IMPROVING YOUR RESUMEEASY AS 1.2.3

BY: THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Spring 2011 Career Fair Information/ Checklist Feb. 1 & 2—Wednsday & Thursday 12pm-4pm@ ARC Business Professional Bring I Card Update your I-Link Account

UIN is now required RSVP to Career Fair

Print out sufficient resumes Do research prior to focus on companies/

internships of interest

A few things to keep in mind…

Purpose of a Resume

Your Resume MUST get you an interview It’s the final test.

Once you get the interview, resume sets the tone

Always remember: Actions = Results This is what employers respond to

The BIG Question

What can YOU DO for the company?

Remember: employers hire people to do particular jobs

Do career research and select jobs that you will be able to add value to a company

The Winning Resume Formula Strong ACTIONS = RESULTS content One Page Professional Layout Easy to Read Quantify Skills and Accomplishments

Components: Must Have Headings Career Objective

If you know it, state it Education Summary Of Qualifications Professional Experience Work History Optional Headings:

Computer Skills Honors/Awards Community Activities Related Training

***Note: Your resume is constantly changing, along with headings. Throughout college you’ll have honors/awards/activities/etc; whereas in the future, you’re more apt to have experience/ qualifications/etc.

Another tip: Make modifications at the end of every semester. It’ll make your life easier

Common Errors

Lying can ruin your career Avoid at all cost Exaggerations/ hyperboles included

Spelling Spellcheckers don’t think Typos scream

Being general doesn’t cut it Specifics, originality

Must be quick, easily readable format Employers scan, not read

Common Errors Cont.

Include important credentials (ex. computer skills, applicable education or training to the position) Never assume employers know

Too much is too much; less is more Drop off useless stuff (pictures, interests, no

“I,” past salaries, “references upon request,” “Resume” at the top, high school information, personal information)

Not paying attention to how it all looks Don’t be lazy Professionalism = KEY = FORMAT!

Common Errors Cont. Missing important parts

Summary of qualifications section advisable *** MUST: Name, address, phone number

Relying on technology Reformatting BEWARE Recommended to mail a copy too Emailed resumes are often negated

Fancy designs don’t always impress Most employers claim designer paper, borders, and graphics

are a negative influence Plain, easy-to-read is the way to go

Gimmicks won’t substitute for content Negative effect; meat of resume is what gets an employers

interest not designer papers, oversized envelopes, Fed-Ex shipment, or even candy/flowers/cookies… yes people do this!

The Path to Success

Put yourself out there and take a chance

Dream big See your value or no one else will Set goals, establish a plan, and act

on your dreams Concentrate on the goal and keep

focus Persevere Commit and go for it!

Looking for that perfect word?

Your search stops here.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Accomplished activated, adjusted, administered, advised, analyzed, assigned, attained, chaired, conceptualized, conducted, consolidated, contracted, coordinated, decreased, delegated, designed, developed, devised, directed, established, evaluated, executed, facilitated, formulated, hired, implemented, improved, incorporated, increased, initiated, interviewed, invented, investigated, led, managed, negotiated, organized, oversaw, planned, presided, prioritized, produced, recommended, recruited, reorganized, reviewed, scheduled, strengthened, supervised

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Addressed, arbitrated, arranged, authored, collaborated, corresponded, developed, directed, drafted, edited, educated, enlisted, explained, formulated, influenced, interpreted, lectured, mediated, moderated, motivated, negotiated, persuaded, promoted, publicized, reconciled, recruited, spoke, stipulated, taught, translated, wrote

RESEARCH SKILLS

Accumulated, calculated, catalogued, clarified, collected, critiqued, designed, diagnosed, evaluated, examined, extracted, identified, inspected, interpreted, interviewed, investigated, organized, reviewed, summarized, surveyed, systemized

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Assembled, built, calculated, computed, constructed, designed, devised, engineered, fabricated, formulated, maintained, operated, overhauled, programmed, remodeled, repaired, solved, surveyed, trained, troubleshooter, upgraded

TEACHING SKILLS

Adapted, advised, clarified, coached, communicated, coordinated, developed, educate, enabled, encouraged, evaluated, explained, facilitated, guided, informed, initiated, instructed, persuaded, researched, stimulated, trained

CREATIVE SKILLS

Acted, advertised, conceptualized, created, demonstrated, designed, developed, directed, established, founded, illustrated, instituted, integrated, introduced, invented, marketed, originated, performed, planned, presented, produced, recommended, revitalized, shaped, sold

HELPING SKILLS

Assessed, assisted, clarified, coached, counseled, demonstrated, diagnosed, educated, effected, expedited, facilitated, familiarized, guided, referred, rehabilitated, represented, served

ADMINISTRATIVE OR DETAIL SKILLS

Approved, arranged, calculated, catalogued, changed, classified, collected, compiled, computerized, dispatched, executed, formulated, generated, implemented, informed, inspected, maintained, manipulated, modified, monitored, operated, organized, prepared, processed, purchased, recorded, retrieved, screened, specified, synthesized, systematized, tabulated, validated

Now… Once you landed the

interview, here are some questions!

Potential Questions (Over 30!)

What are the day-to-day responsibilities I’ll have in this job? Whom will I be supervising? Could you explain your organizational structure to me? What is the organization’s plan for the next five years, and how

does this department or division fit in? Will we be expanding, brining on any new products or new services

that I should be aware of Could you describe to me your typical management style and the

type of employee that works well with you? What are some of the skills and abilities you see as necessary for

someone to succeed in this job? What challenges might I encounter if I take on this position? What are your major concerns that need to be immediately

addressed in this job? What are the areas in the job that you’d like to see improved upon?

Questions Cont. What are the areas in the job that you’d like to see improved

upon? What is your company’s policy on providing seminars,

workshops, and training so the employees can keep up on their skills or acquire new skills?

What is the budget this department operates with? Are there any restraints or cutbacks planned that would

decrease that budget? What particular computer equipment and software do you use

here? When was your last upgrade? Are any new equipment purchases planned? What personality traits do you think are necessary to succeed

in this job? Will I be working as part of a team or alone? What committees will I participate in?

Questions Cont.

How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?

To what extent are the functions of this department considered important by upper management?

Are there any weaknesses in the department that you are working to improve?

What are the company’s long-term goals? What are the department’s goals, and how do they fit

into the company’s mission? What are the company’s strengths and weaknesses

compared to its competition? How does the reporting structure work here? What are

acceptable channels of communication?

Questions Cont. (Last one, promise ) What new endeavors is the company currently

undertaking? What goals or objectives need to be achieved in

the next six months? Next year? Describe the atmosphere of the office What types of people seem to excel here? Can you give me an idea of the typical workload

and extra hours or special needs it demands? How does the company promote personal and

professional growth? How would you describe the corporate culture

here?

Questions? Assistance?

Feel free to contact me! Kedamico@ gmail.com

Good Luck!

Works Consulted

Ryan, Robin. 60 Seconds & You're Hired! New York, NY: Penguin, 2008. Print.

Ryan, Robin. Winning Resumes. New York: Wiley, 2003. Print.