Resume Writing Workshop The Basics Made Easy Southern States University Department of Career Services

Workshop Outline Purpose First things first… What Makes A Strong Resume? Top 5 Writing Tips Key Words for Search Engines Types of Resumes Hands-On Practice

Purpose of Workshop The purpose of the workshop: ◦ Writing a good powerful resume  What makes a strong resume?  Who actually is reading the resume?  What type of resume should you use? ◦ Online Resumes vs. Printed

First things first… What is a resume – really… ◦ It is a document that is constantly changing and evolving ◦ It is the most important document in the search for a job or internship ◦ It is the first impression of you that an employer will have

What Makes A Strong Resume? This is the big question. ◦ It is the information that best shows you and your capabilities. Beyond that… ◦ It shows an employer that you are the perfect fit for their company ◦ That your skills are an asset to them ◦ That you are the best candidate for the position.

Top 5 Resume Tips 1. Your resume is a stake in your future ◦ Not your past. 2. It is not a confessional. ◦ Stick to what's relevant and marketable. 3. Don't write a list of job descriptions. ◦ Write achievements! 4. Promote only skills. ◦ The ones relative to the position 5. Be honest. ◦ Don't lie

Key Words In today's job market, your resume is apt to go through at least one keyword search. ◦ In order to pass that search, you need to have the right list of keywords for your resume. Resume Database Secrets ◦ Job boards and companies use resume database systems to store and manage the many resumes they get. The keywords in a resume give important info about you ◦ Area Examples  Management skills  Industry know-how  Education and training

Hands-On Exercise #1 List of Keywords for Your Resume On a sheet of paper list 10 or so terms that describe your qualifications for the job you want. ◦ These terms can be both technical and nontechnical.  Examples:  Training  Leadership  Development  Management

Types of Resumes You can quickly capture an employer’s eye with the right resume format. ◦ Depending on your job objective and work history, the best resume format will be different The Formats Are ◦ Functional ◦ Chronological ◦ Combination

Functional Resume The functional resume presents your work achievements under skill headings ◦ The dates, names of employers, and job titles in your work history are listed very briefly in a separate section, usually at the bottom of your resume. The functional format is best when : ◦ You are making an extreme career change. ◦ You need to focus on experience or skills from a very early time in your work history.

Chronological Resume The chronological resume. ◦ Your dates, places of employment, and job titles are listed as headings under which your achievements are written. Is most effective: ◦ For staying in the same field or industry. ◦ It shows lateral or vertical career growth ◦ An increase in job responsibility ◦ There are no gaps in your employment history

Combination Resume The combination resume offers the best of the chronological and functional resume formats. ◦ It presents your work history in the body of the resume. Is best: ◦ For making a career change and want to highlight your transferable skills. ◦ To advance in the field or industry in which you are currently working.

The Sections Career Objective ◦ A very concise five sentence statement that tells the employer what position you are after, what your career goals are. Work Experience and Achievements ◦ Input the dates, job titles, employer names, cities, and states of your work history in the resume template. Education ◦ This is where you list the degrees and the institutions where you received them

Hands-On Exercise #2 Using the resume that you have brought you are going to do one or more of the following: 1.Review which of the resume formats you think would better suit your needs 2.Modify your Career Objective Statement 3.Using your key word list, go through your Employment History and see if you can improve it If you need help come up and ask for a critique or to me at