Building a Résumé

presented by

Tony Sok

What is a Résumé“A résumé is a robust and complete synopsis that articulates your skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments that catches the eye of the decision maker in 7-10 seconds.”

~Tony SokStaffing Consultant

Formatting a Résumé • Customize a résumé for each position

you’re applying for−Match position needs or requirements

with proven skills • Format

−Chronological, the most common −Skill-focused or functional

• Results oriented, describing how well you perform tasks

Formatting a Résumé• Include accurate titles, skills, education,

and dates• Keep it relevant, clean, and simple• Use easy-to-read type: Times New Roman

or Arial• Be consistent with abbreviations and

formatting• Keep your résumé on one page, with

references on a second page

ChronologicalRésumé

Contact information

Most recent work experienceEarliest training

Professional Summary

EducationSkills summary

Functional Résumé

Contact informationProfileSkills summaryWork experience summaryCapabilitiesJob historyEducation

Résumé: What to Include• The basics:– Name – Mailing address– Email – Phone number with area code

• Write a career summary or profile that highlights what you can offer the employer.

• Employment history; include your last three to five jobs

• Specific results. Don’t just describe what you did, but how well you did it.

Résumé: What to Include• Skills:– Computer hardware and software– Certifications – Languages

• Accomplishments:– Awards – Significant milestones

• Education• Volunteer work, internships, co-ops

Use action verbs: present tense for current jobs, past tense for previous jobs.

Résumé: What to Include

Résumé: What to Leave Out• Age, marital status, children, health, physical size• Picture of yourself• Reason for leaving previous jobs• Salary requirements, unless requested• Grade point average and time spent in school• Names of references – make their contact information

available on a separate page• Use of the pronoun “I”

Advice from the OWL• Purdue University hosts an Online Writing Lab

(OWL) that offers advice on résumé writing• The quadrant test - Divide your résumé in half

horizontally and vertically, put your most important information in the top left quadrant, next is top right

• Use columns or a table to format information• Using serif or sans-serif font• 20-second test

Font ChoicesSan Serif

ArialCalibri

Franklin GothicTahoma

Times New RomanFrankRuehl

Cambria

Serif

Résumé Formats• Word Document and PDF• A plain text version of your résumé• A PDF version of your résumé with keywords

in the metadata– Consider sending both versions of your résumé

Proofreading Musts• Don’t use the words I, me, or myself.• Start sentences with a verb. Use descriptive

verbs in your résumé and clarify results.• Proofread for typos and grammatical errors. • Ensure your email address and phone

numbers are correct.

References• www.LifeClever.com – 7 Deadly Sins of

Résumé Design • http://Owl.English.Purdue.edu • Movin’ on Up blog – Blog.ExpressPros.com• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUPBTXAzL0Q

Tony SokExpress Employment

ProfessionalsTony.Sok@expresspros.com

(952)915-2022