February 21, 2012 Entry task: What is a resume? What do you use it for? Target: Identify what makes a successful resume, cover letter and thank you note today in class.

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Resumes What do we use them for? Why?

What is a Resume? A personal summary of one’s background, experiences and accomplishments. A good resume will vary depending upon personal strengths as well as the type of job being applied for. A resume must interest the employer enough to want to call and learn more.

Resume Importance? The average time a manager takes to scan a resume and determine if the applicant should be granted an interview is 20 seconds! For this reason, the materials a person uses to market themselves must project a professional image!

What to Include on a Resume Heading Objective Educational background Work experience Special skills Honors, awards, activities and volunteer work References

PERSONAL INFORMATION/HEADING NAME – Full Name (first middle and last) ADDRESS – A permanent address where you can be reached TELEPHONE NUMBER – Include Area Code (if available) FAX NUMBER (if available)

CAREER OBJECTIVES Briefly state your GOALS and the type of job you would like to be considered for. This may need to be changed for different types of jobs. Should contain three characteristics: the job type, the industry and geographical location Example objective: A retail management position in the Seattle area.

EDUCATION Present EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES in reverse chronological order. List the last school attended first and then go backwards. Include NAME and location of SCHOOLS. List CURRICULUM studied (College or University). Include DATES of attendance ( ). List DIPLOMA or DEGREE earned. List the Relevant COURSES. Include the Grade Point Average (only if it is about 3.0 or higher).

WORK EXPERIENCE Include all PAID work. Include VOLUNTEER work that may relate to your objective or shows responsibility. Include responsibilities gained at each experience. Use reverse chronological order Include DATES (month and year) of employment, the NAMES and LOCATIONS of the companies or organizations and job titles.

SKILLS These must be related specifically to the desired job. Should include statements that clearly describe how he/she used and developed that skill in the past. Can include knowledge of software, foreign languages, leadership, teamwork, etc. An example of a special skill: Proficient with all Microsoft programs and Adobe packages.

WORK SKILLS Computer programs MicroSoft Office, PowerPoint Presentations, Photo Shop, etc. Equipment Cash Register, Copying Machines, etc. Personal work ethics Dependability, Punctuality, Honesty, Creativity, Organization etc.

Awards, Honors, & Achievements List any type of HONORS or ACHIEVEMENTS in School - Community – Church: School Newspapers, Yearbook, National Honor Society, Honor Roll, Eagle Scout, City/County Youth Council, Volunteer Hospital work, etc. Any leadership roles should be mentioned because these skills can be very valuable to employers. Example: Received 1 st place at the State Music Fest in a performance for 250 people.

REFERENCES “ References available upon request.” – References are usually included on the JOB APPLICATION. Ask people who know your strengths to be references: – Former Employer, Teacher, Religious Leader, Close Friend/Neighbor (adult) Contact those people you will list and ask if you can use their names as references. Include NAME, POSITION (Business Title), PHONE NUMBER, Address Be sure to ask permission from the individuals before submitting their names to potential employers

REFERENCES CONTINUED Must include 3-5 references ASK THEM FIRST! Go over the positions that you have applied for and the skills that you have for that position. Must know your reference for at least one year. References cannot be family, spouses, etc.

ACTION WORDS Are used to emphasize responsibilities related to work experiences. They bring life to tasks performed and communicate those skills to potential employers. Examples: participated, generated, implemented, organized and utilized.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE ON A RESUME Weight Height Social Security Number Birth date Marital status Photographs Salary histories Reasons for leaving past jobs Hobbies, activities, and memberships that do not relate to the sought position.

AVOID “I” Avoid using “I” statements. Never list exact dates, where as month and year are sufficient. Never list the date that it was created, as it will appear out of date if it is more than a few months old.

YOUR RESUME IS YOUR MARKETING TOOL Resumes may be prepared in various forms. Remember to show your STRENGTHS. Resume should be: – TYPED or Computer generated. – Free from ERROR! – Minimum margins of ¾” – Printed on 8 1/2” X 11” paper (1 page). – Include COMPLETE and CORRECT INFORMATION. – Be NEAT and Look PROFESSIONAL. – Never stapled – Heading, education, experience and references (in that order)