Winning Resumés

Resumes and Cover LettersResumes and Cover Letters

A self-promotional document that presents you in the best light, including a brief summary of your skills, work experience, education, training, certification, and qualifications to fill an employment position.

Also: An introduction A first impression Marketing tool To get an interview!

• A screening tool• Not a laundry list of jobs and duties

(that’s a job application!)

It’s a targetedtargeted approach to your job search. It’s your “sales brochure”—YOUYOU are the product.

TRUE OR FALSE: Generally, your resume will be electronically scanned before it is ever read.

TRUE OR FALSE: Your resume is reviewed for 1-2 minutes.

““Quick glance” technique: Quick glance” technique: skilled resume reviewers take about 7-20 seconds to skim a resume.

Answer their secret question: WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME IF I HIRE YOU?

Ask yourself: What’s your VALUE? What can you can offer?

Always focus on the BENEFIT the employer will get from hiring you.

Benefits of hiring you are based on your:• Skills—State your skills throughout your resume• Abilities—Prove your skills by highlighting results, accomplishments, praise/honors/awards, etc.• Knowledge—Gained through experience and education

Step 1: Getting started (gathering your info.)

Step 2: Organize

Step 3: Design (Format, Style)

Step 4: Edit

“Information gathering stage”

Fill out a resume worksheet

BASIC Sections Heading/Contact

Information Summary of Qualifications

or Career Profile Key Skills/Key

Achievements Experience (Work History) Education/Training

POSSIBLE Sections Objective (not used as much) Other Experience

(Volunteering, Internships) Special/Technical Skills Certifications, Licenses Awards and Honors Memberships/Professional

Associations

Format & Appearance Format & Appearance

Length: 1- 2 pages maximum

“Quick glance” / reviewer’s eyeline

Use white, beige, or light gray high quality paper

Use black ink (laser print is best)

Margins 1 inch all around (may reduce down to .50 inches)

May use bolding, ALL CAPS

Font size: 10-12 for text; 12-14 for headings. (Some fonts are larger than others.)

* Sample fonts: Arial, Times Roman

Include your contact info. at top (name, city/state/zip code, phone, email address)—street address, LinkedIn address optional

Left justify job title, company name, and location. Dates may be to the right or left. (keep consistent!)

Bold the following areas: Section Headings, Job Title or Company, Educational Institution or Degree

Summary of qualifications: in bulleted form or in a short paragraph.

Education: listed after professional experience (unless you are just out of school, training, etc.)

Professional Organizations/Honors or Awards: listed near the end(mention if they reflect/enhance career experience)

ContentContent**ASK YOURSELFASK YOURSELF: WHAT TO SAY vs. WHAT NOT TO SAY

Customize! Create different versions/job targets Start with Action Verbs for each job responsibility

For accomplishments, use keywords and industry-specific terminology

Quantify/Qualify accomplishments (people, percentages, products, dollar amounts)

Develop on-the-job PAR (Problem-Action-Resolution/ Results) for your accomplishments.

List companies/dates of service no more than 10-15 years. If history is with one company, use inclusive dates & list various job

titles

List all relevant education (e.g., “in-progress”, “expected”, “pending”) Incorporate, if relevant, any unpaid experience, (internships, volunteer work), to account for “gaps”

“Chunk” similar short-term jobs to avoid job-hopper image (create another section, e.g., “Other experience”)

Key Tips for Resume WritingKey Tips for Resume Writing Tailor resume for each position! (Refer to the Job Description) Use industry specific terminology and jargon.

**** KEYWORDS**KEYWORDS** State quantitative terms and measurable results.

Examples:- “managed 14 account representatives”- “increased sales revenue by 20% for two

quarters”

Different styles of resumes:Different styles of resumes:

Chronological Functional

Combination/Hybrid Electronic

Chronological ◦Most common format/traditional◦Builds credibility through experience gained

and shows career growth and stability◦Lists your work experience and education

in reverse-chronological order◦Preferred if staying within the same field

Functional Focuses on the applicants’ knowledge and skills related to

the job

Good for: students career changers those with employment gaps those re-entering the workforce those who lack directly related experience

Combines the best features of a chronological resume with those of a functional resume to

give you a powerful resume.

Showcases ACCOMPLISHMENTS Highlights “transferable skills”

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)Applicant Tracking System (ATS)*Resumes are received and scanned into a computer*

Computer reads each resume looking for: Keywords Files information into database system

When job opening needs filling, employer searches file using keywords Computer matches resumes based on keywords Resumes are ranked based on numbernumber of matched keywords

Tips: White/Ivory color paper Print on one side only ASCII Plain Text only No formatting (e.g., bold, italic, underline, graphics, tabs) 10-14 point font No folds or staples Focus on KEYWORDS

Resume Do’s and Don’ts

Use Microsoft Word instead of a resume builder template.

Keep it well organized and arrange information in bullet points.

Tailor your resume to the type of job you are seeking. Remember: Pick and choose what’s most relevant to the job!

Update your resume frequently; keep it current.

Edit, Edit, Edit!oUse spell check. oProofread, proofread, proofread! (get other pairs of eyes to review)

Make sure resume passes the “quick glance” rule.

Go through a resume checklist(s).

Keep hard copies and save on flash drive/USB. Back up on email.

◦Don’t use the word “Resume” on your heading

◦Don’t exceed 2 pages

◦Don’t use graphics, photos, fancy font, or color paper

◦Don’t print on both sides of paper

◦Don’t use white out or make handwritten corrections

◦Don’t fold, crease, smudge, or wrinkle your resume

◦Don’t list personal information: age/dob, physical characteristics, health, race, religion, marital or family status, SSN

◦Don’t forget to state locations of your past jobs (city and state)

◦Don’t use personal pronouns (I, me, my, mine)

◦Don’t use generic descriptors: “Work/Duties/Responsibilities included:”

o Don’t list 15+ years experience unless directly related to job objective (issues of age discrimination, prior high salary)

o Don’t provide past salary information and/or salary requirements (use a separate salary history sheet)

o Don’t include references (use a separate reference sheet)

o Don’t disclose reason(s) for leaving previous jobs

Lie! Lie! (Employers will verify your

information and find you out!)

Another essential marketing tool! Use same paper as resume. Send an original letter to each employer for each position. Provide sufficient contact information (same header as resume). Keep letter brief (4 or less brief paragraphs). Address your letter to a named individual (e.g., Dear Mr. Davis; Ms. Williams; Dr. Peters; Director Jones)

Otherwise, refer to a title or group (e.g., “Hiring Manager/Coordinator”; “Selection/Hiring Committee”)

Address and mention a specific job.

Use industry-specificindustry-specific language.

Tailor to requirements of Job Descriptionrequirements of Job Description.

QuantifyQuantify and give examples of experience, skills

Illustrate company knowledgecompany knowledge.

o Don’t send cover letter without a resumeo Don’t be redundant or rehash your resume. o Don’t go past one page.o Don’t have typos, misspellings, grammatical errors.o Don’t forget to personally sign the letter.o Don’t wait for an employer to take action—Follow up!

See if employer received your cover letter and resume Request an interview (wait at least two weeks)

Now what’s next?

Let’s get that interview!Let’s get that interview!

Any questions?

Cammy WangCammy WangWorkshop FacilitatorWorkshop FacilitatorCammy.Wang@oconestop.com(657) 400-1398