Landing the Job: Resume Writing

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Landing the JobResume Writing
Effective Resume Techniques For Todays Job
Market
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What is a Resume?

• An advertisement for yourself designed to
  communicate your work history, skills, and
  accomplishments in a way that motivates an
  employer to invite you for an interview.
• A MARKETING TOOL!

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Resume Writing Goals

• Improve Your Self-knowledge
• ?
• Create an Effective Marketing Tool
• ?
• Help You Get an Interview
• For the Job You Seek

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What a Resume is Not

• Detailed History of Your Life
• Inflated Self-praise
• Lies
• Application For Employment

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What a Resume Does

• Saves Employers Time
• Answers Questions About You
• Opens Doors
• Gets Interviews

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A Great Resume

• Well Structured
• Easy to Read
• Clear Presentation
• Projects Professional Image
• Grabs Employers Attention

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Before You Write. . .

• Self-Assessment
• What can you do?
• Where / When did you learn to do it?
• What are your qualifications?
• What are your career accomplishments?
• What are your career goals?

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What Employers Want

• Experience
• Job Skills
• Qualifications
• Potential Future Contributions
• Fit With the Team

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Experience

• Work Related
• Paid Employment
• Volunteer Positions
• Internship
• Practicum
• Work Study

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Job Skills

• What You Can Do
• Paid / Unpaid Employment
• Acquired in Every Activity
• Employment
• School Activities
• Volunteer Work
• Hobbies

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Qualifications

• Traits and Characteristics
• Unique / Personality
• Describe Who You Are
• What You Have to Offer
• Developed Over Time
• Experience / Education / Training
• Certifications / Licensure

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Accomplishments

• Past Contributions
• Be Specific
• Support With Facts Figures
• Shows Initiative
• Demonstrates Creativity
• Predicts Future Contributions

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Basic Resume Elements

• Name Employment Dates
• Address Employer Name
• Telephone Number Responsibilities
• Email Address Education
• Job Objective Certifications
• Job Titles Licenses

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Optional Elements

• Professional Memberships
• Awards
• Volunteer Positions
• Transcripts
• References
• Provide When Requested
• Take to Interview

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Never Include

• Titles Resume / Curriculum Vitae
• Availability
• Salary
• Reason For Leaving
• Personal Information
• Marital Status / Height / Weight
• Hobbies / Personal Interests

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One Page Rule

• Less is More
• Exceptions
• Extensive Career History
• Highly Technical Field / Medicine
• Articles or Books Published

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Customize Resumes

• Avoid One-Size-Fits-All Resume
• Customize for Each Position
• Highlight Different Experience and Qualifications
• Focus on Employers Requirements and Needs

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Resume Formats

• Chronological
• Functional
• Electronic

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Chronological Format

• Reverse Chronological Order
• Emphasis
• Employers
• Job Titles
• Describes
• Responsibilities
• Accomplishments

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Use Chronological When. . .

• Last Employer Important
• Staying in Same Field
• Work History Shows Growth / Advancement
• Work in Highly Traditional Fields
• Education
• Business
• Ministry

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Avoid Chronological When. . .

• Inconsistent Work History
• Changing Career / Goals
• Changed Employers Frequently
• Absence From Job Market
• Looking For First Job

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Functional Format

• Major Areas of Job Involvement
• Emphasis
• Abilities
• Job Function
• Highlights Accomplishment
• Shows Relevance and Potential Growth
• Order Supports Job Objective and Goals

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Use Functional When. . .

• Looking For First Job
• Limited Experience
• Changing Careers
• Reentering Job Market
• Unconnected Work Experience
• Free-lance, Volunteer, Consulting, Contract,
  Temporary

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Avoid Functional When. . .

• Emphasis on Job Growth / Advancement
• Limited Number of Job Functions
• Last Employer is Important
• Emphasis on Employment History
• Important Links Between Jobs

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Electronic Resumes

• Email
• Internet
• Faxed

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Email Resumes

• Preferred Electronic Form
• Text Format Easy to Read
• Send as Attachment Document file
• Include Cover Letter
• Use Professional Email Address

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Internet Resumes

• Used By Large Corporations
• Goes to Resume Bank
• Requires On-line Form
• Limited Character Input
• Limited Success

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Faxed Resumes

• Use Only When Requested
• Include Cover Letter
• Limitations
• Poor Quality / Print Distortion
• May Be Misdirected

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Resume Design

• PACKAGING COUNTS!
• Professional Appearance
• Ample White Space
• Easy to Read
• Demonstrates Ability to Handle Basic Written
  Communication

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Resume Design

• One Easy to Read Font
• Arial or Times New Roman
• Use Formatting Elements Sparingly
• Upper Case - Italics
• Bold - Indenting
• Highlighting - Underlining
• Bullets - Graphics

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Resume Design

• Name / Address / Phone Number / Email Address
  Aligned at Top
• One Inch Margins
• Single Space Text
• Double Space Between Paragraphs
• Bold Job Titles

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Standard Information Order

• Job Objective
• Professional Summary
• Employment History
• Education
• Honors and Awards
• Option for New Grads
• List Education After Professional Summary

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Edit and Rewrite

• Plan Two or Three Drafts!
• Edit Ruthlessly!
• Eliminate Redundancies
• Eliminate Full Sentences
• Write in short phrases
• Avoid Jargon

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Edit and Rewrite

• Do Not Rely on Spelling- and Grammar- Checkers
• Edit for Clarity, Spelling, Grammar,
• and Punctuation
• Ask For Help!

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Common Resume Mistakes

• Misspellings, Typos, Poor Grammar
• Missing / Inaccurate Information
• Poor Formatting
• Writing in First or Third Person

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Common Resume Mistakes

• Lying / Misleading / Exaggeration
• Unqualified Candidates
• Unexplained Gaps in Employment
• Irrelevant Information

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Cover Letters

• Customize for Each Resume
• Never Hand Written
• Limit to One Page
• Send to Specific Individual
• NEVER To Whom It May Concern

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Cover Letters

• Answer questions
• - What job are you interested in?
• - How did you learn about the job?
• - How are you qualified?
• No More Than 3 or 4 Paragraphs
• Use Their Language
• Ask for Interview

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Final Reminders

• Know Your Abilities and Capabilities
• Illustrate What You Have Done / What You Can Do /
  How You Can Contribute
• Project Self-Confidence / Professional Attitude /
  Knowledge of Your Profession
• Focus on Employers Needs

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Good Luck in YourJob Search!
Shirley Scarbrough Phi Theta Kappa Alumni
Advisory Council Sgscarbro2_at_aol.com