Career Center Creating Your Resume Norman S. Stahl, Ph.D Registered Professional Career Counselor Director, UH Hilo Career Center Press Left Mouse Button to Move to Next Slide

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

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

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

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

Career Center 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 !

Career Center Document Key Skills & Experience Make Sure that You Address the Position’s Requirements: –Required Qualifications –Desired Qualifications Tell them that YOU have what they want! Use Automated Screening Programs to YOUR Advantage –Use Descriptive Job Titles –Use the Employer’s Terminology

Career Center Stress Accomplishments & Quantify Results Generate a List of Accomplishments (See page 3 of Our Resume Writing Guide) Think Problems, Solutions, Results Quantify with $ # % Grades Etc.

Career Center Contents Heading (Contact Information) Objective (Optional) Qualifications or Skill 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.)

Career Center Formats Chronological Functional Combination

Career Center 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 See Pages 10, 11, & 12 of our Resume Writing Guide

Career Center 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?” – College students can usually use w/o suspicion See Page 13 of our Resume Writing Guide

Career Center Combination Emphasizes Skills and Accomplishments And Includes Work/Experience History Useful for a Person Who Has A Lot of Experience in the Same Field See Page 14 of our Resume Writing Guide

Career Center Letters of Application Aka: “Cover Letters” & “Broadcast Letters”: –Identify Position and Create Interest in You and Your Resume –Highlight Your Most Salient Qualifications –Ask for an Interview See Pages 8, 15, & 16 of our Resume Writing Guide

Career Center Summary Before you start writing, Assess your skills, strengths & accomplishments Research your industry and the firms in that industry Apply the key principles: –Target Your Resume –Professional Look –Easily Scanned –Document Key Skills & Experience –Quantify Results

Career Center Additional Assistance Read and Work the Exercises in our Resume Writing Guide! Attend One of Our Resume Critique Sessions { See Workshop Schedule for Dates & Times} Visit the Career Center in Campus Center 202A to Make an Appointment for Resume Assistance

Career Center ? QUESTIONS ? Attend One of Our “Live” Resume Writing Workshops Or Pick up a Copy of Our Resume Writing Guide in the Career Center