1 Résumés

2 What is a résumé? Not just an informative document, but instead a persuasive summary of your qualifications

3 Before you start: Assess your strengths Technical skills Communication skills Interpersonal skills Team skills Leadership experience Computer skills

4 Résumés must contain Name, address, & phone Education Experience

5 Résumés may contain Career objective Summary of qualifications Special skills Honors Activities Volunteer activities

6 Résumés may contain, continued Presentations Publications Certifications and licenses References Any other category you need

7 Guidelines for Résumés Fill at least 1 page –Longer is OK if you have diverse background or several years experience –Put most important information on first page

8 Guidelines for Résumés, continued Emphasize information that –Is relevant to the job you want –Is recent (last three years) –Shows your superiority to other applicants

9 Guidelines for Résumés, continued Stress key points by –Putting them in headings –Putting them in vertical lists –Providing details –Using emphatic order

10 Guidelines for Résumés, continued Use concise, dynamic language –Use sentence fragments punctuated like sentences –Use “action verbs” –Use “-ing” verb forms

11 Guidelines for Résumés, continued Create good visual impact Condense long sections Eliminate complete sentences Consider using lists Change format to maximize white space

12 Guidelines for Résumés, continued Emphasize achievements Quantify whenever possible Emphasize transferable skills Make “Career Objective” specific or eliminate Be consistent in punctuation, abbreviation, etc. Use parallelism in lists and descriptions of job responsibilities

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