Resume Writing Workshop

I was born in a log cabin on a beautiful lake…..

Rule Number 1

A resume is NOT a life history!

Resume

A sales and marketing tool for YOU!

YOU are the product being sold and the recipient of the resume is the consumer.

Resume

Why should YOU be chosen to fill the position from the big stacks of resumes?

Why would the company benefit from selecting YOU over anyone else?

What do YOU bring to the table?

Be Creative

Resume

Needs to quickly demonstrate why YOU are the top candidate!

High school resume normally is one page.

Wordsmith your resume

Be Honest

Ahhh….Facebook

What Employers Want

Background Checks

Anatomy of a High School Resume Contact Information Objective/Personal Statement Summary/Highlights of

Qualifications Education Work Experience/Internships

(Paid or Non-Paid) Honors and Activities

(If they relate to the job)

Anatomy of a High School Resume

What is an Objective Statement?

Immediately below the top section of a resume (containing your name, address, etc.), there is usually a short section with one of these headings: ObjectivePersonal StatementProfessional ObjectiveSummary of QualificationsCareer Goals

Summary of Qualifications

Personal Statement

Example

Highly motivated individual with a solid work ethic, takes initiative, bilingual in English and Spanish, works collaboratively, produces high quality work, meets deadlines, quick learner, highly adaptable and flexible.

If you know what job you're applying for, the career objective is better. However, if you're not sure what positions a company has to offer or what you're applying for, the qualifications summary is better.

Use Power Words when writing your objective statement

Objective Statement or Not?

Objective Statement? Most often the objective statement

includes 1-3 lines of text, summarizing the position(s) you are applying for and/or your main qualifications.

While some writers choose to use a sentence format, many objective statements are simply descriptive phrases with minimal punctuation.

Why Write an Objective Statement?

Objective statements improve your resume by helping you:

Emphasize your main qualifications and summarize them for readers

Inform your readers of the position(s) you are seeking and your career goals

Establish your professional identity

Be Specific

The most common mistake made in writing objective statements is being too general and vague in describing either the position desired or your qualifications. For example, some objective statements read like this: An internship allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise in different areas.

Questions to Ask

Before drafting or revising your personal statement, you will find it helpful to answer as many of the following questions as possible

Questions To AskAbout You About the Company or

Organization

What are your main qualifications (strengths, skills, areas of expertise)

Which of your qualifications are most desired by your resume's readers?

What positions (or range of positions) do you seek?

What position titles (or range or positions) are available?

What are your professional goals?

What are some goals of the organizations that interest you?

What type of organization or work setting are you interested in?

What types of organizations or work settings are now hiring?

Some Variations to Try

Integrate key words and phrases used in the job advertisement(s)

Play with word choices to fit your strengths and your readers' expectations. You might try:

Substituting for "use" words like: develop apply employ

Replacing "allowing me" with: requiring giving me the opportunity

Changing "enter" to: join pursue obtain become a member contribute

Use “Action” Words Remember to use action verbs to

describe your skills and accomplishments when writing your resume and cover letters-- to increase the strength of your writing and make potential employers take notice!

http://www.quintcareers.com/action_skills.html

Skills or Summary of Qualifications What makes you special? This should be written to fulfill

the needs of the position, not just to blow your horn.

Find out what the hiring authority feels is important--carefully read the job description.

Skills or Summary of Qualifications Do some research about the desirable

skills and attributes for the position Monster.com Occupational Handbook Start reviewing the job ads that

interest you, see what they have in common

Jot down your matching skills Use your skill sheet from your R.O.P.

class to list the skills that relate to the job you are applying for

Education Important section for high school

students Include

Name of your school (most recent first) Dates attended R.O.P. courses AP/Honor courses/Partnership Extracurricular activities Honors Awards Leadership activities or roles

Work Experience/Internships

(Paid or Unpaid) Work experience with most

recent employment first Date of employment Name of employer Title or position Duties Contributions Company awards or

commendations

Miscellaneous Categories

Honors and Activities (If it relates to job)

Volunteer Experience Include agency or service club and

your involvement Community Service Computer/Technical Skills Languages Clubs/Organizations

Resume Do's & Don'ts

DO proofread your resume. Check for spelling and grammatical errors. Read your resume backwards or have someone else proofread your resume.

DO limit your resume to 1-2 pages. DO use 10-12 point font. DO include CURRENT phone number and e-

mail address DO use quality resume paper DO use action verbs when describing work

experience DO be honest--be prepared to back up

everything on your resume. DO use organized, easy-to-read format DO send your resume with a cover letter

Don'ts

DON'T use the pronoun "I" DON'T rely on another person to

write your resume. DON'T use decorative fonts DON'T leave big gaps in your

employment history-explain why DON'T include personal

information, i.e., height, weight, marital status, etc.

Questions to ask yourself before submitting your resume: Does my resume show that I

fulfill the employer's needs? Are my strengths clear? Did I include anything that does

not add value to my application? (These items probably can be removed.)

Have I used acronyms/abbreviations that may not be understood by prospective employers?

Seven Signs It’s Time to Toss Your Resume No Personal Statement/Summary

of Qualification Lack of Keywords and Phrases No Evidence of Your Experience Use of Personal Pronouns and

Articles Irrelevant Information Poor Formatting Typos and Misspelled Words

PROPERTIES

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