EFFECTIVE RESUME WRITINGTrain-the-Trainer Workshop

LAWRENCE SQUARE EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES

OPPORTUNITY TO CO-FACILITATE

RESUME WORKSHOPS FOR CLIENTS

WITH THE EC TEAM

AGENDA:

INTRODUCTION WARM-UP ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES WORKSHOP STRUCTURE ROLES OF FACILITATORS EXPECTATIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS WORKSHOP CONTENT SUMMARY/QUESTIONS

OBJECTIVES

Learn about the purpose, structure and content of the Resume Workshop

Learn basic facilitative approaches applied to the Resume Workshops

Be able to help clients with targeted resume and cover letter writing

RESUME WORKSHOP #1:

PURPOSE OF RESUME WORKSHOP

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE RESUME WRITING

RESUME CONTENTS/FORMATS/ LAYOUTS

OVERVIEW OF RESUME TEMPLATES AND

SKILLS STATEMENTS

HOMEWORK:

PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY:

CREATE A DRAFT RESUME INDEPENDENTLY

TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR RESUME

DO RESUME IN THEIR OWN PACE

GET REFERRAL TO COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS ; COMPUTER TYPING PROGRAMS; TUTORING

RESUME WORKSHOP #2: (RESUME CLINIC)

RESUME DRAFT’S CRITIQUE

GUIDED COMPLETION OF A TARGETED

RESUME

SUPPORT WITH JOB LEADS/POSTINGS

SUPPORT WITH COMPUTER TYPING

(JIP TUTOR), E-MAIL AND FAX

COMPUTERS WILL BE RESERVED FOR EACH PARTICIPANT

IN DESIGNATED AREA IN EC

ROLES OF FACILITATORS

FACILITATING IS GROUP COUNSELLING

LEADERSHIP SKILLS/GUIDANCE

INTERACTIVE AND BALANCED WITH

CONTENT

COVER ALL LEARNING STYLES

INCLUSIVE AND GENUINE

APPROPRIATE, RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC

EXPECTATIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS

Established short-term employment goals

Commitment to enhancement of personal Job Search skills

Active participation

QUESTIONNAIRE1. DO YOU HAVE A USB KEY?

2.  DO YOU HAVE A PROFESSIONAL E-MAIL ACCOUNT?

3. DO YOU HAVE AN ACCESS TO A VOICEMAIL? 4.  WHAT TYPE OF JOB/CAREER FIELD ARE YOU APPLYING FOR? 5. IS THERE A SPECIFIC JOB YOU APPLYING FOR? PLEASE, BRING YOUR UP-TO DATE JOB POSTING 

HOW DO I GET THERE ?

RESUME

COVER LETTER

INTERVIEW PREPARATI

ON

JOB SEARCH

CAREER EXPLORATION

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

NETWORKING

PORTFOLIO

HOW EMPLOYERS FILL POSITIONS

EMPLOYERHIRING FROM

WITHIN (PROMOTION)

HIRING AN UNKNOWN WHO BRINGS

PROOF OF ABILITY

FRIENDBUSINESS CONTACT• REFERRAL• JOB FAIR

AGENCY• RECRUITERS• SEARCH

FIRMS

ONLINE/NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS

RESUME YOU

EFFECTIVE RESUME IS:

TARGETED TO A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER AND/OR JOB POSITION

FACTUAL AND TO THE POINT

YOUR BEST MARKETING WEAPON

EASY-TO-READ AND PROFESSIONAL IN APPEARANCE

COMPONENTS OF A RESUME

NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION

CAREER OBJECTIVE

PROFILE/PERSONAL SUMMARY

RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION TRAINING PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE (OPTIONAL)

INTERESTS (OPTIONAL)

TAGLINE – REFERENCES AVAILABLE (OPTIONAL)

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

KIMBERLY ANN HURST 2222 Dixie Rd #112

Mississauga, ON(905) 336-4432

k.hurst@gmail.com

YOUR NAME SHOULD STAND OUT!

Put your name, permanent address, phone /voicemail numbers, and email

address

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Number of years of experience in the field

Any important certifications

Any up-to-date programs or technical

skills

Any other languages

Any relevant personal qualities

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

State your experiences and achievements (in reverse order, max.10 years span )

Show the positive results of your actions, the benefits to the company

Quantify your accomplishments

START WITH ACTION, END WITH A RESULT

DUTY SKILL RESULT

DESCRIBE WITH AN

ACTION WORD

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

WHAT VALUE WAS ADDED BY YOUR ACTION

CREATED NEW INTERNAL AUDITING SYSTEM

USING COMPUTER

ACCOUNTING/TIME

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

BETTER INVENTORY CONTROL/

REDUCED LOSS

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME FORMAT

presents your job history and education strictly by date, with the most recent first (reverse order)

When to use: To show lateral or vertical career growth To emphasize previous job titles or companies Employer preference. Your current or most recent position is one you

are proud of and enjoy.

FUNCTIONAL RESUME FORMAT

contains a summary of qualifications that is organized by education, experience, and skills.

When to use: First job or very little work experience Re-entering the job market/gaps in

employment/ job hopping Changing your career De-emphasize age or previous job titles

COMBINATION RESUME FORMAT

A mix of the best of the chronological and functional resume formats

When to use: Little work experience/or gaps in

employment Highlight a particular work experience

or company name Relevant skills obtained from other,

non-paid work experiences Personal preference

PAGE MARGINS• CONSISTENT , EQUAL ON

EVERY SIDE• BETWEEN 1 INCH TO

1.25 INCH

FONTS

• COMMON, EASY-TO-READ EX. : ARIAL, TAHOMA, FRANKLIN GOTHIC

• E-MAIL IN PDF FORMAT, TO AVOID

ANY CONFLICT IN MS WORD

• SIZE IS APPROPRIATE TO FONT AND PAGE SPACE

CLEAN, ORGANIZED AND CONSISTENT

PARAGRAPHS AND BULLETS

DO NOT OVERUSE THEMUSE EXTRA SPACE IN BETWEENTEXT ENHANCEMENTS

BOLD IS PREFERRABLE TO ITALICSUNDERLINES COULD BE CONFUSINGUPPERCASE SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR SHORT PHRASES AND SINGLE WORDS

CLEAN, ORGANIZED AND CONSISTENT

TYPES OF GRAPHICS

• SHOULD BE SUBTLE AND SUPPORT, NOT OVERPOWER THE OVERALL MESSAGE OF THE RESUME

• CAN BE USED AS • A BACKGROUND OR

WATERMARK

• COMPARE THE IMPACT OF THE GRAPHIC ON SCREEN AND IN PRINT

CLEAN, ORGANIZED AND CONSISTENT

CLEAN, ORGANIZED AND CONSISTENT

RESUME CONTENT DONTS

Avoid vague wording such as "a few months."

Leave out the "I's,' as in "I directed..."

Leave out the negatives or any irrelevant

information.

Avoid jargons, acronyms or unusual abbreviations.

Don't write a meaningless job objective.

Do not rely on the spell-check programs

RESUME CONTENT DOS

Use lots of action words Use bulleted, short phrases Use the correct buzzwords

/keywords for the industry Emphasize the positive Be concise Focus on accomplishments and

specific results

HOW TO FIND RESUME KEYWORDS

Words that keep popping up in

company job postings

Company key values from its mission

statement posted on the web-site

Scan LMI web-sites to identify key

trends in your industry

COVER LETTER

Introduction to the employer

Summarize who you are, why you want to work for this employer and what you can do

It communicates:- your writing skills- professional approach- knowledge of the field

COVER LETTER

1 page, typed

Broken into short paragraphs (introductory, body, closing)

Highlights how your skills and qualifications will benefit the employer

Attached to your resume

Direct and concise

REFERENCES

Former managers/supervisors Current or former teachers, coaches,

and club leaders Volunteer coordinators/supervisors A respected member of the community

(doctor, lawyer, social worker, and police officer)

Family members that you have worked for

Your career counsellor

GOLDEN RULE

Always ask your references (don’t assume!)

Choose references that can speak about your relevant skills and abilities

THANK YOU!

“EXCELLENCE IS TO DO A COMMON THING IN AN UNCOMMON WAY”

“

LET YOUR RESUME REFLECT THAT EXCELLENCE!