1. What will an effective resume do for you…..
It should reveal your individual strengths and personality not just your work history..
It should focus on the direction you want to go…
It should also prioritize and accentuate the most relevant pieces of your background
It also translates and summarizes your most important assets for employers….
Resume is driving force behind career management
Not the resume itself but the energy, planning and strategizing behind it that will position you for success – prep impacts outcome
No one way to do them, but some general guidelines – pick one and stick with it.

2. Selling Your Product Job search is a sales & marketing endeavour
You are the product, you are the salesperson
Know your product
Create a match between the benefits of your product and prospective employers
- Knowing your product takes time and commitment – make the investment and it will pay off.

3. Resume Defined
…a formal written communication, used for employment purposes, notifying a potential employer that you have the skills…credentials to meet specific job requirements.
A successful resume is a marketing tool that demonstrates that you can solve {an employer’s} problems…meet specific needs and…warrant an interview in anticipation of being hired (Betrus & Block, 1997;11 – 101 Best Resumes)

4. Resume Writing Process
Broad Inventory
Collect Facts
Identify your Skills
Identify your unique contributions
Organize and prioritize
Decide on format and layout

5. Skills Inventory 3 categories:
Job-related skills (i.e. Financial controllers work with data and info.)
Transferable skills (valued by many orgs. i.e. creating, problem-solving)
Self-management skills (describe attitude and work ethic – i.e. persistent, adaptable)
This is the most intensive part of developing your resume
Use the categories above as a guide when creating an inventory of your skills

6. Resume Styles
Targeted – used when you know the industry you want to work in and what you want to do
Inventory – used when you are open to a number of options or are unable to define what you want to do – used to showcase your marketable skills
Targeted – match your skills, abilities and qual to the needs of your target – position text on resume to match job requirements as closely as possible
Ex. Sales position – identify key assets such as; exceptional closing skills, proven track record of sales accomplishments
Focus on accomplishments vs. responsibilities
Inventory – more general – i.e. solid sales and marketing skills, training and development abilities – appeal to employers across a range of industries

7. Resume Formats Chronological: Most popular
Chronicles your work history from most recent job to earlier jobs
Appropriate when on-going progression in same type of work with no obvious gaps

8. Resume Formats cont’d Functional:
Highlights skills and achievements vs. where and when you did them
Preferred approach when you want to shift careers and don’t want to be seen as last job title you had

9. Functional cont’d
Suitable if you’ve done various jobs across different areas and appears that there is little consistency
Appropriate when gaps exist in work history ie. Due to travel, caring for sick relative etc.
Jobs and dates are listed, but only on second page

10. The 5 P’s of Resume Writing
Packaging
Positioning (of Information)
Punch, or Power of Information
Personality
Professionalism
(Betrus & Block, 1997;17-19)

11. Packaging Includes paper, graphics, font etc.
Usually on white, ivory or grey paper
Spell check, proofread again and again!
Make it stand out from the crowd, but keep it PROFESSIONAL

12. Positioning of Info A.k.a., organization of data
Make info easily accessible to reader
Ensure that reader is able to quickly see significant information
- Employers are busy – need to find what they want to know quickly – make it easy on the eyes

13. Punch or Power of Info Most important of 5 P’s
Matches skills, abilities & qualifications to employer’s needs = hireability
Try to anticipate hiring criteria
Emphasize specific accomplishments i.e. successes & results
- What have you accomplished? How can you help them?

14. Personality Hiring managers want people with personality!
Used exciting vocabulary to convey personality i.e. ignited vs. increased; a catalyst for…vs. being responsible for…
GET A THESAURUS!

15. Professionalism
The way you present yourself to a hiring manager tells the employer how you will represent their company
Suggestions: 1) Include a personalized cover letter 2) Send resume in flat envelope, not folded 3) Send by express mail 4) Follow-up phone call to ensure resume has arrived
- You wouldn’t go to an interview without washing – your resume is the same thing! 

16. Anatomy of a Resume Five Primary Sections Include: Heading
Introduction
Employment Section
Education
Misc. Sections

17. 1. Heading Name, address, phone (home & cell), email address
Do NOT include a work #
Repeat contact info at top of each page
2 styles: a) centered b) creative (anything not centered)

18. 2. Introduction Sets the tone, ignites interest
Answers the q’s – What do you want to do? What can you do for my company?
This info is delivered in 3 ways
Title (i.e. accountant)
Objective
Summary/Profile

19. Objective vs. Summary/Profile
Objective tell the employer what you want, focusing on your wants and needs.
Don’t use if it limits your scope
Ex. An active administrative role in Health Care of Education with emphasis on community outreach
Don’t use objective if it sounds fluffy…

20. Summary/Profile Written from the employer’s perspective
Tells employer what you can DO for them vs. what you WANT from them
All points must be proven in body of resume
Lists 3 – 5 highlights of your achievements and qualifications
Should precede your work history

21. Summary/Profile cont’d
Inspires the reader to carefully review the rest of your qualifications….
Ex. A motivated and skilled individual with sales and training experience, certified in the travel industry, with more than 8 years experience.

22. Ex. Summary/Profile
Effective problem solver using excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent track record for generating overall cost reduction and operation efficiency improvements
Strong leadership skills while advancing a team player approach.
Confident, professional communicator with outstanding presentation skills
Special talent for identifying clients’ needs and presenting effective solutions

23. 3. Employment
Will not be the focus for recent grads but becomes most important section
Highlights professional careers, experience, qualifications, achievements
For each employer include: name of org, city/prov where you worked, dates of employment, titles/positions held
Do not include salary history or expectations
Watch the formatting on this – can use bold, italics etc.

24. Employment cont’d Include 3 pieces of info for each job:
Basic responsibilities and/or industry-specific information
Special skills required to perform resp.
Specific accomplishments
Ex. Revenue increases, productivity improvements, reducing employee turnover etc.
- This is for chronological format, for functional, list only information about company/position

25. Use Power Words/Phrases
Designed and implemented
Researched and developed
Coded and tested
Communicated
Facilitated
Managed or coordinated

26. Example of phrases/sentences
Gave work assignments to accounting clerk staff.
Instead…..
Directed workflow, supervised and trained accounting staff performing posting to general ledger, receivable and payable accounts.

27. 4. Education Appears at beginning of resume if limited work experience
List from most recent
If you have a degree, do not list high school credentials
Details might include: GPA (if high), awards, scholarship, research projects, relevant coursework etc.

28. 5. Misc. Sections Extra-curricular/volunteer work
Certifications/Licenses
Professional and Board Affiliations
Technical Expertise
Honours/Awards (other than academic)
Languages
Interests
- Highlights areas that distinguish you and demonstrate the desire to advance in your area or community

29. References ‘References available upon request.’
Should be in writing (i.e. reference letters)
Select 5 or 6 people who can best support your credentials and value (i.e. supervisors, professors, co-workers).
Ask reference if they will support you in your job search by providing a ‘favourable’ reference.
- Keep this in mind when terminating employment. Try to leave on good terms.

30. Reference cont’d Should support what is in your resume
You can offer to write. Ensures you get what you want.
Company letterhead.
Shorter is better - 1 page.
Best to be current.
A testimonial to promote you!
- Keep for your portfolio.