WorkOne Résumé Workshop
Overview
• This presentation will cover– Résumé basics– Résumé research– Résumé sections– Résumé design– Résumé samples and exercise
Résumé Basics
• What is a résumé?– A document that shows your education, job history– May also include experiences related to job you want
• Why do I need a résumé?– Employers use résumés to
• See who can do a job• Read about your past jobs• Decide which applicant will be interviewed
Résumé Basics
• What is the goal/purpose of my résumé?– To get an interview!
• General guidelines:– Length: Limit resume to one typed page– Font: Arial for heading, Times New Roman
for body text, between 10-12 point font– Paper: Use 8 1/2” x 11” 20 lb paper, white,
light cream, or grey
Résumé Basics
• What should my résumé contain?– Your contact information– An objective statement– Education experience– Work experience– Skills and qualifications
Résumé Basics
– References (some employers will ask for these separately)
– Optional sections: professional affiliations, other experience (volunteer work)
Résumé Research
• Getting started– Before you write your résumé:
• Make five lists that include– Where you went to school or received training,
including location, time/credits, classes completed– Where you have worked, including location, time,
responsibilities, skills learned– Skills, qualifications– References, including all contact information– Professional affiliations: trade organizations, unions…
• If you are missing any information, you have some research to do…
Résumé Research
• Getting started– Before you write your résumé:
• Conduct some research on the company, job:– Company name, contact information, description– Job title (job number if applicable), requirements– Contact person (person to whom you address letter)– Application requirements (does company require a
résumé, application, cover letter, list of references?)
• If you have some missing information, you have some research to do…
– Also, it’s better to tailor résumés to a specific job, company because it shows you have researched position, organization
Résumé Sections
• To help employers find information, résumés are organized into sections:– Contact information – phone number (home, cell),
mailing address, email address
– Objective – the name of the company and the job you want
– Education – elementary, high school, college, technical school, certifications, vocational or trade school
Résumé Sections
– Work history – jobs you have held (the order of the work history and education can be reversed depending on your situation)
– Summary of qualifications – list of skills that apply to the job you want
Résumé Sections
• You may also add optional sections:– Professional affiliations – trade groups,
unions, or other labor organizations
– Other experiences – volunteer work or hobbies that relate to the job you want
Résumé Sections
• Sample contact information and objective sections:
Michael includes his contact information and tailors his objective to the job he wants. Note that this objective is clear and concise.
Elizabeth doesn’t have an email address but does include her phone number. She also tailors her objective
Résumé Sections
• Sample education and work history sections:
Jeremy includes the dates he worked at his previous jobs as well as the locations
Jeremy includes the type of education he received at a local adult basic education center, a GED.
Résumé Sections
• Sample education and work history sections:
Rosa includes some of her responsibilities from her previous jobs
Résumé Sections
• Sample of other experiences and summary of qualifications sections:
She also lists one of her most valuable qualifications first: her ability to speak Spanish and English
Rosa lists volunteer work she did while she was not working at a paying job
Action Verb List
• Handout– http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/543/02/
• Action phrases will help clarify your message:– Before: Planned activities– After: Planned arts and crafts activities for
preschool aged children
Résumé Sections
• Sample professional affiliations section
Since his affiliations are so important to Karl’s profession, he lists the organizations he belongs to right after his Objective section
You may adjust the order of your résumé sections depending on the job you want
Remember!
Résumé Design
• Why is design important?– Employers rate your professionalism based
on how your résumé looks
• Use: - Plenty of space
- Headings
- Bullet lists
Résumé Design
• Use the four-section (quadrant) method:
When reading résumés, people move in a Z pattern
So, your most important information should follow
the Z pattern: 1, 2, 3, 4
Résumé Samples
Chronological Résumé Combination Résumé
Résumé Samples
Skills-Based Résumé
References Section
Sans-serif font
Serif font
Arial
Times New Roman
Résumé Tips
• What do I do about any time I was not working?– Short breaks in work experience shouldn’t
hurt your chances– Be ready to talk about what you did:
• Volunteerism• Faith-based activities• Family-related responsibilities
More Résumé Tips
• What should I do if I have been incarcerated?– Be honest– Talk about what you did while you were
serving your sentence:• GED• Vocational training• Faith-based activities
– Consider composing a skills-based résumé that focuses on what you can do now rather than explaining entire work history
More Résumé Tips
• What should I do if I am transitioning from military to civilian life?
– Help your civilian employer understand what you did in the military by “translating” terms:
Military terms: Received and stored bulk and package petroleum, oils, and lubricants products. Issued and dispensed bulk fuels and water from storage and distribution facilities to using units. Selected and submitted samples of petroleum, oils, and lubricants to laboratory for testing. Performed petroleum and water accounting duties (from Army Pamphlet 611-21).
Civilian terms: Coordinated and distributed petroleum products and monitored quality control systems.
Résumé Exercise
• Exercise– Make five lists that include
1. Where you went to school or received training, including location, time/credits, classes completed
2. Where you have worked, including location, time, responsibilities, skills learned
3. Skills, qualifications
4. References, including all contact information
5. Professional affiliations: trade organizations, unions…
– If you are missing any information, you have some research to do…
Résumé Help
• Access hundreds of résumé resources at the Community Writing and Education Station (CWEST):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/
• Visit your local WorkOne office. To find locations, use this Website:
http://www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne/
The End
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