1. Resume Development Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Career and Employment Services

2. What is a Resume? An effective tool to pave the way for an interview A clear and appealing picture of yourself A comprehensive summary of your education, work experience, past achievements and goals An expression of your personality, interests, work habits, and attitudes An opportunity to show your creativity

3. Tips on Resume Writing Resumes should be typed Use point form, not paragraphs Avoid “I” or “My duties included…” these words and phrases are redundant Be neat; check spelling, grammar, and punctuation Presentation of the resume is important, have plenty of white space, not cluttered, this will give a professional impression Keep it simple, clear and brief; no more than 3 pages without cover letter

4. Resumes should have: Meaningful Language: Appropriate, accurate, consistent Professional Avoid abbreviations and acronyms Use positive action words

5. Steps to a Great Resume Gathering Information Personal Information Objective Skills and Abilities Education/Training History Work/Experience History Achievements Volunteer Experience Hobbies/Recreation Activities References

6. Personal Information Name, address, telephone number, cell number, and email address These are always on the top of the first page of the resume and easy to read

7. Establishing a Job Objective Target it to the kind of work you want A “generic” objective for any job will not prove effective If the objective is too brief or has no focus, do not have one

8. Skills and Abilities or Summary of Qualifications Choose your top skills that best support you and make you the unique individual you are. This could include: - Education: training or certification in that field - Key skills, talents or special knowledge related to this job - Number of years or months experience in that targeted job field Follow it up with your strongest attributes

9. Education/Training History You can include things like: Apprenticeships Relevant workshops or seminars Certificates and/or Degrees

10. Work/Experience History List your most recent job first, then your earlier jobs. Give dates, job titles and the employer Include any unpaid work that fills a gap or show you have the skills for that job

11. Achievements This is where you can display your awards, honors, and other achievements to exhibit more of yourself

12. Volunteer Experience Employers are interested in those who contribute to the community List present and recent past volunteer experience

13. Hobbies/Recreational Activities Interests/hobbies also can be an indicator of your personality

14. References Ask your references before using their name 3 references is usually enough Include their name, title, company, company address, and phone number References upon request DOES NOT WORK

15. Choosing Resume Styles There are many different resume styles and each person must choose the best way to present the information to the employer. There is no absolute right or wrong format or style. There are 3 styles that are used the most.

16. Chronological Resume Work experience and education is arranged in order by dates (most recent first) + Places emphasis on job titles and employment history + Emphasizes a steady employment history - Exposes job hopping, lengthy stay in one job without a promotion, emphasizes work that may need to be minimized, and appears boring to read, if a number of similar jobs were held

17. Functional Resume Work experience is described by emphasizing the skills involved. Descriptive details are grouped under relevant heading of expertise + Focuses on selected areas of accomplishment and experience + Camouflages a spotty employment record + Stresses areas of experience and interests + Allows you to down play areas you wish not to emphasize +Immediately highlights strengths and why you should be considered -Doesn’t highlight former employers or dates well

18. Combination Resume Chronological and Functional formats are combined + Past employment history along with your responsibilities & accomplishments are emphasized + Highlights your transferable skills + Consistent work history with demonstrated growth + You have nothing you want to de-emphasize

19. Things not to include in a resume Age, race, sex, religion, political affiliation, names and ages of children, spouse’s occupation, any other personal information that is not relevant to your job qualifications. Do not include salary requirement or salary history on your job resume. Salary should be used as a negotiation tool. Salary discussions usually take place during the end of the job interview.

20. Finalizing Your Resume Spell Check Formatting and layout Save it on your computer, CD, or memory stick Get a second opinion Proofread

21. Targeting Your Resume Develop a core resume Tailor it to every position you are applying for Become knowledgeable about the job/industry you want (job descriptions, labour market, and talk to people in that line of work)