Developing Your Very Own

Winning Resume

A Writer’s Workshop

Presented by

Jeff Tolley

Review of packet

General DO’s and DON’T’s resume tips

Tools: Internet, Resume Templates, Optimal Resume

Hands-on step-by-step resume creation

Guidelines for follow-up assignment

Wrap-up and evaluation

Plan: Consider your audience and your purpose.

Organize: Review the resume checklist, outline the information, then determine the format.

Create: Write a first draft using samples and templates.

Revise: Confidently make changes to your resume that will lead to your goal: Getting an interview.

A brochure that promotes a product. YOU are the product!

Likely your first contact with the employer. Make an impression!

Used by employers as screening tools.

Emphasize relevant qualifications and accomplishments.

Qualities: well-organized, factual, clear, eye-catching, easy to read, and truthful.

GOAL: Get the interview!

The type of opportunity you seek from the company.

Who you are.

What you know.

Your personal and work experiences.

It helps the employer get a sense of your potential as an employee.

1 - 2 pages in length

Use easy-to-read fonts, white space, and bolding for emphasis (limit italics).

Use bullet statements or short paragraphs.

Use vivid action verbs.

Use descriptive adjectives and accomplishment statements.

Begin with most important material first.

Quantify your experience.

Avoid personal pronouns.

Be neat! No errors, so smudges, clear printing

Proofread! Proper grammar and spelling say a lot.

Be consistent in formatting. Use the same style and font throughout the document.

Avoid the use of artwork, elaborate headings and script fonts.

Use quality printer (laser!) and neutral bond paper. Stark white copy paper is not your best choice.

Your resume, cover letter, and envelopes should all be the same color, style, and weight.

Personal contact information (address, e-mail, phone)

Career Objective (what job do you want?)

Qualifications summary, special competencies/skills (list what you can do; cash register, MS Word, etc.)

Education (degree, major, special training. HS counts!)

Study abroad (Foreign exchange, special programs)

Relevant paid or unpaid work experience—it all counts! Babysitting, yard work, tutoring, student aide.

Community service (church, Scouts, other groups)

Professional affiliations (School clubs are important!)

Interests/hobbies (If you are applying as a lifeguard and you are a competitive swimmer—mention it!)

References/portfolio—include them!

Always review your own resume before you

print it, and them again after you print.

Always have someone proofread your resume

for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation,

and facts.

Your resume should be eye-catching. It should

not be too busy, but it should not have too

much white space, either.

What are the reasons

that a resume would

get Screened out?

Categories missing Unclear objective Wrong job target Generic and

unfocused Lacks relevant

experience/education Explains job

descriptions not accomplishments

Hard to understand Irrelevant information Time gaps

Boastful or dishonest

Slick, gimmicky

Poor physical layout

Too long, short, or condensed

Wordy, bad spelling, poor grammar

Lengthy phrases, sentences, and paragraphs

Poorly reproduced

Too many fonts, fancy fonts, wordiness, long paragraphs

Personal data

Unnecessary abbreviations

Justify type set (equal side margins)

Too many UPPERCASE LETTERS, underlining, and italics

Empty words – various, duties included

Emphasizing what does not exist (in other words, be truthful!)

Sample Resume Headings

John A. Smith John.Smith@mymail.champlain.edu

123 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (Website URL)

802/999-9999 (IM Address)

John A. Smith123 Main Street

Burlington, VT 05401

(802) 999-9999

John.Smith@mymail.champlain.edu

(Website URL, IM address)

•Beginning of the resume or in cover letter

•Target it to a specific job or employer if possible

•Keep it concise, avoid unnecessary words

•Avoid the “all purpose” type of objective

Sample Objectives

•To participate in the Sandia National Labs summer

institute as a chemical engineer intern.

•To join the staff at UNM pool as a Summer, 2013,

youth swimming instructor.

•Summer employment as a customer service

representative at Cinemark Movie Theaters.

•A part time, permanent customer service representative

at The Home Depot.

•Dining room server and hostess at El Pinto restaurant

in a part time capacity.

Functional specialty/title

Overall picture of your qualifications

Years of experience in the field

Certifications, licenses

Accomplishments/recognitions/results

Key talents/special knowledge related to target job

Language skills

Technical and special skills

Two years experience operating cash registers

YMCA-certified babysitter

Three years experience with MS Office software

Six years experience with i-Phone and 4G technology.

WSI and CPR certified

Project management and problem-solving skills

Financial experience (P&L, cost control, budgeting)

Multi-tasking ability and flexibility

Organizational skills and attention to detail

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Networking ability (to cultivate new business, for

example)

Leadership or supervisory experience

It is important to:

List the schools you have attended and when you expect to graduate. A high school diploma is important until you have a college transcript.

Emphasize what sets you apart from other students.

Emphasize leadership roles and duties: team captain, club officer, responsible for funds.

List before work experience for recent graduates in reverse chronological order

Cibola High School, Albuquerque, NM; graduation May, 2017

Write out dates; no abbreviations

Degrees, major(s), and minor(s) for college

Licensures, certifications, endorsements

Include special training, relevant workshops

Emphasize Advanced Placement and Honors courses

Honors: Graduated Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, GPA above 3.0 class rank above 3.5, scholarships, awards

Relevant academic projects, special training, study-abroad

Extra-curricular, athletic and leadership activities

Club memberships and committee work

Number of hours worked to help finance your education

Presentation of Your Education

Credentials, Campus Involvement

and Academic Achievements

CIBOLA HIGH SCHOOL, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

Diploma with honors anticipated May, 2013

• Maintain a 3.85 GPA (4.0 scale) while working 15-20 hours per week.

• Honor roll all semesters.

• Student aide to administrative staff.

• National Honor Society sophomore, junior, and senior years.

• Three year varsity letter winner in soccer and track.

• Member of yearbook staff, sophomore and junior year.

• Three year member of Operation Smile.

Use an internet search engine to find a desired job title and description; use it in your resume.

Tailor a resume toward the company you want to work for. Go to their website and then use their terminology in your resume.

Ask questions of people who have experience with job applications and resumes: teachers, parents, grandparents, older siblings, and business owners and managers you know.

Talk to friends who have jobs about how they applied for their jobs.

Job title, employer, location (city, state), dates

Reverse order/relevant before non-relevant

Include relevant paid and volunteer experience (full time, part time, summer): retail sales, administrative assistant, home childcare, camp counselor, tutor, Special Olympics Volunteer.

Group similar jobs with one job description.

Use action verbs/industry jargon to describe experience in specific achievement oriented terms.

Younger applicants won’t have many groups.

Not just job descriptions, but rather your skills and verifiable contributions

Advancements

Bonuses

Performance Evaluations

Recognitions

Awards/accomplishments

Transcripts

Certificates

Include non-related jobs and volunteer work if they help create a picture of stability and work experience. Important when lacking experience.

Concentrate on skills you developed that are important to your career or job objective.

Include promotions, management and supervisory responsibilities, customer service, technology, and directly relevant coursework.

Omit jobs that were very brief. Many employers do not look favorably on long term jobs that ended prematurely.

List memberships and responsibilities that relate to your career or job objective.

Demonstrate that you are keeping up to date in your chosen field.

Include organizations that show community involvement.

Special interests, travel, and hobbies may help to show ability and experience.

Have a minimum of 3 references - people who can attest to your work habits, skills, and accomplishments. Always ask beforehand!

Current or past employer(s)/supervisor(s)

Inform reference of your career objective and give them a copy of your resume

Professors, teachers, principals

Advisors, mentors, tutors, ministers/priests

Coaches

Internship, field experience, or community service supervisor

Name, title, company, address, phone #

Never indicate on the resume that “References

are available upon request.” When managers

have a pile of resumes and applications to sift

through, they want the whole story in front of

them. They likely won’t take time to call you

for a list of references. The next resume is

probably just as good as yours.

References

John A. Smith John.Smith@gmail.com

123 Main Street,

Albuquerque, NM 87111 505/999-9999

Mr. Charles Amey, IIIDirector of Hospitality Hilton HotelsP.O. Box 670 Amey@hilton.dotAlbuquerque, NM 87123 (505) 321-0987

Mr. Milton JonesField Experience SupervisorABC Conference Center208 Main Street MSmith@ABCConferences.org Nowhereibeen, NM 88000 (505) 888-8888

As a general rule, have at least three references.

Proof… proof… proof!

Understand your audience and speak to it.

Be sure your resume is easy to read.

Plan! Be well organized

Be honest! Dishonesty is a termination offense.

Dynamic Diction! Choose descriptive words.

Be flawless in every aspect of your resume

Update your resume whenever there is a change in ANY information.

Resume development is on ongoing process.

As a second-year student, you are just beginning the process.

Enhance your experience, personal qualifications, and leadership qualities over the next two years.

Keep a folder of your accomplishments.

Update your resume regularly.

!

Everybody applicant wants that

call!