same day resume by michael farr

Same Day Resume-Michael Farr 24 July 2011

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Michael Farr

Same-day resume:

Write an effective resume in an hour

(Indianapolis, USA: JIST Works, 2007) 2nd Ed

ISBN 978159357836

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Table of Contents

• Chp 1: Quick tips for creating & using resume

• Chp 2: Do a simple resume in an hour

• Chp 3: Write a skills resume in a few hours

• Chp 4: 15 mins cover letter/ job correspondence

• Chp 5: Use your resume on the Internet

• Chp 6: Write a better resume now


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Chp 1: Quick tips for creating & using

resume:

Contents Highlights

• What is a resume?

• Reasons for not needing a resume

• Reasons for needing a resume

• Resume Basics

• Types of Resumes

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What is a resume?

•1-2 page summary of life & employment history

•Presentation of oneself to future employers

•Specific parts of one’s past to get a job


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Reasons for not needing a resume

• Not a good job search tool

• Not all jobs need resumes

• Not all job search methods need resumes

• Alternative names of “resume”

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Reasons for needing a resume

• Employers often need them

• Structure one’s communications

– Clarify job objective, skills, education, work

experience, achievements

• An effective job search tool

– Presentation of skills to support job objective


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Resume Basics

• Length

– One to two pages

• Errors eliminations

– Proofreading

• Appearance of resume

– Professional looking

• Action words and accomplishments

• Write the resume yourself

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Types of Resumes• Chronological resumes

– Sequential events in time

– Presents career progression

• Skills/Functional resumes

– Tougher to write

– Classify work experience under major skill areas

• Combination of Chronological/skills resumes


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7 Steps to Getting a Job Fast

• Know your skills

• Have a clear objective

• Know where and how to look

• Spend at least 25 hours a week looking

• Get two interviews a day

• Do well in interviews

• Follow up on all contacts

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New Definition of an interview

• Any face-to face contact with someone

who has the authority to hire or supervise

a person with your skills – even if no

opening exists at the time you talk to

them


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Chp 2: Do a Simple Resume in an hourContents Highlights

• Chronological Resume Basics

• Writing Major Sections of a Chronological resume

– Name, Mailing address, phone numbers and email address, Job

objective, Education and training, work/volunteer history,

professional Organisations, recognition and awards, personal

information, references

• Final Draft

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Chronological Resume Basics

• Suitable for people with years of work experience

• Acceptable if neat and tidy


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Major Sections of a Chronological

Resume (Part 1)

• Name

– Do not use a nickname

• Mailing address

– Spell out address in full, no short forms

• Phone numbers and emails

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Resume (Part 2)

• Job Objective (questions to ask?)

– What sort of position, title, and area of work do you want?

– Define area of responsibility

– Name key skills important for the job

– Name specific areas of strong interest to use in next job

– What else is important?


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Resume (Part 3)

• Education and training

– Emphasise most recent education if any

– Not needed if sufficient work experience

• Work and volunteer history

– Volunteer/military experience equally important

– Previous job titles/employers

– Employment dates

– Duties and accomplishments

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Resume (Part 4)

• Professional Organisations

– Worth mentioning

– Job-related, humanitarian, sports, clubs etc

• Recognition and Awards

– Support job objective

• Personal information

• References

– Not needed � employers can ask for them


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Chp 3: Write a skills resume in a few hours

Contents Highlights

• Skills Resume

• Writing Skills Resume

– Job Objective

– The Skills Section

• Tips for editing draft resume into final form

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Writing Skills Resume (Part 1)

• Job Objective

– What sort of position, title or area of

specialisation do you seek?

– What level of responsibility interests you?

– What are your most important skills?


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Writing Skills Resume (Part 2)

• Skills Section

– Also called areas of accomplishment, summary of

qualifications, areas of expertise and ability…

– Features skills important to the job you want

– Refer to next slide for key skills list.

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Key Skills Needed For Success in Most jobs

Basic Skills to keep a job Key transferable skills most likely

needed with higher pay & role

Basic academic skills Instruct others

Accept supervision Manage money and budgets

Follow instructions Manage people / leadership

Get along well with coworkers Meet the public

Meet deadlines Work effectively as part of a team

Good attendance Negotiating

Punctual Organise/manage projects

Hard worker Written/oral communication

Productive Org effectiveness

Honest Goal setting, creative thinking, problem solving


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Writing Skills Resume

• Prove your key skills with a story

– Use work situations if possible

– Other close options like school, volunteer etc…

– Quantify the examples like money saved etc…

– Emphasise results achieved

• Edit key skills proofs

– Select proofs relevant to supporting job objective

– Proofs to be short, clear and powerful

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Chp 4: 15 minutes cover letter/ job

correspondence• Cover Letters

– 7 tips for a good cover letter

– Writing cover letters to (un)known people

• The Hardworking JIST Card

– JIST card = Small resume

– How to use them

– JIST card paper and format tips

• Thank-You Notes

– 3 times when to send them and why

– 7 tips to write thank you notes


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7 Tips for a Good Cover Letter

• Write to someone in particular

• Make absolutely no errors

• Personalise your content

– Form letters offend the job employers

• Present a good appearance

– Good quality stationery and envelopes

• Provide a friendly opening

• Target your skills and experiences

– Relevant background of interest to the employer

• Close with an action statement

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Writing Cover Letters to Known People

• Scheduled interview and specific job opening

– Detail of experience relating to specific job

• Scheduled interview but no specific job available

– Finding job leads which no one is looking

• Interview takes place

– Time to express interest in the job

• No interview scheduled yet


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Writing Cover Letters to Unknown People

• Not practical to directly contact prospective employer

• “To whom it may concern” � not recommended

• Try to find something common with person to contact

(i.e. recruitment agent, employer)

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JIST Card = Small Resume

• Essential info in a short format:

– Name, phone number, email address

– Type of position to seek

– Experience, education and training

– Key job-related skills, performance and results

– Good-worker traits

– Special conditions willing to work under (optional)

• Format of JIST Card � 3 x 5-inch card


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How to use JIST Cards

• Attached to resume

• Enclosed in a thank you note

• Given to friends, relatives & other contacts

• Sent to everyone who graduated from school

and members of professional bodies

• Put on car windshields

• Posted on supermarket bulletin board

• On the internet, in addition to resume content

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3 Times to Send Thank You Notes

• Before interview

– Thanking someone for taking time to see you

• After interview

– Creates a positive impression

– Another opportunity to remain in employer’s mind

– JIST to provide employers chance to contact you

• Anyone who helps in job search

– Includes those recruit agents, advisors etc


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7 Tips for Writing Thank You Notes

• Use quality paper and envelopes

• Handwritten or typed acceptable

• Use a formal salutation

• Keep note informal and friendly

– Not to write “reason for hiring me”

• Sign it in full name if possible

• Send it right away (within 24 hours)

• Enclosed a JIST card (depends on situation)

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Chp 5: Use Your Resume on the InternetContents Highlights

• Adapt your resume for electronic use

– Sample Text-only resume

– Convert resume to electronic format

• The importance of keywords

– Quick tips for selecting keywords

• Use the Internet to go beyond the resume


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Ways to Use Internet for Job Search

• Employers websites

– Check out employees’ blogs for corporate culture

• Inside information

– Google to find out specific employers’ info

• Job boards

• Specialty sites

• Networking

– Facebook,LinkedIn,eacademy etc

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Sample Text-Only Resume

• No graphics

• No lines (equal lines used)

• No bold, italics, or other text formats

• Only one easy-to-scan font (Courier)

• No tab indents

• No line or paragraph indents


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Convert Resume to Electronic Format

• Copy and paste resume text into a new file in word

processor

• Eliminate graphic elements (lines/images)

• Set the margins to no more than 65 characters wide

• Use easy-to-scan font (Courier/Times New Roman)

• Introduce major sections with words in uppercase letters

(instead of bold/italic)

• Keep all text left-aligned

• Use standard keyboard characters (*)

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Selecting Keywords for Resume

• Think like a prospective employer

– Include keywords to catch employer’s attention

• Review job descriptions from major references

– Different jobs with different expectations

• Look for additional keywords to include

– Through sources like job ads, employers’ websites,

job forums etc


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Chp 6: Write a better resume nowContents Highlights

• Get some help if needed

• Improve Chronological Resume

• Gather info & Emphasize Achievements, Skills & Results

(Refer to chapter 2)

• More Quick Resume Writing Tips

• Tips to Improve Resume’s Design & Appearance

• Tips on Production and Getting Copies Made

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Get Some Help If Needed

• Professional

Resume Writers

• Career/Job Search

Counsellors


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Improve Chronological Resume

• Add a job objective

• Emphasize skills and accomplishments

• Expand education & training section

• Add new sections to highlight strengths

• Portfolios and enclosures

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More Quick Resume Tips

• Write your resume yourself

• Don’t lie or exaggerate

– Ethically not right

• Never include a negative

– Present strengths, not weaknesses

• No place to be humble

• Use short sentence & simple words

• Include numbers

• Emphasize skills

• Highlight accomplishments and results

• Importance of doing drafts

• Get independent checks on resume for errors


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Tips to Improve Resume’s Design &

Appearance

• Increase readability

– Short sentences and words, paragraphs

– Narrow columns

– White space to increase text readability

– Use a consistent font type

• Use 2 pages at most

• Consider using graphics

• Edit again for appearance

• Select top-quality paper

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Tips on Production and Getting

Copies Made• Good Quality photocopies/ Laser Printer copies

– Test the copy quality & high grade paper

• Evaluating & selecting a quick print shop

– Look for specialty shops focusing on small jobs

• How many copies to get

– Having extras for making provisions

same day resume by michael farr

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