This document provides 5 tips for developing an effective resume: 1) Show your abilities through keywords and concrete examples of your skills and strengths; 2) Use action verbs and provide specific examples of your achievements; 3) Tailor your resume to the specific job description using the employer's terminology; 4) Stand out from other applicants by including recommendations, changing the resume format, or creating a portfolio; 5) Pay close attention to formatting, spelling, grammar and consistency. An appendix provides a list of common resume keywords organized by skill area.

1. I Got the Job!
5 Tips for Developing a Killer Resume
Penny McKinlay, Communications Consultant
iStock_000002162124

2. 1. Show what you can do
iStock_000024789753

3. Build your resume around key words that
illustrate your abilities
 Policy & Program Development
 Interpersonal Relations & Group Dynamics
 Organizational Analysis
 Market Research & Product Development
 Cultural Sensitivity
more examples in Appendix A

4. Be clear about what you have to offer &
how it will benefit the employer
Management Skills
• Strong team-building skills
• Come to the table with solutions not problems. Identify mutually
beneficial solutions by understanding the needs of all the
participants
• Provide direction and support to co-workers (e.g. a policy manual
clearly outlining staff roles and responsibilities)
• Not afraid of hard work – currently maintaining 30 project files and
taking the lead on over half

5. Include volunteer experience if applicable
Community Development
Initiated the development of a neighbourhood playground by
explaining the benefits and rallying residents behind a common goal
Intercultural Understanding
Taught English as a Second Language in Vietnam for one year as part
of a CIDA international development project
 Enhanced personal awareness of the demands of living and
working in a foreign culture with a different set of cultural
norms

6. Highlight personal strengths
Clinical Knowledge
“I reviewed one of my hospital client’s charts and learned that he was
on a high dose of sedatives that could affect his gait, balance, reflexes
and judgment. As a result, I postponed his exercise session until the
following day.” (student with minimal work experience)
Creative Problem-Solving
Recognized as the ‘go-to guy’ who will find solutions to problems
(know who to phone and how to phrase the request in order to get
the desired result)

7. 2. Provide concrete examples
i-Stock_000003220757

8. Avoid generalizations
Innovation & Change Management
Achieved significant cost savings through the merger of two
administrative departments
 Clarified the departmental direction and deliverables
 Re-defined job descriptions
 Established a strong customer focus
Market Research & Product Development
Developed a wine tasting and culinary day trip for tour, corporate and
leisure markets after analyzing market trends and researching regional
farms

9. Employ action verbs
Developed and delivered workshops on job search skills and numeracy
Monitored outcomes (i.e. language skills) and established parameters
for evaluating language training provided by government contractors
Built tour market segment from 40 to over 80 international and local
companies

10. 3. Tailor your resume to the job
i_Stock_000001162006

11. Use the same terminology as the job ad

12. SALES
16-year track record of success in cultivating clients & promoting sales
New Business Development
 Generated over $50,000 in gross revenue from a single client in the
first quarter of 2010
 Researched needs of local businesses (government, insurance and
software companies, credit unions, etc.)
 Promoted ongoing year-round business by targeting ESL schools
and sports teams
Add notes of colour that complement the
employer’s corporate identity

13. 4. Stand out from the crowd
iStock_000000485272

14. Change the format

15. Include recommendations
“Your professional behavior, strong interpersonal skills and relaxed
communication abilities are an asset to your emerging clinical abilities.
Your professional abilities were evident as you skillfully managed your
time between two placement preceptors and sites.”
(RF, Physiotherapist)

16. Create a portfolio by highlighting key
achievements
Singles Build, Habitat for Humanity
What is it?
Our goal was to attract more young volunteers to Habitat for Humanity by
organizing a build that would only involve volunteers under 30.
What we achieved:
 Singles Build attracted media attention, new volunteers and new partnerships.
 After volunteering for the event, a local artist chose Habitat for Humanity as her charity of
choice and worked on various projects with us, including an office mural and a fundraising
auction.
What I learned:
 Clearly identify your audience and focus on their needs and interests. The participants in
the Singles Build welcomed the opportunity to meet and work with other people their own
age.
Further information:
 Habitat Singles Build Facebook page

17. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING & COLLABORATION
“I bridge the disconnect between employees and customers.”
Assisted a mature workforce to develop an online presence and to expand their
marketing portfolio beyond the Yellow Pages
Addressed concerns and found solutions for the problems experienced by a very
young, inexperienced workforce, many of whom were still in high school
MARKETING & PROMOTION
“Establishing a presence on a zero budget requires creativity.”
Identified a lack of business lunch options in the business district
 Established a lunch delivery service
 Introduced and monitored a variety of different low-cost promotional tools to
make local businesses aware of the service
 Set up a database of over 6,000 customers
Use quotes

18. 5. Pay attention to the details
iStock_000017281291

19. Check to make sure the
formatting is consistent
• Headings & sub-headings
• Bullets
• Spacing

20. Double check for spelling and grammatical
errors
Worked closely with the hotel restauratuer to maximum
meeting room profitability by planning menus that would
appeal to key client groups

21. Contact me if you would like help with your
resume
Penny McKinlay
mckinlaypenny@gmail.com
pennymckinlaycommunication.ca

22. Appendix A
Key Words & Skill Sets
iStock_000015623756

23. Management & Administration
Project Management
Policy & Program Development
Organizational Analysis
Organizational & Administrative Skills
Administrative Support
Organization & Coordination
Customer Service

24. Financial Management & Sales
Fund Development
Budget Development
Sales
New Business Development
Market Research & Product Development

25. Troubleshooting & Change Management
Strategic Analysis
Creative Problem-Solving
Change Management
Innovation

26. Human Resources
Conflict Resolution
Leadership Development
Cultural Sensitivity
Interpersonal Relations & Group Dynamics
Human Resources Management

27. Communications
Marketing & Promotion
Media Relations
Communications & Interpersonal Skills
Writing & Editing
Research (Planning, Analysis, Evaluation)

28. Community Development
Community Engagement & Consultation
Relationship Building & Collaboration
Collaborative Partnerships
Community Leadership
Education & Outreach

29. Arts, Culture & Education
Gallery & Collection Management
Curatorial Experience
Program Design & Implementation
Curriculum Development & Delivery
Volunteer Training & Development
Small Group Facilitation