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

020870A01_LT 2 Writing An Effective Resume What information should be in a resume? Characteristics of a successful resume. Functional or Chronological. Scannable resume. What information should be in a resume? Characteristics of a successful resume. Functional or Chronological. Scannable resume.

020870A01_LT 3 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 4 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 5 Characteristics Of A Successful Resume Language is grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal Style Language is grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal Style

020870A01_LT 6 Resume Faux Pax Typos and Grammar Slips “Great attention to detail.” “Proven ability to track down and correct erors.” “Am a perfectionist and rarely if ever forget etails.” Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school.” Don’t use “I” or “me” Typos and Grammar Slips “Great attention to detail.” “Proven ability to track down and correct erors.” “Am a perfectionist and rarely if ever forget etails.” Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school.” Don’t use “I” or “me”

020870A01_LT 7 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 8 What’s the Right Resume for Me? One size does NOT fit all. Choose the resume style that suits your job history and target position: Chronological Functional Electronic Resume Curriculum Vitae One size does NOT fit all. Choose the resume style that suits your job history and target position: Chronological Functional Electronic Resume Curriculum Vitae

020870A01_LT 9 Chronological Resume organized by job titles with the most recent position listed first. Employers tend to prefer because the format lists prior positions beginning with the most current. Most effective for job seekers with solid experience and a logical job history. Career changers and those who lack formal on-the-job experience (like new graduates) find this resume the most difficult to write. Click here for examples organized by job titles with the most recent position listed first. Employers tend to prefer because the format lists prior positions beginning with the most current. Most effective for job seekers with solid experience and a logical job history. Career changers and those who lack formal on-the-job experience (like new graduates) find this resume the most difficult to write. Click here for examples

020870A01_LT 10 Functional Resumes 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). Click here for examples 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). Click here for examples

020870A01_LT 11 Electronic Resume Submitted as a data file or scanned and searched by optical scanning systems. Many large employers use electronic resume processing systems to handle large volumes of resumes. Electronic resumes are used by resume banks to match applicant qualifications with employer needs. Quick and convenient for applicant and employer. Challenges: hard for the employer to sort through. Difficult for the candidate to stand out. Writing a good electronic resume is often as much about strategy (keywords) as content. Click here for examples: Submitted as a data file or scanned and searched by optical scanning systems. Many large employers use electronic resume processing systems to handle large volumes of resumes. Electronic resumes are used by resume banks to match applicant qualifications with employer needs. Quick and convenient for applicant and employer. Challenges: hard for the employer to sort through. Difficult for the candidate to stand out. Writing a good electronic resume is often as much about strategy (keywords) as content. Click here for examples:

020870A01_LT 12 Curriculum Vitae A detailed, lengthy and structured listing of education, publications, projects, awards and work history. Rather than a resume, a curriculum vitae (often called a "C.V." or "Vita") is required for certain positions: educators and scientists most commonly. Job seekers with extensive academic and professional credentials applying for positions in education or research. Check with an advisor or others in your field if you are unsure whether a C.V. or a resume is expected. Samples: ScienceCareers.org: How to Craft a Winning Resume (and CV) ScienceCareers.org: How to Craft a Winning Resume (and CV) A detailed, lengthy and structured listing of education, publications, projects, awards and work history. Rather than a resume, a curriculum vitae (often called a "C.V." or "Vita") is required for certain positions: educators and scientists most commonly. Job seekers with extensive academic and professional credentials applying for positions in education or research. Check with an advisor or others in your field if you are unsure whether a C.V. or a resume is expected. Samples: ScienceCareers.org: How to Craft a Winning Resume (and CV) ScienceCareers.org: How to Craft a Winning Resume (and CV)

020870A01_LT 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 How To Write A Cover Letter - Rules 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. 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.

020870A01_LT 17 How To Write A Cover Letter - Contents Your address, city, state, zip, and telephone number. Date Name, title, company, address, city, state, and zip of person you’re writing to. Greeting, followed by a colon. Your address, city, state, zip, and telephone number. Date Name, title, company, address, city, state, and zip of person you’re writing to. Greeting, followed by a colon.

020870A01_LT 18 How To Write A Cover Letter - Contents Paragraph 1: What you want. How you know about the organization. Mention enclosure of your resume. Paragraph 2: Concise overview of work history and skills that will help you perform the job. Paragraph 3: State confidence in your ability. Give information on how you can be contacted. Paragraph 1: What you want. How you know about the organization. Mention enclosure of your resume. Paragraph 2: Concise overview of work history and skills that will help you perform the job. Paragraph 3: State confidence in your ability. Give information on how you can be contacted.

020870A01_LT 19 How To Write A Cover Letter - Contents Paragraph 4: Express appreciation Closing, signature, and typed name Paragraph 4: Express appreciation Closing, signature, and typed name