RESUME WRITING

Flathead Job Service427 1st Ave EKalispell, MT 59901758-6200

Agenda

Welcome General tips Headings Cover Letters Summary

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The Hiring Mind Set

"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way."

- Booker T. Washingtoneducator, author, orator, and political leader

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GENERAL TIPS

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Write a Winning Resume Employers receive dozens,

sometimes hundreds, of resumes every week. Most employers invite only 2 out of 100 to a job interview.

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Write a Winning Resume

An 8 second mini billboard

advertising YOU!!!The Resume is the first step in

getting your foot in the door.

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Write a Winning Resume Reverse Chronological Resume

– Lists work experience and skills in reverse chronological order.

Functional Resume– Lists work experience and skills

sorted by skill area or job function.– Focuses on skills that are specific to

the type of position being sought.

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Write a Winning Resume Most employers will only spend 8-

30 seconds looking at your resume.

Place the most important information closer to the top of your resume.

Go the extra mile and show employers that you are as creative as you are intelligent. 8

Write a Winning Resume

REMEMBER!!!

If employers have to work too hard to read your resume, they won’t!!! 9

Keep

It

Short and

Simple

Write a Winning Resume

Ima New Employee

1673 Address

City, State, 10000

Objective: My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I have no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.

Employment: Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain operation. While I am open to the initial nature of an assignment, I am decidedly disposed that it be or oriented as to at least partially incorporate the experience enjoyed heretofore and that it be configured so as to ultimately lead to the application of more rarefied facets of financial management as the major sphere of responsibility. Reason for Leaving Last Job: I was working for my mom until she decided to move

Education: College, August 1880 – May 1984

Special Awards: I was proud to win the Gregg Typting Award. I am a rabid typist.

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Write a Winning Resume Limit your resume to one page. Keep sentences brief, under 12

words. Do not write in paragraph form. Be positive and enthusiastic!

Don’t exaggerate.

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Write a Winning Resume Avoid fancy type such as outline,

script, or other difficult-to-read styles.

Avoid cutesy artwork or photos. Use bullets at the beginning of

lists. Print on quality white paper.

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RESUME HEADINGS

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Name and address

Put your name in at least 14-point.– Make it easy for employers to see

your name. Include your email address.

– Required for many on-line applications.

– Work appropriate. Avoid unnecessary personal

information.– Marital status, birthdate and social

security numbers.14

Objective

Focus specifically on what type of position you are seeking.

Convey what you offer a potential employer, not what you want from them.

Summarize in 50 words or less why you are the perfect person.

If you can’t think of a great objective – leave it off. 15

Objective

Entry-Level Workers: – “Dedicated IT graduate pursuing a

help desk support position.” Target a Specific Position:

– “To secure a position as an Elementary education teacher for School District 5.”

Career change– “To benefit a company through my

extensive network of sales contacts, 10 years of writing experience and demonstrated ability to successfully design commercial websites ."

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Qualifications summary Crucial in the “high speed resume

review” world in which we live. Include at least 4 bulleted one-

liners about who you are and how they relate to that particular job.

Use keywords appropriate to the career field.

Never say “Entry level”.

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Skills

If specific skills are necessary to the job, or if your skills help you to stand out from the crowd, include a skills section in your resume.– Computer Skills: You may wish to list

the systems & programs with which you are proficient.

– Languages: List languages in which you have more than just some basic ability. Indicate your level of ability. 18

Experience

No official format. You can set up a resume any way you like.

Include only those histories which relate to the job you are seeking and demonstrate your ability to do the work.

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Experience

Use words that match certain keywords appropriate to a particular career field.

Use action verbs – – “managed”– “planned”– “researched” – “supervised”

Keep sentences brief – under 12 words.

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Experience

Don’t clutter your resume. A resume is a sales brochure not an autobiography.

Hiring managers know what the average duties are for a given position and don’t need a job description.

Provide quantitative and qualitative data whenever possible. Cite numbers to make a point. 21

Experience-example

Driver 2007-currentDeliver fuel to service stations for regional transporter of petroleum products. Oversee refueling to ensure compliance with all regulations governing safe handling of flammable and hazardous materials. Maintain comprehensive delivery records and facilitate management of customer accounts by placing orders, collecting payments, and provide receipts. Maintained consistent on-time delivery with

90% of all orders arriving ahead of schedule.

Recognized for outstanding professional achievement earning the company’s safe driving award 3 consecutive years.

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Driver 2007-?Drive fule truck for 4 years.

Experience do’s & don’ts Don’t state the reason for leaving

your past job. Don’t list “actual” dates of hiring

periods – limit it to either month-year or even year-year.

Don’t list reference names/contact info.

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Experience do’s & don'ts Do list job titles as they are

relevant to the new position. Do create accomplishment

statements. Do use buzzwords from job

description. Be honest.

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Education-first

If you recently received a graduate or professional degree that is relevant to the position.

If you have taken courses or training that is relevant to the position.

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Education-last

Include any relevant on-the-job training, special workshops, seminars, military training, self-study, vocational school, or colleges.

Include significant honors and awards. Your GPA can be mentioned, as long as it is above 3.0. 26

Military service

Give date of separation, highest rank and rate, and branch of service.

Optional: Security clearance, special assignments, and decorations/awards.

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Personal information

You don’t have to explain your age, sex, race, marital status, family size, or disabilities. That is the law!!

Appropriate to mention relevant special talents, interests, accomplishments, or experiences.– Avoid listing anything that can

reveal protected class. 28

References

Have a separate page of references ready and available if you list “References Available On Request” , .

Prepare a list of 3-5 personal AND employment references

Contact your references and ask their permission to use them as a references.

Tell them the position for which you are applying. 29

References

People who have supervised your work.

Close business associates you have worked with on the job.

Professors with whom you had studied.

Internship Supervisors or Advisors to extracurricular activities.

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References

Send each of your references a thank you note when your job search is over.– It will help keep your contacts

current.– You never know when you might

need their help again sometime down the road.

They will be interested in hearing the results from your job search.

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Recommendations

When you leave a job, ask for a letter of recommendation from a Supervisor or Owner. – You never know when the person

who supervised you will leave the company or if the Company will be in business when you need the referral.

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COVER LETTERS

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Cover Letters

Introduction of you to employer. Use job description. Heading-Can be identical to

resume. Intro-where you saw job

advertised. Body- 2-3 paragraphs about how

your skills match job description. Close-create opportunity for

interview.

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Cover Letters

Job Description Electronics and

mechanical purchasing background.

Strong communication skills, including negotiation skills.

Strong management skills and the ability to develop a purchasing team.

Cover letter Ten years of electro-

mechanical assembly, five plus years as purchasing manager

Worked on all major contracts resulting in 3.5% in cost reduction.

Excellent leadership abilities and believe in employee participation and empowerment.

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October 13, 2010Electrotool, Inc.Attn: HR — Purchasing10831 SW Cascade Blvd.Portland, Oregon 97223Dear Human Resources Manager:This is in response to your October 9th advertisement in The Daily Inter Lake for Purchasing Manager. I believe my skills make e a perfect match for this position. I have ten years in all phases of electro-mechanical assembly and five plus years as purchasing manager. In my former position as manager, I worked on all major contracts over a five year period resulting in an average of 3.5% in cost reduction.I received 3 awards for my outstanding leadership abilities and believe in employee participation and empowerment to create a high-functioning team.I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss how my skills and experience can benefit Electrotool, Inc.Sincerely,Robbin T. Gard

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Robbin Gard427 1st Ave E Kalispell, MT 59901W:406-758-6225H: 406-758-6200rtgard@mt.gov

Summary

General tips Headings Summary Cover Letters Questions?

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RESUME WRITING

Flathead Job Service427 1st Ave EKalispell, MT 59901758-6200