Career Services 2009 Workshop Series RESUME PREPARATION

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Agenda Purpose of Resumes Resume Formats Basic Sections of a Resume Tips

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series The purpose of a resume is to get an INTERVIEW, not a job. Be brief & easy to read. A focused summary of the qualifications, skills and background that you have to offer a potential employer. Remember who your audience is! Take the time to consider what will impress the reader of your resume. Too often resumes are merely a list of jobs held and duties performed rather than a description of accomplishments and achievements. As a result, many students fail to secure interviews. A resume is YOUR marketing tool: sell yourself!

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Headings should include your name and contact information on the top of the page PAT A. SMITH 100 North 20th Street – Green Bay, WI (920)  Name should be at least 12 pt font on the top of page  Address and phone number of where you would like to be contacted  Phone number listed should have a professional greeting on the voic  If you plan on moving immediately after graduation, list your current address and your new address with the date it will be effective  Address should include your name, not a nickname. You want your to appear professional.

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series An OBJECTIVE sentence is optional. An objective should include… The type of position you are seeking What setting (financial institution) Skills, Education, Experience that you will bring to the position Example: Example: Obtain position as Assistant Manager in advertising which utilizes my education, communication skills, and management experience.

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series A Summary of Qualifications can show the employer why you are qualified for the job Use the job description as a guide Make sure you list your top qualifications This section should change for each job you apply for SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Proficient in the following Microsoft Applications; Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Access. Developed interpersonal skills, having dealt with a diversity of professionals, clients and staff members. Self-motivated; able to implement decisions and set effective priorities to achieve long term goals.

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series The education section is very useful if you have limited experience in your field List the program you are enrolled in at NWTC and other education you have completed List GPA if over 3.0 Include relevant coursework. List courses that pertain to the job you are seeking Include degree, major, institution actual or expected graduation date Academic honors, academic clubs and associations Include study abroad, language study and specialized training EDUCATION Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI Expected May 20xx Associate Degree in Accounting 3.89 Cumulative GPA Relevant coursework: Government and Nonprofit Accounting, Accounting – Payroll, Cost Accounting, Accounting – Computer Ledger

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Related Experience can give you an edge in a competitive job market Use a bulleted statement documenting your skills through specific accomplishments you’ve achieved on the job Don’t just list duties, focus on accomplishments that set you apart Do not limit yourself to paid experiences…volunteer work, lab work, clinicals, co-ops, leadership roles. Use active verbs (initiated, organized, managed, directed) Qualify and quantify your information (supervised 10 crew members) and mention ways that you made a difference ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCE Accounting Clerk/Bookkeeping Intern, Company 123, Green Bay, WI 2008-Present Created a filing process to manage cash receipts that saved over 50 hours of staff time annually. Compile reports, such as cash receipts, customer-bill charges, and sales for accounting and management purposes. Maintain Accounts Receivable/Payable; reconcile bank accounts. Prepare monthly financial reports and year end adjustments.

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Other Work Experience is valuable information; not just a filler Other work experience is evidence that you know how to work and it can highlight your ability Also shows that you probably have realistic job expectations OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE Server, Hometown Restaurant, Green Bay, WI 2002-present Customer Service Representative, ABC Staffing, Green Bay, WI

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Related Skills stress that you have the skills necessary for the job Highlight certifications, languages and computer skills Certifications and Licenses List name of license, licensing agency and date issued Professional Memberships List involvement in professional associations, unions, and similar organizations. Include dates of your involvement and whether you took part in any special activities or offices held in the organization Computer applications (systems and/or languages), technical skills, extracurricular activities, foreign languages, community service RELATED SKILLS Proficient in a variety of business computer applications, including Excel, Access, FrontPage, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop Bilingual – conversational Spanish

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Leadership Experiences support your career objective Shows that you were successful in all aspects of college, not just studying Emphasizes leadership experiences Highlight your service learning hours and other community service activities CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT President, NWTC Marketing and Advertising Club Ballroom Dancing Club, President, NWTC Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Layout Resumes must be easy to read Use eye relief techniques (capitalize category headings, underline or italicize job titles, indent, double space between entries, bullets) Avoid fonts that are difficult to read Don’t use too many fonts or styles Be consistent Quality paper Uniform margins Length 12

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Key Concept for Resumes… No one resume will please every employer. Learning about the industry will aid you in determining how to put information on your resume. If in doubt about the industry "standard", seek professional advice from someone practicing in your desired career field. They got there, so can you!

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Additional Optional Categories Computer Skills Activities Community Service Languages Honors Affiliations Memberships 14

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Irrelevant of controversial Information Age or birth date Picture Marital status Social security number Complete addresses from previous employers Salary received from present and past employers Health Religious or political affiliations 15

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Reminders Have a clear job target before writing your resume Tailor your resume to each specific position Limit your resume to 1-2 pages Avoid technical jargon or abbreviations Have your resume critiqued by a career counselor Use words/phrases from job order Most relevant information listed first Show at least 3 jobs, try not to show your age Do not state, “references available on request” Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! Do not cram too much on one page – whitespace is important Don’t lie! It will come back to haunt you. Do not staple. 16

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Completing Applications Fill application out completely Do not use the words “see resume” Give complete information when listing references Write neatly Carry a worksheet with you that has the information you will need to complete applications If you apply repeatedly to a company for different openings, fill out a new application each time 17

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series For more information about resume preparation and the entire job search process, contact Career Services. Student Center – Room

Career Services 2009 Workshop Series Resume WorkshopTuesday, October 20, 3pm Filling Out Online Job ApplicationsThursday, October 22, 3pm Developing a Strategic Job SearchTuesday, October 27, 3pm Interviewing WorkshopThursday, October 29, 3pm Networking for SuccessTuesday, November 3, 3pm Dress to ImpressThursday, November 5, 3pm Internships Tuesday, November 10, 3pm Facebook, Twitter, Blogs...in a Job Search?Thursday, November 12, 3pm Upcoming Workshops