Introduction to Resumes

What is a resume? - A resume is a tool to provide information about yourself to a potential employer. Nearly all jobs need a resume. Your resume needs to showcase your skills, experience, and personality, as well as summarize your strengths and accomplishments. - Employers will look at one resume for about 20-30 seconds before moving on. Therefore, it’s important your resume is formatted properly so that it is easy to find information.

Generally there are 3 types of resumes: The 3 types of resumes Generally there are 3 types of resumes: chronological functional combination

Chronological - This type of resume is focused on your work experience over a period of time. - This style of resume starts with your most recent job and works backwards. - The same applies to education and other related categories.

Functional - This resume focuses on your skills and abilities. - It does not refer to jobs or education chronologically.

Combination - Combination resumes combine the chronological and functional styles. - They usually start with a description of your skills and strengths, followed with chronological details about your work experience and education.

Identify Looking at the resumes posted around the classroom, compile a list of subheadings. From your list of subheadings, group together similar topics. Complete the identification chart.

Identify Which of the resumes are chronological? Which of the resumes are functional? Which of the resumes are a combination?

What is on a resume? - Contact information - Objective - Skills and qualifications - Work and volunteer experience - Education and training certificates - References

Contact Information - Name - Address - Phone number/s - Email address (you may want to think about setting up a ‘professional’ email address)

Objective - This is one of the first things that an employer will read - It tells the employer the type of job that you are looking for OR skills you are hoping to learn - Try to keep it to 3-5 sentences

Skills and Qualifications - This section is to emphasize your skills and show you are the best to do the job - Keep the list short, only the highlights - Talk about key skills/training related to the job - You could also mention some personal attributes (e.g. being a leader and organized)

Work/Volunteer Experience - List any work/volunteer experience that you might have that relates to the job you are applying for - Use action words in your descriptions - Employers are beginning to look more at the types of volunteer work young people are doing when they apply for jobs. Why?

Education and Training Certificates - List your most recent education first - Include any relevant courses you have taken or certificates (e.g. First Aid, Food Safe, Babysitting) you have - As a student it is important to list any scholarships and academic awards you receive

References - There are two types of references: - Personal - Professional - Have 2-3 references from your current or past supervisors, teachers, or volunteer workplaces - Family and friends cannot be used as references - Reference letters can also be helpful. Make sure to ask for a letter from volunteer placements - When choosing your references, you should also already know what they are going to say! Nothing is worse that being surprised by what a reference tells an employer - Why do employers want references? - Take the take the time to talk to your references beforehand and ask their permission to use them as a reference - Tell them about the job you are applying for and send them an updated resume. Why?

Pop Quiz! :)

Resume Language

Action Words - Action words/phrases are used to describe the skills you have used on the job, at school, or in life that are relevant to the job you are applying to. - Action words help keep job duty and skill description short and to the point.

The 5 Skill Areas - Communication - Interpersonal Skills - Research and Planning - Organizational Skills - Management Skills Retrived from: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2135-job-skills-resume.html

Communication - writes clearly and concisely - speaks effectively - listens attentively - openly expresses ideas - negotiates/resolves differences - leads group discussions - respectful - openminded - confidently speaks in public

Interpersonal Skills - works well with others - supportive - motivates others - shares credit - cooperates - self-confident - accepts responsibility

Research and Planning - creates ideas - identifies problems - meets goals - gathers information - solves problems - develops strategies - interviews - meets goals

Organizational Skills - handles detail - coordinates tasks - punctual - meets deadlines - set goals - multi-tasks

Management Skills - leads groups - coaches/ counsels - delegates responsibility - makes decisions - directs others - implements decisions - takes charge

Other Skill Groups - Service - Clerical - Physical/ Manual Labour - Helping - Financial - Creative - Teaching - Technological Resources: http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/media/skills_inventory.shtml http://www.rysa.bc.ca/documents/careerdocs/ACTIONWORDS.pdf