Writing a Winning Resume

1
Writing a Winning Resume

• A Presentation brought to you by
• The Office of Career Services
• Frostburg State University

2
Resume Goals

• To convince an employer to interview you in under
  30 seconds.
• To summarize your skills, abilities, and
  interests in a clear/concise manner.
• To write a resume that is targeted to a certain
  field or position.
• To target the skills/experience listed in the
  position that is being advertised.

3
The 3 Rs Research, Research, Research

• Research Yourself Assess your skills,
  abilities, interests.
• Research the Position Find out what the
  employer is looking for so you can tailor your
  resume to show them you can meet their needs.
• Research the Organization Use the Internet or
  literature in the FSU Career Center library.

4
Headings

• Most Common Headings
• Objective
• Education
• Experience
• Skills
• Summary
• Additional Headings
• Relevant Coursework, Research, Academic Honors
  Awards, Computer/Technical Skills, Languages
• Internships, Volunteer Experience, Travel...
• Organizational Memberships Activities,
  Significant Presentations...
• Experience Highlights, Professional Background,
  Publications

5
Resume Styles

• Chronological
• -Experiences are in reverse, chronological order
• -Good choice if you have solid work history
• Format most widely accepted by employers
• Functional
• -Concentrates on functional skill areas related
  to your job objective
• -Usually focuses on three skill areas or more
• -Work history section may only contain job
  titles
• Combination (Chronological/Functional)
• -Has skills, relevant experience , and/or other
  work experience sections
• Most appropriate for recent grads

6
Personal Data

• Necessary Info Name, Address, Zip, Phone,
  E-mail
• 
  Bob A. Cat
• Email bcat0_at_frostburg,edu
• Current Permanent
• 100 Braddock Road 100 Constitution Ave
• Frostburg, Maryland 21532 Washington, DC 2000
• [phone] [phone]
• Also include your personal web-site
  address if available.

7
Career Objectives Be Specific!!!

• A brief description of the position you wish to
  be considered for - emphasize how you can help
  the company.
• May be stated by the job title, by level or type
  of responsibility, in terms of skills you wish to
  develop, or a combination of all three.
• Avoid being overly restrictive or vague!
• Examples of Career Objectives
• Detail-oriented Business Administration/Finance
  grad with excellent team and interpersonal skills
  seeking analyst position in public or private
  sector.
• Dynamic public speaker/presenter with advanced
  technical knowledge seeking to leverage these
  strengths as an award-winning computer instructor
  into an entry level software position where I can
  increase sales.

8
Education Coursework Examples

• EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Fisheries May
  2003
• Minor, Forestry GPA
  3.5
• Frostburg State University
• Frostburg, MD
• RELEVANT COURSE WORK
• Environmental Planning Ecology Animal
  Physiology
• Forest Science Dendrology Herpetology
• Genetics Plant Diseases Hydrology
• _____________________________________OR
  _______________________________________
• EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology May
  2003
• Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
  GPA 3.5
• Research Female Eating Disorders and the Media,
  Attention Deficit Disorder in Elementary School
  Students
• Relevant Course Work Research Methods III,
  Introduction to Counseling, Child and Adolescent
  Disorders, behavioral Approaches to Human
  Problems, Social Psychology, Drugs and Human
  Behavior, Health Psychology, Human Cognition

9
Skills/StrengthsHighlights

• Titles can be Skills Summary, Highlight of
  Qualifications, Strengths, Abilities.
• Skill sections that can be used organizational,
  interpersonal, managerial, communication,
  leadership, creative, and computer.
• Examples
• Computer Skills
• Systems DOS, Windows, NT
• Software Microsoft Suite, Netscape
• Database Management Access, Excel, FoxPro.
• Skills Summary
• -Able to utilize communicative abilities to
  coordinate efforts in a team environment.
• - Efficient in organizing and creating group
  activities to promote cohesiveness and
  productivity.
• - Act as leader to communicate delegation of
  group tasks in order to accomplish goals
  established by company.

10
ExperienceIt All Counts!!!

• Experience can include
• Jobs, fieldwork, internships, clinical work,
  student teaching, volunteering, research or class
  projects.
• It can be paid or unpaid
• On your Resume include
• Job/Experience Title, Company, City, State, No
  Zip, Dates
• Emphasize Skills/Accomplishments in action verbs

11
Sample Experiences

• Relevant Experience
• Computer Science Tutor September 2001
  - May 2003
• Student Support Services, Frostburg State
  University
• Organized and scheduled tutor sessions for 50
  students
• Designed practice exercises to help tutees
  problem solve
• Teaching Internship January 2001-
  May 2001
• Meyersdale High School, Meyersdale, PA
• Maintained daily attendance and evaluation
  records
• Observed daily classroom activities for grades 8
  and 9
• Monitored study halls
• Summer Volunteer June 1999 -
  August 2002
• Deep Creek State Park, Oakland, MD
• Conducted nature tours for groups of over 50
  campers
• Implemented concept of Leave No Trace to park
  guests and employees to promote park maintenance

12
The Reference Page

• References for Bob A. Cat
• Name of Reference
• Job Title
• Name of Organization
• Address
• Work Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• 3-5 references is an appropriate amount.
  Remember to ask people whom you know will provide
  a good reflection of you and in a timely manner.
  Remember to provide copies of your resume and
  send thank you notes!

13
Resume Checklist

• Length (Depends on Industry)
• One page for recent graduates
• Two for experienced candidates
• Layout/Appearance (Professional)
• Neat, concise, easy to read,
• Balance of text and white space
• Use of bolds, underlines, different fonts
  (standard)
• Absolutely NO spelling/grammar errors
• Content (Dynamic, Persuasive)
• Action-oriented verbs, emphasize skills
• Grammar, present/past tense
• Lead w/ strengths/accomplishments

14
Electronic Resumes

• Employers now search a database, using keywords.
  (i.e. an employer will type in business major
  into the database and look at hits )
• Register with www.collegecentral.com/frostburg
  and view your resume.
• Guidelines if it will be scanned or uploaded from
  disk
• Choose keywords and place in order of importance
• Choose basic fonts
• Avoid italics, graphics, underlines, bolds
• Light colored paper is best