Resume Basics-How To Resume Basics-How To Fly To New HeightsFly To New Heights

By Mike RasmussenBy Mike Rasmussen

What Makes A Good Resume?What Makes A Good Resume?

A good resume gets the interview, A good resume gets the interview, seals the initial first impression and seals the initial first impression and paints a picture in the mind of the paints a picture in the mind of the decision maker before the 1decision maker before the 1stst handshake and greeting have ever handshake and greeting have ever been fostered.been fostered.

Question?Question?

Q: How many Decision Makers does Q: How many Decision Makers does the average Job Seeker have to talk the average Job Seeker have to talk to before they get a Job Offer?to before they get a Job Offer?

A: 25A: 25

How To Get InterviewsHow To Get Interviews

Understand How Hiring Is Done-Understand How Hiring Is Done-

1.1. The Applicant Pool-Published The Applicant Pool-Published PositionsPositions

Accounts for 25% of All HiringAccounts for 25% of All Hiring2.2. The Created PositionThe Created PositionAccounts For 5% of All HiringAccounts For 5% of All Hiring3.3. NetworkingNetworkingAccounts for 70% of All HiringAccounts for 70% of All Hiring

The Applicant Pool-25% of HiringThe Applicant Pool-25% of Hiring

Positions are typically publishedPositions are typically published Internet WebsitesInternet Websites RadioRadio MagazinesMagazines Newspaper Help Wanted AdsNewspaper Help Wanted Ads Job FairsJob Fairs Typically Lots of Competition-Resume as a Typically Lots of Competition-Resume as a

tool is heavily relied upon in screening tool is heavily relied upon in screening process.process.

Created Position-5% of All HiringCreated Position-5% of All Hiring

You convince employer there is a You convince employer there is a need and that you can fulfill it.need and that you can fulfill it.

Position fits your unique skillsPosition fits your unique skills Resume plays a smaller roleResume plays a smaller role No competitionNo competition

Networking-The Unpublished Job Networking-The Unpublished Job Market-70% of All HiringMarket-70% of All Hiring

Resume relied upon to show Resume relied upon to show communication skillscommunication skills

Networking is based upon Networking is based upon relationshipsrelationships

Less competitionLess competition Resume can be used as a tool to Resume can be used as a tool to

create leverage to harvest create leverage to harvest unpublished openings.unpublished openings.

Different Kinds Of ResumesDifferent Kinds Of Resumes Working Resume-A 1 page summary you Working Resume-A 1 page summary you

send out.send out. Interview Resume-A resume that shows all Interview Resume-A resume that shows all

job history from past jobs relevant to job history from past jobs relevant to position of interest.position of interest.

Skills Resume-Focuses on skills related to Skills Resume-Focuses on skills related to the position. Experience section sticks to the position. Experience section sticks to short employer names.short employer names.

Targeted Resumes-Focus on one particular Targeted Resumes-Focus on one particular target market group-company, industry, target market group-company, industry, profession, job group, etc.profession, job group, etc.

Nuts & Bolts of A Good ResumeNuts & Bolts of A Good Resume

Clearly stated objectiveClearly stated objective Summary of qualificationsSummary of qualifications SkillsSkills Summary of past positions going back 10 Summary of past positions going back 10

yearsyears EducationEducation AwardsAwards Professional AssociationsProfessional Associations Hobbies/InterestsHobbies/Interests

ObjectiveObjective

States your resumes purpose and the job States your resumes purpose and the job you are targeting. Focuses your message.you are targeting. Focuses your message.

A short sentence about your career goal.A short sentence about your career goal. Helps recruiters to help you be “matched” Helps recruiters to help you be “matched”

against their current opportunities.against their current opportunities. Helps you to focus your thoughts.Helps you to focus your thoughts. It is important for job seekers to have It is important for job seekers to have

different resumes for different purposes. If different resumes for different purposes. If you have multiple job qualifications, write you have multiple job qualifications, write targeted resumes for each job.targeted resumes for each job.

Summary Of Summary Of Qualifications/Executive SummaryQualifications/Executive Summary

Focuses on the highlights.Focuses on the highlights. Shows employer your key Shows employer your key

accomplishments.accomplishments. What is most important about you for What is most important about you for

the position?the position? What is the point of your resume, it is What is the point of your resume, it is

answered here along with your answered here along with your objective-acts as supporting objective-acts as supporting evidence to your thesis (objective).evidence to your thesis (objective).

SkillsSkills

Summarizes your key KSAs (knowledge; Summarizes your key KSAs (knowledge; skills; abilities;): technical software skills; abilities;): technical software knowledge: Adobe; Excel; Powerpoint; knowledge: Adobe; Excel; Powerpoint; Outlook; etc., key abilities such as: customer Outlook; etc., key abilities such as: customer service; sales & presentation skills; service; sales & presentation skills; communication skills; etc.communication skills; etc.

Shows employer how you will get the job Shows employer how you will get the job done, and what skills they won’t have to train done, and what skills they won’t have to train you for.you for.

Some jobs are given based simply on the Some jobs are given based simply on the skills of the individual.skills of the individual.

ExperienceExperience Recruiters look at the experience section to Recruiters look at the experience section to

determine suitability for jobs. Some positions determine suitability for jobs. Some positions may have an experience requirement. Job may have an experience requirement. Job stability of 2 Years and above are important stability of 2 Years and above are important indicators of loyalty and perseverance. Resumes indicators of loyalty and perseverance. Resumes showing longer term periods of employment in showing longer term periods of employment in one role are generally looked upon more one role are generally looked upon more favorably. Job hopping is often frowned upon. favorably. Job hopping is often frowned upon. Those with many temporary roles can build their Those with many temporary roles can build their resume around the contract method-listing resume around the contract method-listing contracts in order of the most recent to oldest. contracts in order of the most recent to oldest. Experience should be listed from most recent to Experience should be listed from most recent to oldest with a separate section for regular full time oldest with a separate section for regular full time roles versus temporary roles.roles versus temporary roles.

EducationEducation

This section can show all relevant This section can show all relevant training and education from training and education from company sponsored training to more company sponsored training to more formal schooling. There should be formal schooling. There should be separate sections for each. State all separate sections for each. State all degrees earned and outline all degrees earned and outline all certifications and if a recently certifications and if a recently graduated student show classes graduated student show classes attended.attended.

AwardsAwards

State outstanding awards for State outstanding awards for schooling-scholarships, community schooling-scholarships, community service, Dean’s List, Honor Roll, etc.service, Dean’s List, Honor Roll, etc.

Show awards earned for good Show awards earned for good accomplishments on the job-spot accomplishments on the job-spot awards, performance awards, awards, performance awards, certificates, etc.certificates, etc.

Show community service awards.Show community service awards.

Professional AssociationsProfessional Associations

Many employers value employees Many employers value employees engaged in their professional engaged in their professional organizations.organizations.

Shows that individual is up on latest trends Shows that individual is up on latest trends affecting their field.affecting their field.

Good Networking ToolGood Networking Tool State Professional Associations on resume State Professional Associations on resume

and accomplishments while being a and accomplishments while being a member of the organization-Did you lead member of the organization-Did you lead fundraising? Marketing? Or workshops?fundraising? Marketing? Or workshops?

ConclusionConclusion A great resume is only a part of the career A great resume is only a part of the career

establishment journey. establishment journey. A resume that is professional looking, well stated, A resume that is professional looking, well stated,

and concise, sells the product-You.and concise, sells the product-You. Resume writing is an ongoing project. Resume writing is an ongoing project. You must update your career kit step by step, and You must update your career kit step by step, and

constantly update your resume monthly. Revise constantly update your resume monthly. Revise as needed for grammar, and general as needed for grammar, and general communication.communication.

Revise for newly acquired skills, experience, Revise for newly acquired skills, experience, education, accomplishments, etc.education, accomplishments, etc.

A great resume can help you land the job you A great resume can help you land the job you have been seeking, and just like anything have been seeking, and just like anything worthwhile takes practice.worthwhile takes practice.