Resume Writing

Riverside County Educational Support Program

What is a Resume?

Provides an overview of your experience.

Helps you create a winning first impression.

Establishes qualifications and credentials.

Highlights specific, relevant background.

Must be a dynamic, changeable document.

Should be updated on a regular basis.

Resume Formats

CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT

Easy to read, most commonly used and preferred by

employers including the County

Presents education and work experience in reverse

chronological order (most recent to oldest)

Very effective if majority of education and work experience is

related to objective

Resume Formats FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

Focuses on skills and abilities, not dates of employment

Lists skills you’ve demonstrated which are required for a particular job

Allows you to emphasize skills gained through volunteer work

and co-curricular activities

Often used by career changers, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars

Main Ingredients CONTACT INFORMATION

Name, address, phone, email address, & LinkedIn URL

OBJECTIVE Clear, concise statement of your immediate objective

EDUCATION Current school information

Relevant courses and GPA only if required by employer

EXPERIENCE (Paid, Non-Paid, Volunteer, School Organizations, Leadership Roles, Research)

Most recent first with title, organization, location and dates

Describe responsibilities with action verbs

ACTIVITIES & HONORS Volunteer, community work, student organizations, scholarships, academic awards

SKILLS Technology, language & “special skills”

Contact Information

Sally Career

900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521

555.555.5555

sallycareer@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/sallycareer

Tips:

• Professional email address • Name should be bigger than contact info

Objective OBJECTIVE

Seeking summer marketing internship position at Decker’s Outdoor

Corporation.

Tips:

• Clear, concise statement of your immediate objective

• Avoid stating what you want to gain from the position

• Objectives are optional

Or…

Recent history graduate with experience in administrative

operations, seeking position with ABC Widgets as manager trainee.

A [position] using [specific skills] at [specific company]

Objective County OBJECTIVE

Sample Objective Unprofessional

• Dear City of Lake Elsinore Human Resources Office: My wife and I will be relocating to Lake Elsinore and I am seeking a long term

career.

Professional

• Seeking a position as a Office Assistant, willing to re-locate to work in the desert cities. Lateral opportunities are welcomed. 10 years of

experience in the clerical field

Education EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing June 2015

University of California, Riverside

Relevant Coursework: Financial Evaluation, Marketing Management, Strategic

Analysis

*School name required for proof of accreditation

Include any college degrees obtained If you have not earned a college degree but

have completed college coursework, include unit information as it may increase your

chances of being a competitive candidate Professional Licenses Occupational training

programs

Tips:

• Current information

• Only list schools from which you receive a degree

• List GPA if requested and/or impressive

• Relevant courses or study abroad

Experience MARKETING EXPERIENCE The Highlander Newspaper, UC Riverside October 2013-Present

Advertising Account Executive

Manage more than 100 clients and their advertising needs.

Design advertising campaigns and marketing related plans utilizing AdPro software.

Create and work with designers using Adobe software to develop effective advertisements.

Raise approximately $3,000 in advertising revenue each month.

Young & Rubicam, Irvine, CA June 2014-September 2014

Advertising Intern

Provided customer support for accounts including Hilton, Jenny Craig and Southern California Edison.

Collaborated with a variety of departments including Account Management, Public Relations and Finance.

Prepared briefs, PowerPoint presentations, competitive reports and presentation boards.

Delivered critical support during production of Jenny Craig commercials and Toshiba online media videos.

Strategic Analysis course, UC Riverside

Global Challenge Business Simulation Project January 2014-March 2014

Forecasted markets, implemented new technology initiatives, maintained budget and managed production.

Achieved the Warren Buffet Award denoting the highest cumulative shareholder return and stock price.

Tips:

• Most recent first with title, organization, location, and dates

• Describe responsibilities with action verbs in the proper tense

• Use industry language, numbers and describe accomplishments

• Avoid personal pronouns (I, my, or me)

Skills

SKILLS Computer: Minitab, Adobe CS, MATLAB, iMovie,

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access

Language: Bilingual in Spanish and English

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Tips:

• Technology, languages, & “special skills”

• Soft skills such as great communicator, team player, etc. should be

highlighted in the bullet points that describe your experiences

• The 1st skill set listed should reflect the skills most relevant to the position

applying to

KSA’s

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Senior level manager at a corporate Fortune 500 company

with experience in the management of retirement services and banking operations, public relations, customer service,

communications, retirement education, investments, and the

development of client/member educational training

programs. Proven ability to work within a senior management

team in a dynamic office setting, motivate staff, promote a team building environment, and represent the organization in

a professional and positive manner to others in the industry, public officials, the general public, and other parties.

KSA’s Example of describing a Care Giver position with Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Original

Washing my uncle’s clothes, making sure he took medicine, helped with shopping, made breakfast, lunch, and dinner, cleaned his room.

Improved

Responsible for assessing, planning, and organizing daily household needs such as the following: collecting, sorting, and washing laundry, ensuring proper medication is administered on a daily basis, and meal planning and maintaining a nutritious diet. Knowledge Skills and Abilities

KSA’s

Examples of describing a Maintenance Scheduler/Fleet Dispatcher

Original

Office automatation, data entry and general administrative duties. Dispatch and maintenance scheduling of fleet of over 130 vehicles.

When you only provide a limited amount of information a recruiter does not have the tools to determine if you are a competitive candidate. For example this person probably has clerical skills such as filing, reporting, and computer knowledge of multiple frequently used office programs including a wide knowledge of office equipment, customer service skills and experience. However, none of this can be seen with the limited amount of information provided.

KSA’s

Honors & Activities HONORS & ACTIVITIES American Marketing Association, Member, UC Riverside January 2013 – Present Students for the Environment, Ambassador, UC Riverside September 2012 – Present University Honors, Member, UC Riverside September 2011 – Present Chancellor’s List, Recipient, UC Riverside September 2012- June 2013

Tips:

• Include campus and off-campus involvement in student organizations &

volunteer organizations

• Highlight scholarships and university honors

What’s the difference between an Experience & an Activity?

An experience is described with bullet points that describe the

relevant skills & experience acquired in a role. An activity lists a

membership or volunteer activity that is less relevant and/or less of a

time commitment.

Tailor Your Resume Qualifications

• Candidates must possess excellent oral

and written communication skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel,

Power Point, etc.)

• Highly motivated, with a positive

attitude

• Enthusiasm for and/or experience in

professional sports industry

• Thoroughness and attention to detail

• Ability to work in a fast-paced

environment and multi-task

• Must have high level of interpersonal

skills to handle sensitive and confidential

situations and information

• Strong customer service skills required

• Working towards a BA/BS in Marketing,

Advertising or related field

Description

The Marketing and Promotions

interns are responsible for assisting

the marketing team in developing

and implementing strategic

marketing, advertising, promotions

and public relations strategies. The

intern will be out in the community

helping promote the Fury brand.

Tailor Your Resume: Try it!

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the Marketing and Promotions Internship with the

Ontario FURY.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing June 2015

University of California, Riverside

Relevant Coursework: Sports in the 21st Century, Creative Marketing, Interpersonal

Communication

Tailor Your Resume: Try it!

EXPERIENCE Promote Brand Community Outreach Advertising

Communication (Oral & Written) Motivated

Positive Attitude Sports Industry Attention to Detail Fast-Paced Multi-Task Interpersonal Skills

Confidential Customer Service Marketing

• Collaborated with 5 community sponsors to raise approximately $1,000 for the annual UCR Basketball Homecoming

Tailor Your Resume: Try it!

SKILLS Computer: Microsoft Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Adobe Photosop

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Language: Bilingual in Spanish and English

Formatting Tips

10 - 12 point size, standard font Avoid shading, graphics

Use bold sparingly

White or off-white, 8 1/2 x 11 paper

Bullet Points

Action verbs start off your bullets (i.e. Analyzed, Trained, Tutored)

Focus on transferrable skills, specify accomplishments, use numbers

1 page MAX

Be consistent!

Formatting Tips … Continued

Margins are ½ inch to 1 inch

Make sure it is error free (both spelling and

grammar)

Save as a PDF when emailing

References do not get included

Cover Letters Only if requested or required

Accompany all resumes

Enhance resume information

Attention grabbing statement

Introduce yourself, current situation, and how

you will benefit their company

Matches your experience with what they are

looking for

Illustrate knowledge of company

Never use “To Whom It May Concern”

1st: Explain why are you writing, state your purpose

2nd/3rd: Relevant points on qualifications, why you are a strong candidate

4th: State how and when the employer may contact you

Questions?