1. 14 Résumé Package

2. ACCURATE
APPEALING
EFFECTIVE

3. After studying these topics, you will benefit by:
Building a powerful résumé package
Communicating a clear career objective/personal profile
Use power words and quantifiable outcomes to reflect personal accomplishments and experiences
Identifying methods for effectively sharing a résumé
Developing a cover letter
Integrating methods to tailor the résumé package for target industries and employers
Addressing special circumstances and time gaps

4. BUILDING YOUR RÉSUMÉ PACKAGE
Résumé package: cover letter and résumé
Résumé: a formal written profile that presents a person’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to potential employers
Conflicting advice as to how the perfect résumé should look and what it should include
Appropriate résumé depends on work experience
A well written résumé makes it easy for potential employers to quickly identify your skills and work experience

5. BUILDING YOUR RÉSUMÉ PACKAGE
Five steps toward a winning résumé:
Gathering information
Creating an information heading and utilizing proper layout
Writing a skills summary or personal profile
Inserting skills, accomplishments, and experience
Reviewing the completed résumé
As you construct your résumé, make every word, visual presentation, and fact sell your skills and accomplishments

6. STEP ONE: GATHERING INFORMATION
Create a draft document with key headings:
Education
Skills
Employment
Languages
Honors and Awards
Professional/Community Involvement
Do not include personal information

7. CREATING INFORMATION HEADING AND USING PROPER LAYOUT
STEP TWO:
CREATING INFORMATION HEADING AND USING PROPER LAYOUT
See Figures:
14.1 p. 218
14.2 p. 219
14.3 p. 220
14.4 p. 221
14.5 pp

8. STEP TWO (cont.):
Information Heading: relevant contact information including:
Name (complete and formal – including middle initial)
Mailing address (check for accuracy)
City, state & zip code (check format, capitalization and punctuation)
Contact phone (only one phone number)
address (professional, remove hyperlink)
Review for completeness, proper grammar, spelling, and accuracy
Check format, capitalization, and punctuation

9. STEP TWO (cont.): Arrange information in proper résumé layout
Functional résumé layout: for lack of related work experience
Emphasizes relevant skills and education
Used for entry-level positions
Use a skills summary statement
Typically one page
Advanced skill set layout: for those with extensive career experience
Emphasizes related work experience and skill sets
Stresses major accomplishments and responsibilities in skill sets
Use a personal profile
Typically two or more pages

10. STEP TWO (cont.):
Both résumé layouts present employment history and education in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
When listing work history, bold job title, not employer
When listing employment dates, use only month and year
Be consistent in layout, dates, and tense
Avoid the use of résumé templates

11. TALK IT OUT
Which résumé layout is best for your situation? Why?

12. WRITING A SKILLS SUMMARY OR PERSONAL PROFILE
STEP THREE:
WRITING A SKILLS SUMMARY OR PERSONAL PROFILE
Both statements are used on résumé to relate to target career, target employer, introduce key skills, and express interest in a position
Skills summary: used on a functional résumé for individuals with little or no work experience
Personal profile: used on an advanced skill set résumé for individuals with more extensive career experience

13. STEP THREE (cont.): Makes the résumé personalized and powerful
Use the completed accomplishments worksheet and career assessment from Chapter 13
Make specific to the employer and job

14. SKILLS SUMMARY EXAMPLES
Include your target job, employer, and key skills and experience into a one- to two-sentence statement.
Skills Summary: Highly motivated and positive person seeking to obtain a position as an Office Professional with Roxy’s Clothing Company that will enable me to utilize my current customer service skills and office assistant education.
Skills Summary: To obtain a Medical Assistant Clinician position at Healthcorp, where I can demonstrate and increase my current medical assisting skills such as pharmacology, laboratory, and diagnostic procedures.

15. PERSONAL PROFILE EXAMPLE
Two- to three-sentence statement that provides a snapshot of your professional qualifications in a manner that sells your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Personal Profile: Highly professional and detail-oriented accounting professional with demonstrated leadership and success in the areas of payroll, collections, and project management. Possess excellent analytical, communication, computer, and organizational skills. Bilingual English/Spanish (read, write, and speak).

16. STEP FOUR: SKILLS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS & EXPERIENCE
Detail skills, work experience, and professional accomplishments
Skills
List skills relevant to target job first
Be specific when mentioning computer skills – include areas and proficiency levels
Work experience
Include learned skills, job duties, and accomplishments from paid, unpaid, or volunteer
Quantify when possible

17. STEP FOUR (cont.):
Job-specific skills: skills that are directly related to a specific job or industry
May not be useful in a career change
Example: A Medical Billing Clerk who knows how to use a specific software program such as Medical Manager would not need to use this skill if he or she changed jobs to become an elementary school teacher

18. STEP FOUR (cont.):
Transferable skills: skills that are transferred from one job to the next
If you change careers, you will still be able to use (transfer) these skills
Example: A Medical Billing Clerk may have learned how to input data into a computer for billing purposes; if he or she become an elementary school teacher these skills can be used to report student data in a computer system

19. STEP FOUR (cont.):
Soft skills: people skills necessary when working with others in the workplace
Employers want employees who are:
Reliable
Team players
Good communicators
Able to get along well with others

20. See table 14.1 Power Statements
STEP FOUR (cont.):
No complete sentences, write with energy, use action verbs (power words)
Example:
Instead of: “I started a new accounts receivable system.”
Write: Developed a new accounts receivable system that reduced turnaround time by 20 percent.”
See table 14.1 Power Statements

21. Power Statement for Skills Section
STEP FOUR (cont.):
Power Statement for Skills Section
Additional Examples
Ideal oral and written communications skills
Understanding of office practices and procedures; ability to operate fax machine, copy machine, and ten-key machine; ability to enter data; ability to effectively interpret policies and procedures; work well under the pressure of deadlines; establish and maintain a positive working relationship with others; ability to communicate
Accurate typing skills at ______ wpm
Experienced with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook

22. Power Statement for Skills Section cont.
STEP FOUR (cont.):
Power Statement for Skills Section cont.
Additional Examples
Excellent English grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills
Accurately proofread and edit documents
Strong attention to detail
Accurately follow oral and written instructions
Excellent attendance and punctual record
Maintain confidentiality
Positive attitude, motivated, and organized

23. See Table 14.1 Power Statement
STEP FOUR (cont.):
Work Section
When listing work experience
Include job title (bold)
Company name
City and state of company
Duties of the position
When listing job duties
Be as specific as possible
First list skills most relevant to target job
See Table 14.1 Power Statement

24. Power Statement for Work Section
STEP FOUR (cont.):
Power Statement for Work Section
Additional Examples
Prepared reports and other materials requiring independent achievement
Enjoy working in a flexible team situation
Established and maintained positive and effective working relationships
Planned, scheduled, and performed a variety of clerical work
Maintained office equipment and supplies
Proofread forms and materials for completeness and accuracy, according to regulations and procedures

25. Power Statement for Work Section
STEP FOUR (cont.):
Power Statement for Work Section
Additional Examples
Processed and prepared materials for pamphlets, bulletins, brochures, announcements, handbooks, forms, and curriculum materials
Provided training of temporary or new employees
Maintained department files and records
Demonstrated ability to receive incoming calls and route them efficiently
Experience power phrases
Processed purchase requisitions, ordered and distributed supplies, and maintained inventory control
Responsibly planned and conducted meetings

26. REVIEW THE COMPLETED RÉSUMÉ
STEP FIVE:
REVIEW THE COMPLETED RÉSUMÉ
Check your information heading for complete and accurate information
Review skills summary or personal profile
Ensure it introduces and motivates reader to who you are
Encourage reader to learn about your specific knowledge, skills, abilities, and key accomplishments
Review appropriate and proper résumé layout
Confirm sub headings
Consistent setup, tense
Check spelling and grammar

27. STEP FIVE (cont.): Completion tips
List experience and education chronologically (most recent first)
Keep setup consistent (all periods or none, line spacing, alignment, format, uppercase/lowercase words)
Be consistent with word endings (keep the tense the same in each section)

28. STEP FIVE (cont.): Underline, bold & italicize for emphasis only
Only use bullets to emphasize key skills
Use easy to read font and size
Times New Roman or Arial
12-14 point
Only use black ink
Do not include personal information
No photos, birth date, marital status, SSN or hobbies
Do not list “References Available” on résumé

29. STEP FIVE (cont.): Professional presentation
Printed on black ink (laser print ideal)
8½ x 11 inch, letter-sized paper
Cotton fiber, 24 pound white paper (not bound)
Single sided - if more than one page, place name at top of each page
Do not staple documents

30. STEP FIVE (cont.): When you think it’s perfect …
Have several individuals review for
Clarity
Consistency
Punctuation
Grammar
Typographical errors
Other potential mistakes

31. SHARING YOUR RÉSUMÉ Start with a perfect résumé Online version
Consider content-use keywords
Send as an attachment to preserve formatting
MS Word
Portable document file (pdf)
Electronic job boards
Guard personal information

32. SHARING YOUR RÉSUMÉ Electronic file Electronic formatted résumé:
Microsoft Word vs. portable document file (.pdf)
Electronic formatted résumé:
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)
Used when employers add résumé to special software to search applicants based on key words
Special format
Key words
Times New Roman (10-14 point)

33. COVER LETTERS
See Figures:
14.6 p. 224 and 14.7 p. 225
Cover letter: formal letter used as an introduction to a résumé
First impression for potential employers
Use a friendly but professional tone
Point out how you can meet the employer’s needs
Do not duplicate résumé; instead, expand the areas of interest to target employer

34. COVER LETTERS Paragraph One: Paragraph Two: Paragraph Three:
Purpose of the letter, specific position, how you learned about the position
Paragraph Two:
Refer to attached résumé, highlights requested qualifications and skills, communicates what you can offer the employer
Paragraph Three:
Request an interview, state a follow up, be courteous

35. COVER LETTERS
Carefully review job announcement to identify key job skills and highlight company needs
Include key qualifications in both cover letter and résumé
In the cover letter:
Mention the target company by name
List specific qualifications (reflected from the job posting) that make you an excellent candidate to interview
Include daytime telephone number on both
Telephone voice mail and/or message machine is professional

36. COVER LETTERS
Although it is acceptable to use “I” and “my” in a cover letter, be careful not to begin most sentences with the word “I”
Address cover letter to specific person
Refer reader to the résumé
Request interview (not job) at close of letter
Display initiative
Print on the same paper used for résumé

37. TAILORING YOUR RÉSUMÉ AND COVER LETTER
Identify key skills for your targeted position by using ONET
List key skills first on the résumé
Emphasize specific qualifications in the cover letter
List phone and address on résumé and cover letter
Make phone message professional

38. Rebecca’s voice mail message
TOPIC SITUATION
Rebecca’s voice mail message
TOPIC RESPONSE: What would be an appropriate voice mail message for Rebecca? Should Rebecca acknowledge the interview’s voice mail recommendation when she goes into the interview?

39. TIPS FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
For gaps: list only years instead of months and years or identify a skill you learned during the gap and list as you would other jobs, but be prepared to answer questions about the gap
Ex-offender: list jobs you held, skills you learned, and education while incarcerated
Be honest. Do not lie on employment application
Check “yes”
Write “will explain during interview”