Creative Rsum Techniques for Marketing Your Skills

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Creative Résumé Techniques for Marketing Your
Skills

• Debbie Lashbaugh, CPRW

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Think of a résumé as yourPhoto - Snapshot
Present Your Best ImageKeep everything in focus
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The Résumé package includes a résumé, cover
letter, reference sheet and corresponding
envelope.
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Plan your Résumé Layout

• Strategy (Chronological, Functional,
  Combination, Letter Résumé)
• each style has strengths weaknesses
• use the best style to overcome problems
• Choose paper color matching envelope
• Make statements clear, concise and easy to read

• Include the skill words from your local market
  research
• Most attention catching information should be
  in the top area
• Apply Desktop Publishing principles
• Scanning Techniques used for speed reading

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Chronological Résumé
Weakness ? May raise questions about gaps in
employment ? Not open for a job change ? Makes
when you did something more important that what
you did
Strength ? Easiest type of résumé to do because
you use reverse order of employment history,
starting with present or your last employer ?
Most familiar to employers
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Functional Résumé
Weakness ? This style not as familiar to the
employer and they may be suspicious, thinking you
are hiding something ? May take more time to
create because you need the employer buzz words
and then do self-assessment to prove that you
have the job qualifications
Strength ? Highlights skills, abilities and
accomplishments - not employer or job duties ?
Can combine employers job requirement with your
skills and abilities ? Hides employment gaps ?
The employer can see how you would fit their
opening
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Combination Résumé
Strength ?Combines skills and abilities with work
history
Weakness ?Could become too long and not focused
on the employers job needs
Letter Résumé
Strength ?Tailored to a specific employer for a
specific job opening
Weakness ?Time consuming
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Scannable Résumé
This type of résumé is written to be read by an
electronic scanner. It will not look like a
résumé written to be read by a Human Resource
Manager.

• use white or light colored 8 1/2" by 11" paper
  printed on one side only
• laser printed original if possible
• do not fold or staple
• use standard font size
• avoid parentheses and brackets
• dont condense spacing

• use boldface and/or all capital letters for
  section headings, unless letters touch each other
• place name at top of the page on its own line
• list each phone number on its own line
• usually need to use nouns as key words e.g.
  Spanish, marketing, writer

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Tips for Maximizing Hits

• Describe your experience with concrete words
  rather than vague descriptions
• e.g. it is better to use managed a team of
  software engineers rather than responsible for
  managing, training
• Be concise and truthful
• The scanner can handle multiple page resumes and
  you can add more information than you would for
  human readers
• Use industry buzz words or jargon - do not use
  abbreviations
• If you have extra space describe your
  interpersonal traits and attitude. Key words may
  include skill in time management, dependable,
  high energy, leadership, good memory

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Cover Letter
? Use customized stationery(match to résumé) ?
This demonstrates professionalism ? Customize
your letter, address it to a specific individual.
(Be sure the persons name is spelled
correctly) ? If you prefer to use a form letter,
use the salutation Dear Hiring Manager, ? Keep
it to one page ? Keep it short - 4 to 5 short
paragraphs
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Paragraph organization

• Spark interest in the first paragraph. Why
  should they read your letter? What can you do for
  the employer?
• Promise a benefit - Identify a need.
• Sample In the last 12 months, Ive generated
  40,000 worth of new business for my employer,
  and now Id like to do the same for you.
• Promote your value in the second paragraph.
• What benefits do you offer?
• Sample The match between your needs and my
  talents is ideal. Why? Because.
• Note specific accomplishments, achievements, and
  educational experiences that support paragraph
  two.
• Instructs the reader of what future action you
  expect.
• Ask for an interview or tell the reader that you
  will be calling.
• Sample I look forward to hearing from you. My
  address and telephone numbers are listed above.

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E-Mail Résumé

• Is a text résumé created with the notepad
  program. It is similar to the scannable résumé.
  You will not be able to use special formatting.
• Can be cut and pasted from your word processor
  into your e-mail letter. You can use your word
  processors save as option and choose MS-DOS
  text.
• You may not want to send your résumé as an e-mail
  file attachment, unless the announcement told you
  to do this.
• Computer viruses are a common problem and most
  employers will not open files from unknown
  sources.

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Make a Key Words list.

• What skills and abilities are listed in the
  employers job description?
• Are there any other implied characteristics?
• Example - self-starter

• Skills that you have and how you acquired these
  skills.
• What were your major accomplishmentsnot just
  your previous job duties.

Combine both your skills and the employers job
skills requirements in your resume.
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DO NOT Include This Information!

• Personal Information
• Club memberships that are not job related
• Marital Status
• Health
• Incorrect, inaccurate or misleading information.
• Religious organization membership.
• Age (birthdate)
• Social Security Number

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Include This Information

• Skills
• Accomplishments
• Related training
• workshops
• vocational technical school
• college courses
• military
• work related seminars

• Certifications or licenses
• Contact Information
• mailing address
• telephone
• e-mail address
• cell phone - pager
• fax number

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Review - Proof read and have other professionals
review to check for

• misspelled or incorrect words
• spacing
• correct grammar usage
• punctuation
• use of the active voice

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Books
William A. Sabin, The Gregg Reference Manual,
McGraw-Hill Jay A. Block Michalel Betrus, 101
Best Resumes, McGraw-Hill, 1997 Ray Potter,
Résumés that Get Jobs 8th. Ed.Revised and
Expanded, Arco Books, NY Ray Potter, Electronic
Resumes That Get Jobs. New York Macmillian
General Reberence, c1996 Parker, Yana, Résumé
Pro The Professionals Guide, Berkely, Calif
Ten Speed Press, c1993 Ronald L. Krannich, Caryl
Krannich, William J. Banis (contributor) High
Impact Resumes and Letters Impact Publishers 7th.
Edition, 1998 Ron Tepper, Power Resumes, John
Wiley Sons Ronald L. Krannich, Caryl Rae
Krannich, Dynamite Résumé 101 Great Examples
and Tips for Success, Impact Publicatons,
c1999 Yana Parket, The Résumé Catalog 200 Damn
Good Examples, Ten Speed Press, c1996 David F.
Noble, Gallery of Best Cover Letters A
Collection of Quality Cover Letters by
Professional Résumé Writers, JIST, c1999 Susan
Britton Whitcomb, Résumé Magic Trade Secrets of
a Professional Résumé Writer, JIST Works, c1999
Samuel N. Ray, Resumes for the Over 50 - Job
Hunter, New York J Wiley, c 1993 Yana Parker,
Blue Collar Beyond Resumes for Skilled Trades
and Services, Ten Speed Press, 1995 Susan
Ireland, The Complete Idiots Guide to the
Perfect Résumé (Complete Idiots Guide), Alpha
Books
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Internet Resources
Curriculum Vitae Tips http//www.cvtips.com
http//jobsmart.org/tools/resume/res-cv.htm http/
/jobsearch.about.com/careers/jobsearch/cs/resumes/
index.htm Résumé tips http//jobstar.org/jobstar.
htm Americas InfoNet http//www.acinet.org/acinet
/ e-Résumé Writing http//www.eresumewriting.com/
Résumé Tutor - http//www1.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resum
e/ Résumé writing for Federal Employment -
http//www.resume-place.com/ Master Resume
Writer's Secrets Revealed - http//www.liglobal.c
om/b_c/career/res.shtml Rebecca Smiths e-résumés
resources - http//www.eresumes.com/ Microsoft
Office templaters - http//officeupdate.microsoft.
com/templategallery/ Occupational Outlook
Handbook - http//stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.h
tm AOL Search - http//my.aol.com Riley Guide -
http//www.rileyguide.com/letters.html