Resume Writing

Career Development Center n Museum Building Room 440 n 8-5 Monday-Friday n n Career Counseling available Idaho Falls

What is a Resume? n First piece of “advertising” employers see about you n Condensed summary of education and experience n Showcases skills learned in educational and work settings that are of value to employer n Sends messages regarding written communication skills, attention to detail, critical thinking, professionalism n HOW you describe skills and experiences often as important as the skills and experiences themselves n No “right” way to write a resume

Types of Resumes n (REVERSE) CHRONOLOGICAL u Most commonly used method u Be sure to arrange resume placing most related experience first n FUNCTIONAL OR SKILLS u Emphasizes related skills u Actual positions held less important n SCANNABLE u Newer form of resume writing u Often used by larger companies to screen resumes u “No frills”, use of keywords, different formats apply

Sections of a Resume n Contact Information n Objective n Education n Related and non-related Experience n Activities/Honors/Memberships, etc

Contact Information n Include name, address, phone, n If you have campus and permanent address, be sure to include both and indicate dates at each address n Can include Web address if applicable n Be sure to have professional answering machine message and make other household members aware of your job search

Objective n One to two lines, sometimes optional n Clarifies and connects skills on resume to targeted career path n Appropriate to leave objective off if resume and/or cover letter clearly reflects specific occupation n Components of Objective: u type of position being applied for u preferred work environment u skills you’d like to utilize in position u Example: “A position as a financial analyst with an international company using French speaking abilities”

Education n Main information to include: u All degrees in reverse chronological order including name and location of institution, graduation date u Major, Minor, Emphasis, GPA if above 2.5 n Additional information u Related coursework if supplemental to experience u Applicable skills including computer, technical, or foreign languages (may also be separate section) u Academic honors, scholarships, or awards

A Note on Job Search Ethics n RULE #1: DON’T LIE u Inaccurate or misleading information on resumes, cover letters, or in interviews is dishonest and often grounds for employment termination u Background/employment/transcript check can occur after hiring u O.K. to have gaps in employment, low GPA, or poor employment record: have resume reflect strengths and be prepared to discuss weaknesses in interview

Experience n “Experience”: Any opportunity to develop skills related to professional world of work; can be paid, internship, or volunteer experience n May want to divide into separate sections indicating experience related and not related to professional goal n No subject words (I, me, we, etc); start sentences with action verbs n “Frontload”: employer may only look at top 2/3 of resume and first 2 bullets, place most important information where most likely to be read. n Utilize jargon of field, state outcome/results of role n Include position title, organization, location, date

Activities,Memberships,etc n List activity in school or community organizations n NOTE: if held leadership role in activity, might be considered “related experience” n Memberships in professional organizations n Academic honors, special certifications, interests that apply to professional goal or might make you more interesting to employers n Include dates of membership, positions held

The Cover Letter n Explains in detail why you are applying for position n Opportunity to further develop and explain work- related qualifications n Don’t describe experiences in cover letter that aren’t on resume n Resume is key to interview, cover letter is key to resume n Should be written in standard business letter format

Parts of a Cover Letter n 3 basic parts to cover letter: u Introductory paragraph explaining how you heard of position, why you are applying u Body paragraph or two highlights experiences you feel especially qualify you for position and explains interest in that employer: refer to job description to target skills desired by employer u Right and Wrong reasons to desire employment with particular employer u Closing paragraph: state confidence of applicable skills, thank employer for time, state interest in follow-up, leave contact information (phone, )

References n 3-5 references preferred n Good references: professors, past employers and supervisors n Poor references: family members, any individuals who know you in non-academic or non-professional roles n Ask permission from references, give them copy of resume n Include name of reference, position held, organization, work phone number and address n Education majors: Credential file

Resume Mechanics n High rag-content (linen) resume paper u readily available fromTotal Copy Center, Kinko’s u white, light grey or blue, off-white (conservative) u can bring printer copy or disk to have resumes copied in desired quantities u resume, cover letter, references all same paper n point fonts, Ariel or Times Roman best, using laser printer n Avoid underlines, italics, or folding resume if scanned n Consistent margins and format, balance of white and dark space n Most resumes 1 page only

General Resume “Do’s” n Limit description of experiences to 4-6 sentences, in bullet or paragraph format n Have 2-3 people proofread for typos and spelling errors n Have resume critiqued by Career Development Center staff before multiple copies made n Allow sufficient time in job search for revision of resume as needed n Be patient and open minded: most people inexperienced in writing resumes will need to revise a few times

General Resume “Don’ts” n Include personal information including age, marital status, number of children, religious affiliation, etc. or include a photo n Print resume using dot-matrix or ink-jet printer, or use non-black ink n Attempt to personalize your resume using fancy fonts, logos, etc n Use short, non-descriptive statements or repeat sentences verbatim throughout resume n Include references on resume n Wait until last minute to have resume critiqued

How the CDC can help n Can make appointment with Career Counselor for resume review or help “getting started” n Extensive paper and internet resources available n “Job Choices”: free publication covering all aspects of job search n Walk-in Hours for resume, cover letter critiques and other quick questions: 11-1 Monday-Friday, 5-7 Tuesday n Career Connections resume template