1 resume workshop. 2 resume workshop introduction introduction resumes cover letters conclusion...
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RESUME WORKSHOP
2Resume Workshop
INTRODUCTION
• Introduction
• Resumes
• Cover Letters
• Conclusion
Resumes and cover letters get interviews; interviews get jobs
Table of Contents
3Resume and Interview Workshop
RESUMES
4Resume Workshop
RESUMES
• Your resume is the foundation of your initial marketing to companies
• Allows you to highlight your:
– Competencies
– Qualifications
– Accomplishments
– Future capabilities
• Resumes should be focused and tailored
• Format be straightforward, logical and easy to read
Overview
Building your resume is the first step in being able to communicate “your story”
5Resume Workshop
• Limit your resume to one page
– NEVER go onto two pages
• Format the resume to tell your story
– Selectively use bolds, italics, underlines, and capitalization
• Left margin format is very common
• Maintain consistency of approach
• Use only professional fonts
– Times New Roman
– 10 point font at a MINIMUM
• 8 ½” x 11” inch piece of white or ivory high-quality bond paper
• Try to maintain 1” inch margins all the way around
• No graphics – do not be unconventional
Format and Presentation
RESUMES
There is nothing more important than proofreading and spell-checking your resume for typographic, spelling and grammatical errors
Recruiters will often reject error-filled resumes out of hand
6Resume Workshop
RESUMES
• Best to use reverse chronological order
– Most common format for undergraduates
– List specific positions and education in reverse order
– Start with what you are doing now and work backwards
• Use either bullets or paragraphs throughout your document
– Bullets are easier for a reader to digest quickly
• Be dynamic and concise
– Omit the words I, me, my, a, an, the
Organization and Writing
Since resumes are seen by busy people who may see hundreds of resumes per day, your challenge is to get your message across quickly and easily
7Resume Workshop
• Mandatory Sections
– Identification
– Education
– Honors/Awards
– Extracurricular Activities
– Experience
– Interests
• Optional Sections
– Technical/Computer Skills
– Language Competencies
– Community Activities
– Registration/Licensing/Certifications
– Publications
– Professional Affiliations
Sections
RESUMES
Remember, your resume is just a framework for telling YOUR story
Don’t be afraid to combine/re-organize sections as necessary
8Resume Workshop
• As you go through each of your jobs/activities, think about two things
– What soft skills did you develop that can be applied elsewhere? Communication skills
Customer service
Organizational abilities
– How were you better at your job than your peers? Tasks above and beyond the scope of your position
Measurable results or rankings
Meaningful/lasting contributions to your company or organization
• When writing your bullet points, provide extra details where you can
– Quantifiable results are more powerful than simple claims Page size of reports
Length of presentations
Number of people taught/supervised
Amount of money saved
Content
RESUMES
Thinking about your soft skills and providing quantifiable results will make even mundane jobs stand out
9Resume Workshop
• Planning Words
– Conceived
• Directing Words
– Supervised
• Responsibility Words
– Established
• Service Words
– Delivered
• Interactive Words
– Participated
• Investigative Words
– Calculated
Action Words
RESUMES
Use strong action words to describe your accomplishments
The first word of EVERY bullet should be a strong, active-voice verb
10Resume Workshop
• DO NOT use an un-professional email address
– john.smith@gmail.com, NOT partyhard74@gmail.com
• DO NOT include an “Objective” section
• DO NOT use technical jargon
– Avoid specific industry terms
– Write so a lay person can understand what you have done
• DO NOT say “References available upon request”
• DO NOT include salary history or requirements
• DO NOT include reasons for previous terminations
• DO NOT include age, sex, race, ethnic background, etc.
• DO NOT include politics, unless it is a major activity for you
Common Mistakes
RESUMES
The absolute biggest mistake you can make is not proofreading your resume thoroughly enough…
Your resume should be a reflection of your best-possible work product
11Resume Workshop
COVER LETTERS
12Resume Workshop
• Cover letters should draw attention to the highlights of your resume
• Cover letters are a great way to provide additional information
– Name of the person who referred you
– Explanation of something unusual
• Companies request cover letters for a variety of reasons
– To see if you are well-informed on the position
– To asses your professionalism and manners
– To assess your writing skills
• See the included hand-out for additional information on structure/style
Overview
COVER LETTERS
Always proofread your cover letter for “find and replace” mistakes!
13Resume Workshop
CONCLUSION
14Resume Workshop
CONCLUSION
Questions
Please check your hand-outs for additional information including sample resumes and interview questions
• Any questions?
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