The document provides tips on building an effective resume, including: - The purpose of a resume is to get an interview, and HR's goal is to screen applicants out quickly. - Common resume mistakes include lacking focus, accomplishments, or relevance to the target job. - An effective resume focuses on employer needs, uses keywords, lists the most important qualifications first, and quantifies accomplishments. - Key sections include contact information, a summary of qualifications, work history highlighting relevant duties and accomplishments, and education.

1. Peer Learning and Leadership Network Building a Better Resume

2. Building a Better Resume June 22, 2011 1 p.m. Presenter: Michele Martin , DiscoverAbility NJ, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

3. Use Chat box to communicate with chairperson Use Hide Chat for a cleaner, uncluttered webinar Select Full Screen to maximize presentation; minimizes chat feature Webinar Layout

4. Michele Martin

5. Materials and an archived version of this webinar will be available at www.discoverabilitynj.org

6. Agenda Purpose of the Resume How HR Managers Read Resumes Common Resume Mistakes Strategy for Constructing the Perfect Resume Sections of the Resume Putting it Together Some Final Tips

7. What’s the purpose of a resume?

8. To get an interview!

9. HR’s goal is to . . . SCREEN YOU OUT!

10. What Does HR Do? Paper Review 5-10 second scan Online/Database Keyword search

11. Looking for . . . Relevant experience Educational/certification requirements Accomplishments Mistakes

12. A MATCH!!

13. Resume Mistakes Employers Hate!

14. 1. No connection to company need.

15. 2. Takes too long to find relevant info

16. 3. Lack of Focus

17. 4. No knowledge of target industry

18. 5. Poorly written

19. 6. Lack of accomplishments

20. 7. Poor Design

21. 8. Lies

22. 9. One-Size-Fits-All Resumes

23. 10. Functional Resumes

24. 11. An Objective at the Top of Your Resume

25. 12. Boilerplate Team player Excellent communicator Strong work ethic Met or exceeded expectations Results-oriented More than X years of progressively responsible experience Proven track record Bottom line orientation Trustworthy Problem solver Works well under pressure References available upon request

27. Crafting the Perfect Resume Focus on employer needs Customize! Use keywords. Most important info first in descending order

28. Completing the “T” Review job posting and/or company info Identify employer needs, relevant keywords For job For company/culture Fill in job seeker info to complete the T. If you can’t complete The T—DON’T APPLY! If you can, complete your resume.

30. The “T”

36. Rinse and Repeat

38. Putting it Together

39. The Key Sections Contact Info Profile/Summary of Qualifications Work History/Accomplishments Education/Credentials Relevant awards, professional associations, etc. (optional)

40. Contact Info

41. Profile/Summary of Qualifications Best place to include company/industry keywords Target company and job posting—highlight most relevant skills and qualifications Highlight key accomplishments—SHOW, don’t tell! 3-4 sentences or use bullet points

43. Work History/Accomplishments Highlight job duties/accomplishments most relevant to position. SHOW, don’t TELL! Focus on “So what?” Quantify as much as possible Use keywords liberally List employer name, location, years worked Focus on past 15 years

45. Education Section Don’t include HS if you have college degree Spell out the school name List degree Don’t include GPA unless 1) it’s over 3.0 and 2) you are a recent grad Consider omitting grad date

48. Dealing with Resume Gaps

49. Some Basic Tips Be truthful about dates Use volunteer and freelance work in experience section Acknowledge/explain in cover letter Focus on networking/connections to get interview

50. Final Advice

51. Revealing a Disability on a Resume DON’T! Be careful of accomplishments that may inadvertently reveal a disability.

52. For Printed Resumes Free of grammatical and spelling errors Easy to read Use white space Attractive, functional design Use Helvetica, Garamond, Calibri or Verdana. NO Times New Roman! Don’t go overboard on paper 1-2 pages

53. Electronic Resumes .txt file pasted into body of email .rtf file attachment—maintains most formatting. Can use .doc, but use lowest version Test email first Load it with keywords! Use your name as doc name

54. Use Properties Feature