Resume Writing

What is a Resume? An outline of your skills, education, and experiences An outline of your skills, education, and experiences A summary of your academic and work history A summary of your academic and work history Also called a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Also called a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Loosely means “the course of one’s life and/or career” Loosely means “the course of one’s life and/or career”

Why Create a Resume? To help you get a job To help you get a job It’s often all the employer has It’s often all the employer has It’s what the employer will use to determine if you get an interview It’s what the employer will use to determine if you get an interview It can make or break you It can make or break you It’s worth the time and effort to make it right It’s worth the time and effort to make it right

What Does a Resume Contain? Your contact info Your contact info Your education Your education Your work experience and military service Your work experience and military service Organizations you belong to Organizations you belong to Skills you have Skills you have Your interests and activities Your interests and activities

Basic Process Gather information Gather information Organize and ‘cull’ information Organize and ‘cull’ information Create the resume Create the resume Proofread and spellcheck Proofread and spellcheck Print Print

Recommendations Length – 1 or 2 pages Length – 1 or 2 pages Paper – plain or light colors, slightly heavier than normal Paper – plain or light colors, slightly heavier than normal Font – standard, plain, pt Font – standard, plain, pt Priority – important items first Priority – important items first Brevity – use bullet points not full sentences and/or paragraphs Brevity – use bullet points not full sentences and/or paragraphs

Recommendations Truth – embellish, don’t lie, Truth – embellish, don’t lie, Space – white space is good Space – white space is good Abbrev. – don’t use unless they’re VERY common and widespread Abbrev. – don’t use unless they’re VERY common and widespread Format – it’s up to you in the end Format – it’s up to you in the end Accuracy – you better be 100% accurate in spelling, grammar, and things you claim Accuracy – you better be 100% accurate in spelling, grammar, and things you claim

Education Recs. List in reverse chronological order List in reverse chronological order Include graduation dates, even future/planned ones Include graduation dates, even future/planned ones Include GPA only if it is good Include GPA only if it is good

Job/Experience Recs. Begin with action verbs when describing things you did Begin with action verbs when describing things you did Avoid first person (I, me, etc.) Avoid first person (I, me, etc.) Be specific when possible Be specific when possible List in reverse chronological order including start/end month and year List in reverse chronological order including start/end month and year

Create a Famous Person’s Resume Pick a famous person from the list on the next slide or choose one yourself (get my approval). Consider that you’re going to have to find info about that person. Pick a famous person from the list on the next slide or choose one yourself (get my approval). Consider that you’re going to have to find info about that person. Find information Find information Organize and cull Organize and cull Create the resume Create the resume

1. Pick a Famous Person Walt DisneyJack NicholsonJackie Robinson Babe RuthSteven SpielbergRichard Nixon Martin Luther KingElvis PresleyLiz Claiborne Thomas EdisonJohn F. KennedyOprah Winfrey Jerry SpringerAlexander BellLisa Leslie Mark TwainMorgan FreemanMichael Jordan Nikola TeslaTheodore ‘Dr. Seuss’ GeiselVince Lombardi Frank Lloyd WrightDale Earnhardt (Sr.)Jesse Owens Charles SchulzGianni VersaceCoco Chanel Wilma RudolphFranklin RooseveltMickey Mantle George LucasBill GatesWalter Payton

2. Find/Record Info Research your person on the web Research your person on the web On a piece of paper, jot down what you can find for your person’s… On a piece of paper, jot down what you can find for your person’s… Contact info (hometown/birthplace) Contact info (hometown/birthplace) Education Education Work and Employment History Work and Employment History Other experience and activities Other experience and activities Military Service Military Service Skills Skills Professional organizations Professional organizations Interests and Activities Interests and Activities

3. Organize Info Review and cull the data Review and cull the data You should have at least… You should have at least… Contact info – Name, address, phone Contact info – Name, address, phone Education – 1 Education – 1 Work and Employment History - 2 Work and Employment History - 2 Military Service - 1 Military Service - 1 Skills - 3 Skills - 3 Professional organizations - 1 Professional organizations - 1 Other experience, activities, & interests – 1 Other experience, activities, & interests – 1 Make it up if you don’t have something Make it up if you don’t have something

4. Create the Resume Open MS Word Open MS Word Go to my webpage and save the famous person resume template Go to my webpage and save the famous person resume template Fill in the information you found (replace/remove the placeholders) Fill in the information you found (replace/remove the placeholders) Enter an address that looks Enter an address that looks Proofread and spellcheck Proofread and spellcheck Make sure it is only 1 page Make sure it is only 1 page Save when you finish Save when you finish