Hitting The Mark With Your Resume Presented by Experiential Learning and Career Management (ELCM)

Introduction Creating a resume: Content information listed in order of importance Focus on specific skills Visually appealing Honest Easy to read Error free/Flawless Today we will focus on the most difficult part of the resume, content and phrasing

Program Agenda Resume Content and Phrasing Development 1. Purpose of a resume 2. List your experiences 3. Content essentials 4. Employment goals 5. Work environment 6. Positions 7. Employer qualifications 8. Self-assessment 9. Connecting the dots 10. Resume drafts 11. Obtain feedback

Purpose of a Resume Markets you to potential employers Highlights your skills and qualifications Example of your writing skills and attention to detail Resume musts: 1. Targeted to the position 2. Easy to read and flawless

Getting Started: List your Experiences Education Degree(s) Capstone project Research Thesis Study Abroad Work Experience Field Experience Internships Jobs you held

List of Experiences (Continued) Activities Intercollegiate Athletics Professional Associations Volunteer work Tutoring Mentoring Campus Committees Sports/Clubs

Content Essentials Contact Information Name, Address; Phone Number; address Career Objective or Summary of Qualifications (optional) Education University (s) and locations; degree; graduation date; majors and if appropriate minors; GPA if 3.0 or better Study abroad; senior capstone projects; research projects; thesis Technical skills obtained in classes; coursework – unique to major or critical for career field Experience/Activities Job titles; name of organizations; locations (City & State) dates Professional Associations

Employment Goals: Why Are You Creating a Resume? Part-time employment Internships Employment after graduation Graduate school Class requirement

Work Environment What types of employers and what is their product or service? For profit Non-profit Large or small employer E-commerce Regional, national, or international Products and services Core values and interests - mission Reputation

What Type of Position(s)Are You Seeking? Example: Career in Marketing What type of position are you looking for? Sales - what type of sales Marketing management - What will you manage? Market Research- what area of research? Purchasing/Procurement – what will you be buying and for whom? Social Media Management – will you be creating content or managing the social platforms? Management Entertainment marketing Banking Insurance Real Estate

Sources to Identify Qualifications  CareerConnection  Companies attending job/internship fairs  Indeed.com  LinkedIn  Professional Associations  Networking  Campus organizations  Family/friends  Alumni  Faculty

Qualifications Employers are Seeking. Looking for individuals who: 1. Meet the stated required qualifications 2. Meet many of the preferred qualifications 3. Show you understand the language of your chosen field Utilizing industry key words

Example: Basic Qualifications for Social Media Positions. Bachelor degree in related field Experience Industry knowledge Written and oral communication skills Evaluating and assessing social media trends Monitor and assess the success of social media campaigns

Connecting the Dots: Experiences Related to Employers Qualifications? Show the What and How Remember, do not undervalue what you do Explain the “What and How” of what you did Write in the language of the employer Avoid vague generalizations Quantify when possible with #, %, $

Poor Examples: Position Descriptions Social Media Internship Attended events and meetings Worked with the PR Manager Worked on an independent project Campus Organization Published programs and events Attended meetings Campus paper Wrote articles

“What and How” Social Media Internship Assisted in the implementation of social media plans that met the organization’s goals and objectives Maintained social media content on various platforms, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn Analyzed the effectiveness of social media campaigns and made recommendations Monitored and responded to posts on social media channels

“What and How” Campus organization Maintained and updated social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram Authored blogs about campus wide events and programs Utilized social media to grow membership participation by 50% Analyzed the effectiveness of marketing initiatives and made recommendations

“What and How” Campus Newspaper Wrote and edited press releases and news articles Collaborated with the editor as well as the other staff writers Worked independently and as part of a team to achieve marketing goals

Putting Your Ideas on Paper: Creating Your 1 st Draft Examples: ELCM: Career Services Resumes and Letters Career Services Web Page: Resume Samples by School ELCM Web Page: Forms, Guides and Handouts Job Search Guide ELCM’s Resume Rubric Career Advice Videos Internship Videos and Job Search Videos

ELCM Staff Critiques Résumé critiques/feedback, résumé rubric Walk-in hours critiques: one-one half hour appointments

ELCM’s Internship and Career Services Bedford House Office Hours( Fall & Spring Semesters) M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm Phone: Walk-in Hours for résumé and cover letter critiques for times critiques