A presentation brought to you by The School to Work Alliance Program

A resume is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your career goals, education, work and volunteer experience, activities, honors, and any special skills you might have.

General Guidelines Preliminary Research Heading Objective Statement Education Employment Experience References Chronological Style Functional Style Skills Style Myspace, FaceBook, Twitter Miscellaneous Tips Cover Letter Where to go for assistance

 Length: It is best to limit an entry-level resume to one typed page. Be as concise as possible in stating information in each section of your resume.  Font: Avoid fonts smaller than 10 point and larger than 12 point.  Paper: Use 8 1/2” x 11” resume paper. Print your resume with a laser or high quality ink-jet printer.

Find out: * General job information * Desired qualifications and skills * Key values and words Doing preliminary research can help you to tailor your resume for the job you are applying for. You should conduct research whenever possible, especially for top choices.

Avoid over generalized statements: A position allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise in different areas. Make the statement as specific as possible: A quality assurance position which allows me to apply my background in customer care, and high performance in customer satisfaction.  One to three sentence summary of your area of expertise and career interest.  Write as complete sentences or as descriptive phrases with minimal punctuation.  Relate your existing skills directly to the job you are seeking. Demonstrate what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you.  Objective statements are not required, but in general it is a good idea to include one. Defining a specific goal can help you target jobs that are closely related to that goal, and it can help employers determine right away whether the applicant’s experience and goal match up with the position the employer is trying to fill. You should customize the objective statement for the position and company to which you are applying

 Put your name, permanent addresses, phone numbers, and address prominently at the top of your resume.  Avoid using a nickname to identify yourself.  Consider including your URL address or fax number if you have one. Kehau Martinez 2935 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO (970)

 A focus for the resume  Short and to the point  Use different resumes for different objectives  One or two sentences describing a specific job interest  Write as complete sentences or as descriptive phrases with minimal punctuation.  Relate your existing skills directly to the job you are seeking. Demonstrate what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you.

 A position in the oil and gas industry with major responsibilities that will effectively utilize my communication, leadership, and organizational skills.  Reliable and mature high school senior seeking a part-time position that will provide an opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge in the workplace.  An entry level position in financial services.

 This statement can replace or be used in addition to the objective statement.  Write one short paragraph or a bulleted list of qualifications.  Use a summary of qualifications statement to emphasize skills you possess that aren’t obvious from your past work experiences.  The summary of qualifications statement differs from the objective statement in that it is focused on the skills an applicant has developed rather than on their goal for a specific position. Summary of Qualifications A High School Junior studying Computer Repair with expertise in the following areas: A+ Certification Communicating with customers Developing projects in conjunction with peers

 This is an important section for recent high school and college graduates or students seeking internships or summer jobs.  Beginning with the highest level of educational achievement, include information such as high school or university attended, degrees earned, major, minors, grade point average, date of program completion, and so forth.

 List relevant courses that: Help you stand out from the crowd Have provided you with specific skills or knowledge  Consider including this information in the education section of the resume. Career Center Construction Technology Floral Culinary Arts Computer Repair Landscape Small Engine Early Childhood Education Health Care Prep Spanish (4 semesters)  Only include courses taken in addition to your major or minor.  Refer to the course by name rather than by number.

 Include positions you have held which are related, in some way, to the job you are seeking. These might be both paid and volunteer positions.  Be creative with this section of your resume by describing and emphasizing your experiences in the most relevant way possible. This section of the resume can go by various names, depending on your specific experiences and the job for which you are tailoring the resume. Some names you might use are: Work Experience, Employment History, Professional Experience, Qualifying Experience, and Related Experience. Some people include both volunteer and paid positions in the work experience section; others divide these into two sections, such as “Volunteer Experience” and “Employment History.” You should customize this section to reflect your strengths and experiences.

 Include information such as company name and location, job title, dates, and duties performed.  Make this section easy to read by using spacing and bullets.  Use action phrases to highlight the duties you have performed. Prep/Line Cook (May 1998-August 1999) Denny’s, Grand Junction, CO * Responsible for preparing and seasoning a variety of meats, vegetables, soups and other food items * Assisted in training new prep cooks * Created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the kitchen

 Include skills that make you unique, such as computer skills, foreign language skills, military service, heavy machinery or equipment.  Be specific in describing your special skills; name computer programs you know, how long you studied a foreign language, your dates of military service, and the type of equipment you can operate(list licensure ).

 Include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your references.  Always ask permission before you include any information on your reference sheet.  Consider giving your references a copy of your resume so they will be prepared to talk to employers.  Do not assume that someone is willing to serve as a reference for you, so you should definitely contact your references before including them on the reference sheet.

 Organize your resume to highlight your unique skills and strengths.  Use whatever combination of organizational styles you think best highlight your individual qualifications The most common resume styles are:  Chronological  Functional  Skills  It is rare for any resume to conform strictly to the guidelines for only one resume style. Most resumes will incorporate different styles, and you should feel free to modify and combine the styles to best highlight their unique qualifications and experiences.

 Chronological- Is the most traditional resume format.  The chronological format is most useful when: You are staying in the same field.  Your overall work history shows growth, making your job objective a natural next step in your career path.  Your most recent (or current) position is one you are proud of.  You have no gaps in your work history.  Used for jobs which require a high degree of professionalism or by applicants with a long history of relevant work experience.

Functional- The functional format presents your experience under skill headings, giving you the freedom to prioritize your accomplishments by impact rather than by chronology.  You are changing careers.  You are re-entering the job market.  You need to emphasize skills or experience from an early part of your work history.  Your volunteer experience is relevant and needs to be highlighted.  Your most recent position is not impressive.  Your job titles don't accurately reflect the level of responsibility you had.

 Skills - The skills resume style is ideal for the applicant who has not had very much experience related to the job for which they are applying.  The skills resume style allows you to demonstrate what they can do and how all their experiences have helped them develop specific, relevant skills.  Try to match your skills to the position for which you are applying.  This style is ideal for people who have gained valuable skills from a variety of unrelated experiences Skills: Communication Skills *Counseled teens in an anti-drug initiative at Grand Junction High School *Received Employee of the Month Award for my work creating a positive environment at Wal-Mart while working as a cashier *Presented a semester-long project on choosing a major to a group of prospective students Training Skills *Trained new employees in cashier procedures at Wal-Mart *Served as assistant coach for a Jefferson High School basketball team

 An optional section based on your proficiencies. May include: - Language Skills - Computer Skills- (Software and Applications) - Writing, Typing, and/or Public Speaking Skills - Special Equipment - Certifications - Personality Strengths

 How many of you have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Myspace account?  Be advised that although social media has nothing to do with your resumes per se- your personal life can possibly affect your professional life in terms of the job selection process.

 Ringback Tones  Voic  Appropriate Language  Addresses

 Avoid personal pronouns  Avoid unnecessary phrases  Consistent verb tenses  Use action verbs (An action verb is a verb that describes an action, like Prepared, Analyzed, Reviewed, Generated, Facilitated, Increased, Assisted, or Led.  Use strong verbs and self-descriptive language: - Increased membership by 20% - Tutored students with learning disabilities - Collected daily receipts - Scheduled events

 Explain why you are sending a resume  Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization  Convince the reader to look at your resume  Call attention to elements of your background  Reflect your attitude  Provide or refer to any information specifically requested

 Generally the cover letter will consist of three paragraphs. The first paragraph is an introductory one which introduces yourself. You want to include information on the position you are looking for and how you heard about and why you are interested in the position and/or company. The second paragraph should provide information on your skill, strengths, education, qualifications and/or experience. This paragraph should be concise and give specific examples of why you are the ideal candidate and not simply restate your resume. The final paragraph should close up the letter by requesting an interview and possibly suggestion times that are convenient for you or stating that you can come in at a time that's convenient for the employer. Also you should let the recipient know what the best way and/or time to contact you is (you should let them know both your contact and phone number so that they can contact you in their preferred method). Or you can let them that you'll follow up on this letter with a phone call in several days. You should thank them for their time to close up the letter. Each cover letter that you send out should be unique and tailored to the specific company and position you are applying to. Using one cookie cutter cover letter will lessen your chances for landing an interview. Also be sure to check for grammar and spelling and keep the letter to one page in length.

For help with drafting, revising, and editing your resumes and cover letters: Call to schedule an appointment or stop by the School to Work Alliance Program office at: Career Center 2935 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO Donna Whetstone Tammy Gribble Kehau Martinez