Resume Basics

What is a Resume and Why do we care?  A resume is a brief profile of yourself that employers use to decide who to hire.  Resumes are important because employers will receive anywhere from 25 to 1,000 applications per job and usually spend only seconds looking at each.

Parts of a Resume  Contact information name address phone number

Skill Set (Optional)  A list that showcases your most effective skills and experiences as they pertain to your job search.  Skill set for an administrative assistant:  Telephone & Front Desk Reception  Customer Service  Filing  Database & Records Management  Executive & Administrative Support  Reports & Spreadsheets  Complaint Handling  Data Entry (75 WPM)

Qualifications Summary  A brief paragraph that declares what the candidate can do for the targeted company, placing the company’s needs first. A wise applicant always uses a Qualifications Summary, either by itself or combined with a Skill Set.  Qualifications Summary for a pharmacist: Licensed pharmacist with nine years of experience providing pharmacy services in a retail setting. Outstanding interpersonal skills with a track record of establishing positive relationships with customers, pharmaceutical representatives/manufacturers, medical professionals, healthcare organizations and insurance providers. Respected leader, able to train and manage diverse teams to deliver peak performance. Dedicated to providing quality patient care and fast and accurate medication dispensing.

Education  Summarize your educational career. Tell where you went, when you went (in years), and if you think it will help, your GPA.  If you are currently enrolled: Waterford High School, Waterford, WI  GPA: 3.2  Expected graduation June 2012.

Work Experience  List all current or previous jobs. Start with the most current and work backwards. Also include any major volunteer work that would impress an employer.  For each job you need to list: the company city and state starting and ending months and years position or title you held accomplishments responsibilities  List job duties in a bulleted list (3-5 duties)  Begin each duty with a strong action verb (present tense for current jobs, past tense for past jobs )

Sample Jobs 2003-present, The Smith Family Babysitter Provide quality childcare for three children ranging in age from newborn to 9 years old. Prepare meals; ensure cleanliness of kitchen after meals. Organize toys and perform general housekeeping duties. June 2009-present, Burlington Hospital Pediatric Ward Volunteer Read and play games with children. Organize and ensure cleanliness of childcare area. Assist in setting up and organizing activities and supplies.

Activities, Honors, Awards  Activities: List any significant activities that would demonstrate leadership, communication skills, and perseverance.  Honors and Awards: If the award is well known, just list it. If it is not well know, briefly state what it is for.  Additional Information: Anything else that would help your potential employer hire you. This should only include items that don’t logically fit anywhere else. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Typing speed: 75 WPM.

References  Include three references if you have space left to fill.  Do not list relatives or friends. List managers, employers, or people of importance who can vouch for your character.  If you have no space, simply write “References available upon request.” Name of person Person’s job or title Company name Work address Phone number

Resume Tips  Put the most important information first (unless listing things in chronological order).  Begin sentences with action verbs. Ex. Directed, lead, created, supervised Examples of non-action verbs: was, did  NO personal pronouns (I, me, my).  Limit the resume to one page.