career services 2009 workshop series resume preparation

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series

RESUME PREPARATION


Agenda

• Purpose of Resumes• Resume Formats• Basic Sections of a Resume• Tips


The purpose of a resume is to get an INTERVIEW, not a job.

• Be brief & easy to read.• A focused summary of the qualifications, skills and

background that you have to offer a potential employer. • Remember who your audience is! Take the time to

consider what will impress the reader of your resume.• Too often resumes are merely a list of jobs held and

duties performed rather than a description of accomplishments and achievements. As a result, many students fail to secure interviews.

• A resume is YOUR marketing tool: sell yourself!


Headings should include your name and contact information on the top of the page

PAT A. SMITH100 North 20th Street – Green Bay, WI 54301 (920) 000-0000 [email protected]

Name should be at least 12 pt font on the top of page

Address and phone number of where you would like to be contacted

Phone number listed should have a professional greeting on the voicemail

If you plan on moving immediately after graduation, list your current address and your new address with the date it will be effective

Email Address should include your name, not a nickname. You want your email to appear professional.

mailto:[email protected]


An OBJECTIVE sentence is optional.

• An objective should include…• The type of position you are seeking• What setting (financial institution)• Skills, Education, Experience that you will bring to

the position

Example: Obtain position as Assistant Manager in advertising which utilizes my education, communication skills, and management experience.


A Summary of Qualifications can show the employer why you are qualified for the job

• Use the job description as a guide• Make sure you list your top qualifications • This section should change for each job you apply for

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS• Proficient in the following Microsoft Applications; Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and

Access.• Developed interpersonal skills, having dealt with a diversity of professionals, clients

and staff members.• Self-motivated; able to implement decisions and set effective priorities to achieve long

term goals.


The education section is very useful if you have limited experience in your field

• List the program you are enrolled in at NWTC and other education you have completed

• List GPA if over 3.0• Include relevant coursework. List courses that pertain to the job you are

seeking• Include degree, major, institution actual or expected graduation date• Academic honors, academic clubs and associations• Include study abroad, language study and specialized training

EDUCATIONNortheast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI Expected May 20xxAssociate Degree in Accounting• 3.89 Cumulative GPA• Relevant coursework: Government and Nonprofit Accounting, Accounting – Payroll, Cost

Accounting, Accounting – Computer Ledger


Related Experience can give you an edge in a competitive job market

• Use a bulleted statement documenting your skills through specific accomplishments you’ve achieved on the job

• Don’t just list duties, focus on accomplishments that set you apart • Do not limit yourself to paid experiences…volunteer work, lab work, clinicals,

co-ops, leadership roles. • Use active verbs (initiated, organized, managed, directed)• Qualify and quantify your information (supervised 10 crew members) and

mention ways that you made a difference

ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCEAccounting Clerk/Bookkeeping Intern, Company 123, Green Bay, WI 2008-Present• Created a filing process to manage cash receipts that saved over 50 hours of staff time annually.• Compile reports, such as cash receipts, customer-bill charges, and sales for accounting and

management purposes.• Maintain Accounts Receivable/Payable; reconcile bank accounts.• Prepare monthly financial reports and year end adjustments.


Other Work Experience is valuable information; not just a filler

• Other work experience is evidence that you know how to work and it can highlight your ability

• Also shows that you probably have realistic job expectations

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCEServer, Hometown Restaurant, Green Bay, WI 2002-presentCustomer Service Representative, ABC Staffing, Green Bay, WI 2001-2004


Layout

• Resumes must be easy to read• Use eye relief techniques (capitalize category headings, underline or

italicize job titles, indent, double space between entries, bullets)• Avoid fonts that are difficult to read• Don’t use too many fonts or styles• Be consistent• Quality paper• Uniform margins• Length

12


Key Concept for Resumes…

No one resume will please every employer. Learning about the industry will aid you in determining how to put

information on your resume. If in doubt about the industry "standard", seek professional advice from someone

practicing in your desired career field. They got there, so can you!


Irrelevant of controversial Information

• Age or birth date• Picture• Marital status• Social security number• Complete addresses from previous employers• Salary received from present and past employers• Health• Religious or political affiliations

15


Reminders

• Have a clear job target before writing your resume• Tailor your resume to each specific position• Limit your resume to 1-2 pages• Avoid technical jargon or abbreviations• Have your resume critiqued by a career counselor• Use words/phrases from job order• Most relevant information listed first• Show at least 3 jobs, try not to show your age• Do not state, “references available on request”• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!• Do not cram too much on one page – whitespace is important• Don’t lie! It will come back to haunt you. • Do not staple.

16


Completing Applications

• Fill application out completely• Do not use the words “see resume”• Give complete information when listing references• Write neatly• Carry a worksheet with you that has the information you will need to

complete applications• If you apply repeatedly to a company for different openings, fill out a new

application each time

17


For more information about resume preparation and the entire job search process, contact

Career Services.

• Student Center – Room 235• 920-498-6250• www.nwtc.edu


Resume Workshop Tuesday, October 20, 3pmFilling Out Online Job Applications Thursday, October 22, 3pmDeveloping a Strategic Job Search Tuesday, October 27, 3pmInterviewing Workshop Thursday, October 29, 3pmNetworking for Success Tuesday, November 3, 3pmDress to Impress Thursday, November 5, 3pmInternships Tuesday, November 10, 3pmFacebook, Twitter, Blogs...in a Job Search? Thursday, November 12, 3pm

Upcoming Workshops

career services 2009 workshop series resume preparation

Documents