Resume Workshop

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Resume Workshop

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What is a Resume?

• Definition
• A description of who you are
• your competencies
• accomplishments
• future capabilities
• A marketing tool

• Purpose
• Applicants perspective-
• Get the attention of a prospective employer
• Get an interview
• Reviewers perspective
• Communicate value
• Applicant screening

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Quick Question

• An interviewer will spend, on average,
  ___________, screening any one individual resume.
• A. 1 minute
• B. 3 minutes
• C. 5 minutes
• D. none of the above

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Do Your Research!

• Know yourself
• Experiences
• Skills
• Strengths
• Interests
• Future goals
• Desired type of job

• Know the employer
• Mission or Vision
• Distinctive services or features
• Applicant fit
• Culture
• Target your resume.

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A GOOD RESUME
CONTENT The type of information you choose to
put on your resume.
FORMAT The way you arrange this information.
APPEARANCE How this information is presented
aesthetically.
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CONTENT
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Content Guidelines

• Think about the qualities, skills and experiences
  you want your audience to know about.
• Relevant experiences can be both paid and unpaid.
• You can make custom categories and headings to
  suit your needs.

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Contact specifics

• One e-mail address
• A phone number with professional voice-mail
• Your current address
• Example
• Amanda Smith
• 12234 Main St.
• Hometown, VA 00011
• smithax_at_yahoo.com
• [phone]

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Objective Statements Yes or No?

• Writing Objective Statements
• Focus on how you would benefit employer or grad
  school- not how they can help you.
• Dont be vague.
• Be concise and direct.
• Target your objective to each specific employer.
• Key ingredients to a successful objective
  statement
• Name the job/position for which you are applying.
• Note how your skill set is a match.

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Whats wrong with this picture?

• Lets look at the samples.

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Educational Background

• JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, Harrisonburg, VA
• Bachelor of Business Administration, May 2008
• Hospitality Tourism Management Major
• Overall GPA 3.1 Major GPA 3.6
• (Usually dont need to list High School at all.)
• Relevant Coursework
• Bulleted list of 6-8 courses OR
• Description of 2-3 major projects
• Academic honors, special certifications,
  endorsements, etc.

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Experience

• Start with your title, the organization,
  location, and time frame.
• Each relevant position should have a list of your
  accomplishments.
• Start with a verb in the past tense.
• Avoid duties include or responsible for.
• Quantify, be descriptive, and identify strengths.
• Example Edited a monthly newsletter for the
  department, streamlining office communication."

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Skills

• Technical Skills
• Computer programs/software/languages.
• Familiar or proficient?
• Foreign Language Skills
• Basic understanding, conversant or fluent?
• Lab/Scientific Skills
• Equipment you can use, processes you can perform.

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References

• References available upon request at the
  bottom?
• When to provide references
• What to include for each reference

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FORMAT
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Chronological Format

• Organizes information around dates, stating what
  you did and when.
• Work history is typically related to the job
  objective.
• Jobs/experiences are listed in reverse
  chronological order.
• Titles and organizations are emphasized.
• Accomplishments are highlighted.

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Chronological Resume
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Functional Format

• Organizes information around functional headings,
  highlighting major areas of accomplishments and
  strength.
• Allows you to organize content in an order that
  most supports the objective not bound by dates.
• Titles and work history are secondary.
• Draws on all sources of experience- volunteer,
  activities, courses, work and signifies each as
  equally important.

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Functional Resume
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Combination Format

• Combines the best aspects of both the
  chronological and functional.
• Emphasizes skills, accomplishments, interests,
  and work experience relative to the objective.
• When to use the Combination Format?
• Use when you want to emphasize previous
  activities and or experience while also
  highlighting transferable skills.

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Combination Resume
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Combination Resume
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APPEARANCE
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Appearance

• Dont use a template.
• Print on a laser printer.
• Be consistent with heading style and margins.
• Font no smaller than 10 point.
• Margins no smaller than 0.5 inches.
• Paper choice matters.

• Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Use one font style and size (except for your
  name).
• Fill the page.
• Try to stick to 1 page in most cases.
• Paragraphs vs. bullets.
• Use bullets, not dashes.

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A Few Final Guidelines Dos

• Revise your resume often. Have a variety of
  people give you feedback.
• If a position is still in progress, indicate so
• Fall 2006-present.

• Vary your verbs.
• Talk about the big picture, i.e. what impact your
  action had on the organization.
• Proofread beyond spell check.

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A Few Final Guidelines

• Dont include hobbies.
• Dont use I.
• Dont describe duties in paragraph form - use
  bullets.

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COVER LETTERS
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Key Elements

• Contact Information
• Content
• Purpose of Letter
• Special Skills
• Follow-up Intent