COMPETITIVE RESUMES

SHAPING JO

B CANDID

ATES TO B

E CONTENDERS

advice.

IT’S A COMPETITION…

What will set you apart from the other 50-100 applicants for that one position?

How will your accomplishments compare to your competition if you don’t feature them?

The answer: Next slide

YOUR NEXT JOB OFFER…YOUR NEXT JOB OFFER…

CIRCULAR FILING

Examples such as…•Typos and mis-spell•Grammar•Inconsistent alignment•Contradict self•Lie•Space badly•Info doesn’t add up

RESUMES HAVE THREE MAIN FORMATSChronological-•Easy to read and follow•Shows solid & consistent work history•ProgressFunctional•Based on knowledge, experience•Omit positions, dates•Masks timeline, more questions than answersHybrid•Combines Chronological and Functional•Lacks organization

THE ANATOMY OF THE RESUME

• ID• Branding Statement• Core Competencies, Professional Skills• Feature accomplishments, impact,

results, achievements• Education (Related to the position)

THE PRIZE IS TO CUSTOMIZE

Research the company brand•Go to Co.’s website•Network with people who work for the co.•Call the company’s #800•Follow the company’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook groups•Glassdoor.com

REALITY CHECK

How many ways you can network?

After work, parenting events, sporting events….

IMPORTANT NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

40.3Average number of weeks it is taking job seekers

to find a job

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/6-warning-signs-you-could-lose-your-

job-1.aspx

ID

Wrong: Right:

Mark Dyson Mark Dyson

9200 North Boulevard Ave Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois 60600 708-365-9822

Home: 312-760-0600mdyson@gmail.com

Cell: 872-200-2040

sosmoove@aol.com

OBJECTIVE/SUMMARY/?

Who cares?

I am a hard-working, dynamic, reliable retail associate that has a proven track record of excellent attendance. I possess gret written and Oral communication and excel at meeting monthly sales quota.

Not measurable, hard skill, not seeable

BRANDING STATEMENT 2 OR CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT

ASSISTANT RETAIL SALES MANAGER

Aspiring assistant retail sales manager who increased 2011 sales by 20% from 2010, and rated 2nd out of 100 salespeople in the region. Successfully developed a 5 point closing sales method implemented throughout the company.

BRANDING STATEMENT 2 OR CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTMs. C is the president of Strategic Management, a Social Media Optimization Firm. She leads a team of consultants who empower various entities from non-profits to politicians to Multi-million dollar a year companies to have a dynamic online presence. Her company, not only custom develops Social Media sites, but provides clients consultation, content management and consistent branding across the web. Strategic Management also does Return On Investment and Online Reputation Management tracking and digital marketing.

BRANDING STATEMENT 2

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Leader, visionary, and influencer in the Houston social media community, and enthused to have ignited a furious campaign to bring 10-30% increase in website traffic success for struggling companies. Empower small start-ups to larger $50M entities to proclaim and possess a powerful presence in their web space with #1 Google rankings. Inspire clients to unleash their creative and innovative souls to unearth their brand’s potential, cultivate a progressive social engine optimization strategy, and launch their new online image.

REALITY CHECK

Write your own branding statement using the examples used:•One adjective•Be specific •Think contributions and solutions

JOB ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Sit and think hard about the impact, achievements, results—Brainstorm!!

• Old job performances

• Talk with co-workers

• Letters of accommodations, thank-you letters

• Job Descriptions

• Clean your files, closet (Thanks Kate Stocklin, CPRW!)

RESUME BODY

1. Create bullets but fewer2. Value injected 3. Handle difficult or challenging situations (without

names) Coworker, Customer, Business Partners4. Process, People, Technology5. Profit, savings in manpower hrs., time/cost = $6. Adapted to change with culture, merge7. Solutions and contributions8. How your role contribute to team success9. Improve department or company’s competitive edge

EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVE BODY

THE WILL GROUP/MAVIS CONSTRUCTIONCHICAGO, ILLINOISVICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS APRIL 2002-DECEMBER 2010

Manage and lead the operation charge for 10 employees with full $2M P&L responsibility for the company’s project management and consulting portfolio. Build coalition and managed communication with owner, design firm, building management, tenants and municipal entities such as community relations. Cultivated client relationships and manage company assets to handle growth, revenue generation, and profit management. Coordinated management and monitoring construction and quality control phases of six college campus building with $198M budget.

EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVE BODY 2Oversaw the implementation of “The Learning Basket Approach”, providing leadership and mentoring to Mentor Teachers, Center Directors, Social Workers, Community Workers and Parents. Networked and hosted relationship building with a diverse group of organizations and clients.

Designed, conducted, and launched the Learning Basket Approach to various school districts including the Stockton School Project and the Niles School district project. Supervised three (3) staff facilitators and one (1) consultant

Measured project success in meeting funding objectives. Managed two (2) Illinois State Board of Education grants of $30,000. Directed guerilla marketing like strategies for outreach to involve parents with goals to increase male participants by 30% by handing out flyers business-to-business and person-to-person

Past job, past tense.

Present job, present tense.

REALITY CHECK

How can you improve the body of your resume?

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONSPlace this section according to what is

emphasized in the job description

1. If education is critical, place right before the professional experience

2. Consider if education is not mentioned at all if you want to include advance degrees

TAKE HOME POINTS

1. Forget the bad advice 2. Perfectly written resume (no grammar,

spelling, typo errors)3. Keyword selection is critical4. Focus on your contributions and solutions5. Results, accomplishments, achievements,

impact, successes 6. Specific skills 7. Emphasize relevant skills and education

TAKE HOME POINTS 2

1. Spelling, Typos, and Grammar MATTER!!

2. Vague descriptions are useless

3. LIES! LIES! Are unforgiveable!

4. Misuse of words

5. Work gaps need clarification in recent jobs

6. Using white fonts to stuff keywords on your resume

7. Do not send a PDF file

8. Use recognizable job titles