer Game Developers, National Award,
  2005
• ___________________________________________
• Comments
• Full title (Awards Honors) not necessary if not
  applicable

17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
Tips for Applying Online

• Carefully follow directions
• Tailor application info to the position
• Use key words, buzz words, and industry terms
• Create a skills-inventory section.
• Remarks in the Comments section that
  demonstrates company knowledge
• Include numbers and stats
• Complete all fields

20
Tips for Applying Online (cont.)

• Always take optional assessment test online even
  if not required
• If asked to paste resume into app make sure it is
  in a very simple format
• Spell check and grammar check
• Include strong Career Objective
• Follow-up your electronic app with a personal
  email to the recruiter

21
Additional Suggestions

• Focus on what you can do for the employer.
• No personal information.
• No salary expectations.
• 1 or 2 page length maximum.
• Be brief, employer will spend 10-15 seconds to
  preview.
• Style Balance consistent format and easy to
  read
• Quantify when possible supervised staff of 5
• Edit carefully, proof read, spell check, read
  aloud.
• Avoid personal pronouns such as I.
• Save on a disk, flash drive, hard drive, etc.

22
Additional Suggestions, contd

• Font size no less than 10 pt and conservative
• Do not use a template
• Too hard to manipulate
• May not send correctly through e-mail
• Negative message to recruiters
• You do not need the same number of bullets under
  each experience
• Headings should have their own margin
• Align information under those margins

23
References/Portfolio

• On resume Available Upon Request
• Actual list is always on a page separate from
  resume
• 3-5 references (employers, profs, advisor, coach,
  etc.)
• Give references a copy of your resume
• Ask permission to use people as references
• Let your reference know if you have a change of
  status
• Keep them informed during your job search
• __________________________________________________
  ___
• Sample
• Albert Taylor, Academic Advisor
• Department of Computer Science
• College of Liberal Arts Sciences, Iowa State
  University
• 120 Durham Hall
• Ames, Iowa 50011
• [phone]
• ataylor_at_iastate.edu

24
Resources

• Resume Writing Guide and streaming video workshop
  Career Services Webpage
• www.las.iastate.edu/careerservices
• Career Services Office 351 Catt Hall
• To schedule an appointment, call 294-4841
• Drop-In Hours
• Monday - Thursday 130-330
• __________________________________
• Our services available to LAS students only
• Others contact your ISU Career Services office