Writing Your Résumé. Your life on one page, as it relates to what you want to do

Transcription

1 Writing Your Résumé Your life on one page, as it relates to what you want to do Generally, employers will spend less than 30 seconds looking at your résumé. The following tips should help your résumé rise to the top. Keep it short concise to the point. The preferred length is one page. Don t use personal pronouns and only include information that is relevant to the employer s needs. Be focused. Employers do not want to make career decisions for you. Describe your achievements and responsibilities rather than merely listing your duties. Use action words to describe work experiences instead of My duties included.... The overall appearance is very important. Follow a consistent resume layout. Print your résumé on quality bond paper (white, off white or beige colors) produced by a high-quality laser printer. Always include a cover letter. Proofread Proofread Proofread! Then have someone else proofread for you. As you prepare your résumé, keep these three areas in mind. CONTEXT your résumé will be used in a variety of contexts (posting on job boards, ing to recruiters, etc.) so consider this before writing objectives and formatting it. CONTENT information you choose to include on your resume. Eventually you will need to make decisions about what you will include and what you will eliminate but not right away. Begin by making a list of everything you have done. List jobs, school activities, sports, awards and honors, hobbies, artistic talent, international experiences, foreign language proficiency, special skills, volunteer activities - in short, any and every skill, interest, or achievement that might be of interest to an employer. Make a list of all your paid and unpaid experiences. Work in reverse chronological order begin at the present and work backwards. Add brief descriptions of what you did and identify the key skills you want to convey. Add dates beginning and ending. Make a list of any post-high school institutions you ve attended. Add the type of degree/diploma received and when. Are there any courses you took that would be of particular interest to an employer? Did you receive any special honors or awards (e.g., dean s list, scholarships)? Decide what information is relevant to the job or career field you ve chosen keeping in my mind the ideal resume will be one page long. You may need to eliminate some information. FORMAT the way in which you choose to arrange your information on the page. Once you ve decided what you will include and what can be eliminated, it s time to determine the best way to lay it out on paper to catch the employer s attention. Consider: Listing that section first that will have the greatest impact on the reader, the most strategic order in which to list your skills and incorporating white space so that an employer can easily scan your resume. Resume Guide Craven Community College 1

2 Chronological: lists information in reverse date order, beginning with your education (most preferred style). Functional: showcases skills, rather than work history (good if you have limited experience, sporadic work history, or are a career changer). Résumé Content The following are topic areas often included in résumés. These are typical headings, but not the only ones you can include. Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, and address. Do not use a silly address like BeachBaby23@gmail.com instead create a new professional address just for your job search. On the same note, make sure that your voice mail message is also professional. Objective: A concise, focused statement about the field or position you are seeking. If you can t be brief and specific or want to use your résumé for a variety of positions, leave the objective off and state it in your cover letter instead. Education: List the school where you received your degree -- name of college, city and state. Always spell out the name of the school, do not abbreviate it. Indicate your degree, major/concentration, and date of graduation (month and year). A 3.0 or higher GPA always goes on the résumé. Relevant course work can be included if you think it will add to your qualifications and may not be inferred from your major. Relevant Experience: Include any relevant work or internship experience before any other experience you have. Experience: List all paid and non-paid experiences in reverse chronological order. Include position, title, name and location of company/organization and dates employed. Emphasize skills acquired and accomplishments. Describe your experience as it relates to the position or field of interest. Use power verbs, action adverbs and qualifying adjectives. Quantify when possible (i.e., supervised a committee of 10, increased donations by 15%, handled up to $15,000 daily, etc.). Use present tense for current experiences and past tense for all others. Skills: List computer skills, language abilities or additional relevant skills. Volunteer Experience: Include any volunteer experiences in which you have been involved. Activities: Indicate activities, interests, awards and memberships both in and out of school. References Available Upon Request: Make sure that each of your three or four references has agreed in advance to write reference letters or answer phone calls concerning your candidacy. Professional references from work or college tend to carry more weight than personal character references. List your references names, job titles, addresses and phone numbers on a separate References page. Power/Action Verbs for Resumes The most difficult part of resume writing is describing your experiences. You know, the stuff that explains what you did at each of your jobs. The best approach is to begin each job description with a Power Verb. They stress results and impact, which are what employers care about. You can even string power verbs together. For example, "Designed, developed and implemented..." or "Established, cultivated and maintained..." Check out the power verbs listed below. Resume Guide Craven Community College 2

3 Management Skill Verbs: Allocated, Determined, Directed, Elected, Enlisted, Formed, Founded, Governed, Hired, Initiated, Inspired, Instituted, Led, Managed, Moderated, Motivated, Operated, Oversaw, Pioneered, Presided, Produced, Recruited, Represented, Selected, Spearheaded, Sponsored, Staged, Started, Supervised, Trained Determined club policy regarding administration of new members. Enlisted support of 20 volunteers to restore community garden. Oversaw distribution of refreshments to more than 5,000 marathoners. Presided over monthly Business Student Council meetings. Organizational Skill Verbs: Arranged, Assembled, Collected, Centralized, Coordinated, Catalogued, Distributed, Disseminated, Enforced, Executed, Formalized, Implemented, Installed, Maintained, Organized, Planned, Prepared, Processed, Routed, Recorded, Reorganized, Scheduled, Updated Assembled press kits and promotional packages for Mumfest. Distributed weekly newsletter to 100 club members. Planned twelve-part lecture series concerning international politics. Routed over 200 calls daily to staff of twenty-five. Communication Skill Verbs: Acquainted, Apprised, Answered, Briefed, Conducted, Contacted, Demonstrated, Drafted, Educated, Explained, Familiarized, Handled, Informed, Instructed, Introduced, Lectured, Listened, Presented, Reported, Responded, Spoke, Summarized, Taught, Trained, Translated, Wrote Conducted campus tours for prospective students and their parents Demonstrated how to use PageMaker to create in-house newsletters. Informed committee members of various factors affecting student retention. Responded to telephone inquiries regarding admission process. Analytical Skill Verbs: Analyzed, Assessed, Audited, Compiled, Consulted, Detected, Discovered, Documented, Edited, Evaluated, Examined, Gathered, Identified, Interpreted, Interviewed, Researched, Searched, Surveyed, Tested Assessed clients readiness to return to the workplace. Audited financial records of Nursing Student Council. Evaluated job readiness of newly arrived immigrants. Researched relationship between income level and political affiliation. Helping Skill Verbs: Aided, Attended, Assisted, Collaborated, Contributed, Counseled, Comforted, Facilitated, Fostered, Guided, Helped, Instilled, Mentored, Provided, Settled, Supported, Tutored, Treated Assisted students with career decision-making process. Facilitated installation of multimedia exhibit honoring female athletes. Resume Guide Craven Community College 3

4 Guided high school students through college application process. Tutored elementary school students in reading. Selling Skill Verbs: Arbitrated, Convinced, Dissuaded, Encouraged, Marketed, Mediated, Negotiated, Persuaded, Promoted, Publicized, Resolved, Sold, Secured, Solicited Convinced owner to introduce daily drink specials resulting in twenty percent increase in profit. Marketed yard services via telephone and direct mail. Publicized film screenings via flyers, posters and ads in local newspapers. Solicited alumni for contributions to restore damaged auditorium. Creative Skill Verbs: Authored, Conceived, Conceptualized, Created, Composed, Designed, Devised, Established, Invented, Originated, Revolutionized Conceptualized twelve-step program or chocolate addicts. Designed five-week Spanish conversation course for local hospital personnel. Established long-term objectives for campus community service initiative. Invented solar powered light bulb capable of illuminating 300-square foot room. Additional Power Verbs: Adapted, Attained, Augmented, Awarded, Boosted, Broadened, Built, Calculated, Catered, Decreased, Developed, Ensured, Eliminated, Exceeded, Excelled, Expanded, Expedited, Fabricated, Financed, Gained, Generated, Improved, Increased, Launched, Mastered, Modernized, Published, Raised, Reconciled, Reduced, Revamped, Revitalized, Saved, Shopped, Strengthened, Supplemented, Tended, Utilized Augmented sales by 25% through extensive telephone follow-up. Excelled at providing professional, courteous and efficient service to customers. Fabricated all molds and tools by hand. Revamped school library, making it accessible to those with impaired mobility. Recruiting Web Sites and Scannable Résumés Most medium and large sized firms require that résumés be uploaded to their recruiting web site or copy/pasted into a large blank field. Instead of the human eye reading your resume, a computer program scans the resume for keywords that relate to the qualifications of the job. Refer to the job description, the company mission statement and the Occupational Outlook Handbook ( to gather your keywords. Scannable résumés are void of all formatting like stylized letters, bold, italics, bullets and numbering. Stated simply, anything not created with a keyboard stroke will confuse the scanner. The quickest way to create a scannable résumé is to copy and paste your current résumé from Word into Notepad or Wordpad software and all the formatting will disappear! Bullets will now appear as symbols that can be easily deleted. You ll need to remove tabs to align the document along the left margin. Save the file as a.txt document. Resume Guide Craven Community College 4

5 Kaelin J. Sell 11 Market St. New Bern, NC (252) Home Qualifications Proficient in QuickBooks Pro, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Demonstrated record of high-performance standards, including attention to schedules, deadlines, budgets, and quality work. Excellent customer service skills. Achieved consistent customer satisfaction. Education Associate in Applied Science, Accounting, May 2010 Craven Community College, New Bern, NC Overall GPA: 3.2 / 4.0 Student Ambassador: Provided campus tours, visited high schools and contacted prospective students by phone to encourage them to enroll at Craven Community College. Experience Accounting Intern September 2009 to December 2009 Fitzgerald, Murphy and Associates, New Bern, NC Kept records of financial transactions for ten clients. Processed expense reports. Maintained accurate customer billing information and prepared invoices in an efficient and timely manner. Assisted with the preparation financial reports. Sales Associate Julia's Clothing Boutique, New Bern, NC Assisted customers in product selection. Helped maintain inventory and sales records, and ordered merchandise. Trained new employees on cash register. Balanced cash drawer at closing. June 2006 to Present Produce Clerk October 2005 to May 2006 Lindsey's Finer Foods, New Bern, NC Stocked and arranged produce. Answered customers questions concerning merchandise. Resume Guide Craven Community College 5

6 Jack Smith 901 South Haverhill Road Cell: (252) New Bern, NC OBJECTIVE Seeking a challenging position offering an opportunity to utilize and expand my mechanical and technical skills. SUMMARY OF SKILLS Strong background in mechanical maintenance, building, and grounds maintenance. Knowledge of building trades: carpentry, masonry, heating, plumbing, and electrical. Dependable, hardworking, efficient, and highly reliable. Detail-oriented with a strong work ethic. EDUCATION Associate of Applied Science, received May 2010 Craven Community College, New Bern, NC Major: Automotive Systems Technology PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Maintenance Technician Craven Greenhouses Inc., New Bern, NC Present Responsible for overall building and grounds maintenance, including repair and troubleshooting of greenhouse equipment. Handle small engine repair, maintenance of heating systems (gas and coal boilers); some experience with air conditioning and refrigeration repair. Operate and maintain basic equipment, such as forklifts, loaders, and dump trucks. Train and orient new employees. Dishwasher Dominick s Family Restaurant, New Bern, NC Part-time employment concurrent with high school attendance. Resume Guide Craven Community College 6

7 JENNY SMITH 901 South Haverhill Road New Bern, NC Home (252) EDUCATION East Carolina University, Greenville, NC B.A. Degree anticipated May 2011 Majors: Elementary Education / English Literature Craven Community College, New Bern, NC, May 2009 Associate in Arts with Pre-Major of Elementary Education Dean s List, GPA 3.8 EXPERIENCE Teacher's Assistant present GREEN GIANT NURSERY SCHOOL New Bern, NC Assist in all preschool classes from two years through five years old. Plan arts and crafts projects to compliment weekly educational theme. Supervise children in playground. Interact with parents delivering and picking up children. Communicate special requests and information to staff. Lead storytelling sessions. Follow up with thoughtful questions to make sure children understand concepts correctly. Assistant Manager WHITMAN SQUARE CLEANERS New Bern, NC Supervised four staff in all daily operations of high-volume dry cleaner. Interfaced extensively with customers, troubleshooting problems, and generating solutions. Assistant to Group Staff Leader CRAVEN TEEN CENTER New Bern, NC Participated in clinical conferences to record treatment goals. Worked with group staff and families to implement goals. Scheduled staff over a seven-day work week. Trained new staff members. Advanced through the ranks from Trainee to Senior Staff achieving the highest-level group staff position. SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCE Worked as a Nanny for private clients, taking care of preschool and elementary age children. Resume Guide Craven Community College 7

8 Marjorie L. Perry 222 Tuscarawas Way New Bern, NC EDUCATION: SKILLS: Craven Community College, New Bern, NC Certificate, Business Administration: Office Applications May 2010 Relevant coursework: Introduction to Business, Principles of Management, Introduction to Computers, Small Business Management, Spreadsheet, Database Concepts Records Management Filed confidential, hardcopy documents according to alphabetical system Created and updated electronic files Proofread files to ensure accuracy and completeness Followed security guidelines for access to files Customer Service Provided responsive customer service in retail setting Used telephone, , and in-person communication skills to work with customers Recognized for excellent customer service in May 2006 Collaborated with volunteers and vendors when planning events Computer & Office Skills Used Microsoft Word to create professional business documents Created and used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to keep track of and organize numeric/financial data for community service organization Created new databases in Microsoft Access, ran queries and reports for group presentations and assignments Demonstrated resourcefulness with Internet searches and other web-based applications Typing Speed: 45 WPM Gained experience with taking notes and transcribing, effective use of copier, fax and other office equipment EXPERIENCE: Sales Associate, Deborah s Cards & Gifts, New Bern, NC, Waitress, Wine and Dine Bistro, New Bern, NC COMMUNITY: Volunteer, Girl Scouts, NC Coastal Pines Council, Raleigh, NC, 2009-present Volunteer, Craven County School System, Literacy Volunteer, Academic Learning Center, New Bern, NC, Volunteer, Meals-on-Wheels of Craven County, REFERENCES: Available upon request Resume Guide Craven Community College 8