Resumes 12 th English Mrs. Fountain

What Exactly Is a Resume? ▫ A document that provides a brief summary of your education, achievements, experiences, and abilities. ▫ Think of a resume as a promotional brochure about you. ▫ Note: High school students need resumes just as much as college students!

Resumes: Why They’re Important ▫ Help with the college process. ▫ Help in getting a part-time or full-time job. ▫ Help to separate you from all the people applying to your college of choice or who are eager to land the same job as you.

Format: Topics You Should Cover ▫ Heading  Full name, address, phone number, address ▫ Objective  Allows college recruiters or potential employers to know your goal. Should be tailored to each situation. For example…  Objective: To earn a degree in Psychology at Boston University  Objective: To obtain a part-time sales position with the Gap

Format: Topics You Should Cover ▫ Education/Academics  List schools you have attended (high schools only)  Include your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher  Mention academic honors, awards, or other special recognition you’ve received

Format: Topics You Should Cover ▫ Experience/Skills  Give an overview of work experience that has taught you valuable skills.  Include title of position, name of organization, location of work (town, state), dates of employment, and description of work responsibilities.  Use action words to describe your duties: sold, created, instructed, organized, etc.  If you don’t have paid work experience, you can also list volunteer experiences or unpaid internships. You might also describe class projects in which you’ve learned important skills.  Mention specific computer skills and any foreign languages in which you are proficient.

Format: Topics You Should Cover ▫ Extracurricular Activities  Include key elements about you that don’t fit in any other section, such as…  Special skills  Leadership roles  Volunteer / community service experiences  Sports teams  Band(s), orchestra, musical instruments played  Club participation

Format: Topics You Should Cover ▫ References  This is a few people that a college/potential employer may contact for information about you.  Get the permission of any and all references before your give their name to someone!  Be prepared to provide a reference’s full name, telephone number, and address.  Instead of listing references on your resume, simply place a line at the bottom of your resume which reads: “References available upon request.”

Format: A Few Notes on Fonts ▫ Use one or two fonts consistently throughout your resume – any more than this can look confusing and jumbled. ▫ Fonts should be no smaller than 7 point (to maintain readability). ▫ Use underlining, bold face, italics, spacing, and indentation to clearly divide sections and connect similar information on your resume (however do so carefully).

What to Avoid on a Resume ▫ When it comes to getting job, first impressions count a lot. Ensure your resume gives a good first impression by knowing not only what to include, but also what not to include.

What to Avoid on a Resume ▫ Don’t Give Irrelevant Information  Do not create a resume describing everything you have ever done. Only include info useful to the school/job you are applying for. ▫ Don’t Supply a Photo of Yourself  Unless you’re an actor or a model, and you’re applying for something related to these professions, don’t include a photo as it makes your resume seem unprofessional.

What to Avoid on a Resume ▫ Don’t Lie  This should be self-explanatory. ▫ Don’t Give Explanations or Excuses  A resume should convey a sense of confidence in your skills and abilities. You should never apologize for things you may think are lacking in your education or skill set. Instead, focus on your strengths and what you have to offer an employer.

What to Avoid on a Resume ▫ Don’t Give Your Age, Ethnicity, or Political Affiliation  This doesn’t mean you should hide these details if they appear naturally in your experiences/skills. For instance, if you served on a church committee to perform volunteer work or worked for a local political campaign, these are excellent experiences and should be included.

What to Avoid on a Resume ▫ Don’t Go Beyond One Page  Colleges and potential employers look over resumes very quickly – don’t overwhelm them!  Format should be more of an outline than an essay. ▫ Don’t Misspell, Use Incorrect Grammar, or Inappropriate Language  Colleges and potential employers are looking to see that you pay attention to details and that you are taking your application seriously. Errors of this kind are the first sign that you may not be what they’re looking for!

Sample Resume Lisa H. Smith 6 Pine Street, Fairfax, VA Home phone: Objective: To earn an Economics degree at New York University Education: Thomas Jefferson High School, Fairfax, Virginia Expected Graduation June 2013, Current GPA: 3.2 Experience: Sales Associate, The Gap June 2012 – Present Maintain and restock inventory. Provide customer service. Operate computerized cash register system. Child Care 2011 — Present Provide child care for several families after school, weekends, and during school vacations.

Sample Resume (cont’d) Achievements: Academic Honor Roll: 2011 and 2012 Volunteer Experience Fairfax Food Pantry: Fall 2012-Present Fairfax Literacy Program: Fall 2011-Spring 2012 AIDS Walk: Spring 2011 Interests/Activities Member of Thomas Jefferson High School Soccer Team: 2010-Present Piano: 2005-Present Skills Proficient in Spanish Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe Photoshop References: Available Upon Request

The Assignment ▫ Create your own resume  This will be counted as a TEST grade.  Rough Draft- 25%  Final Draft- 75% ▫ Due Dates  Rough draft of resume due Friday, December 11,  Final resume due Monday, December 14, 2015.