What will an effective resume do for you…..

It should reveal your individual strengths and personality not just your work history..

It should focus on the direction you want to go…

It should also prioritize and accentuate the most relevant pieces of your background

It also translates and summarizes your most important assets for employers….

Selling Your Product

Job search is a sales & marketing endeavour

You are the product, you are the salesperson

Know your product

Create a match between the benefits of your product and prospective employers

Resume Defined

…a formal written communication, used for employment purposes, notifying a potential employer that you have the skills…credentials to meet specific job requirements.A successful resume is a marketing tool that demonstrates that you can solve {an employer’s} problems…meet specific needs and…warrant an interview in anticipation of being hired (Betrus & Block, 1997;11 – 101 Best Resumes)

Resume Writing Process

Broad Inventory

Collect Facts

Identify your Skills

Identify your unique contributions

Organize and prioritize

Decide on format and layout

Skills Inventory

3 categories: Job-related skills (i.e. Financial

controllers work with data and info.) Transferable skills (valued by many

orgs. i.e. creating, problem-solving) Self-management skills (describe

attitude and work ethic – i.e. persistent, adaptable)

Resume Styles

Targeted – used when you know the industry you want to work in and what you want to do

Inventory – used when you are open to a number of options or are unable to define what you want to do – used to showcase your marketable skills

Resume Formats

Chronological:

Most popular

Chronicles your work history from most recent job to earlier jobs

Appropriate when on-going progression in same type of work with no obvious gaps

Resume Formats cont’d

Functional:

Highlights skills and achievements vs. where and when you did them

Preferred approach when you want to shift careers and don’t want to be seen as last job title you had

Functional cont’d

Suitable if you’ve done various jobs across different areas and appears that there is little consistencyAppropriate when gaps exist in work history ie. Due to travel, caring for sick relative etc.Jobs and dates are listed, but only on second page

The 5 P’s of Resume Writing

Packaging

Positioning (of Information)

Punch, or Power of Information

Personality

Professionalism

(Betrus & Block, 1997;17-19)

Packaging

Includes paper, graphics, font etc.

Usually on white, ivory or grey paper

Spell check, proofread again and again!

Make it stand out from the crowd, but keep it PROFESSIONAL

Positioning of Info

A.k.a., organization of data

Make info easily accessible to reader

Ensure that reader is able to quickly see significant information

Punch or Power of Info

Most important of 5 P’s

Matches skills, abilities & qualifications to employer’s needs = hireability

Try to anticipate hiring criteria

Emphasize specific accomplishments i.e. successes & results

Personality

Hiring managers want people with personality!

Used exciting vocabulary to convey personality i.e. ignited vs. increased; a catalyst for…vs. being responsible for…

GET A THESAURUS!

Professionalism

The way you present yourself to a hiring manager tells the employer how you will represent their company

Suggestions: 1) Include a personalized cover letter 2) Send resume in flat envelope, not folded 3) Send by express mail 4) Follow-up phone call to ensure resume has arrived

Anatomy of a Resume

Five Primary Sections Include:

1) Heading

2) Introduction

3) Employment Section

4) Education

5) Misc. Sections

1. Heading

Name, address, phone (home & cell), email address

Do NOT include a work #

Repeat contact info at top of each page

2 styles: a) centered b) creative (anything not centered)

2. Introduction

Sets the tone, ignites interestAnswers the q’s – What do you want to do? What can you do for my company?This info is delivered in 3 ways

a) Title (i.e. accountant)b) Objectivec) Summary/Profile

Objective vs. Summary/Profile

Objective tell the employer what you want, focusing on your wants and needs.Don’t use if it limits your scopeEx. An active administrative role in Health Care of Education with emphasis on community outreachDon’t use objective if it sounds fluffy…

Summary/Profile

Written from the employer’s perspectiveTells employer what you can DO for them vs. what you WANT from themAll points must be proven in body of resumeLists 3 – 5 highlights of your achievements and qualificationsShould precede your work history

Summary/Profile cont’d

Inspires the reader to carefully review the rest of your qualifications….

Ex. A motivated and skilled individual with sales and training experience, certified in the travel industry, with more than 8 years experience.

Ex. Summary/Profile

Effective problem solver using excellent written and verbal communication skillsExcellent track record for generating overall cost reduction and operation efficiency improvementsStrong leadership skills while advancing a team player approach.Confident, professional communicator with outstanding presentation skillsSpecial talent for identifying clients’ needs and presenting effective solutions

3. Employment

Will not be the focus for recent grads but becomes most important section Highlights professional careers, experience, qualifications, achievementsFor each employer include: name of org, city/prov where you worked, dates of employment, titles/positions held

Employment cont’d

Include 3 pieces of info for each job:1) Basic responsibilities and/or industry-

specific information2) Special skills required to perform resp.3) Specific accomplishmentsEx. Revenue increases, productivity

improvements, reducing employee turnover etc.

Use Power Words/Phrases

Designed and implemented

Researched and developed

Coded and tested

Communicated

Facilitated

Managed or coordinated

Example of phrases/sentences

Gave work assignments to accounting clerk staff.

Instead…..

Directed workflow, supervised and trained accounting staff performing posting to general ledger, receivable and payable accounts.

4. Education

Appears at beginning of resume if limited work experienceList from most recentIf you have a degree, do not list high school credentialsDetails might include: GPA (if high), awards, scholarship, research projects, relevant coursework etc.

5. Misc. Sections

Extra-curricular/volunteer work

Certifications/Licenses

Professional and Board Affiliations

Technical Expertise

Honours/Awards (other than academic)

Languages

Interests

References

‘References available upon request.’

Should be in writing (i.e. reference letters)

Select 5 or 6 people who can best support your credentials and value (i.e. supervisors, professors, co-workers).

Ask reference if they will support you in your job search by providing a ‘favourable’ reference.

Reference cont’d

Should support what is in your resume

You can offer to write. Ensures you get what you want.

Company letterhead.

Shorter is better - 1 page.

Best to be current.

A testimonial to promote you!