020870A01_LT 1 Writing The Effective Resume The First Step Toward Landing Your Next Job

020870A01_LT 2 What Information Should Be In A Resume? Identify Yourself Education Continuing Education Work or Professional Experience Volunteer Experience Activities Computer Skills Professional Associations Identify Yourself Education Continuing Education Work or Professional Experience Volunteer Experience Activities Computer Skills Professional Associations Optional Sections Objective Special Skills and Abilities Reference Statement

020870A01_LT 3 Characteristics Of A Successful Resume Focuses on skills. Uses action words to define the responsibilities of your job-related experience. Easy to read and understand. Visually powerful and free of gimmicks. One page, or at most 2 pages long. Focuses on skills. Uses action words to define the responsibilities of your job-related experience. Easy to read and understand. Visually powerful and free of gimmicks. One page, or at most 2 pages long.

020870A01_LT 4 Characteristics Of A Successful Resume Language is grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal Style Don’t Use “I” or “Me” Language is grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal Style Don’t Use “I” or “Me”

020870A01_LT 5 Characteristics Of A Successful Resume Must always be 100% truthful. Contains no inappropriate personal information. Produced on a computer. Data presented in chronological order (unless functional). Must always be 100% truthful. Contains no inappropriate personal information. Produced on a computer. Data presented in chronological order (unless functional).

020870A01_LT 6 A 2013 CareerFinder Study asked hiring managers what common mistakes lead to an automatic dismissal of a candidate: Résumés that have typos - 58 percent Résumés that are generic and don't seem personalized for the position - 36 percent Résumés that don't include a list of skills - 35 percent Résumés that copied a large amount of wording from the job posting - 32 percent Résumés that have typos - 58 percent Résumés that are generic and don't seem personalized for the position - 36 percent Résumés that don't include a list of skills - 35 percent Résumés that copied a large amount of wording from the job posting - 32 percent

020870A01_LT CareerFinder Study asked hiring managers what common mistakes lead to an automatic dismissal of a candidate: Résumés that have an inappropriate address - 31 percent Résumés that don't include exact dates of employment - 27 percent Résumés printed on decorative paper - 22 percent Résumés that include a photo - 13 percent Résumés that have an inappropriate address - 31 percent Résumés that don't include exact dates of employment - 27 percent Résumés printed on decorative paper - 22 percent Résumés that include a photo - 13 percent

020870A01_LT 8 Don’t Be “that” person…. Compiled from Forbes’ list of Worst Resume Mistakes Found By Hiring Managers 1. “Demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.” 2. “Dear Sir or Madman” 3. “I’m attacking my resume for you to review.” 4. “Hope to hear from you, shorty.” 5. “Speak English and Spinach 6. “Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.” 7. “I am bilingual in Spanish, French and Italians.” Compiled from Forbes’ list of Worst Resume Mistakes Found By Hiring Managers 1. “Demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.” 2. “Dear Sir or Madman” 3. “I’m attacking my resume for you to review.” 4. “Hope to hear from you, shorty.” 5. “Speak English and Spinach 6. “Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.” 7. “I am bilingual in Spanish, French and Italians.”

020870A01_LT 9 Don’t Be “that” person…. From a CareerFinder Survey asking hiring managers about funniest resume and cover letter mistakes… 1. Candidate claimed to speak “Antartican” when applying for a job to work in Antarctica. 2. Candidate highlighted the fact that he was “Homecoming Prom Prince” in Candidate’s resume was printed on the back of their current employer’s letterhead. 4. Some candidates think honesty is key: “I am very bad about time and don’t mind admitting it. Having to arrive at a certain hour doesn’t make sense to me. What does make sense is that I do the job. Any company that insists upon rigid time schedules will find me a nightmare.” From a CareerFinder Survey asking hiring managers about funniest resume and cover letter mistakes… 1. Candidate claimed to speak “Antartican” when applying for a job to work in Antarctica. 2. Candidate highlighted the fact that he was “Homecoming Prom Prince” in Candidate’s resume was printed on the back of their current employer’s letterhead. 4. Some candidates think honesty is key: “I am very bad about time and don’t mind admitting it. Having to arrive at a certain hour doesn’t make sense to me. What does make sense is that I do the job. Any company that insists upon rigid time schedules will find me a nightmare.”

020870A01_LT 10 Application Horror Stories (Don’t be “that” person!) One person applied to a position before it was even posted because he found out the original person passed away…

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020870A01_LT 12 Application Horror Stories (Don’t be “that” person!) One person thought it would be a good idea to superimpose a picture of his favorite music artist as a background to his resume to “show creativity”. The hiring manager just thought it was creepy…

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020870A01_LT 14 Application Horror Stories (Don’t be “that” person!) When saving files… make sure you label them correctly. Otherwise you’ll end up attaching a scary picture of Nicholas Cage instead of your resume… Yes, this actually happened.

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020870A01_LT 16 Resume Typos Obviously, most people know better than to make the previously mentioned mistakes. However, some mistakes are much more subtle, yet they are considered typos by hiring managers. Look for mistakes in the next example:

020870A01_LT 17 Software EngineerJune 2011 present Created client-side JavaScript data models that synched with server-side data Worked on algorithms to detect frauds for online banking systems. Developped a data visualization dashboard Manage a support ticket queue and delegated work to team members structured the vendor payout model, and it’s scheduling algorithms There are 8 mistakes in this excerpt that would cost you a potential interview. Where are they? Software EngineerJune 2011 present Created client-side JavaScript data models that synched with server-side data Worked on algorithms to detect frauds for online banking systems. Developped a data visualization dashboard Manage a support ticket queue and delegated work to team members structured the vendor payout model, and it’s scheduling algorithms There are 8 mistakes in this excerpt that would cost you a potential interview. Where are they?

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020870A01_LT 19 These mistakes may seem very minor, but it can definitely cost you a job. After all, why would they hire you if someone else has the same qualifications as you, AND also cared enough to check his/her resume? Hiring Managers equate typos with two characteristics:  Lack of Education  Lack of Effort Either way, you don’t want to be associated with those qualities. CHECK YOUR WORK! These mistakes may seem very minor, but it can definitely cost you a job. After all, why would they hire you if someone else has the same qualifications as you, AND also cared enough to check his/her resume? Hiring Managers equate typos with two characteristics:  Lack of Education  Lack of Effort Either way, you don’t want to be associated with those qualities. CHECK YOUR WORK!

020870A01_LT 20 Basic Checklist No spelling or grammar errors. Neat, clean, and professional looking. Length should be 1-2 pages. Margins at sides and bottom. Layout makes reading easy. Use of white space is effective. No spelling or grammar errors. Neat, clean, and professional looking. Length should be 1-2 pages. Margins at sides and bottom. Layout makes reading easy. Use of white space is effective.

020870A01_LT 21 Basic Checklist Important titles should be emphasized. Experiment with fonts & styles; bold, italic, and underlines. No more than 2 or 3 different sizes. Information is logically recorded. Use Action Verbs for accomplishments & results. Important titles should be emphasized. Experiment with fonts & styles; bold, italic, and underlines. No more than 2 or 3 different sizes. Information is logically recorded. Use Action Verbs for accomplishments & results.

020870A01_LT 22 Basic Checklist Bullet points when possible for accomplishments. Quantify your results whenever you can. Format - chronological Bullet points when possible for accomplishments. Quantify your results whenever you can. Format - chronological

020870A01_LT 23 Functional Resumes (alternate resume format) Doesn’t go in chronological order. Based upon competencies or skills. Used for career changers or those with unconventional work histories (or executives). Might say “Sales Experience” then list it. Typically brief with a simple list of positions held, etc. De-emphasizes importance of specific jobs. Drawbacks to this system (not as popular). Doesn’t go in chronological order. Based upon competencies or skills. Used for career changers or those with unconventional work histories (or executives). Might say “Sales Experience” then list it. Typically brief with a simple list of positions held, etc. De-emphasizes importance of specific jobs. Drawbacks to this system (not as popular).

020870A01_LT 24 PDF formatted resumes/ Scanned Resumes Watch bullet points (don’t always scan). Dashes in some cases, work better Use labels or keywords. Less is more. Keep the design simple. Minimize use of abbreviations. Watch bullet points (don’t always scan). Dashes in some cases, work better Use labels or keywords. Less is more. Keep the design simple. Minimize use of abbreviations.

020870A01_LT 25 How To Write A Cover Letter Give enough information to interest the reader, don’t overwhelm. Research the company. Address the letter to a specific person. Answer an ad if you have 50% of the skills or background that the ad requires. Mention the person who referred you if appropriate. *Refer to Cover Letter Handout for further information about rules and content Give enough information to interest the reader, don’t overwhelm. Research the company. Address the letter to a specific person. Answer an ad if you have 50% of the skills or background that the ad requires. Mention the person who referred you if appropriate. *Refer to Cover Letter Handout for further information about rules and content