Resume writing trends

Jennifer Conole, M.S., JCTC/JCDC, ACRWJennifer Conole, M.S., JCTC/JCDC, ACRWCareer AdvisorCareer Advisor

Roger Williams UniversityRoger Williams University

RESUME WRITING TRENDS

• The Basics• The New Rules• Delivery Formats• The Résumé Vacuum• The Résumé Black Hole• Content• Formatting and Layout• Design• The “Extras”

OBJECTIVES

• Business document (Gregg Manual, 11th Ed.)• No first-person pronouns• EEO-sensitive - No personal info (e.g., religion,

politics, marital status, photo)• Concise and to-the-point• List Education first• One to two pages

THE BASICS

• Branding is key• One size does not fit all• Reverse chronological might not be the best format• Delivery method drives formatting• Keywords are a must• Employers WILL look candidates up online• Effective job seekers spend the same amount of

time applying to fewer jobs

THE NEW RULES

• Hard Copy• Job Board• Keyword target!

• Email• Attach and copy/paste into body of email!

• LinkedIn• Twitter

DELIVERY FORMATS

THE RÉSUMÉ VACUUM

• The Résumé is a living document, and is one piece of a broad marketing package!• Cover Letter• Networking• References• Social Media (multi-layered)• Work Samples / Portfolio• Professional Development / Training• Career Research

OLD SCHOOL

NEW SCHOOL

THE RÉSUMÉ BLACK HOLE

• Black hole traps1. Job Search Engines (CareerBuilder, Monster,

HotJobs, Indeed, Internships.com) “Job Seeker Insanity”

2. Parsers

Insert Résumé Here


• ATS = Automated Tracking System• 75% of résumés• Common screen views of data• The beautifully-formatted and designed résumé

may not be seen until the interview!• Strategies:• Wordle or Tagxedo or Tagcrowd or JobScan• .DOC and .TXT (ASCII)• Use synonyms

http://www.wordle.net/

http://www.tagxedo.com/

http://www.tagcrowd.com/

http://www.jobscan.co/

CONTENT

• Contact info – include Links!• Targeted – One size does not fit all• Accomplishment statements (not job descriptions

or list of duties)• Metrics• Job Titles• Shorter is Sweeter• Amount of Time ≠ Amount of Space

CONTENT

• Key Competencies• Summary• Study Abroad• Academic Honors• Relevant Coursework• Leadership• Internships• Related Experience• Work Experience• Additional Experience

• Collegiate Activities• Volunteer Activities• Community Involvement• Professional Associations• Publications• Presentations• Projects• Languages• Travel• Technology

CONTENT

FORMATTING AND LAYOUT

• Objective is OUT• Goal• Job Target• Career Focus• “Branding statement”

OBJECTIVE ALTERNATES

1

2

5

3

4

DESIGN

• Color• Graphics• Tables• Charts

DESIGN

THE “EXTRAS” – SOCIAL MEDIA

• Presence – before, during, and after the job offer• LinkedIn Profile• Twesume?• Blogs

THE “EXTRAS” – SOCIAL MEDIA

THE “EXTRAS” – OTHER DOCUMENTS

• As vital as the résumé• Business letter• Salutation• Content:• Introductory paragraph• Why you’re a fit• Why you’re interested• Concluding paragraph – impact!

• Closing• Enclosure(s)

Cover Letter


• Agreement (content, formatting, tone, header)• Purposeful formatting that supports the content• Business Letter – traditional block style• Break longer paragraphs into shorter 3-5-line

paragraphs• Bullets• Strategic use of bold• Needs/Benefits approach

Cover Letter


Cover Letter• DO:

Keep it to a page Be concise and assertive Use proper grammar Personalize it! Highlight internships,

projects, teamwork experience, academics

Include noteworthy info that is not appropriate for résumé

Address issues inviting questions

• DON’T: Use generalities Be wordy Over-use “I” statements Focus on job descriptions,

responsibilities, tasks Use cliché phrases Include personal info or

salary info Use a single formletter and

change the company name


• Agreement (formatting, header)• UPDATED contact info• Former supervisors, colleagues, faculty, volunteer

coordinators, classmates, etc.• 10-15 References (don’t wear them out!)

References

Work Samples / Portfolio• Use faculty / department SMEs for guidance• Online portfolio (include link on résumé)

• The Basics• The New Rules• Delivery Formats• The Résumé Vacuum• The Résumé Black Hole• Content• Formatting and Layout• Design• The “Extras”

SUMMARY

CONCLUSION

Questions?

Resume writing trends

Career

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