Futures Forum 2013 Resume Workshop

Can your resume pass the 10 second test? 10 seconds is all the time an employer is going to give your resume in deciding to keep it or pass on it

A Resume: is the first meeting between you and the employer. tells a great deal about you. gets you the interview. is your calling card

Remember your first impression is a lasting one!

A resume should Convince employer that you are worth an interview Be as brief as possible without sacrificing essential qualifications Focus on strengths and accomplishments

Also... No ugly resume - format must be pleasing to the eye Do not lie, exaggerate or use words that the interviewer has to look up in a dictionary

A good resume has balance Information and presentation You achieve the greatest possible positive effect when you share the right information in an easy-to-read format that looks professional!

Resume Do’s Target your qualifications for a specific job Keep it to two pages or less – keep it professional

Resume Do’s No errors Pleasing layout List relevant work history…no more than 15 years back Update language and jargon

Include “attitude” and “action” in your resume! Team Player Involved with - Contributed to – Served on – Volunteered to – Responsible for Participated in Coordinated and organized

Example Instead of... Washed floors, counters and equipment. Mopped and vacuumed floors. Write... Responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of workspace.

Resume Don’ts Avoid abbreviations and acronyms Never use pronouns such as: “I”, “me”, “my”, “our” Never handwrite, always use a word processer No fancy fonts, binders, layouts Don’t fold your resume

Do not Include... Photographs Personal, family or health information Reference letters (unless they are specifically requested)

Types of Resumes: Chronological most common lists of your jobs and experience with most recent mentioned first good for job seekers who have practical work experience with long periods of employment resume type most preferred by employers

Types of Resume: Functional focuses on your skills and accomplishments highlights what they are, not when you developed them good format for job seekers with lots of job experience and many jobs

Today you will write chronological resume!

Elements of a Chronological Resume Heading - Your heading should include the essential personal information. Your formal name (not nickname) should appear at the top and it should stand out above all else on the paper. You want them to remember who you are in less than 30 seconds. Also include your address and phone number. If you use regularly, include your address.

Elements of a Chronological Resume Objective - (Also called “Career Objective”) Employers often say this is the most important part of a resume. It is generally a one sentence explanation of the type of job you are seeking. Your objective should be fairly specific. If you are applying for different types of jobs, change your objective to match each type of job. If you are uncertain about the specific positions available, note your areas of interest.

Elements of a Chronological Resume Education - As students, this should be your next section of information. Identify the school you are currently attending and either the grade you have completed or the grade that you are in. If your education is particularly relevant to a job, you may want to include a section titled “Relevant Courses.” In this category, you can list classes that might contribute to your employability.

Elements of a Chronological Resume Experience - Also called “Work Experience” or “Employment Experience” In this section, you should include previous employers, their locations, your dates of employment, and your job title. You may have to create a job title if you did not have one. You should include at least two one-line descriptions of what your job duties and responsibilities were. You can not assume that the job title explains what you did to all readers. Use action verbs to start each of these descriptions. Do not use “I” in descriptions. If you do not have many job experiences, you can include information about past volunteer experiences you have had

Elements of a Chronological Resume Activities - Employers like to see people who have been involved in school or community activities. In this section, list special activities you participated in (prom committee) and organizations you joined (drama club, baseball team, etc.). Include the years in which you participated. Be aware, however, that some employers may eventually view this information as irrelevant. Buts as high school students, this should not be a concern.

Elements of a Chronological Resume Interests – include any hobbies or areas of interests that you feel are relevant or that reveal aspects of your character Examples: reading, physical fitness, creative writing, rock collecting etc. Like activities, this section will become less important as you accumulate more work experience

Elements of a Chronological Resume Summary of Skills - Some people use this section to include special skills or talents that are not included elsewhere on the resume, but would be relevant to the employer. Some possibilities are: Type 60 words per minute Fluent in French

Elements of a Chronological Resume References – Include a list of personal references. You should have people who have observed your work habits (employers, teachers, coaches, etc.) or who can speak about your character. Make sure you have asked their permission to include them as references. Only ask people who will speak well of you. Include the persons name, address, employers, job titles and phone number. It is best to list work numbers since some people don’t appreciate calls at home. Ex: Emily Schmuck, Teacher, Bluevale Collegiate Institute, 80 Bluevale Street North,

The Cover Letter Should give the employer a reason to look at the resume 2-3 short paragraphs leading to the resume If the cover letter does not “speak well,” the resume will not be read!

How do you write a cover letter? Address your letter to the appropriate contact person, either the employer or a human resources officer. Use their name and title, and double-check the spelling. If there is no specific name write “Dear Sir or Madam”. Refer to how you heard about the job, i.e. job posting, newspaper article, or from someone in your network of contacts. Refer to the job that you are interested in. If there is a competition/job number, include it in your cover letter. Learn about the company or organization you are applying to. If your cover letter is tailored to the company and job, you'll show the employer that you can be a good fit. Discuss what the company does, and how your skills, abilities and experience can be a valuable addition to their team.

How do you write a cover letter? Make sure the employer knows what action to take — will you call the employer or should the employer call you, and when? Provide your name, phone number and address.. Proofread your letter, and ask someone else to read it as well. Correct the errors, and print a clean copy. , mail or hand-deliver your cover letter and resume. Keep a copy for your files, and note the date that it was sent out.