Resume Writing 101
What is the initial amount of time an employer takes to review an applicant’s resume?
Answer: 30-45 seconds
A One Page Resume Is Preferred By A One Page Resume Is Preferred By Most EmployersMost Employers
An employer will evaluate you as a person when An employer will evaluate you as a person when scanning your resume, i.e.: scanning your resume, i.e.:
a) neat resume = neat persona) neat resume = neat person
b) well-organized resume = well-organized person b) well-organized resume = well-organized person
c) error free resume = careful personc) error free resume = careful person
d) professional appearance = careful & competentd) professional appearance = careful & competent personperson
First Impressions Count
Will I Have More Than One Version of
My Resume? YES!YES! Employers today want to know what you can Employers today want to know what you can
do for them, so it is imperative that you create do for them, so it is imperative that you create a targeted resume each time you apply for an a targeted resume each time you apply for an opportunity.opportunity.
You will also develop a 'generic' resume to use You will also develop a 'generic' resume to use in online databases, such as ours.in online databases, such as ours.
You may also need a scan able or web-based You may also need a scan able or web-based resume, depending on your field; more on resume, depending on your field; more on these later.these later.
Types of resumes
Chronological resume-
Focus on education and work experience.
Functional Resume-
Highlights accomplishments and emphasizes skills. This provides applicant’s ability to handle the position.
The Functional Resume
focuses on your skills & focuses on your skills & accomplishments highlights what accomplishments highlights what they are, not when you they are, not when you developed themdeveloped them
good format for job seekers with good format for job seekers with lots of job experience and manylots of job experience and many
jobsjobs
CONTD.
Combination Resume-
Highlights skills but includes detailed information about candidate’s education and work experience. Mainly for new Graduates.
A+ Resume Writing
Resume = Marketing ToolResume = Marketing Tool
Use Resume To Obtain an Use Resume To Obtain an Interview, Not A JobInterview, Not A Job
Use Short Concise StatementsUse Short Concise Statements
Use Numbers and PercentagesUse Numbers and Percentages
Keep Keep ItIt Easy to Read Easy to Read
Use Action VerbsUse Action Verbs
At the top of the page, list your At the top of the page, list your name and the address and name and the address and telephone numbers of both present telephone numbers of both present and permanent residences,and permanent residences,if appropriate. if appropriate.
Note: Use Professional Email Note: Use Professional Email AddressAddress
Contact Information
The purpose of the career objective The purpose of the career objective is to communicate clearly the type is to communicate clearly the type of position in which you are of position in which you are interested.interested.
Objective Statement
Degrees should be listed in reverse Degrees should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most chronological order with the most recent listed first. recent listed first.
Degree Granted or SeekingDegree Granted or Seeking
Date of Graduation or Anticipated Date of Graduation or Anticipated
College or University, city and state College or University, city and state (if the state is not part of the (if the state is not part of the institution's title)institution's title)
Major and Minor, if applicableMajor and Minor, if applicable
Education
Honors, awards and scholarships Honors, awards and scholarships are important items are important items
Rank ordered by importance to the Rank ordered by importance to the
career objective.career objective.
Honors and Awards
Use the term "experience" instead of Use the term "experience" instead of "work history" or "employment," so "work history" or "employment," so that you can include full and part-time that you can include full and part-time jobs, self-employment, volunteer jobs, self-employment, volunteer work; and practicum, field, and work; and practicum, field, and cooperative education experiences. cooperative education experiences.
Experience
Note: Describe your functional skills in short, snappy phrases starting with descriptive action verbs.
Action Verbs
Administered
Arranged
Built
Designed
Developed
Implemented
OrderedOrdered
PerformedPerformed
PlannedPlanned
ServedServed
ScheduledScheduled
SupervisedSupervised
Rank order professional Rank order professional associations, leadership positions associations, leadership positions and other activities by importance and other activities by importance to the career objective. to the career objective.
Emphasize your leadership roles. Emphasize your leadership roles.
Spell out the name of the Spell out the name of the organization: do not use organization: do not use abbreviations or acronyms.abbreviations or acronyms.
Professional Affiliations
& Activities
Student Professional Organizations
SGAVolunteer
Clubs
Sports Teams
Student Newspaper
Additional Information
Include any specialized skills, Include any specialized skills, training, certification or licenses training, certification or licenses such as foreign language ability, such as foreign language ability, ability to sign for the deaf, CPR, ability to sign for the deaf, CPR, etc. etc.
Suzy Q. Student1234 River Run Road
Chattanooga, TN 37343413-425-5555
Objective To obtain an entry-level Human Resources position
Education University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Human Resources
GPA: 3.1/4.0 Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2007
Honors and Awards Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Deans List 6 Semesters
Relevant Experience
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee June 2005 – August 2005 Chattanooga, TN
Human Resources Intern• Assisted with updating employee personnel files• Screened job applications • Observed Human Resources Manager interviewing candidate
Other Experience
Abercrombie Fitch May 2003 – present Chattanooga, TN Sales Associate
• Train new employees• Participate in employee interviews and selections• Oversee inventory and audit of product• Open and close store, including nightly deposits
UTC College of Health and Human Services August 2002-May 2003 Chattanooga, TN Student Worker
• Performed Internet research• Organized office files, records, etc.• Responded to office inquiries• Answered a multi-line telephone
Professional Affiliations and ActivitiesSociety for Human Resource Management, Volunteer at the Chattanooga Soup
Kitchen, Student Government Association-Treasurer
Additional InformationFamiliar with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Publisher
Fluent in Spanish and familiar with French languages
Finishing Touches
♦Proofread your resume
♦Make sure it is “employer-centered”
♦Double-check your contact information
A Resume is NOT a CV
♦ A CV is used in academic &
research-oriented job searches.
♦ A CV is of flexible length
♦ A CV is a record of your academic
accomplishments & credentials.
♦ A resume is used in business, non-profit, government & other types of job searches.
♦ A resume should be 1 page, 2 pages max.
♦ A resume is not all embracing;
it should be targeted to a particular job in a particular field.
Remember
A resume does not get you a job…
A resume does get you an interview.
And, putting time & consideration into your resume is one of the best ways to prepare for your interviews!
Cover Letter Writing
When & Why Do I Need a Cover Letter?
Any time you send your resume to an employer it should be accompanied by a cover letter.
A cover letter acts as an introduction for your resume.
A cover letter also stands as a sample of your writing skills, so be sure to make it the best possible sample you can.
If you are sending your resume via email - the cover letter is the email message itself. Then attach the resume following the employer's instructions (i.e., MSWord document, text document, etc.)
Cover Letters
Should give the employer a reason to look at the resume
3 to 5 bulleted points leading to the resume
If the cover letter does not “speak well,” the resume will not be read!
Application (Cover) Letter
Purpose: persuade your audience to move you onto the next step of the job search process
Tone: project self-confidence and maturity; do not be apologetic, timid, stuffy, or arrogant
Homework: learn something about the company that you can mention in the letter. Can you tie your qualifications to what you learned or the way you might benefit the company?
Letter Format
Heading: your address; city, state, zip code; date
Inside address: audience name and job title, company name, address, city, state, zip
Salutation or attention line Body of letter Complimentary close,
signature block End notations Enclosure
Specifics
Use an attention line when you don’t have a specific person to address Ex. Attention: Human
Resources Department Choose a traditional
complimentary closing Sincerely yours, Very truly yours, Respectfully yours,
End notations– Signature block
• Enclosure: résumé
Specifics 2
End notations– Signature block: typed name
four lines below complimentary closing phrase with space for signature
– Enclosure: can include name or type of enclosure. Use the entire word or abbreviate.
– Ex. • Enclosure: résumé • Encl.
Heading and Inside Address Example
4912 Vasant ViharDehradoon, Uttranchal 21207
February 28, 2009
Dr. ABC Sharma, PresidentInfosys1000 Hilltop CircleBangalore, Karnataka 21250
Dear Dr. Sharma:
Complimentary Close, etc. Example
Sincerely yours,
Jobseeker Negi
Enclosure: résumé
Body (paragraph 2-3)
Discuss work and education experience, one paragraph each– For education, include
specifics about work done in classes. Class titles without supporting specifics won’t tell your audience much about you.
Education example– In my technical writing course,
I designed a web site and worked on a collaborative manual on using Front Page
Conclusion (paragraph 4)
Ask for action from audience: – an interview
Give contact information– E-mail address– Landline phone number(s) – Cell phone number
End all letters with a courteous closing sentence– Thank you for your assistance.
Conclusion (paragraph 4)
Ask for action from audience: – an interview
Give contact information– E-mail address– Landline phone number(s) – Cell phone number
End all letters with a courteous closing sentence– Thank you for your assistance.
THANKS