This document provides an overview of resume basics, including what a resume is, the three Cs of resumes (clear, concise, and corresponding), types of resumes (chronological and functional), preparing a resume's content and visual appeal, e-resumes, and final tips. It emphasizes that the goal of a resume is to get an interview and employers typically spend only 20 seconds reviewing each resume initially.

1. Resume Basics

2. Goals
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•
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What is a resume?
The Three Cs
Types of resumes
Preparing your resume
• Content Appeal
• Visual Appeal
• E-resumes
• Final Tips

3. What is a resume?
A resume is . . .
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•
•
•
•
A marketing piece.
Your advertisement.
A tool to open doors.
A point of discussion.
An on-going, working
document.
A resume is NOT . . .
• A dull re-statement of
your work and education
history.
• A 5-page document that
illustrates everything
about you.
• The clinching item that
gets you the job offer!

4. Remember . . .
•The goal of your resume is
to get the interview!

5. 20 Seconds
• That’s the average time an employer
spends reading a resume
• That’s why your resume must conform to
the three “Cs”:
• CLEAR
• CONCISE
• CORRESPONDING

6. Clear
• Neatly outline your work experience,
education, skills, interests, and objectives.
• Make certain that the language is easily
understood.

7. Concise
• Highlight critical aspects about you
• Elevate the reader’s interest
• Do NOT tell the entire story

8. Corresponding
• Focus your resume to the job you want
• Illustrate relevant skills and
accomplishments that are of most
interest to the reader

9. Format
• Chronological
• Functional

10. Chronological Resume
PROS
CONS
• Easier to follow
• Emphasizes work and
education
accomplishments
• Highlights other
important activities and
interests
• Excellent for a new
college graduate
• May emphasize time
gaps if you have little or
no work experience
• May emphasize “job
hopping”
• Limiting to someone
changing careers

11. Functional Resume
PROS
CONS
• Organizes and
summarizes experiences
• Clearly focuses on
accomplishments
• Good if you are changing
careers or returning to
workforce
• Does not tell employers
how recently skills were
used
• Does not tell the context
of the skills and which
jobs are linked to them
• Not for a recent graduate

12. When creating a resume, there are 2 major areas of focus . . .
Content Appeal
• What your resume says
Visual Appeal
• What it looks like

13. Content of the Resume
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Heading
Objective
Summary of Qualifications
Education
Experience
• Related
• Internships
• Volunteer work
•
•
•
•
Skills
Activities
Professional Associations
References

14. Heading
• Name
• Permanent address
• Phone
• Email

15. Objective
• Optional
• Can be specific
• Ex: Assistant Director of Marketing
• General
• Ex: Entry-level accounting position that
requires strong technical skills

16. Summary of Qualifications
• The “Keyword” Game
• Use terminology related to the job
• Emphasize nouns for industry-specific terms (ex. Accountant
instead of accounting)
• Just highlights
• EXAMPLE:
• Leader and contributing member
• Ability to propose new and creative ideas and
solutions
• Social networking and blogging skills for product
visibility

17. The “Keyword” Game
• Use key action words & skill words that fit the job
• Use key terminology related to the job
• Highlight relevant accomplishments that are closely
related to the job
• Emphasize nouns for industry-specific terms (ex.
accountant instead of accounting)

18. Education
• Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Degree: BS
– Show date of graduation or expected date
• Major: Business Administration; concentration in
Management
• GPA – only if above a 3.0
• Honors
• *If on track for 150 credits, can be listed here
• Study Abroad
• Relevant Coursework - should only be listed if you are
seeking an internship

19. Experience
• List the company name, city, state, your title, and dates
• Bold either the organization’s name or your title
• Use action words
• Current activities in present tense
• Past activities in past tense
• Use terms that reflect skills needed in the job you are
seeking
• Quantify your accomplishments
• Use reverse chronological order

20. Action-oriented Statements
• Examples:
• Increased sales by 15% annually by providing excellent
product knowledge and post-sales service.
• Implemented a reduced-cost recruiting program by
focusing on local schools.
• Organized an awareness campaign that increased
membership by 50%.

21. Skills
• Computer skills
• Foreign language skills

22. According to the National Association of
Colleges & Employers (NACE) . . .
• Top 5 skills employers want:
• Communication (written and verbal)
• Strong Work Ethic
• Teamwork Skills (works well with others)
• Initiative
• Interpersonal Skills

23. Activities
• Campus Organizations
• Community Organizations
• Volunteer Work
• Intramural Sports
• Varsity Sports

24. Professional Associations
• Research the associations for your specific
career
• Benefits include:
• Professional contacts
• Job postings
• Networking events

25. References
• Optional
• If used, it should be listed as “References
available upon request.”
• Do not include your references here

26. Visual appeal
• Bullets vs. Paragraphs
• Printing
• Paper
• Stylistic Tips

27. Bullets vs. Paragraphs
Bullets
• Can outline individual
skills, accomplishments,
and activities
• Less wordy
• Most employers prefer
this style because it is
easier to read
Paragraphs
• More information
• Can be difficult to read

28. Printing & Paper
• Laser-printed
• Heavier weight than regular copy paper
• Conservative paper color
• Select matching envelopes & stationery for cover
letters and mailing

29. Stylistic Tips
• Use at least .5 margins all around
• Font size should not be smaller than point 10
• Keep sentences to the point
• Edit unnecessary words
• Optimal Resume

30. What is Optimal Resume?
• Web-based resume builder program
• Available to ALL MSU students and alumni
• Fee based
• Establish your account using your MSU email address
• http://business.montclair.edu/career

31. Benefits
• It is a tool you can use to:
• Create high-impact, interactive career materials based on your
career goals
• Present your materials online — with the website builder — and
in print, as you can download your materials in a number of
formats
• Manage an unlimited number of career documents from one
central location
• Share your credentials with your network on your own
professional website and across social networking sites

32. Services Provided through Optimal
• Resume Builder
• Cover Letter Builder
• Interview
Preparation
• Website Builder
• Informational
Webinars
• Portfolio Builder
• Skills Assessments
• ResumeGPS
• Resume & Cover
Letter Samples

34. Enter your Montclair State e-mail
address here to create a new
account.

35. This is where you can create a
new document or manage your
existing documents.
Click on this to create a new resume or cover
letter

36. •Name your resume and
click start to continue
•You have an option to
upload your resume if
you already have one
created

37. Once you name your resume, then
you can select which format you
want to use to create your resume.
For the purpose of this
presentation, we will
select “Browse Samples.”

38. Next Step
•Select a resume sample that you
would like to use.
•Each resume sample is separated by
an area of interest.
•We recommend selecting the
Business and Finance category.

39. Pick an experience level.

40. Once you select an experience level, you can choose a resume sample to use.

41. •Each section
provides a list
of action verbs
that can be
used on your
resume.
•Action verbs
should be used
on your resume

42. E-resumes
• Used when an employer requires that you
submit your resume through their web site,
independent job posting web site, or in the body
of an email (not as an attachment)

43. Typical formats for e-resumes
• Text
• Rich Text
• ASCII
Please refer to the E-Resume
Handout for specific instructions.

44. Some final pointers
• Write your resume to your job objective and the job
description
• Be clear, concise, & corresponding
• Emphasize accomplishments, results, and skills
• Use relevant keywords and terminology from the field
• Be honest – do not exaggerate your abilities but do promote
yourself
• No spelling and/or grammatical errors
• Do not include personal information: health, marital status,
gender, race, age, etc.

45. Viewing Verification
• To earn the point for this Power Point, please email your
response to the following questions:
• What are the three “Cs” of resumes?
• What is the preferred format of a resume for a college student?
• What should your resume correspond to?
• Email your response to: freedmand@mail.montclair.edu and
indicate “BUGN-Resume Basics” in the subject line.
• Due: December 4, 2013
• Questions: Please call 973-655-6965

46. BONUS
• To earn an additional point for BUGN-310, please submit your
resume for a critique.
• Email your resume to:
• sbusresumes@mail.montclair.edu and indicate BUGN Critique in
the subject line
• Due: December 4, 2013

47. References
• Dahlstrom, Harry (2010). The Job Hunting Handbook.
Holliston, MA: Dahlstrom & Company, Inc.
• Stebleton, Michael & Henle, Michael (2011). Hired! The Job
Hunting and Career Planning Guide. Boston, MA: Pearson
Education, Inc.