KEYS TO A KEYS TO A WINNING RESUME!WINNING RESUME!

Career Services DepartmentCareer Services DepartmentITT Technical InstituteITT Technical Institute

Albany, NY Albany, NY

What is a Resume?What is a Resume? The Resume is:The Resume is:

A tool to market yourself so that you can get the interview!A tool to market yourself so that you can get the interview! An expression of you (showcases your skills/qualifications & An expression of you (showcases your skills/qualifications &

accomplishments) accomplishments) The first thing a recruiter or hiring manager looks at in the hiring The first thing a recruiter or hiring manager looks at in the hiring

process ( usually for maximum of 30-60 seconds)process ( usually for maximum of 30-60 seconds) What will truly make a difference in the type of job you will getWhat will truly make a difference in the type of job you will get

YOUR TICKET TO AN YOUR TICKET TO AN INTERVIEW!INTERVIEW!

RESUME FORMATSRESUME FORMATS

CHRONOLOGICACHRONOLOGICALL - ( preferred - ( preferred format to use)format to use)

FUNCTIONALFUNCTIONAL – ( May be used by – ( May be used by some people if appropriate)some people if appropriate)

ScannableScannable – ( Every job seeker needs – ( Every job seeker needs to have a scannable version) to have a scannable version)

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMECHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

Organized by your employment history in Organized by your employment history in reverse chronological order covering the reverse chronological order covering the past 5-10 years. past 5-10 years.

Start with skills and educationStart with skills and education

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMECHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

The chronological resume is preferred by The chronological resume is preferred by the widest variety of employers, as well as the widest variety of employers, as well as by recruiters and many of the Internet job by recruiters and many of the Internet job boards.boards.

It is “Reader Friendly” It is “Reader Friendly” Clearly demonstrates your job history and Clearly demonstrates your job history and

career advancement/growth. career advancement/growth.

FUNCTIONAL RESUMEFUNCTIONAL RESUME For job seekers with limited work experience, a For job seekers with limited work experience, a

checkered job history, or a job history in a checkered job history, or a job history in a different career fielddifferent career field

Organized by skills and functions clusters Organized by skills and functions clusters communication skillscommunication skills leadership skillsleadership skills technical skillstechnical skills customer service skillscustomer service skills

Works best for homemakers returning to the Works best for homemakers returning to the workforce, new graduates without any prior work workforce, new graduates without any prior work experience, or individuals with wide employment experience, or individuals with wide employment gapsgaps

SCANNABLE RESUMESCANNABLE RESUME You should use a machine scannable resume only if the You should use a machine scannable resume only if the

employer requests one employer requests one Also known as a text or scannable resumeAlso known as a text or scannable resume

Highlights keywords – words relevant to a specific job or field. Highlights keywords – words relevant to a specific job or field. May include specific skills, software, hardware, industry specific May include specific skills, software, hardware, industry specific tolls, certifications, etc.tolls, certifications, etc.

Useful because many employers now utilize applicant tracking Useful because many employers now utilize applicant tracking systems to store candidate information and resumes. Search systems to store candidate information and resumes. Search later for open positions. Database scans key words.later for open positions. Database scans key words.

FORMATTING FORMATTING KEEP IT SIMPLE! KEEP IT SIMPLE! No italics, no underlining, no shading, or other unusual No italics, no underlining, no shading, or other unusual

enhancements. No bold or ALL CAPS. It's unnecessary; the enhancements. No bold or ALL CAPS. It's unnecessary; the scanner does not differentiate between this and other font styles. scanner does not differentiate between this and other font styles.

RESUME SECTIONSRESUME SECTIONS Heading Heading Objective/Profile Objective/Profile EducationEducation Skills/QualificationsSkills/Qualifications Work ExperienceWork Experience Others (i.e. professional associations, Others (i.e. professional associations,

training, certifications, volunteer training, certifications, volunteer experience, military experience)experience, military experience)

Leave references off (should be in a Leave references off (should be in a separate document)separate document)

HEADINGHEADING NameName AddressAddress

Phone Number(s)Phone Number(s) E-mail Address (should be E-mail Address (should be

professional)professional)

NEVER include personal information such as photos, NEVER include personal information such as photos, height, weight, gender, marital status, nationality, or height, weight, gender, marital status, nationality, or religion (illegal for employers to use this information religion (illegal for employers to use this information in hiring decision).in hiring decision).

BE CREATIVE. This is an advertisement for you.BE CREATIVE. This is an advertisement for you. You You want your resume to stand out from the rest.want your resume to stand out from the rest.

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

The objective tells the employer what you want The objective tells the employer what you want to do and what you have to offer. to do and what you have to offer.

The objective should be general yet geared The objective should be general yet geared towards the job you are seeking.towards the job you are seeking.

Should not be self-centered – employers want Should not be self-centered – employers want to know what you can do for them! to know what you can do for them!

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Begin with your current or most recent Begin with your current or most recent educational experience.educational experience.

Your anticipated graduation dateYour anticipated graduation date Include grade point average (3.0 or higher), Include grade point average (3.0 or higher),

academic honors, and any other awards.academic honors, and any other awards. Also include relevant courses/projects ( ex. Also include relevant courses/projects ( ex.

Capstone, Techfest)Capstone, Techfest) Include any certificates completed or Include any certificates completed or

concentrated coursework.concentrated coursework.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL PROJECTSSPECIAL PROJECTS

Separate into categories:Separate into categories: Computer SkillsComputer Skills Technical SkillsTechnical Skills Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills Customer Service SkillsCustomer Service Skills

WORK EXPERIENCEWORK EXPERIENCE Begin with your most recent employerBegin with your most recent employer Entries should include:Entries should include:

Company Name, City, State Company Name, City, State Dates of Employment ( Month and Year)Dates of Employment ( Month and Year) Position Title ( Bullet and Can Italicize)Position Title ( Bullet and Can Italicize) Description of job duties (3-4)Description of job duties (3-4)

• Use bullet formUse bullet form• Use ACTION/POWER words (i.e. developed, trained, Use ACTION/POWER words (i.e. developed, trained,

converted, reduced, increased, assisted, provided, converted, reduced, increased, assisted, provided, coordinated, implemented, achieved)coordinated, implemented, achieved)

• If you’re no longer employed at a certain organization make If you’re no longer employed at a certain organization make sure that the position description is in the past tensesure that the position description is in the past tense

Internship ExperienceInternship Experience

Internship Experience will be under Work Internship Experience will be under Work Experience HeadingExperience Heading Same format as the work experienceSame format as the work experience

• Company Name, City, StateCompany Name, City, State• Dates of EmploymentDates of Employment• Position Title ( Ex. Network Administrator Intern)Position Title ( Ex. Network Administrator Intern)• Description of job dutiesDescription of job duties

VOLUNTEER WORK VOLUNTEER WORK COMMUNITY SERVICECOMMUNITY SERVICE

Use experiences you may have in the Use experiences you may have in the following:following: Volunteer work for local community center, Volunteer work for local community center,

clubs, organizations, etc.clubs, organizations, etc. Good to use if work experience is limited.Good to use if work experience is limited.

REFERENCESREFERENCES Do NOT include references on your resume. Do NOT include references on your resume.

Use a separate a reference page.Use a separate a reference page. References available upon request on the References available upon request on the

bottom of your resumebottom of your resume Three types of references:Three types of references:

Educational (teachers, coaches, etc.)Educational (teachers, coaches, etc.) Professional (previous managers or supervisors from Professional (previous managers or supervisors from

jobs held)jobs held) Personal (NO family members – do Personal (NO family members – do notnot list personal list personal

references unless specifically requested to do so.)references unless specifically requested to do so.)

KEYS TO A GOOD RESUMEKEYS TO A GOOD RESUME

Short and ConciseShort and Concise Visually AppealingVisually Appealing Error Free (proof read for grammar, Error Free (proof read for grammar,

punctuation and spelling)punctuation and spelling) Quality paper and printing ( Resume Quality paper and printing ( Resume

Paper)Paper) Honesty Honesty Source: Employment Techniques in the 21Source: Employment Techniques in the 21stst Century Century

EMPLOYERS USE OF RESUMESEMPLOYERS USE OF RESUMES

Scan quickly to determine whether or not to Scan quickly to determine whether or not to interview interview

Look at education, skills, experienceLook at education, skills, experience Develop interview questionsDevelop interview questions Assess communication skillsAssess communication skills Transferable skills (i.e. initiative, high energy, Transferable skills (i.e. initiative, high energy,

communication and time management skills, communication and time management skills, leadership ability, ability to multi-task, team leadership ability, ability to multi-task, team player, work under pressure, analytical skills, player, work under pressure, analytical skills, etc.)etc.)

FINAL POINTERSFINAL POINTERS Ensure that your resume is error free – Ensure that your resume is error free – proofread, proofread,

proofread, proofread!proofread, proofread! Be sure to catch all spelling errors, Be sure to catch all spelling errors, grammatical weaknesses, unusual punctuation, and grammatical weaknesses, unusual punctuation, and inconsistent capitalizations.inconsistent capitalizations.

Make appointment with career services or a professor to Make appointment with career services or a professor to review resume/offer suggestions.review resume/offer suggestions.

Do not lie! Do not lie! Update resume as you acquire new skills/experience.Update resume as you acquire new skills/experience. Save a backup copy of your resume. Save a backup copy of your resume. Use one font type. Use one font type. Highlight accomplishments.Highlight accomplishments.

Your Resume is a self-promotional Your Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting possible light, for the purpose of getting

invited to a job interview.invited to a job interview.