FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITING May 15, 2015

Today Job Applications: Résumés

Should - Education - Contact information (address, phone#, address) - Language ability - Experience (work) - Qualifications (certification) - Photo*** - Reason for applying -Family relations*** -Volunteer experience

Shouldn’t - Photo*** -Family relations*** - Medical history - Inappropriate language/comments (e.g. begging) - Criminal background - Race/ethnicity - Religion - Marital status - Wealth / family wealth - Weaknesses - Weight, height, eye/hair color, … - Age - Gender

- LG Electronics, Sales Manager 2003 – Fluent in English (spoken and written) - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access - Kia Motors Company, Sales Assistant 2000 – Master’s of Business Administration, HEC Paris SPSS - Upper-intermediate French (spoken and written) - Seeking a regional sales representative using my proven skills in e-commerce and communication to develop and expand a company base. - Bachelor’s of Commerce, University of Southern California 1995 – David Davidson 1234 Dave St. Burbank California

College/university degrees A.S. – associate’s degree (2 year degree) Bachelor/Bachelor’s degree (4 year degree) Bachelor (honors) Master/Master’s PhD

Résumé - A résumé may be the most important document for your job search. - It proves 3 things to potential employers: 1. Proves you are qualified 2. Proves you care about the job 3. Proves you understand the working world

Résumé – What is it? A résumé is not : - Your life story. - Your emotional autobiography - A college transcript.

Résumé - – What is it? - A résumé is a factual and concise summary of your qualifications. - A résumé shows prospective employers that you have the education and experience for the job you are applying for. Think of it like a persuasive advertisement about yourself. - It’s your billboard

Résumé - What employers like to see 1. Honesty - Be truthful about your qualifications: - education - experience - skills i.e., if you were the manager’s assistant, don’t say you were the assistant manager. i.e., # 2: professor’s assistant vs. assistant professor

Résumé - What employers like to see 2. Attractiveness - The document should be “pleasing to the eye.” - Appropriate spacing - font - use of boldface This tells the employer that you are visually intelligent.

Résumé - What employers like to see 3. Organization - Careful organization of information is: - easy to follow - logical - consistent This shows your ability to process information.

Résumé - What employers like to see 4. Concise - Keep to your purpose (get the job). - Generally, your résumé should be 1 page (2 at the most). - Résumés are written in SHORT sentences - They do not use the word “I” - Use “action-packed” verbs.

Action-oriented language - Examples Duties at my last job: I made the company website  Designed the company website. I helped with lab reports  Assisted lab report composition. I changed programs to suit each customer  Customized programs for customers.

Résumé - What employers like to see 5. Accuracy - Make sure: - grammar - spelling - dates - names -titles -programs Are ERROR-FREE Inconsistencies and errors say: “I don’t know what I’m doing.” credit: thechive.comthechive.com

Real résumé lines Graduated in the top 66% of my class. Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty! I am very detail-oreinted. Here are my qualifications for you to overlook. Education: College, August May 1984.

Résumé - What employers like to see 6. Currency (current) - Make sure that ALL information is up-to-date. e.g. Winner: ARRA Middle School speech contest, 1995

Résumé - What employers like to see 7. Relevant - Make sure the information is appropriate for the job. Employers are looking for necessary education and experience.

Résumé - What employers like to see 1. Honesty – no false is misrepresented information 2. Attractiveness – proper font and layout 3. Organization – proper format 4. Conciseness – brief, and to the point (descriptive) 5. Accuracy – error-free 6. Currency – all information should be up-to-date 7. Relevance – Information should be relevant to the position