Resume-Writing

Slide 1 : Resume Development WELCOME

Learning Objectives : Learning Objectives Understand: The purpose of your resume The key components of a resume How to choose the best resume format How to write clear, concise accomplishment statements How to edit/proof your resume Draft: An accomplishment statement A professional profile/summary statement

What do you know already? : What do you know already? What is a resume? What is the key purpose of a resume? What are differences of a resume today vs. a resume in the past? Do you need a resume to get a job? How many times will you rewrite your resume, and how long will it take? How many pages should it be? How much time does an HR person spend reading a resume? What key information should be included in a resume? (20/20, 2.4)

Preparation Phase : Preparation Phase Beginning Resume Review Accomplishments Define Abilities Match up Interests Strengths! Career Objective (20/20, 1.8)

Preparation Tips : Preparation Tips Gather/organize needed information Complete assessments Career Survey Birkman Values Sort Write your own resume 1 – 2 pages Keep the look simple Avoid using personal pronouns

Preparation Tips : Preparation Tips Use the past tense Choose strong action verbs Annotate and spell out abbreviations Avoid colored paper, fancy folds, photos

Marketing or Misleading : Marketing or Misleading 96% of HR professionals conduct reference checks 93% of those said they did not hire the candidate as a result of misrepresentations on applications/resumes.

Common Misleading Information : Common Misleading Information Inaccurate dates Degree inflation Overstating roles and duties Misrepresenting technical abilities Claiming language fluency Providing a fake address Inflating grade point averages

Marketing : Marketing You CANNOT change your dates of employment You CAN, to some degree, change your titles You CANNOT change your academic background You CAN leave out irrelevant jobs and data You CANNOT get away with lying just because your company no longer exists

A Resume Answers Three Questions : A Resume Answers Three Questions What do I want to do next? Self assessment (Career Survey, Birkman, Values Sort) Why can I do that? Summary: Broad overview of scope of experience What is my evidence that I can do that? Professional experience Key results/achievements Education/certifications, etc.

The employer wants to know… : The employer wants to know… Can you fill my need? Will you stay for the long term? Are you professional? Do you fit?

What should be included? : What should be included? Summary/professional profile Professional experience Companies YEARS of employment Job scope statements Job titles Accomplishments

What should be included? : What should be included? Education Professional development / training Technical skills Licenses & Certifications Military experience Professional affiliations / memberships

What Not to Include : What Not to Include Months of employment Personal information, physical characteristics Hobbies and interests “References available upon request” Irrelevant Information

Art and Science : Art and Science Guidelines not rules Many forms of a “best” resume Work with your coach

Resume Heading : Resume Heading Name Contact information Address, phone number, web resume site Email (professional) Abbreviated heading on subsequent pages Save as a template Use for all correspondence (20/20, 2.5)

Career Profile/Summary : Career Profile/Summary Follows heading Outlines your qualifications and value add for an employer Usually written last

Professional Experience : Professional Experience Makes and supports your case Last job first Detail last 10-15 years, what you are, not what you were. Company description is optional. Include Job Scope Statements. Strengths, contributions, and accomplishments are bulleted. (20/20, 2.8)

Scope Statements : Scope Statements Answers the questions: What were you hired to do? At what level? For whom? With whom? (20/20 2.9, 2.10)

Scope Statements : Scope Statements Demonstrates specific experience or role Qualifies you for a position Begins with an action verb Includes dimensions, range, staff size, budget and reporting relationship, if relevant Demonstrates general experience and responsibilities

Responsibility or Accomplishment? : Responsibility or Accomplishment? Responsibilities: The tasks and activities you were hired to do Accomplishments: The results you produced and how you achieved them (20/20, 2.8 – 2.10)

Accomplishment Statements : Accomplishment Statements Support your career goal Highlight actions which showcase your strengths Appear in bullet form for easy readability Based on your CAR’s Challenge, Action, Result (CAR) (20/20, 2.9) Why should we believe you can do what you say you can do?

Accomplishments : CAR Challenge: What was the situation? Action: What did you do and how? Result: What was the impact? Challenge not usually included on your resume. Accomplishments (20/20, 2.9)

Accomplishment Statement Samples : Accomplishment Statement Samples Not specific Conducted many training programs in several states which reduced problems. Better Best Reduced customer complaints by 22% in a 6-month period by conducting more than 45 service technician training programs throughout an 8-state region. Conducted more than 45 service technician training programs throughout an 8-state region reducing customer complaints by 22% in a 6-month period.

Accomplishment Examples : Accomplishment Examples Improved support services 50% in 6 months by launching support program that improved the technical delivery of service co-provider. Researched and recovered $25 million in out-of-balance conditions during bank systems conversion and post conversions. Increased revenue $2 million by designing and implementing an automated customer follow-up program. Reduced average customer call-waiting time to 30 seconds from 2 minutes by designing and implementing a call triage system.

Avoid Over Used Phrases : Avoid Over Used Phrases Instead of: Experience working in fast paced environment. Try: Registered 120+ third shift emergency patients per 7 hour shift. Best? Instead of: Excellent written communication skills Try: Wrote jargon free user guide for 11,000 users. Best? Instead of: Team player with cross functional awareness Try: Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients. Best?

Accomplishment Draft : Accomplishment Draft Using your Resume Guidelines Worksheet page 3 Draft: Job scope statement One accomplishment 10 minutes to write 5 minutes to share with partner

Education : Education Further supports your case Start with highest level of achievement. Include College, Training, Seminars, Certifications, Professional Development. Identify major if related. Years are optional (20/20, 2.14)

Other Sections : Other Sections Affiliations and memberships Military experience Awards/honors Technical skills Licenses and certifications Remember, “Is it RELEVANT?” (20/20, 2.11 – 2.16)

Addendum : Addendum Patents Published books/articles Presentations Projects, consulting engagements, legal cases, and financial transactions Client lists, where not proprietary to former employer (20/20, 2.16)

Professional Profile/Summary : Professional Profile/Summary Considered by many to be MOST important part of your resume! 600 managers surveyed: overwhelming majority agreed. Only about 5% of resumes contain this key section. Robin Ryan (author of Winning Resumes and Winning Cover Letters) (20/20 2.7)

Summary : Summary State your case, what are your qualifications? Positioning statement that highlights qualifications and areas of expertise, Unique Selling Points, Strengths and Deliverables. Industries, positions and functions you’ve held, range and scope. Narrative or Narrative followed by bullet points. Usually written last. (20/20 2.7)

Summary Draft : Summary Draft Using your Resume Guidelines Worksheet, page 9 Draft a summary for your resume. Brand statement Qualifies you for your desired position Summarizes: Industries Key roles/responsibilities Key strengths and skills Unique value add 15 minutes to draft summary 5 minutes to share with a partner

Transferable Skills : Transferable Skills Key skills desired by employers Critical when changing career focus Includes: Leadership - Teamwork Interpersonal - Communication Flexibility - Problem-solving Organizational - Analytical Quantitative - Others?

Key Words : Key Words What are “Key” words? Do you know the key words for your profession? Key words relate to your qualifications: Technical expertise Industry jargon Product knowledge Personality traits Academic credentials How to determine your key words Review ads and job postings for your targeted jobs Review company websites and how they describe their culture and employees.

Key Word Samples : Key Word Samples

Key Word Qualification Summary : Key Word Qualification Summary Sales professional Achievement oriented sales professional with 15 years of success in international trade and global marketing. Skilled in developing marketing programs, coordinating new product introductions and providing customer support. Experience includes cold calling, new business development and key account management. Rather than… Achievement oriented with 15 years of successful experience and proven ability to meet objectives, communicate with clients, and quickly excel in new industries

Using Key Words : Using Key Words 94% of the top 500 U.S. companies use computer programs to evaluate resumes Do not creatively try to “hide” your key words in your resume Not just for on-line applications. People visually scan for these as well

Choosing a Resume Format : Choosing a Resume Format (20/20, 2.17)

Choosing a Resume Format : Choosing a Resume Format

Hybrid : Hybrid Purpose similar to functional Combines both the key features of the functional and the chronological resume. Key accomplishments listed right after summary Professional experience written the same as chronological, including job scope and accomplishment statements. Most recruiters prefer chronological with job scope statements or hybrid over functional resume.

Hybrid Resume : Hybrid Resume Summary Key Accomplishments Work Experience Job scope statement Remaining accomplishment statements Other Sections

Slide 43 : Print and On-line Resumes Caution when working with newer Windows versions: .docx files

The “Internet” Resume : The “Internet” Resume Tips Create and save plain text version - No italics, lines, graphs, columns or underlining - Limit to 60 characters or 6 inches wide - Include Keywords Proof, edit, proof Cut and paste into on-line posting sites Print out selected areas to proof before posting When emailing a “Word” resume, consider saving it as a PDF and then mail

Slide 45 : Professional Bios To Introduce Yourself to a Broader Audience Marketing tool for consulting assignments For speaking engagements To confirm credentials To add to a business proposal In lieu of a resume No more than three-quarters of a page Conversational tone – third person voice

Possible Concerns : Possible Concerns Gaps in work history Little or no experience in the field you are targeting Almost all experience is with one employer Lack of consistency in job history Job hopper appearance Lack formal degree Jobs held many years ago Age Work history and education from another country Others?

Slide 47 : References A great networking opportunity! Contact: Now/soon After the interview After the expected call Thank you (20/20, 2.27)

Help your references help you! : Help your references help you! Consider the key skills, knowledge and abilities (KSA’s) and experience for which you need references. Share with your references what you would like them to emphasize. Consider developing a master list of references sorted by your KSA’s

References : References Reference for Mary Smith: Jocelyn Hartman Vice President, Sales and Marketing ABC Manufacturing Contact Information: 120 South Main Street Anytown, ST 74209 (777) 489-1539 jhartman@isp.com Relationship: Former Supervisor at company name.

Slide 50 : Final Thoughts Is all the information relevant? Is it true? Is it positive? Is there “white” space? Is it clear, correct, and concise? Have you considered search engine marketing? Did you use the editing checklist on page 2.21? Greatest emphasis on most recent work?

FINELY : FINELY Have you mad doubly sure there sure no typos? Have you used the right sintax? Have you used proper puncturation? REMEMBRE Its got to be letter purrfect Have your resume “proof read” by at least two people!

Tools and Next Steps : Tools and Next Steps Tools: 8eResume Basics including on-line Resources: Resume Examples, Resume Checklist, Resume Development Tips, Action Verbs by Skill Area Next Steps: Develop Keywords, Resume Editing, Coaching, Post to Right’s Resume Bank on RfH