Resumes

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Resumes

• Career Network Center
• Metropolitan Community College

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What is a resume?

• A tool that is used to present an individuals
  skills and qualifications to a potential
  employer.
• Purpose to function as a selling device
• experience, education, and skills
• you get to choose what to highlight

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A resume is

• Your resume should be an honest presentation of
  your best.

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Employers Use Resumes to

• Screen applicants and determine who to interview
• Develop interview questions
• Judge your communication skills
• Remind them of your qualifications

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Resume Information

• What is included in a resume?
• Academic background
• All employment, including seasonal jobs
• Internships
• Volunteer work

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Resumes must be skill based and clearly target
your objectives and the needs of the employer.

• Resume

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ELEMENTS OF A RESUME

• Resume

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Heading

• Most frequently centered on top of page
• Name
• Address
• City, State zip code
• Phone
• e-mail

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Heading Tips

• Your e-mail address should be conservative
• Your answering machine message should clearly
  identify your identity

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Objective (optional)

• Tells the employer what position you are
  interested in (brief)
• Stay employer focused
• May be included in cover letter instead
• Example
• To obtain a position in financial services .

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Summary of Qualifications

• Describes your skills and experiences in relation
  to your career interest
• Highlights your most important assets
• Example
• Researched and wrote detailed reports in city
  government position
• Addressed student concerns as elected Student
  Assembly representative

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Education

• List all education and special training related
  to the position (if you have college degree, may
  not be necessary to put high school)
• If you havent earned a degree, tell how many
  credit hours you earned
• If your education is greater than achievement
  then it is listed first

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Education

• Education example
• Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Nebraska
• Associates in Applied Science Degree Networking
  Technology (August 2001) GPA 3.15

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Work Experience

• Start with most recent
• Position/Job Title
• Company, Location, Dates
• Use Action verbs Supervised or Developed
• Keep statements brief
• Focus on accomplishments and skills

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Work Experience example

• CGI, Inc., Fremont, Nebraska
• Product Manager (May 1999 present)
• Managed product launch of the new networking
  software product.
• Directed all marketing activities, including
  direct mail campaign, trade show demonstrations,
  advertising, and channel marketing programs.
• Increased sales by 25 within six months of
  launch.

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Special Skills

• List computer languages and programs, knowledge
  of foreign languages, laboratory and research
  skills, analytical skills, and management skills
  not listed elsewhere

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References

• Always done on a separate sheet
• Not necessary to state References available on
  request

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Resume Tips

• Write your own
• Make it error free
• Make it look good - Visual impact
• Be brief and relevant - keep it focused
• Be honest
• Be positive
• Be specific

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Types of Resumes

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
• Targeted

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Functional Resume

• Focuses on skills, knowledge, talents,
  accomplishments
• Takes focus away from many or frequent job changes

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Chronological Resume

• Focuses on work and education experience
• Titles and organizations are emphasized
• Focuses on Steady work background and stability

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Combination Resume

• Gives equal focus to the skills that relate to
  the position you are seeking and your work history

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Targeted Resume

• Includes a grocery list of the skills,
  responsibilities, and experience you have that
  relates to the job you are seeking

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Resume Presentation

• Quality Paper - off-white, cream, gray
• Paper Weight - 16-25 lbs, 100 cotton fiber
• Producing - Word processor
• Printing - laser is preferred

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Tips for Using Your Resume

• Send to a person by name
• Always send with a cover letter
• Mass mailing is NOT effective
• Look for ways to target your resume
• Find out if your resume will be scanned
• Follow up sending your resume with a phone call

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Tips

• When directly contacting employers, always have a
  copy of your resume available
• Attach your resume to employment applications,
  however do NOT say see resume on application.
• Give a copy of your resume to your references and
  networking contacts
• Bring copies of resume to interviews