The Online Profile and Resume Builder

Transcription

1 The Online Profile and Resume Builder The Basics KNOW THYSELF Purpose of a Resume To get the interview Communicate your accomplishments and value relevant to the specific opportunity Serve as a marketing tool Purpose of Online Profiles To connect and network with other professionals Communicate your accomplishments, talents, and character Serve as a marketing tool Knowing who you are is the first step in building a successful personal profile and resume for the job market. Before you start it is important that you know what skills, interests, talents, ethics, and professional values make you unique. See the PROFILE BUILDER exercise in this guide as a reflection tool. ONLINE VERSUS A DOCUMENT Once you have reflected upon and documented descriptive words and phrases use the appropriate pronouns for the method you are using to communicate. As a rule, use the informal first person pronoun for online profiles (I, me, my), and third person, (sometimes incomplete sentences) for your resume. FEEDBACK After applying what you learn from this guide send your resume draft to for feedback before you upload to an online profile or send it to an employer. It is always best practice to have someone review your resume and profile before placing it in front of potential employers. Use the checklist at the end of this guide to review your final draft.

2 Resumes Resume Format Choose a template either in your major or a general template in folders at Explore other online resources listed below. Choose one that is a traditional or classic version. Have one "go to" resume and customize it for a specific job, internship, or graduate program application Keep it concise The "one page only" rule about resumes is a myth. The purpose of a resume is to show accomplishment and value relevant to the opportunity. A 1 ½ - 2 page resume that does it well is acceptable as long as you stay clear of narrative style and be concise. Creative, artistic elements Your photo or other artistic elements are appropriate when it is relevant to the career cluster, position or industry. As a general rule, a resume if free of these elements and directs the reader to your online profile such as LinkedIn or ctxcareerconnections.org where they will find creative elements like your photo and e-portfolio. Font Name font should be 1-2 points larger than the remainder of the document. Use point black font of the same style like Arial or Times New Roman. Visually organized Bold headers, bullets and indentations visually organize the information. Stay away from text boxes or other segmented styles as they will confuse online application systems and distract the reader.

3 Top 1/3rd Profile and Skills Sections Write the top 1/3 of your resume after doing the PROFILE BUILDER exercise below. This is where you capture the attention of the reader. Make it count. Summarize what distinguishes you in 4-5 sentences and 3-4 bullet skills statements. Pack this section with power words that describe you and highlight your qualifications, skills, and characteristics relevant to the opportunity. See list of power word examples in this guide. Use the PROFILE BUILDER below to create a narrative of your story to use when building your profile and skills statements. The exercise will also help prepare you to talk about yourself in an interview by helping you reflect on your skills and stories that show proof of how you demonstrate those characteristics in your life. The Profile Builder Do this Profile Builder on a separate document as an exercise on how to talk about yourself. You can use what you discover during this exercise for the top 1/3 rd of your resume, online profile, and in an interview. 1. IDENTIFY: Identify 10 skills or strengths in a word or short phrase. 2. DEFINE: Define each skill or strength. What does it mean to you? 3. DEMONSTRATE: Describe how you demonstrate this skill or strength in your life, work, home, family, or school. What does this looks like in your life. What behaviors are visible to others as you live out this strength or skill?

4 Education and Certification List highest degree first and only include: o Degrees completed o Degrees in progress o Certifications received GPA is optional and only include if it is 3.5 or higher. List internships and/or relevant courses in this section as an option. For internships, include the name of the organization, the internship position title, and the semester you worked in the position. (Note: Details about accomplishments during an internship should be included in the experience section.) Place the education section before experience if you have less than 1-2 years of solid professional work experience. Otherwise, the education section goes after experience. Experience Start each bullet statement with a past tense action word. Focus on results and achievements not the job description. Include internships, volunteer roles, significant leadership roles or projects if they are relevant to the opportunity. List your experience in reverse chronological order, by organization name, including locations, beginning and ending month/year, job titles, and roles/achievements.

5 Accomplishment Statements A strong, action- and results-based resume is one primarily composed of statements like, Took over management of [situation] and achieved 10% customer retention improvement, $2 million in new sales volume, and 11% profit improvement through the following initiatives [how you did it briefly]. Use metrics to back up accomplishments. Bullet statements should start with a past tense verb and be supported by evidence, particularly quantitative evidence. Separate "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience" for roles that are important but not as relevant to the opportunity. Each bullet statement should include the following 4 elements: SPECIFICS Who, what, where, and how? Include as much detail as possible about the accomplishment. What kind of report? Who was involved? What system was used? Who was the audience? METRICS Quantify the work by answering how many, how much increase in numbers or percentages. How many were in the training? How many reports? What size was the space? How many were on the team? TIME daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually are common ways to include time-orientation. If it was a one-time accomplishment include the date it was carried out. RESULTS ask yourself, What resulted in my work/involvement? Include this as the last bullet statement or in each bullet statement if it makes sense to include it. Accomplishment Statement Examples Statement before Clarifying questions Statement after Conducted phone interviews. How many interviews? With whom? For what purpose? Was there an indicator of success or a goal to reach? Conducted phone interviews daily with candidates for positions in marketing, finance, and accounting. Filled 17 positions and reduced time-tofill by 30% over 6 months. Tutored students. How many students? For what subjects? How often? What age or grade level? Redesigned company website For what purpose? How long did it take to complete the project? What was the size of the website What was the measurement of success? Interacted with customers. How many? How often? For what purpose? In what kind of setting? What was the measurement of successful interactions? Tutored 10 college age students weekly in Statistics resulting in an increase of one letter grade for each student during the fall 2014 semester. Redesigned a 50 page website in 3 months to incorporate 6 new product lines and a new logo, resulting in a 25% increase in visitors and 15% increase in sales. Interacted with customers daily by phone to help trouble-shoot issues with HP, Cannon, and Lennox printers. Maintained a monthly resolution score of 95%.

6 Community Involvement /Volunteerism Reflect on your hobbies or interests that provide insight into your values. Include the role under the experience section with accomplishment statements if it is not a paying job, but is significant and relevant to the opportunity. Mention any leadership roles you hold or have held, serving on campus or leading a community event or organization. Title this section after you decide what to include. Some examples are: Other Activities Community Involvement Campus Activities Volunteerism

7 Online Profiles CTXCareerconnection.org The university hosts a unique site specifically for CTX students and the employers who want to hire them. On the site you can: Find jobs and internships Create a virtual profile and e-portfolio Take the interest and skills inventory Post a resume and video resume Research career paths on the video wall Explore career events on the community calendar Discover resume resources Log on to and create your account. Use your CTX and create a unique password. 1. Complete and update the sections of the profile as you develop knowledge of your skills, talents, values, and experience using information from your PROFILE BUILDER exercise and your final resume. 2. Remember, transfer third person accomplishment statements to first person (I, me, my) and use more casual language. 3. Upload your final resume to your portfolio in PDF format after receiving feedback from career services or your faculty advisor. 4. Continue to update your resume and e-portfolio with new experiences and significant portfolio worthy projects such as team papers, presentations, video, or other projects. 5. Create and upload a video resume. Wear a clean, button down shirt our blouse and ask a friend to video you answering the following questions: Video Resume 1. What is your name, college name, and major? 2. What is your favorite class or subject at Concordia and why? 3. What are your career goals when you graduate from Concordia? 4. What would be the ideal job title or role for your first full-time position out of college? 5. What would classmates, professors, or former employers say about you that makes you unique? 6. How can an employer get in touch with you?

8 LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional networking site where you will transfer your portfolio from ctxcareerconnection.org once your student site is developed. LinkedIn will open up a world of possibilities for your career by connecting you with like-minded professionals and opportunities that fit your career aspirations. Before building your LinkedIn profile account visit the LinkedIn student resources at Review the Profile Checklist and Building a Great Student Profile. Contact a career services advisor or faculty advisor for help transferring your student e-portfolio to LinkedIn.

9 Profile Builder Power Words We identify with words and phrases that best describe us. Use the chart below to help you to write the profile and skills statements of your resume. Accurate Counseling Friendly Navigating Conscientious Sense of humor Action oriented Courageous Funny Negotiating Considerate Sensitive Activating Courteous Gathering information Objective Consistent Serious Active Creative Generating ideas Observant Constructive Simplifying Adaptable Credible Generous Open Controlling Sincere Administering Critical thinking Giving feedback Open minded Cooperative Skillful Adventurous Cultured Gratitude Optimistic Coordinating Social intelligence Advising Curious Guiding Orderly Fearless Social skills Aggressive Data input Handling Organized Finalizing Sophisticated Agreeable decisive Hardworking Originality Finding Spontaneous Alert Dedicated Harmonious Outgoing Flexible Steadfast Ambitious dependable Helpful Overhauling Focused Stimulating Amiable detailed Honest Overseeing Forceful Straightforward Analytical Determined Hope Patient Formulating Strategic thinking Appreciative Developing people Humorous People skills Marketing Strategizing Approachable Devoted Idealistic Perceptive Meeting people Successful Arranging Diligent Imaginative Perseverance Mentoring Succinct Articulate Diplomatic Impartial Persistent Methodical Supervising Artistic Directing Implementing Personable Meticulous Systematic Assertive Disciplined Independent Persuading Monitoring Tactful Athletic Discovering Industrious Persuasive Motivated Talented Attentive Discreet Influencing Planning Resourceful Talkative Autonomous dynamic Ingenuity Positive Respectful Teaching Balancing Eager Initiating Practical Responsible Team oriented Boundless Easygoing Innovative Precise Reviewing Team-work Brave Economical Inquisitive Preparing Scheduling Technological Briefing Editing Insightful Presenting Self-assured Thinking creatively Budgeting Efficient Inspiring Prioritizing Self-controlled Thoughtful Building teams Eloquent Instinctive Problem solving Will relocate Resolving Calm Empathetic Instructing Procedural Will travel Tolerant Capable Empowering Integrity Productive Willpower Tracking details Careful Encouraging Intelligent Proofreading Wisdom Training Caring Energetic Intuitive Prudence Writing Trouble-shooting Charismatic Enterprising Kind Punctual Competitive Trustworthy Charming Entertaining Knowledgeable Qualifying Compiling Unbiased Checking Enthusiastic Launching Questioning Confident Understanding Cheerful Evaluating Leadership Realistic Fair Uniting Citizenship Examining Leading Receptive Faithful Updating Clever Excellent Learning Recording Resolute Upgrading Coaching Excited Listening Reflective Love of learning Verbalizing Communicative Explaining Lively Relaxed Loyal Versatile Compassionate Extroverted Locating Reliable Managing Vigorous Competent Exuberant Logical Reporting Researching Visionary

10 Resume Action Words Use the list below to help you start accomplishment statements under the experience section of your resume. Start each statement with a past tense action word. Complete the statement by including the specific, metrics, time, and results. Absorbed Composed Expanded Justified Publicized Selected Accelerated Computed Experimented Lectured Purchased Simplified Achieved Conducted Explained Listed Qualified Skilled Adapted Consolidated Financed Logged Quantified Solved Addressed Constructed Financed Maintained Quoted Sorted Administered Consulted Forecasted Managed Reacted Streamlined Advanced Coordinated Formulated Marketed Received Strengthened Advised Counseled Formulated Measured Recommended Studied Analyzed Created Fulfilled Mediated Reconciled Summarized Announced Critiqued Gathered Mentored Recorded Supervised Appraised Defined Generated Modeled Recovered Supplied Arranged Delegated Granted Monitored Recruited Supported Assembled Demonstrated Grossed Motivated Reduced Surveyed Assessed Designed Guided Multiplied Referred Sustained Assigned Detected Handled Negotiated Refine Taught Assisted Determined Helped Observed Refined Tested Attained Developed Hosted Obtained Rehabilitated Trained Attracted Devised Hypothesized Operated Reinstated Transcribed Audited Diagnosed Identified Ordered Rejected Translated Balanced Directed Illustrated Organized Repaired Traveled Bargained Discovered Implemented Oversaw Reported Triumphed Beneficial Displayed Improved Performed Represented Troubleshot Benefited Earned Increased Persuaded Researched Tutored Bolstered Edited Influenced Photographed Resolved Tutored Boosted Efficient Initiated Planned Responded Uncovered Budgeted Eliminated Innovated Prepared Restored Unified Calculated Enforced Inspected Presented Retained United Classified Enhanced Installed Printed Retrieved Updated Closed Enriched Instituted Processed Revamp Upgraded Coached Established Instructed Produced Reviewed Utilized Collaborated Estimated Integrated Programmed Saved Validated Collected Evaluated Interpreted Projected Scheduled Viewed Communicated Examined Interviewed Promoted Screened Witnessed Compiled Exceeded Invented Proofread Secured Worldwide Comply Excelled Investigated Provided Segmented Wrote

11 Online Profile and Resume Checklist Use this checklist as you complete the final drafts of your online profiles and resume. Remember, always ask someone to review and edit your profile and resume before sending it to employers or posting it online. Are your resume and online profile marketing tools that sell you? Or, are they a list of jobs and education? Does your resume and online profile tell the story of you as an interesting person? Are you using third person in your resume and first person in your online profiles? Does the top 1/3 of your resume include profile and skills statements that provide a summary of your character, interests, and experiences and communicate what s in it for the employer? Do you use bold headlines, bullets and indentations to tell the story of your education and experience? Are you merchandising your associations? Do you include affiliations that are relevant? Do you lead with the Education or Experience section on your resume? Why? Are you selling the most important aspects of your work experience? Are you framing experience statements as accomplishments using the specifics, metrics, time and results model? Are there more past jobs you could include on you resume if presented the right way that is relevant to the opportunity? Are you putting yourself in a mindset of an employer reading your resume or online profile? One page resume or two? Why? Do you include your GPA, academic honors, courses taken, and internships? Are you presenting any of your coursework, leadership experiences, internships or extra-curricular activities as experience? Are you selling the most important aspects of your extra-curricular activities? Are you using action verbs? Are you being specific enough with your accomplishment statements? Are you using metrics and results where it makes sense?