Preparing for Employment Writing Resumes

What is a Resume? A resume is a brief summary of your experiences, educational background, and skills that highlight your unique qualifications for a job. A resume describes what you have done, what you can do, who you are, and what you know. A resume also states the kind of work you seek.

Purpose of a Resume The purpose of a resume is to get an interview and ultimately a job. A resume should grab the attention of potential employers so that they will want to meet you and discuss how you might fit within the organization. The resume should have enough information to show the employer that you have the qualifications for the job.

Major Sections of a Resume Personal Profile (or contact information) Career or Job Objective Summary of Qualifications or Skills Education (relevant assignments or courses) Work Experience Volunteer Experience Awards and Certificates Activities, hobbies, and Interests Skills & Abilities (computer skills, languages, licensure, etc.)

Types of Resumes There are three basic types of resumes Chronological Functional Combination

Chronological Resume This is the most common kind of resume. Information is presented based on a timeline. The work experience section is organized by presenting information in reverse chronological order (most recent first) Please see sample Chronological Resume workbook 4b-5

Functional Resume Functional resumes group work experience and skills by skill area or job function rather than specific employment history. They differ from a chronological resume by the way they present work experience. This type of format is useful for individuals who have little or no related work experience, but do have relevant qualifications Please see sample functional resume workbook 4b-6

Modified Chronological Resume (Combination Resume) A modified chronological resume highlights skills and experiences and merges the chronological and functional styles by grouping knowledge, skills, and abilities. The work experience section is renamed and headings describing the types of experiences are listed in reverse chronological order and categorized by similarity in types of experiences. Please see sample Modified Chronological Resume workbook 4b-7

Description of Major Sections: Personal Profile Your personal profile typically lists all of your contact information and appears on the top of your resume. This information should include: Name (this text is typically larger than other text) Address Email Phone Website (if applicable)

Career or Job Objective In one short sentence, you want to tell the employer exactly what kind of job you are looking for. The job title should be listed in the statement if you are applying for an advertised position. Example: “Seeking full-time position as a (travel agent).” If you have little or no experience, you may write something like, “Seeking a full-time, entry-level position as a (travel agent).

Work Experience Most people list work experiences in chronological order. It provides prospective employers with a quick view of your employment patterns and career progression. Start and end dates, as well as employer information and job titles are included In some cases, it makes sense to have two sections labeled “Relevant Work Experience” and “Other Work Experience”

Skills and Abilities List any special skills or abilities you possess that may make you more marketable for the job. Many employers are interested in computer proficiency and knowledge of specific software (e.g., proficient in using Excel to create spreadsheets and graphs). Other skills and abilities might include things like, speaking more than one language, having special skills in lab settings, etc. If specific training or licensure was received, list the license, beginning date, expiration date, and region's where you are licensed to practice (e.g. CPR certification).

Volunteer Experiences If you wish to highlight two or more volunteer experiences, create a separate heading. List the organizations for which you volunteered and add details about your contributions. Include volunteer experience before work experience if it is more relevant. If volunteer activities are not directly related to the job, consider listing them in the Activities and Interest section.

Education List all educational experiences with your highest level attained, beginning with most recent. Include high school or GED information if you are still a student. Once you have some education or significant employment after high school, it is not necessary to include high school on your resume. Usually written in this order: Diploma, Name of School, City, Date received Example: Milford High School diploma, Milford, NH, 2013

Education Continued If relevant, list one to three substantive projects or assignments you have completed if they are related to the job you are seeking. Examples: Built a car in auto mechanics would be relevant to job as mechanic Lead role in three musicals would be relevant to music education

Awards, Scholarships & Certificates State the name of award, the name of granting institution/body, and the date. List important awards in reverse chronological order. Explain the significance of the award if necessary and have no more than six entries. This information could also be placed in the Education Section

Activities, Hobbies & Interests Begin by listing organized activities; state your role (“Member”, name of organization, location, and dates). Organize entries in reverse chronological order. If you have many interests, consider including only those that are most relevant to the job (e.g., fitness-related interests for a job in health field). Ex. President, Best Buddies, Waubonsie Valley High School, 2012-2013.

Style and Appearance Your resume should be well-organized and easy to read. All information should be up-to-date, accurate, and brief. Typically, resumes are no longer than 1-2 pages. Make sure ALL words are spelled correctly and that correct punctuation and grammar is used throughout. Ask someone to proofread your resume. Print resume on high quality paper.

References Many times prospective employers want to hear about your specific qualifications and work habits from previous employers or others you are familiar with. It is important to make sure you have a list of references on hand. Ask individuals who are familiar with your work if you can list them as a reference. If they agree, list their name and contact information so that the prospective employer can reach them.

Now it’s time to create your own resume Open Microsoft Word Refer to handouts 4b-5, 4b-6 & 4b-7 and the coordinating examples of each for ideas Once complete, save your resume. Name the file with “your name.resume” Example: IvanCady.resume Please leave the computer on. The teacher will be around to also save your file to a memory stick