Resume Writing Workshop

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Resume Writing Workshop

• Presented by Nikki Schaper
• Director of Student Life
• San Bernardino Valley College

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What is a Resume?

• A resume is a one or two page summary of your
  education, skills, accomplishments, and
  experience. Your resume's purpose is to get your
  foot in the door. A resume does its job
  successfully if it does not exclude you from
  consideration.
• To prepare a successful resume, you need to know
  how to review, summarize, and present your
  experiences and achievements on one page. Unless
  you have considerable experience, you don't need
  two pages. Outline your achievements briefly and
  concisely.
• Your resume is your ticket to an interview where
  you can sell yourself!

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THE BASICS

• Paper plain bright white
• Font Times,Arial,Courier
• Font Size 10 or 12 pt.
• Length of resume 2 PAGES MAX!

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CONTENT

• Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web
  site address
• All your contact information should go at the top
  of your resume.
• Avoid nicknames.
• Use a permanent address. Use your parents'
  address, a friend's address, or the address you
  plan to use after graduation.
• Use a permanent telephone number and include the
  area code. If you have an answering machine,
  record a neutral greeting.

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CONTENT

• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find
  it useful. (Note Choose an e-mail address that
  sounds professional.)
• Include your web site address only if the web
  page reflects your professional ambitions.

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CONTENT Objective

• An objective tells potential employers the sort
  of work you're hoping to do.
• Be specific about the job you want. For example
  To obtain an entry-level position within a
  financial institution requiring strong analytical
  and organizational skills.
• Tailor your objective to each employer you
  target/every job you seek.

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CONTENT Objective,Cont.

• While it's important for your resume to include a
  clear career goal, you don't have to convey it
  through an Objective section. The majority of job
  seekers may incorporate their career goals into a
  Qualifications Summary instead.

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CONTENT Education

• Place education before experience if you are a
  recent graduate or have less than five years of
  work experience. If you are changing careers and
  have continued your education to support your new
  goal, education should come first.
• Include applicable coursework.

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CONTENT Education

• Include certifications
• If you are a student or recent graduate, list
  your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher. Consider
  including a lower GPA if you are in a very
  challenging program. Add your major GPA if it's
  higher than your overall GPA.

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CONTENT Education

• Include academic honors to show you excelled in
  your program. For example
• Ace College -- Springfield, IllinoisBA in
  Accounting (cum laude), June 2000
• - Delta Gamma Delta Honor Society, Dean's List,
  GPA 3.9

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Qualifications Summary

• 1. Conduct Research on Your Ideal
• Job
• The more closely you can target your profile to
  the employer's needs, the better your results
  will be. Start by searching jobs for your ideal
  position. Compare the ads and write a list of
  common job requirements and preferred
  qualifications.

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Qualifications Summary

• 2. Assess Your Credentials
• Based on your research, how do you measure up?
  How would you help potential employers meet their
  goals? Besides the qualifications described, do
  you offer any added bonus? If you are lacking in
  one area, do you make up for it with other
  credentials?

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Work Experience

• Briefly give the employer an overview of work
  that has taught you skills. Use action words to
  describe your job duties. Include your work
  experience in reverse chronological orderthat
  is, put your last job first and work backward to
  your first, relevant job.

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Work Experience

• Include
• Title of position,
• Name of organization
• Location of work (town, state)
• Dates of employment
• Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis
  on specific skills and achievements.

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Other Experience

• A staff member at your career services office can
  advise you on other information to add to your
  resume. You may want to add
• Key or special skills or competencies,
• Leadership experience in volunteer organizations,
  
• Participation in sports.
• Awards

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References

• Ask people if they are willing to serve as
  references before you give their names to a
  potential employer.
• Do not include your reference information on your
  resume. You may note at the bottom of your
  resume "References furnished on request."

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How do I ask for References?

• Inform them of your goals and interests.
• Provide a copy of your transcript and job
  description.
• Follow up with a hand written thank you note.

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RECORD KEEPING

• Keep copies of the ads you responded to.
• Write when you sent/emailed/faxed your resume.

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Important Resources

• Monster.com
• jobweb.com
• Knock Em Dead, 2006, by Martin Yates
  approximate cost 15.00