Matt Vaartstra and Cynthia Mika

Transcription

1 Matt Vaartstra and Cynthia Mika

2 -Resumes -Purpose -Header -Objective -Education -Experience -Skills -Community Service -Other Topics to Include -Topics NOT to Include -Cover Letters -Purpose -Samples -Pitfalls -What s Next

3 Career Center Vandal CareerConnection (VCC) Home Events Employers Vault Companies Industry Internships Industry Research Engineering Career Advice Engineering Careers Electrical Engineering Resume

4 -Foot-in-the-door paperwork -If you get the interview, your resume is doing its job -It s YOUR resume, don t use a template, make it personal -Be professional and honest -Include what you want to say, and your best experiences

5 Breaking Down the Résumé -The Header Name should be the biggest text on the page Be sure to include all pertinent contact information There are many different formats Be sure to include your header at the top of each page of your résumé W. LEE SOLUM 1105 West A Street Moscow, ID (208) wleesolum@v.uidaho.edu OBJECTIVE: Summer 2010 internship at an electrical engineering company. EDUCATION: B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow ID Expected Graduation: Fall 2012 Earned 100% of college expenses through full-time employment RELEVANT COURSES: Electrical Circuits I, II and Labs Digital Logic Engineering Statics Engineering Physics I, II CAPABILITIES: * Interpret graphs and circuit models * Test and run circuit models * Communicate well with non-engineers * Create web pages * Operate UNIX and DOS * Operate P-Spice * Write programs in C++ * Implement AutoCAD designs * Perform electrical grid analysis * Edit material and data ACHIEVEMENTS: * Awarded the North Idaho Science Scholarship and other University of Idaho scholarships * Awarded scholarship from Twin Lakes Village Golf Course for achievement and academics * Volunteered over 100 hours for the City of Coeur d Alene, ID PROJECTS: Time Management in the Workplace (Sophomore Seminar, ECE 292) ~ Researched and analyzed better ways to manage time in the workplace ~ Worked with a team of 4 individuals ~ Presented process and findings to class using PowerPoint WORK HISTORY: Twin Lakes Village Golf Course, Rathdrum ID. Teaching Assistant and Golf Instructor, 2008-Present Coordinate and plan golf tournaments Assistant to the Professional, Oversaw and implemented range crew and cart crew Golf Shop Assistant,

6 Breaking Down the Résumé -The Objective Purpose is to let the reader know why they are reading the resume Be specific, use the position title (if known) and the company name Keep it simple

7 Breaking Down the Résumé -Education EDUCATION Your Degree, Major; Minor, (Field of Study) University of Idaho, Moscow, ID Expected (Graduation Date): Month, Year GPA: Cumulative (include if above 3.0)/Major (if higher) Honors and Awards: List academic honors and awards for college Course Highlights: [List 4-6 relevant courses to the position you are seeking and most advanced first. If you are currently taking a course but will complete it before the internship/job begins, indicate the semester and year after course name, e.g., Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2009)] Projects (optional) Name of Project, Class name Describe YOUR accomplishments, direct and transferable skills gained or exhibited during your lab, design, team or research project(s). Start with what is important, your degree Then University and City, State Graduation date GPA: To include or not to include? Honors and Awards, if applicable Course Highlights: Three Column, Job Specific Projects, if applicable

8 Breaking Down the Résumé -Experience EXPERIENCE (reverse chronological order; can be paid, unpaid, part-time, seasonal or full-time) Your Title, Organization, City, State month/year month/year Start each phrase with an action verb to briefly describe your accomplishments. Focus on unique tasks within the project. Emphasize direct and transferable skills. If you have space, you can use bulleted phrases to add clarity. It is not important to list every job you have ever had. Lots of options for how to phrase your heading Start with your title Then the Company and City, State Inclusive Dates Reverse Chronological Accomplishment/skill/ ability statements Start with an action verb Follow up with specifics to back up your statement If your experience is not relevant to the position you are applying for, focus on transferable skills

9 Breaking Down the Résumé -Skills SKILLS (list relevant skills in order of importance to the employer) Computer: Proficient in ; knowledgeable in ; familiar with. Language: Fluent in ; conversant in ; familiar in. Certifications: Current in (technical, medical, or programmatic training) Purpose to highlight skills of particular importance that may not have been included under an experience entry Utilize sorting by proficiency and knowledgeability to include the best information Computer skills are a broad range of abilities, but they are applicable to almost any job setting Language skills are a big way to differentiate yourself from other applicants Certifications can be from CPR and First Aid to a technical certification

10 Breaking Down the Résumé -Activities/Community Service ACTIVITIES/COMMUNITY SERVICE (reverse chronological order; may add INTERESTS) List related activities to the position. The list may be in paragraph form or similar to your experiences with title, organization, city, state and dates. Leadership in a student professional organization is important. Some employers like to see well-rounded individuals, while others only want to know about activities and interests related to the field; talk to someone in your field to gain valuable pertinent resume advice. Purpose: show employers you have been active in the community and/or show meaningful activities Structure it similarly to your experiences in format Statements usually are not needed, but if the experience was relevant or you gained a great skill, use a statement to explain that

11 Other Topics to Include in Your Résumé Professional and Student Organizations Licenses and Accreditations Other Honors, Awards, and Achievements Leadership Publications Research Other topics vary depending on your field and the purpose of the résumé

12 Topics NOT to Include in Your Résumé Height, Weight, Age, Gender Marital Status, Number of Children Photograph Reason for Leaving a Job References (Put in separate document) Salary Early Childhood/upbringing Weaknesses, demands, exaggerations Long paragraphs (use bullets or statements) Hobbies (unless job related) Religion Ethnicity

13 1. Show writing ability 2. Demonstrate specific interest in the organization and position 3. Allow for greater personalization

14 Cover Letter Pitfalls: No Personalization Do your research and tailor your letter to the position and the organization. Based on the project descriptions, it is clear that my skills and experience would be a valuable contribution to your program. Both the University Residences and Commons projects, for example, will require a complete analysis of student, faculty, and staff needs. I am very interested in an internship position with your agency. I was impressed with your recent campaign for Nike, and I would enjoy the opportunity to work in such an innovative environment.

15 Cover Letter Pitfalls: Generic Statements Avoid vague clichés: I am a hard worker and a good team player. I have excellent problem-solving skills. Use specific details and examples: One project in particular demonstrates my teamwork skills. Last year, I participated in a robotics design competition with four other students. My strong background in accounting would be a valuable addition to your team. As an office assistant for ABC Rentals and Sales, I was responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and quarterly reports. I have also completed several upperdivision accounting courses.

16 Cover Letter Pitfalls: No Action Plan DON T wait for the employer to take the next step: DO be proactive and suggest a plan of action: Thank you for reading the enclosed application materials. I look forward to hearing from you about the opportunities available at New Broadhill. Thank you for reading this letter and my resume. I shall call you the week of February 7 to discuss opportunities at New Broadhill and the possibility of an interview.

17 Next Step Call the Career Center to schedule your resume and cover letter review:

18 We help students with all aspects of the job and internship search process, as well as serve as a resource for service-learning and other experiential education opportunities. Commons careercenter@uidaho.edu