Making a Statement Writing an Effective Resume Linda Cicuta, Career Advisor, Career and Placement Service

Services Provided by CAPS Career advising Career development workshops Graduate career week Information and networking events Career resource library Campus recruitment

Résumés and the Job Search CVs and resumes Resumes and the job search Main components Pulling it all together Special formats Resumes and cover letters

CV’s and Resumes CV.Resume.  Targeted at fellow academics.  Flexible length.  Focuses on academic achievements.  Must include publications, presentations, teaching, etc.  References are included.  A full history of your credentials.  Targeted at a specific employer.  1-2 pages.  Focuses on skills and accomplishments.  Must include job-relevant skills and experiences.  Doesn’t necessarily include publications and presentations.  References are not included.  Presents a snapshot of your skills for the job you are seeking.

Resumes and the Job Search Conduct a self-assessment Research the labor market Create a resume for a specific job Network extensively Be active, not passive

Job Search – Self Assessment What do you want to do? Have you demonstrated proof that you have the desire to work in that area? What are your hard skills? What are your soft skills? Use your resume as a catalogue of activities.

Job Search – Research the Labor Market How to conduct research. Internet. Chronicle of higher education. Network. Colleagues, Your supervisor, People at conferences, Alumni. Conduct information interviews. People in the industry. Questions to ask: What are the requirements for positions in this field? What are the companies in this industry? Who have companies hired in the past? How did other graduate students obtain the job?

Job Search – Resumes for Specific Jobs The resume you create will be designed for a specific employer. Choose the skills from your inventory that will match their needs. Present a tailor-made vision of yourself.

Chronological Versus Functional Resumes Chronological Lists work and achievements in reverse order Used to demonstrate progressive career development Effective if you have a lot of related experience for a career field Functional Lists achievements according to skills categories Used to demonstrate a repertoire of relevant skills from different areas Effective if you have broad (but not deep) career experience

Main Components Introductory information Skills Education Work experience Volunteer experience Awards and publications Activities and Interests

Introductory Information Basic information Address and contact information Languages Specifics not to include Objective / Summary (optional) Focus on goals for the specific job It is not a full description of yourself but it does include highlights of your skills

Skills Highlight relevant skills at beginning of resume Guides the reader through the document Creates a specific picture of yourself Focus on skills that are relevant for the job at hand No more than 5 should be presented

Education Important element on a resume, but has a different focus than on a CV. If your thesis topic relates to the type of work you are applying for, a one-line description may be warranted. Any achievements may also be listed. High GPA, Distinctions, etc If your supervisor is well-known, in our out of industry, mention her.

Work Experience Present your relevant work experience for the position, as opposed to all experience. Present your work experience in terms of achievements, according to the P.A.R. Formula. P.A.R. Formula P – the initial problem that needs doing A – the action you took to resolve the problem R – the results you obtained (%, $, #)

Volunteer Experience Volunteer experience is important! Committees on which you served Events your organized at school Choose most significant experiences if you have several to write Use P.A.R. Formula for achievements if applicable

Awards and Publications Awards should be listed, but briefly. Long lists of publications should be attached as an appendix. Significant publications may be included if they are of relevance to the field of employment.

Activities and Interests This could include a variety of subjects which you are involved in outside of your academic and working life. Example headings could include: -Travel -Sports -Hobbies -Drama / Art -Music

References References are available upon request Prepare a list of references for your interview Letters are acceptable but you should always provide the contact information of each reference

Pulling It All Together Sample resume Sample of transforming your cv into a resume Cover letters

1 st Paragraph: State the position sought and cite the source 2 nd & 3 rd Paragraphs: Describe what is special about the potential employer and describe what is special about you. Make the link to how you can fill their needs. 4 th Paragraph: Your appreciation for their time and inform them of the action you plan to take.