Resume Recommendations Your ticket to the interview!

What IS a resume anyway? A resume is a one page document that is an advertisement about YOU! You are marketing YOURSELF to an employer. To write an effective resume, you need to know the “product” (YOU) and present it (YOURSELF) in the most positive way!

Who are you marketing to? What generation is your BOSS? Your marketing should target THAT audience! Play by their rules to increase your chance of staying in the game.

 Hiring staff will typically scan your resume for about seconds, to see if you meet the requirements and qualifications.  An effective resume should make an employer say… “I want to interview you!”

Learn from the Super Bowls ads!  Product  Audience  Short  Powerful  Memorable

 There are many effective resume formats  You will be using a formatted, chronological resume  Later…you can adjust your documents for the “real” job market! Do research for what you need to get YOUR specific job!

Parts of a Resume Title Block Objective Education Relevant Coursework Skills/Qualifications Experience (including volunteer work) Activities Achievements References (on a separate page)

Title Block  Centered horizontally  Full name – larger font, bold, all caps  Professional sounding won’t work on a resume!

Objective What is the ENTRY LEVEL JOB that this resume is targeting? To obtain a position as a childcare provider. To obtain a position as a retail salesperson. OR…in what environment is the job you are seeking? To obtain a position in the food service industry. Note: the objective is not a complete sentence!

Education  Do not include anything prior to high school  Dates  Expected graduation date if you are months from graduating

Relevant Coursework Do not include anything prior to high school. List classes that relate to the type of job you are seeking. Child Psychology – for childcare provider Chef 1, 2, 3, - for food service industry If you don’t have any related classes, list electives or classes that you chose and most interested you.

Skills and Qualifications  List a minimum of five (of your own!)  Avoid “extremely”, “great”  See “Power Words” handout

Experience Include volunteer experience! Most recent listed first. Include this information: Your title (italics) For whom? (employer) Where? (city, state) Dates Responsibilities written as brief, but powerful, job descriptions

Use this format Title For Whom Dates City, State Job description here… Title For Whom Dates City, State Job description here… Title For Whom Dates City, State Job description here…

Example: You were a checker  communicated positively with clientele  recorded transactions  organized cash drawer, deposits, and receipts  familiarized clientele with specials

Example: You were a babysitter  Supervised 3 children, ages two-five  Organized schedules  Planned nutritious meals  Counseled and guided  Initiated with household chores

Example: You mowed lawns  Planned and scheduled appointments  Maintained lawn care  Communicated positively with customers

Example: You worked at McDonalds  Communicate effectively with clientele  Ensured customer satisfaction  Organized orders  Maintained a clean and safe working environment

Example: You worked in retail  Organized merchandise for display  Recorded transactions  Operated a cash register  Familiarized clientele with specials  Assisted customers with sizing and purchases

Hobbies and Interests  Will you be an interesting co- worker?  What do you do with your life when you’re not working?  If you don’t have any – get some!

Achievements It’s OK to brag! How else will the employer know? If you have too many to list on one page, choose the ones most relevant to your objective. If you don’t have any, do not include the heading.

References

o Reread your “application notes” for qualifications of references! o On a separate page o Title block is IDENTICAL to resume page o The word References precedes the list o Centered horizontally o Centered vertically between the title block line and the bottom of the page o At least three  Ask your references before you list them on your reference page.  Get the contact info for a reference before leaving a job.

Format for each reference Seven lines: Name Position Place Street address City, State Zip Phone

Example John Jones Counselor Mountlake Terrace High School th AVE W Mountlake Terrace, WA

Do’s and Don’t’s Don’t:  …have racy or illegal material on your Twitter or Facebook page  …have Mom or Dad or other family members call for you when you’re job searching – do it yourself  …use texting language or spelling when corresponding with potential employers or your supervisor  …use “don’t” (reword it to be positive…what DO you do?)

Don’t’s continued  …use personal pronouns – I, me, mine  …use abbreviations unless they have been written in full somewhere on the resume first (FCCLA, DECA, etc.)  …use the words discussed regarding the application (great, extremely, etc.) Reread the application notes! o …use contractions (have not instead of haven’t)

Do o …follow the class format EXACTLY o …reread your notes about writing an application – the same rules apply! o …use “power” words (see handout) o …match tense with date (did you do it in the past or are you doing it now?) o …use post office approved abbreviations for addresses ST=street RD=road NW=northwest WA=Washington

Do’s continued  …include two spaces between state and zip code Seattle, WA o …use consistent spacing within and between sections. Be aware of WHITE SPACE! o …align like elements such as dates, locations (Use the tab key.) o …center the resume vertically between the title block line and the bottom of the page o …use size font

Do’s continued o … use bullets and/or lists if you need to stretch your resume Chef 1 American Sign Language Child Psychology o …use one line if you need to save room Chef 1, American Sign Language, Child Psychology

Do’s continued o …use good quality (“resume”) paper o …use a “neutral” font, such as Arial or Helvetica  …present yourself professionally in all communications (cell phone message, “ring-back” music)  ……assume that every time you interact with a potential employer, you’re making an impression  …use POSITIVE descriptors  Numbers one through ten are written as words

Do’s continued  …use Spell Check and Grammar Check but don’t depend on them!

Ode to the Spell Checker Eye have a spelling chequer It came with my pea see It clearly marks four my revue Miss takes eye cannot see. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight fore it to say Weather eye am wrong or eye am right It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose be four two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am sure your pleased two no Its letter perfect all the weigh My chequer told me sew.

Now what? Follow the format EXACTLY! Turn in your best, proofread copy. No rough drafts!