Creating a Professional Résumé Mr. Cleon M. McLean Ontario High School 12 th grade English

Your résumé should be your positive history on paper

What is a résumé? A written summary of your education, experience, activities, and interests A business document that allows potential employers to determine whether you have the basic qualifications for a position in a their company The initial/first step in the employment process

Résumé Content Required information: NAME ADDRESS, PHONE # OBJECTIVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES SKILLS REFERENCES Optional information: HONORS AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS INTERESTS LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE Use the name or name by which you go Use a “home” address Make your name stand out more than your address and phone Include your address

EDUCATION Name of your school (spell out completely; capitalize “O,” “H,” and “S”) Expected graduation date ( May, 2006) Grade Point Average ( GPA: 3.0) Elective classes taken (or any other classes or programs which you have taken)

EXPERIENCE Identify ANY work experience you have had in the past (even if it’s summer jobs, babysitting, or collecting offerings in church) Emphasize POSITIVE qualities: –Accomplishments –Supervisory, training duties –Teamwork –Promotions –Work ethic---responsible, respectful, caring, accountable, helpful, etc.

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES ARE SOMETIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN EXPERIENCE! –Membership is Basic –Involvement is Significant –Leadership is Excellent –Show Depth (how much responsibilities you have had) –Show Breath (how many responsibilities you have had)

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES Sports (either OHS, private, or community) Campus activities/clubs Community activities, volunteerism Political organizations Ethnic/cultural membership Religious groups Teacher Assistant, Office Helper

INTERESTS INTERESTS TELL EMPLOYERS ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY AND STYLE –Team player or soloist –Outdoors or Indoors –Technical or artistic –Community-minded or World- minded –Newshound or Party Animal

OBJECTIVE Indicate/show specific preferences, goals Don’t limit yourself unnecessarily Location, location, location: Where would you like to work? Short term versus long term (Do you have both?) –Short term: summer job (?) –Long term: full time job

FORMAT AND APPEARANCE Quality paper and sharp print Boldface and Capitalization to show emphasis Italics and Font Style to show differentiation White Space to make the résumé easy to read Balance the spacing, especially on left and right Key information should JUMP at the reader Check and re-check grammar and spelling!

Your résumé is meant to get your foot in the door … it does not mean you will be hired for the job.