1. Overview of Resume Writing
Business and Technology
Unit #1 Employability Skills

2. WHAT IS A RESUME?
One page summary of your skills, education, and experience
Similar to an advertisement to “sell” yourself as the best candidate for a job or career
Requires time creating, proofreading, and editing
A solid resume is the key that will open the door to good jobs

3. HOW LONG DO EMPLOYERS TYPICALLY LOOK AT RESUMES?
Employers often receive hundreds of resumes for a single position.
As a result, they typically spend less than 30 seconds looking at one resume.
Increased importance of the smallest details

4. RESUME COMPONENTS
There are various forms of resumes, but they typically consist of the following components:
Heading
Objective
Education
Experience
Activities
Summary of Skills
References

5. RESUME COMPONENTS: HEADING
Should include essential personal information and should appear at the top of the page:
Formal name (not nickname)
Address (both permanent and temporary)
Phone number
Professional address

6. RESUME COMPONENTS: OBJECTIVE
Also called “career objective”
Employers sometimes refer to the objective as the most important part of the resume.
Typically one sentence which explains the type of job your are seeking
Fairly specific and should change to match the type of job that you want
Should relate to the company and the job description

7. RESUME COMPONENTS: OBJECTIVE (CONT’D)
Create a good first impression by highlighting your abilities and skills appropriate for the position
Separate yourself from the others, but ALWAYS tell the truth!!
Sound positive and confident, neither aggressive or overly modest.
Don’t use the word “I”, the whole resume is about you!

8. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY
Each description of your responsibilities should begin with a verb or an “action” word
Examples of Action Words:
Accomplish
Balance
Communicate
Complete
Establish
Invent
Lead
Present
Achieve
Collaborate

9. RESUME COMPONENTS: EDUCATION
As current students, this should follow your “objective”
High school students should not include information about middle school
Specify the dates of attendance or graduation or expected graduation
Include relevant course that would contribute to employability-especially if you have completed
a career cluster/pathway while in high school

10. RESUME COMPONENTS: EXPERIENCE
Also called “work experience” or “employment experience”
Include previous employers, their locations, your dates of employment, and your job title
For each previous job, create at least two one-line descriptions of what your job duties and responsibilities were.
***
***Be sure to use action words and DO NOT use the word “I” in your descriptions****

11. RESUME COMPONENTS: ACTIVITIES
Employers like to see people who are well-rounded and who have been involved in school or community activities
List special activities (homecoming or prom committee)
Organizations that you have joined (FBLA, DECA, Robotics Club, etc.)
Be sure to include the time frame that you participated in the various activities

12. RESUME COMPONENTS: SUMMARY OF SKILLS
This section is for special skills or talents that may not be included anywhere else in your resume
Be sure to include skills are talents that would be helpful in the position that you are pursing
Type 60 words per minute
Bilingual-fluent in English and Spanish

13. RESUME COMPONENTS: REFERENCES
Many books say “References Available Upon Request”, but most employers like to see them there for convenience.
Be sure to include the following information for each reference:
Full Name
Addresses
Employers
Job titles
Work phone number

14. MORE ABOUT REFERENCES
You should have 2-3 people who have observed your work habits (employers, teachers, coaches, etc.)
You should also included 2-3 people that can speak on your character
Be sure that you have asked their permission to
be included as a reference for you AND be
sure they will speak well of you

15. MAKE YOUR RESUME STAND OUT FROM THE REST!
Be sure to emphasize accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
Volunteer activities, hobbies, sports, honor roll, and student organizations are things that help define who you are and should be included.
List only recent honors and awards unless they are relevant to the position which you are applying

16. STRIVE FOR PERFECTION!!
It only takes ONE ERROR in spelling, punctuation, or grammar to cause an employer to stop reading.
Avoid overuse of italics, bold, and underlining
Limit your resume to ONE PAGE and use 10 point font size minimum.
One inch margins around the page and blank lines between sections makes information easier to read.
Ask people to proofread your resume and go over it with a fine tooth comb