Resume Workshop for Career Changers

Resume Workshop : Resume Workshop For Career Changers © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

About the Presenter : About the Presenter Niquenya D. Fulbright Executive Life & Career Coach with over 10 years experience motivating individuals in a career or life transition to achieve successes beyond their wildest dreams. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Overview : Overview What is a resume? Key Elements of a Resume Types of Resumes Formatting Guidelines Exploring Skills & Experience Advice for Career Changers Q-Letters & Cover Letters Q & A Session © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

What is a resume? : What is a resume? A marketing tool Your calling card 10-30 second advertisement Your first impression Brief overview of qualifications Gateway to an interview © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Key Elements of a Resume : Key Elements of a Resume Heading Objective Summary of Qualifications Work Experience Education Certifications, Licensures, Awards & Affiliations © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Types of Resumes : Types of Resumes Chronological Work history is listed in reverse chronological order beginning with current or most recent position. Functional Focuses on skills and experience. Best for career changers, those with gaps in employment or when little or no work history exists. Combination Lists skills and experience first, followed by chronological work history for a good overview of who you are as a candidate. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Using a Skills-Based Resume : Using a Skills-Based Resume Functional or combination resumes are skills-based (highlight your skills instead of work history) Best for career changers, college students and others with little or no work history Highlights all relevant skills rather than just “on-the-job” experience © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Formatting Guidelines : Formatting Guidelines Professional style, design and layout Limit resume to 1-2 pages Natural white or cream, unscented paper with smooth finish Simple, easy-to-read, 9-12 point font Second page clearly labeled with name May narrow margins to no less than .75 inches Pay attention to paragraph style and alignment Use bullets for a crisper look (white space) © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Exploring Skills & Experience : Exploring Skills & Experience Focus resume on a clear goal - objective Outline skills and experience in an accomplishments-driven format Construct each phrase beginning with a powerful action verb Use specific, detailed and descriptive language easily understandable by a 5th grader Avoid clutter – items that detract from your objective © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Objective Statement : Objective Statement A one to three line statement that explains what you are trying to achieve; the purpose of your job search Sample Objective Statement “Skincare professional seeking a position as an Esthetician in a spa or salon where I can apply my training and expertise in a positive environment with growth opportunities.” © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Accomplishments-Driven vs. Responsibilities-Driven : Accomplishments-Driven vs. Responsibilities-Driven Responsibilities are simply your job duties. Accomplishments are what set you apart. Accomplishments-driven experience shows how you have gone above and beyond your job description. Which sounds better? What is the duty? Answered phones …or… Screened and routed calls to appropriate channel via a multi-line switchboard © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Powerful Action Verbs : Powerful Action Verbs These are high-impact action words that identify your accomplishments. Verbs should be in first-person, present-tense for duties you are currently performing and in past-tense (end in -ed) for past positions or duties you no longer perform in your current job. See examples of powerful action verbs. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Using Descriptive Language : Using Descriptive Language Use first-person voice (I, me, my) Be specific in detailing your accomplishments. Instead of “answered phones” say “managed multi-line call center” or “directed incoming calls to appropriate personnel via multi-line phone system” Don’t “lie”. Avoid big words or heavy jargon. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Transferable Skills : Transferable Skills Skills that can easily ‘transfer’ into your new position Can have acquired these skills in ANY aspect of your life (i.e. job, parenting, hobbies, school, and other life experiences) Determined by analyzing past life experiences and work history © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Examples of Transferable Skills : Examples of Transferable Skills Stay-at-home mother Budgeting Child development Housekeeping Drug dealer Sales & marketing Product development Customer service © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

More Transferable Skills : More Transferable Skills Carpentry/woodworking Answering phones Filing Internet/Email Website design Scheduling/Meeting planning Fulfilling deadlines or quotas Leadership or coaching Bank reconciliation Supervisory © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Job Description Review : Job Description Review Find the transferable skills in the following job description. Product Development Manager We seek an independent, self-starter to manage our rapidly expanding product development team. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of our busy design floor. Qualified individual must possess strong analytical and project management skills. Ability to prioritize and demonstrate problem-solving skills is essential. Must show ability to motivate others and achieve results. Must maintain exceptional community and customer service at all times. Expert MS Office skills, especially MS Project, is required. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Avoiding Clutter & Other Considerations : Avoiding Clutter & Other Considerations Only include relevant work history and qualifications. Stay away from excessive uses of bolds, underlines, parentheses and other formatting. Refrain from using colored, textured or highly decorated resume papers. Stick to simple easy-to-read fonts like Georgia (Times New Roman is default in Word but hard to format). Avoid big words, using articles (a, an, the) and too much jargon or acronyms. Avoid including photos as they are no longer a required practice in most industries. There are exceptions, i.e. modeling. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

SPELL CHECK!!! : SPELL CHECK!!! ALWAYS run the grammar and spell check included with your word processing software – not 100% Get a 2nd party to visibly review your resume for spelling and grammar Be consistent in use of verb tenses, comma or period usage and bulleted list placement © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Advice for Career Changers : Advice for Career Changers Use “functional” or “combination” resumes to highlight skills where work history is lacking Identify transferable skills; those you currently use that can easily transfer to your new career Focus on the reason you are drawn toward the new career path rather than why you’re walking away from your current one. Cover letters are best for this. Consider alternative roles within your current profession © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Advice for Career Changers : Advice for Career Changers Volunteer or freelance in your new field to pad your resume with additional experience. Contract and temporary employment are also ways to gather experience. Seek out educational opportunities to build additional knowledge and expertise. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Advice for Career Changers : Advice for Career Changers Evaluate your budget (income and expenses) and be prepared to take a temporary pay-cut. Build your personal brand. Create your own opportunities by becoming a subject matter expert – blogging, consulting, etc. Network – value of informational interviews © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Cover Letters : Cover Letters A cover letter is an introduction to your resume and should be tailored specifically to each position you are applying for individually. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to an organization, demonstrate your interest in the company or a specific vacancy, draw attention to your resume and motivate the reader to interview you. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Q-Letters : Q-Letters A Qualifications Letter, or Q-Letter, like a cover letter, is specific to the individual job applying for but it can be sent in lieu of a resume, especially if it is unsolicited. It is a list of your qualifications relevant to the job in comparison with the actual job announcement or description. Since Q-Letters are brief and concise, they are much more likely to be read in the 20-30 seconds employers have to review resumes and they do work! © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Q & A : Q & A If you have additional resume and/or career planning needs outside the time allotted, you may schedule a free introductory career coaching session with me. In addition to career coaching, I can provide life coaching services in any area of your life that you desire to improve and grow. Ask me for more information on how life coaching can assist you in achieving your dreams and goals. © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Other Services Offered : Other Services Offered Small Business & Entrepreneurial Consulting Workshop Presentations & Corporate Training Mediation & Conflict Resolution Virtual Assistance Internet Research Ghostwriting © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright

Contact Me : Contact Me Contact me to schedule a FREE consultation or introductory coaching session at (773) 368-3575 or email contactme@niquenyafulbright.com Also available by Skype Username = chicagolifecoach © 2010 by Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright