Your Resume An Essential Marketing Tool

Transcription

1 October 9, 2014 Your Resume An Essential Marketing Tool McMaster University Centre for Continuing Education Participant Workbook

2 Thank you for attending this session. The Centre for Continuing Education offers many programs to assist in your career development. We offer university-level certificate and diploma programs, as well as professional development courses in the fields of Business & Management, Communication & Design, Health & Social Services and Metallurgy. McMaster University s Centre for Continuing Education programs are designed to meet the needs of working professionals. With courses offered online, and on evenings and weekends, you can balance your personal and professional commitments while advancing your education. Employers recognize and respect a McMaster credential, and all classes are taught by industry experts with hands-on experience in their fields. Visit our website to discover which program is right for you. Online: mcmastercce.com By phone: ext In Person: Downtown Centre, 2 nd Floor, 50 Main St. E, Hamilton, ON

3 Discover. Your Career. Your Resume An Essential Marketing Tool Presenter: Sonia Hawrylyshyn, CEC Agenda The Purpose of Resumes Employer Perspectives Strategies for Impact Resume Sections Types of Resumes Formatting Tips Proofreading & Editing Resume Screening Cover Letters & References Effective Resumes Make You Stand out Open Doors to Interviews 1

4 Employer Perspectives 1. Write to the needs of the employer (the reader) 2. Submit a professional resume: make it clear, concise, correct and logical 3. Use keywords, phrases aligned with job posting criteria 4. Build a compelling case to show your fit with job opportunity 5. Describe your experiences using accomplishments 6. Convey your value 7. Follow all directions in the application process Start With The Purpose What is your career focus? Are you targeting a specific job? Are you seeking advancement? Are you making a lateral move? Planning a career change? 2

5 Deciding to Apply? Do a Fit / Gap Review Skills Knowledge Qualifications Experience Fit / Gap Review Job Posting Criteria / Career Criteria List criteria (functions, skills, qualifications, experience) Your Skills, Abilities, Qualifications List what fits and note the gaps Experience & Accomplishments List relevant experience, accomplishments that fit; note the gaps Be Informed Before You Begin to Write Your Abilities - Portfolio Job Descriptions / Postings Employer Information Professional organizations Networking Mentors Informational Interviews 3

6 Keywords Specific to sector, profession or job function Generally a noun, short phrase Effectively communicate an entire message Use in all sections of your document headliner, profile, experience Keywords Administrative Management Marketing / Sales Health & Safety/ Wellness Administrative Support Event Planning Confidential Records Department Reception Appointment Scheduling Executive Support Project Support Inventory Management Fiscal Management Strategic Planning Employee Development Risk Management Policy Development Human Resources Operations Manufacturing Quality Assurance Territory Sales Customer Service Public Relations Product / Service Promotions Merchandising Market Research Analysis & Trends Vendor Contact Conference Exhibits Wellness Programs Health & Safety Committees Employee Events Health Promotions Event Planning Policy Development Health & Safety Legislation Keywords Computer Technology Systems Development Systems Security Database Administration Configuration Systems Acquisition Network Support Programming Systems Analyst Laboratory Research Analysis and Reporting Venipuncture Specimen Handling Medical Lab Procedures Inventory Control Standard Operating Procedures Accounting / Financial Reconciliations Cost Accounting Expense Reimbursements Trust Accounts PeopleSoft Payables / Receivables Invoice Verification Cost Accounting Health Informatics Clinical Information Systems Data Collection Focus Groups System Functionalities Caregiving Best Practices Metrics & Analytics 4

7 Action Words Keywords Planned, staffed, and managed the daily operations of a 45-employee customer service center. Headliners, Content Software Developer / Programming Manager Accomplished leader, capable of building motivated and productive teams. Significant software design and engineering expertise. Project management of government and industry projects, including RFP preparation, subcontractor negotiations, budgeting, and technical documentation. Keywords in Profiles 8+ years of research and data management experience for multisite, international projects. Expertise in data collection, analysis, evaluation and reporting. A management professional with 5+ years combined experience in customer services within retail and hospitality environments. A dedicated professional with 3+ years experience in retail. Specializes in maximizing profits through employee retention and efficient product control. Keywords for Work Experience Manage A/R, A/P, and billing for over 30 department accounts. Facilitate employee orientations to over 20 new staff. Provide front office reception and support to 5 department managers. Perform laboratory tests, routine preventative maintenance, and quality control procedures. Coordinate employee health and safety programs and track all mandatory training for the department. 5

8 Accomplishments Successfully managed and installed major computer software revisions requiring extensive research, planning and consultation with key stakeholders across the business. Led the implementation phase with minimal disruption to employees and work processes. Designed, wrote, and directed production of advertisements, promotions, sales materials, and client communications which resulted in a 30% increase in new business for Enhanced institutional profile and recognition by ensuring the increase of accredited programs. Provided executive support for the achievement of national and provincial accreditation of 16 programs over a seven year time period. Resume Sections Create Visual Appeal & Logical Flow Resume Sections Contact Information Headliner Profile Description Career Experience Education Professional Development Certifications / Designations / Credentials / Licenses Professional Affiliations / Memberships Volunteer Work 6

9 Contact Information Name Abbreviated Degree(s) or Credential(s) that follow Personal and / or work contact information Residential and/or cell and/or work phone numbers personal and / work; ensure personal s are professional (Gmail is a great option) Social Media URL: LinkedIn, Skype, Blog, Web Portfolio Headliners Generic Professional Profile or Career Profile Specific Business Management Professional Office Administrative Support Senior Financial Administrator IT Programmer / Analyst Public Relations Career Objective or Career Target (optional) Profile Section Use keywords, phrases and / or statements; no more than 3-4 Highlight relevant information e.g. qualifications, accomplishments, keywords, phrases Align content with your focus Management Profile Multi-Site Retail & Service Operations / Franchise & Company-Owned Operations Dynamic management career with start-up, turnaround, and high-growth organizations. Cross-functional expertise in business planning, marketing, operations management, human resources, and finance. Delivered strong revenue and profit results within highly competitive markets. Proficient in technologies. - Best Keywords for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews Wendy S. Enelow, CPRW, JCTC, CCM 7

10 Career Experience Section Reverse chronological is still preferred (current to past) If same career path Customize experience headings If showing changes along career path *Organize experience to support your purpose Career Experience Section Employer Name, Hamilton, ON Present Job Title, Department Name First point of contact and liaison for Director and 3 managers. Provide confidential administrative support and oversee workflow of 2 support staff. Organize according to relevant accountabilities and accomplishments Examples of Job Context Provide executive support to Vice President of Global Logistics, a liaison and contact for the corporate office. Global Logistics Manage several department budgets exceeding 200M including preparation and presentation of quarterly reports to senior leaders within Financial Services. Coordinate a national and international multi-site clinical research project, supporting 4 primary investigators and several teams totaling 42 researchers. 8

11 Education Section Name of institution and year of graduation Undergraduate, Graduate degrees Diplomas Certificates Provide additional detail under these categories if relevant and supports purpose *Reverse chronological order Professional Development Section Certificates Workshops in-house and external Conferences Avoid dated information or learning that is redundant *Organize according to relevance and reverse chronological order Certifications / Credentials / Designations / Licenses - Section List in reverse chronological order Use abbreviations and long name If required, provide license # e.g. security clearance, trade license, IT certifications etc. 9

12 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING Volunteering Volunteer Fundraiser, The United Way, Hamilton, ON 2012 to Present Recruited and trained 20 volunteer fundraisers. Planned and promoted 3 successful annual fundraising events including an auction, dinner and concert which generated over $250, 000 in pledges yearly. Increased contributions by 25% over the previous campaigns. Volunteer, Gillian s Place, St. Catharines, ON 2010 to Present Perform various administrative and event planning services for this non-profit resource center for women in crisis. Contribute to monthly meetings on service delivery, outreach, marketing, and development. Planned and coordinated various promotional events. Types of Resumes Combination Emphasizes the skills and relevant experiences Chronological Emphasizes work experience in reverse chronological order Functional Emphasizes skills and experience and de-emphasizes chronological work history Formatting & Writing Tips Customize every document with the purpose Concise, clear, relevant 2 pages ideal Quick bites, logical flow, easily visible Use quantifiers and qualifiers to show accomplishments Use relevant keywords and phrases to describe functional knowledge and expertise 10

13 Formatting & Writing Tips Font - 10, 11, 12 pt, Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Times New Roman Balance the use of bold, CAP, underline, bullets to emphasize section headings, detail etc. Write in the first person, drop the I from the beginning of each sentence Avoid responsible for, duties included starters Proofreading & Editing Take a break, review with fresh perspective, ask others Use parallelism particularly in bulleted statements e.g. prepare weekly payroll and process material purchasing, expediting and returning Check typos, spelling Logical flow of content Check for essential and relevant information Past tense for past experience and accomplishments; present tense for current work Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Save document in Word.doc format, other formats may not be readable Avoid headers, footers, templates, borders, lines, symbols, tables, multiple columns, text boxes Use relevant keywords & phrases throughout Edit carefully ATS does not recognize misspelled words Spell out abbreviations and acronyms Put dates on right side of document 09/ /2014 No degrees or certifications after your name on the top line 11

14 Human Resume Screening Screening may be handled by HR or hiring department Visual scanning for keywords related to specific job criteria Determining FIT with job - it takes seconds to decide Errors, typos and lack of relevant information will eliminate you from competition Cover Letters Marketing tool for your resume Avoid repeating information from resume KIS One page People spend SECONDS on a cover letter Make a connection and state purpose State your interest and relate to career Highlight relevant points to get noticed Emphasize how you will bring value to role References Get permission first Select references strategically Bring list to interview only, unless asked otherwise Inform your references of upcoming calls Reference letters - include in portfolio, pass on relevant copies only during interview 12

15 You are Unique Make Your Resume Interviewable 13