PREPARING A RÉSUMÉ

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What is a résumé?

A résumé is a summary of your employment history, education, and accomplishments.

The purpose of a résumé is to present aspects of your life that are relevant to an employer.

It is a marketing tool—what is being marketed is YOU!

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Functions of a résumé …An inventory of your experiencesHelps you clarify your value as an employeeProvides a summary for potential employer so he/she can evaluate whether you should be interviewedUsed as a reference for questions by an interviewerFiled for future reference by a potential employer

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Résumés at a glance …

A résumé has one specific function:

to get an interview!

Employers need a quick way to reduce the number of résumés they need to read

How? A 5-second glance can give an employer reasons NOT to keep it.

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Will your résumé make the short list …

Handwritten?Corners curled, paper wrinkled?Smudges, coffee stains, etc.?

Design difficult to read?Oops, there’s a spelling error?No postal codes, no telephone numbers?

Grammatical error?

Definitely a NO!Into the basket!

Not a chance!

Haven’t the time!Pitch this one!

It’s a loser.

Not wanted here.

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Types of résumés …

There are three main ways to organize the information on your résumé:

Chronological

Functional

Combination

Each type serves a purpose

How do you know which one is best?

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Chronological Résumé

Use this format if you can show steady progress in your education and employmentThis is the best method to use when:

The name of your last employer is importantYou want to find a job in the same area as your previous oneYour job history or education shows growth and development

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Chronological Résumé

Don’t use this format if:You want to emphasize skills you haven’t used in other jobs

You’re looking for a job you’ve never done before

You’ve changed jobs a lot

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Chronological Résumé

Advantage

You can demonstrate, at a glance, a summary of your education and experience.

Disadvantage

You don’t have a place to indicate your skills and qualifications up front.

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Chronological Résumé Structure

Starts off with a job objective or a personal profileGroups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological orderMay include a section on awards and accomplishmentsProvides information on interestsProvides references

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CHRONOLOGICAL

RÉSUMÉ

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Functional Résumé

Use this format when you have little or no actual work experience in the area in which you’re looking for work

This is the best format to use when:You haven’t worked before

You want to emphasize talents and skills you haven’t used in a particular job

You’ve had a variety of jobs in the past which aren’t connected

You’ve done mostly temporary work in the past

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Functional Résumé

Don’t use this format when:You have a steady pattern of jobs and education

Your past employers are important in relation to your job objective

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Functional Résumé

Advantage

You can highlight your special skills and any awards and achievements that come from work, volunteer or school experiences.

DisadvantageYou have to back up your list of skills and qualifications with education, work or volunteer experiences. You can’t just list skills you believe you have without demonstrating how you got them.

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Functional Résumé Structure

Starts off with a job objective

List of skills and/or achievements that support the objective

Groups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological order (most recent first)

Provides information on interests

Provides references

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FUNCTIONAL RÉSUMÉ

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Combination Résumé

It is best to use this format when:Your education is an important part of your skills and your practical skills are limitedYour background shows a wide range of unrelated skillsYour work history isn’t reflective of you as a stable worker—you’ve held a lot of different jobsYour work history shows more time in other work areas

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COMBINATION RÉSUMÉ

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Parts of a Résumé

NAMEDo not use nicknames

Highlight so it stands out: bold, larger font

ADDRESSUse complete addressDon’t use abbreviations except for the 2-letter abbreviations for provinces (i.e. NS, NB, PE)Put the postal code on a line by itself

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Parts of a RésuméTELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS

Include area codeTwo acceptable styles are:

(902) 555-1234 or 902/555-1234

EMAIL ADDRESSInclude it if you have one, giving the message you are computer literate

Do not use an email address that is inappropriate (i.e. hotchick@hotmail.com)

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Parts of a Résumé

OBJECTIVE OR PROFILEAn objective gives focus, direction and support to the body of the résumé

It is an attention grabber

Use an objective only if it makes sense; otherwise use a cover letter

If you are “shopping for work”, you might use a Career Profile focusing on skills, achievements and character attributes

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Parts of a Résumé

EDUCATIONList your most recent education first

Include the name of the school and dates of attendance

Include courses studied, particularly if your résumé is short

Additional training courses and certificates should be included

It is not necessary to include your junior high

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Parts of a Résumé

WORK EXPERIENCEList your most recent work experience first and work backwards

Include dates, job title, employer, job responsibilities

Try to think like an employer—what would you want to see as the reader of your résumé

Use action verbs to tell what you have done

Include volunteer work experience

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Parts of a Résumé

AWARDS AND ACTIVITIESList academic honours or certificates you received

Stress extra-curricular activities and special achievements in sports, clubs, or other school activities

These offer employers evidence of leadership, dedication and initiative

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Parts of a Résumé

SPECIAL SKILLS AND ATTITUDESHighlight the skills you have that relate directly to the position for which you are applyingThese may include specific computer applications, fluency in a foreign language, or special abilities you possess that are not necessarily part of your formal educationHighlight attributes such as honesty, enthusiasm, and maturity—qualities that make you indispensable in the work place

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Parts of a Résumé

REFERENCESThink carefully about who can act as your references. Type the name, title, company, address, and phone/fax number of three to four references.

Prior permission to use any individual’s name as a reference is a must and as a courtesy, inform your references that they may be contacted.

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Who can you ask to be a reference?

Someone from your school (teacher, guidance counsellor, coach, administrator). Someone you've worked for (summer, part-time or full-time employer). Someone you've worked for on a casual basis (babysitting, shovelling snow, delivering papers). Someone you've helped (as a volunteer or as a friend). Someone whose opinion is respected (elder, minister, community leader). You cannot use a relative!!

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ReferencesThere are different opinions on whether or not to include the actual references on your résumé. If you decide not to include them on your résumé, follow these suggestions:

In the Reference section, type “References Attached” and prepare them on a separate sheet which matches your résumé.Type “References Available on Request” and do not submit them with your résumé.

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References

Résumés that say “References available on request” risk delay or rejection

Employers in a hurry will likely favour people whose references are attached to the résumé.

The employer may recognize one of your references and be impressed—making your résumé stand out from the others!

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Résumé Dos and Don’ts

DOUse only one font size (12 pt) and one font style (Times New Roman, Arial)Be consistent when using bold, italics, underliningLeave 2-3 blank lines between sectionsUse a good-quality paperUse white, off-white, ivory or cream-coloured paper

DOUse power words (action verbs)Use a header including your name and page number on the second pageStaple the pages with one staple in the top left cornerPROOFREAD!!!

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Résumé Dos and Don’ts

DON’T INCLUDE YOUR …

Age/birthdate

Race

Religion

Marital status

Sexual preference

Social Insurance Number

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Employer’s Pet Peeves About Résumés

More than two pages long

Coloured paper

Spelling errors

Handwritten corrections

Old jobs that are not relevant

Repetition

Attempts to inflate responsibilities

Fancy graphics

Poor quality paper

A photocopy of a photocopy

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Employers Speak Out on Résumés

“Any résumé that looks like it’s part of a mass mailing goes into the garbage. And if there’s one spelling mistake or bad punctuation, out it goes.” Mark Bowles, Komex International Ltd.

“I want brief, to-the-point résumés that highlight work experience and education. Tailor your résumé to show me why you should work for my company.” Joanne Tully, Holiday Inn

“When I see neatness in a résumé, I get the feeling that the job candidate will keep his or her work area and tools clean. That’s important in by business.” Clark Johnston, Clark’s Quality Woodwork

LET’S GET STARTED!!