Creating Your Resume Norman S. Stahl, Ph.D Registered Professional Career Counselor Director, UH Hilo Career Center

Before You Begin Writing Put First Things First Assess Your –skills –attributes –experience Research –your field –the firms –the position

Target Your Resume Target your resume and every section in it to the field and the position for which you are applying.

There Is No Magic Format But there are Key Principles: Look Professional Be Easily Read Document Skills & Experience Stress Accomplishments

Look Professional Aesthetically Pleasing and Balanced Organized Conservative Fonts w/o Graphics Quality Paper –White –Cotton Bond –24 Lb. Minimum

Be Easily Read Easily Read = Easily Scanned Consider using bullet format –Phrases not Sentences –One line per thought –One thought per line Judicious use of bold One page Thou Shalt Not Use Less Than 11 Point Font !

Document Key Skills & Experience Bounce Your Experience and Training Against the Required and Desired Qualifications of the Position –Assess, Research, Compare, Document Tell them that YOU have what they want! Use Descriptive Job Titles Use Automated Screening Programs to YOUR Advantage

Stress Accomplishments & Quantify Results Generate a List of Accomplishments ( This is how I made a difference ) Think Problems, Solutions, Results... Quantify with $ # % Grades Etc.

Contents Heading (Contact Information) Objective (Optional) Qualifications Summary (I got what you want -- read the rest of this resume for details! -- Optional) Education Professional Certifications / Credentials Experience Section(s) Other Categories (Honors / Publications / etc.)

Formats Chronological Functional Combination

Chronological Resume Reverse Chronological Order –Most recent experience first –Work backwards from there Emphasizes Work/Experience History –When and Where You Gained Your Experience –But you may have more than one experience section Type Most Preferred by Employers

Functional Resume Emphasizes Skills & Accomplishments Useful for Certain Problem Situations –Limited experience –Significant career change –Erratic work history But Employers Greet with Skepticism –What is she trying to hide?

Combination Emphasizes Skills and Accomplishments And Includes Work/Experience History Useful for a Person Who Has A Lot of Experience in the Same Field

Job Search Correspondence Letters of Application –Aka: Cover Letters –Create Interest and Identify Position –Highlight Your Most Salient Qualifications –Ask for an Interview

Job Search Correspondence Thank You Notes (Sent after each Interview) –One Page –Within 24 Hours –Spell Checked & Double Checked –Typed, Handwritten, or ed

Summary Before you start writing, Assess your skills, strengths & accomplishments Research your industry and the firms in that industry Tailor your resume to the specific position Apply the key principles: –Professional Look –Easily Scanned –Document Key Skills & Experience –Quantify Results

Additional Assistance Attend one of our live workshops Visit our Career Center to schedule a 15- minute resume critique Pick up a copy of our Resume Writing Guide at the Career Center