RESUMES

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RESUMES
HOW TO PREPARE, PACKAGE PRESENT YOURSELF

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RESUME AGENDA

• Opinions
• Overview
• Purposes
• Does Your Resume Answer these Key Questions?
• Design Concepts
• Resumes-How Many?
• Use of Power Words
• Focus On Employer Needs
• Resume Types
• Questions You Should Ask Yourself?
• Prayer

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RESUME OPINIONS

• Everybody Has An opinion
• Feel Free to Agree or Disagree
• There are Many Ways to do Resumes
• Ask Questions and Make Comments/Suggestions

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RESUME BLUNDERS/BLOOPERS

• Nine page letter accompanied by a four page
  resume
• Finished 8th in my class of 10
• Reason for leaving last jobMaturity Leave
• Objective I would like to work for a company
  that is very lax when it comes to tardiness

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RESUME OVERVIEW

• Research shows that only one interview is granted
  for every 200 resumes received by the average
  employer.
• Last year, 25 of employers said that on average,
  they received more than 75 résumés for each open
  position 42 received more than 50 résumés.
  (Career Builder Survey)
• In addition, 38 of employers last year said
  they spent 1 to 2 minutes reviewing a new résumé
  and 17 spent less than 1 minute, (Career
  Builder Survey)

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RESUME PURPOSES

• What is the Purpose of your resume?
• Some people write a resume as if the purpose of
  the document was to land a job.
• The objective of your resume is to land an
  interview, and the interview will land you the
  job.

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RESUME PURPOSES

• Convinces the employer that you have what it
  takes to be successful in this new position.
• Prepares you for the interview.

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Does Your Resume Answer These Key Questions?

• Who are you?
• To determine how well your resume addresses this,
  have friends read it. Within 15 seconds of them
  looking at the resume, quiz them on what they
  know about you as a job seeker based on what they
  read. If they can't offer a quick answer that
  truly describes you, your resume may needs some
  work.
• What can you do for me?
• Show them how you've contributed to an employer's
  success elsewhere. These examples must be
  specific, measurable accomplishments that cite
  numbers and other details.
• Do you have the skills I'm looking for?
• Scan job ads and job descriptions to discover
  which skills are most relevant to the employers
  and recruiters receiving your resume. Then
  strategically place them throughout your resume.

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Does Your Resume Answer These Key Questions?

• Where have you worked before?
• Employers want to know where you worked, length
  of time there and which job titles you've held
  that may indicate how prepared you are for a role
  at their organization.
• Is your experience relevant to my needs?
• Sometimes it's necessary to expand upon a job
  title or description to demonstrate that you have
  experience that applies to the job you're
  seeking. Use bullets to present brief information
  that is relevant to the employer.
• Do you have the right education and credentials?
• If you have the education/credentials/training
  needed to qualify for the job, be sure to say so!
  

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Does Your Resume Answer These Key Questions?

• Are there any "red flags" in your background?
• Gaps in employment or resume errors may alert
  employers and recruiters that you are not the
  type of candidate they're looking for.
• Can Employer easily get in touch with you?
• It doesn't matter how great your resume is, if
  you don't include a phone number, address and
  e-mail address somewhere on the resume, you'll
  never hear from the employer.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Before starting to write your resume
• GET ORGANIZED!
• Gather information on your past employment
  employer names and addresses, dates of
  employment AND past performance reviews.
• Gather information for personal references names
  and addresses of co-workers, customers, vendors
  and others who can testify to your work
• Go thru past performance reviews for
  accomplishments and write them down

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Resume Length Have 2 resumes available One
  that is concise with 2 pages and one that is
  detailed with up to 5 pages
• Use white or ivory paper
• Perfumed paper, curly fonts and pretty images
  should be avoided
• A simple left-justified resume is easiest to read

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Tailor your resume- it is more common now to have
  a resume tailored for each position you are
  applying for, instead of the one size fits all
  model
• Carefully study key words in job postings
• Change your resume to use action words that help
  meet qualifications in job posting

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RESUME BLUNDERS/BLOOPERS

• I Am bi-lingual in 3 languages
• Skills-I have integrity so I will not steal
  office supplies and take them home
• Education have repeated courses repeatedly
• Reason for leaving last jobBounty hunting was
  outlawed in my state

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Expect background and reference checks
• If necessary, create a new email address solely
  for resumes and job searches
• Be concise write out everything you want to
  include, then go back and trim it
• Use easy to read fonts and a clear design

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• If possible, have someone else check your resume
  for errors.
• Save references and personal data for the
  interview.
• Avoid date of birth, weight or height
• Remove dates of graduation from college unless
  you are a recent college grad

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Avoid salaries or the reason for leaving the last
  job.
• Keep your resume current even if you are employed
  
• Prepare a cover letter to introduce your resume.
• Emphasize most recent jobs.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Stress skills, knowledge, and abilities that
  fulfill the job requirements.
• Your resume should highlight why you are
  qualified for the position you are applying for.
• The top 1/3 to 1/2 of the first page of your
  resume needs to grab the attention of the
  recruiter or hiring manager. It should highlight
  something that makes you stand out from other
  candidates. For example, top sales producer for
  the southwest region.
• Remember it is okay to include experience from
  unpaid positions if it demonstrates that you have
  one or more of the qualifications for a job.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Focus on accomplishments/results, not
  responsibilities. If you do include
  responsibilities it should be no more than one
  line and brief.
• Include specific information, whenever possible,
  for the accomplishments on your resume. For
  example its better to say improved quality by
  10 which saved 5 per unit versus saying
  improved quality.
• Do spell check on your resume to check for
  misspelled words. Remember Spell check will
  not catch when youve used the wrong word, for
  example Lead versus Led.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Header for resume should include name, address,
  e-mail address and phone number's. If you have a
  LinkedIn profile you may want to include the link
  to your profile
• Avoid using the same leading verb for the first
  several bullets on your resume. Look at the first
  10 bullets on your resume and see how many have
  the same first word and make changes, as
  appropriate.
• A two page resume needs to include a header with
  your name and your e-mail or phone number and the
  number 2 (header or footer) this lets the
  reader know the second page belongs to your
  resume and if the pages get separated then the
  person can contact you to get page one.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Ask someone in your field/industry to review your
  resume for terms that may be dated, especially in
  IT related positions.
• Use Microsoft (MS) Word 2003 unless the job
  posting directs you otherwise. Some people
  cannot read a document in MS Word 2007 if they
  have an older version of Word.
• Use a basic font such as Times New Roman or
  Arial, between 10 12 pt. Review to see if it
  looks crowded ideally you should maintain 1
  margin on all sides of your resume.
• Send your resume to yourself via e-mail so you
  can see what it looks like when it arrives by
  e-mail.

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DESIGN CONCEPTS

• Spell out non-industry standard acronyms the
  first time they are used in your resume. The
  acronym used in your resume may mean something
  else in another company.
• Include 10-15 years of employment history on your
  resume. A more experienced worker can opt to
  list a section called Other Experience listing
  the company name (s) and job titles but not
  specific dates.
• Months are important when listing employment
  history on your resume.

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RESUME BLUNDERS/BLOOPERS

• Failed bar exam with relatively high grades
• Its best for employers that I not work with
  people
• I have an excellent track record, although I am
  not a horse
• Career I have worked with restraints for the
  past 2 years

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RESUMES HOW MANY?

• One Resume for Each Employer?
• One of the most common mistakes that people make
  is to create a standard resume and send it to all
  the job openings that they can find.
• Tailor your resume for each employer.
• Same point applies to your cover letters.

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USE POWER WORDS

• POWER
• WORDS

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Use Power Words and Create Content that Sells

• The content of your resume and the
  descriptions you include of your skills and
  abilities can determine how many interviews you
  generate. Compare the before and after statements
  shown below
• BeforeGave work assignments to staff of entry
  level accounting clerks.
• AfterDirected workflow, supervised and trained
  accounting staff performing posting to general
  ledger, accounts receivable and payable accounts.

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FOCUS ON NEEDS

• FOCUS ON THE EMPLOYER'S NEEDS, NOT YOURS  
• Imagine that you are the person doing the hiring.
  
• This person cares how well the job will be done.
  You need to write your resume to appeal directly
  to them.
• Ask yourself
• What would make someone the perfect candidate?
• What does the employer really want?
• What special abilities would this person have?
• What would set a truly exceptional candidate
  apart from a merely good one?

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RESUME TYPES

• Chronological
• Functional/Skills
• Scannable

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Resume Types

• Chronological (when continuing in the same career
  path)
• List work experience in reverse chronological
  order, listing the most recent experience first
• List accomplishments under each employer
• Functional (when changing careers or entering the
  job market after an absence)
• List accomplishments expertise in functional
  categories (marketing, sales, management,
  operations, communications, etc.) in 1st section
• List work experience (co. names, job titles,
  dates) consecutively in next section

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RESUME TYPES-CHRONOLOGICAL

• CHRONOLOGICAL (Most traditional structure- 95
  of resumes submitted)
• Primarily used when you are staying in the same
  profession, in the same type of work.
• Lists each job you've had in reverse sequential
  order
• Start with your most recent job.
• Easier to understand what you did in each job.
  May help the name of the employer stand out more.
  

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RESUME TYPES - CHRONOLOGICAL

• Advantages
• Makes it easier to understand what you did in
  what job. May help the name of the employer stand
  out more, if this is impressive.
• Best for Career Continuation
• Easy to Track Career Progress
• Disadvantage
• is that it is much more difficult to highlight
  what you do best. This format is less appropriate
  for someone making a career change.
• May Bury Best Achievements
• Most Recent Employment May Not be Best Lead

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RESUME TYPES - CHRONOLOGICAL
Chronological FORMAT

• Objective 1 line to describe objective
• Company Name, Location, Duration 1 Line
• Company By-Line (Scope, Size, Status, Success)
  1 Line
• Position / Title, Location, Duration 1 Line
• Position By-Line (Responsibilities 1 or 2
  Line(s)
• Position By-Line-Accomplishments List the ones
  that line up the best with job posting
  requirements (3-5 that apply)
• Education leave off dates unless recent grad
• References provided upon request

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RESUME CONTENT

• THE OBJECTIVE
• HOW TO WRITE YOUR OBJECTIVE. First, decide on a
  specific job title. Go back to your list of
  answers to the question "How can I demonstrate
  that I am the perfect candidate?" What are the
  two or three qualities, abilities or achievements
  that would make you stand out as truly
  exceptional for that specific job?
• EXAMPLE OBJECTIVE - a software sales position in
  an organization seeking an extraordinary record
  of generating new accounts, exceeding sales
  targets and enthusiastic customer relations.

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Examples of Separate Objective sections

• Vice president of marketing in an organization
  where a strong track record of expanding market
  share and internet savvy is needed.
• Senior staff position with a bank that offers the
  opportunity to use my expertise in commercial
  real estate lending and strategic management.
• An entry-level position in the hospitality
  industry where a background in advertising and
  public relations would be needed.
• A position teaching English as a second language
  where a special ability to motivate and
  communicate effectively with students would be
  needed.

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Make Your Accomplishments Stand Out

• Many job seekers list their job duties on
  their résumés, but not their accomplishments.
  Employers care about your ability to produce
  results. Quantify your accomplishments
• A job responsibility is something that you do on
  a daily basis.
• A quantified achievement is the result of that
  responsibility. By quantifying results, you show
  employers what you can actually do for them.
• Numbers are your friends here. Dont merely
  mention that you increased the annual revenues of
  your division, say that you increased them by
  100,000, by 78, and so on.

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RESUME BLUNDERS/BLOOPERS

• Personal Interests donating blood -14 gallons
  so far
• Skills I can type without looking atthekeyboard
• Experience Chapter President 1887-1992
• Application How large was the dept. that you
  worked in with your last employer? Answer - 3
  stories.

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RESUME TYPES - FUNCTIONAL

• FUNCTIONAL
• Highlights your major skills and accomplishments
  from the very beginning.
• Helps the reader see clearly what you can do for
  them, rather than having to read through the job
  descriptions
• Targets the resume into a new direction or field,
  by lifting up from all past jobs the key skills
  and qualifications to help prove you will be
  successful in this new direction or field.
• Company names and positions are in a subordinate
  position, with no description under each.
• Good for career changers, but is very appropriate
  for generalists, for those with divergent
  careers, a wide range of skills in their given
  profession and for those who want to make shifts
  in their career direction.

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Resume Types - FUNCTIONAL

• Advantage
• Most helpful in reaching for a new goal or
  direction.
• Strengths
• Best for Career Change
• Easy to Match to Job Specs
• Disadvantage
• Hard for the employer to know exactly what you
  did in which job, which may be a problem for some
  conservative interviewers.
• Shortcomings
• Hard to Track Career Progress
• Most Stress Functional Skills over Achievements

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RESUME TYPES - SCANNABLE - Scanning By Keywords

• What is Resume Scanning? (or Online,
  Automated, or Keyword Application) Answer
• A process where employers convert hardcopy
  resumes into electronic resumes. Instead of a
  human reading the resume, the resume is first
  input into the companys database via a scanner
  that searches for keywords.
• Not sure if the job you are applying for scans
  resumes?  Call the Human Resources department and
  ask.  As the job of HR is to find candidates,
  they will welcome the question and outline the
  process that their company employs for resume
  screening.

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RESUME TYPES - Scanning By Keywords

• Prepare resume on white paper
• Do not bold, italicize underline info
• Use a size 12 simple font
• Do not use hollow bullets
• Do not use symbols such as the sign
• Print only on 1 side of the paper
• Use keywords and phrases that are commonly used
  in your career
• Do not fold the resume. Mail the resume in a
  large envelope with extra postage

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RESUME BLUNDERS/BLOOPERS

• Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a
  Midwest Chain Store
• Able to say the ABCs backward in under 5 seconds
• Planned a new corporate facility at 3 million
  over budget

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Questions You Should Ask Yourself as You Write
Your Resume

• What key qualifications will the employer be
  seeking?
• What qualifications (that you possess) will be
  most important to them?
• Which of these are your greatest strengths?
• What are the highlights of your career to date
  that should be emphasized?
• What things about you and your background make
  you stand out?
• What are your strongest areas of skill and
  expertise? Knowledge? Experience?
• What are characteristics you possess that make
  you a strong candidate? What are the three or
  four things you feel have been your greatest
  accomplishments?
• What was produced as a result of your greatest
  accomplishments?
• Can you quantify the results you produced in
  numerical or other specific terms?
• What were the two or three accomplishments of
  that particular job?
• What were the key skills you used in that job?
  What did you do in each of those skill areas?

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KEY TO A GOOD RESUME

• ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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PRAYER

• P Prayer
• R Responsibilities
• A Accomplishments
• Y You
• E Employment
• R Relentless

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