1 Writing an Effective Resume

2 Why Write a Resume?  Your resume is a personal gear intended to persuade a potential employer that you are the best one to do the job.  A resume helps you keep track of your professional experience and skills you have acquired. It is best to keep it updated as you gain new experiences and education.  “Resumes open doors to job interviews; interviews open doors to jobs.”

3 What are the Keys to a First Effective Resume?  Choosing the proper format  Including all relevant content  Using “winning words”  Abiding by the “Do’s & Don’ts” of resume writing  Proofreading

4 What are the Formats for a Resume? Chronological Functional Combination

5 Chronological The chronological resume is probably the one with which most people are familiar. On it, work experience is listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first). Best For: Job seekers who have advanced through one field; it shows career growth, and can show a history of promotion Suitable for people who have not gone through many job changes or long gaps in their work history

6 What can a resume include? Heading Objective Summary Statement Education Employment History Volunteer Experience Computer/Specialized Skills Relevant Activities/Organizations Honors

7 What should a heading include?  NAME  Your name should appear on the first line, larger than the address and bolded  ADDRESS  If moving, give current and permanent address and the dates each is in effect  PHONE NUMBER  If you are not comfortable being contacted at work, leave a home number and make sure your message is professional and that you check messages throughout the day  ADDRESS  Be sure to use a professional name in your address

8 Heading Example Anita Jones 123 W. Main Street Tucson, AZ phone:

9 What is an Objective? An objective is a one or two line statement that appears at the top of a resume (regardless of the format you choose) about the specific job you want and what you can contribute to the employer in return for the job. An objective specifies your search and provides an eye-catching opening for your resume. It alerts the employer of the type of position you are seeking.

10 How Should You Use an Objective? Use an objective to… Pursue a specific job goal Apply for a specific position Add direction to a diverse career background As a new graduate, formalize your goals

11 Examples of Good & Bad Objectives Bad Objective: (too general, vague and impersonal) To obtain a job utilizing my skills and abilities. Good Objective: (specifies the position sought, goal and skills) Sales management position using expertise in motivating sales personnel in order to increase profit sharing

12 What is a Summary Statement? A summary or qualifications statement summarizes your work experience, achievement, and skills. This statement is a summary of the experience and qualifications that are the most related to the job for which you are applying. This is recommended for all job seekers as a way to get the employer’s attention. The summary should only be three or four lines. The summary statement is often read first, so it catches the reader’s attention. If it does, chances are, the rest of the resume will be read.

13 Summary Example Often called: “ Summary of Qualifications ” or “ Skills Summary ” Resourceful Planner/Coordinator with extensive knowledge of inventory control and on-line inventory systems. Recognized by management for innovation and initiative in implementing JIT techniques, as well as interdepartmental communications and supervisory skills.

14 How Do I List My Education? Include: Name of institution Location (city and state) Date of graduation, or potential graduation Degree awarded Field of study (major) GPA optional A good rule: if your GPA is 3.0 or better, include it! Any academic honors (dean’s list, etc.) could be included here or at the end of the resume in a separate section depending on the length

15 Education Example Education Peirce College Philadelphia, PA B.S. Information Technology Expected Graduation: May 2005 GPA: 3.5 A.S. Information Technology May 1999 GPA: 3.3

16 Employment History The order of jobs in the work experience section depends on the resume format Chronological: List most recent job first, generally the last 3 jobs or last 10 years, description of duties should relate to your objective and the position you seek

17 The Basic Information to Include in a Job Description Name of company Position held Location of company (city and state) Dates of employment (month and year) Description of duties, responsibilities, and achievements that relate closely to the position you seek

18 Bad and Good Descriptions  Bad Descriptions:  Use “I”  Are too general  Are too long and hard to follow  Good Descriptions:  Start with an action verb  Are specific and measurable  Describe what you did and your successes  Are positive and sell your skills  Relate your past skills and experiences to the job you seek

19 Job Description Examples Work Experience The MayTag Group, Charleston, WV Manager  Led marketing effort in developing and selling new product for the Real Time processing market  Developed product requirements and comprehensive business plan resulting in $3 million being allocated for the project  Responsible for overall market strategy, prospect identification and qualification

20 Computer and Specialized Skills? Before writing your resume it is important to recognize valuable skills. Skills categories can include: Computer skills Office skills Specialized skills for your field Certifications or qualifications relevant to the position you seek Fluency in another language Avoid overgeneralized phrases such as “excellent communication skills” Be specific about what you know and relate it to the job you want.

21 Skills Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, PageMaker Fluent in Spanish Certified Public Accountant Skills/Qualification Examples

22 What Organizations Should Be Included?  List organizational memberships related to your job goal.  List any offices held in an organization  Avoid using non-employer related or controversial organizations. Avoid mentioning specific religious or political affiliations, or other potentially controversial groups unless they directly relate to the job you want.

23 Organization Example Professional Affiliations American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member University of Arizona Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Vice President

24 What are Winning Words?  When describing your job responsibilities, start each statement with an action VERB. This is the active voice and demonstrates initiative and drive  Keep verbs the same tense  Current job=present tense  Past job(s)=past tense  Use NOUNS throughout the objective and summary statement; these words are more easily picked up when scanned electronically.

25 Examples of Action Verbs advisedinitiatedprioritized designedmonitoredcreated developedmanagedprocessed institutedoversawtrained initiatedproducedsupervised directedlaunchedplanned producedanalyzedcompiled reducedincreasedmaintained

26 Do’s & Don’ts of Resume Writing DO  Keep it brief; 1-2 pages  Open with a strong objective and/or summary  Include a cover letter when mailing your resume  Use the right format for your skills and objective  Be neat, organized and professional  Use the same font and verb tense throughout DON’T  Misspell  Use colored paper or fancy fonts  Supply personal information  Include salary information  List discriminatory affiliations  Include hobbies or personal interests unless they relate to your objective

27 PROOFREAD  Read your resume over for spelling mistakes, repeated words, capitalization and content errors  Give your resume to a qualified person (career counselor, professor, friend) to check it for you  Proofread the next day