Introduction

• Lindsey Day• Alumni Career Specialist• Meet with alumni 1+ year after graduation• lday8@msudenver.edu• Call 303-556-8320 to make an appt

Recruitment Revealed

• 75-80% of employers use keyword scanning programs

• Employers spend less than 20 seconds during the “initial resume scan”

• Cover letters are generally read during the final scan

• Initial phone screen• In-person interviews

Job Search=Survivor

• The job search is a process of elimination• Your goal—Be the last one standing• Don’t just prove you can do the job, prove you

can do it better than your competition

What is a Resume?

• A marketing tool• Summary of past accomplishments• Proves your ability to do the job successfully• Gets you an interview—not the job

Think like the Employer

• What does my resume look like to someone who has never met me?

• Do I have any red flags?– Gaps in employment, job-hopping, no vertical growth

• What problems is the employer trying to solve?• What are my strongest/most relevant

accomplishments for this position?

FORMATTING

• One page—some exceptions• Margins ~ .5-1 inch—same on all sides• 10-12 pt. font• Use bullets, not paragraphs• Balanced on page• Scanable and concise!• Anticipate 3-4 drafts

RESUME CONTENTS

• Header • Objective/Summary of Qualifications

(optional)• Education• Experience—paid, volunteer, project• Involvement• Skills

HEADER• Name• Address—can be city only• Telephone number• E-mail address• OPTIONAL: website, Linkedin profile, etc.

OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS• Provides clarification to the reader• Effective for broad majors or those entering a new

field• Useful at career fairs• Should include:– Type of position you are seeking– Company/Industry/Job you are seeking– Qualities you bring to the job

SAMPLE OBJECTIVES

• Seeking a full-time position in data analysis where my skills in mathematics, computer programming, and team building will contribute to new systems development.

• To obtain a position in marketing with special interest in market research and product planning.

• Energetic professional seeks consulting position demanding skills in relationship building, sound financial planning, and customer service.

• Simply name your target job

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Eye-catcher that will help you focus your resume on qualifications which are important to potential employers

• Employers value candidates who save time, cut costs, generate revenue, improve service, solve problems, or further company goals

• http://www.msudenver.edu/alumnicareers/objectives/

EDUCATION• Degree-Proper Name• Date of graduation• Institution• Location• Minor, Concentration• GPA 3.0 or higher, major GPA• Optional: relevant coursework, study abroad

Experience

• Don’t cut and paste your job description• PAR format• Tailor your resume according to the job

description

PAR Format

• Problem, Action, Result• Only list the Action and Result• Lead off with a list of action verbs• Quantify when possible- #, %, $• No personal pronouns- I, me, etc• Alumni Career Services Website

VS.

WHICH IS MORE IMPRESSIVE?Chairman of Advertising/Public Relations Athens, GAAmerican Red Cross, Fundraising Committee March 2010 – Present• Coordinated and supervised committee• Marketed program to media• Wrote press release for event

Chairman of Advertising/Public Relations Athens, GAAmerican Red Cross, Fundraising Committee March 2010 – Present• Coordinated and supervised a 6 member committee, maximized committee potential by

delegating to members’ strengths• Provided personal outreach to various media outlets, led to first coverage from 4 outlets• Wrote press release and secured media publicity through radio, paper, and internet

sources

Telling Your Success Story

• Reflect, Reflect, Reflect• “Writing Your Success Story” handout• Transferable skills survey• Reflect on best days and worst days

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

• Campus organizations/leadership• Project experience• Community involvement/ volunteer

experiences • Honors, awards, scholarships• Professional organizations/ memberships

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

• Write out acronyms of unknown organizations/associations• Where appropriate describe what you did

there• Format like experience with bullets, by

commas, in columns, or list format• Sometimes your best experience is unpaid

SKILLS SECTION

• Computer skills • Language skills• Other professionally-related skills• Skills should tie in with your career goal

Resume Styles

• Chronological• Functional• Hybrid

THE 5 NON-NEGOTIABLES

• Accomplishments focused• Tailored to the employer/position• Aesthetically pleasing• Most relevant information is “above

the fold”• Concise, well-written and error-free

REFERENCES• On separate page! • Same heading as resume • Three to five listed in strategic order• Information– Name, Title, Address, Phone #, Email– Relationship (optional)

• Always ask permission“References and Recommendations Available Upon Request”

What is a Cover Letter?

• A marketing tool• Highlights your strongest, most relevant

accomplishments• Demonstrates fit for the position/company• Sample of your written communication• Story—not a list

Cover Letters = Love Letters

• Why I love you—the company• Why the company should love me• Why we are perfect together• Never send the same cover letter to multiple

people

Cover Letter Formats

• Traditional letter• Bulleted• Comparison• http://www.msudenver.edu/alumnicareers/co

verletterguidelines/

The 5 Non-Negotiables

• Concise, well-written and error-free• Do not restate your resume• Focus on 2-5 key accomplishments• Demonstrate passion and fit• Tailored to the employer/position

PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m really serious about this...

Additional Resources

• Alumni within one year-303-556-3664• Alumni 1+ year-303-556-8320• www.msudenver.edu/alumni/events

Walk-In Hours-Tivoli 215

Monday: 4pm - 5pmTuesday: 11am - 12pm Wednesday: 3pm - 4pm Thursday: 2pm - 3pm Friday: 9am - 10am

Walk-in appointments may be cancelled at times due to staff unavailability. Call the office before you come in for schedule changes.

QUESTIONS??