Resume Preparation
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Learn the basics of resume preparation and how to use technology for your benefit. This presentation was used at Project ReStart, funded by the AARP Foundation, to help job seekers 50+.
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Resume Preparation
- 1. Project ReStart Writing a Resume
- 2. What is a resume? Your resume is a tool to get an interview with an employer.
- 3. What are the characteristics of a resume? Clear Accurate Concise
- 4. Questions to ask when writing a resume: Where is it going? Who is going to receive it? How will it be read or distributed?
- 5. Where, Who, and How • Be sure to research the company and the contact • Make sure it is in a readable format ▫ To email, save as a .pdf ▫ DO NOT copy and paste your resume into an email – it messes up the formatting
- 6. You have 30 seconds to grab the attention of an employer
- 7. How to grab resume attention: Employers receive many resumes! You must past the 30 second scan! • Always include a cover letter and intro email • Resume is Simple, Concise, Direct, Organized ▫ no more than 2 pages • Formatted • Relevant information only
- 8. Importance of Formatting • Use the same professional font • Use alignment – center, left, right • Create white space • Make lists and use bullets for reading ease • Organize with bold, underlined, or italic text ▫ Bold brings emphasis ▫ Underlined is a great header for a section ▫ Italic is excellent for titles or quotes • Margins Barbara Howard Barbara Howard Barbara Howard Barbara Howard Barbara Howard
- 9. Relevance: Will it help me get an interview for this job? • Never exaggerate, give false or inaccurate information • Use the job description to imagine the job • What skills do you have that makes you the best candidate? • Only include hobbies, professional affiliations, volunteer work, etc. if you believe it will help you get the job – Relevance! • Not an autobiography – can mention experience briefly if relevant ▫ “Various Short-term Jobs” as heading and list companies
- 10. Grammar and Spelling • No passive language – Show confidence! ▫ I have had a lot of experience with typing. ▫ Correct: I have a lot of experience with typing. • In a resume make statements not sentences • No “I” statements
- 11. Types of Resumes Skills Based Chronological • Many years experience • Lots of things well • Employment gaps • Shows Transferable Skills! • Showing career progression • Same line of work • Well-known companies/organizations • Highlight level of work activity • Entering job market for first time • Don’t use if: ▫ Irregular employment ▫ Change in careers ▫ Change jobs frequently
- 12. Skills Based Resume • Objective • Accomplishments ▫ Skill How you got that skill ▫ 2nd Skill How you got that skill ▫ Etc. • Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/etc • Employment History ▫ Date: Title, Business, City, State ▫ Date: Title, business, City, State • Education • Awards • Affiliations
- 13. Chronological Resume • Objective/Summary • Education (if not a big focus then put at the end) • Experience ▫ Title, Date, Business, City, State Responsibilities ▫ Title, Date, Business, City, State Responsibilities ▫ Etc. • Skills/Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/Affiliations, etc • References
- 14. Chronological Resume • Objective/Summary • Education (if not a big focus then put at the end) • Experience ▫ Title, Date, Business, Cit y, State Responsibilities ▫ Title, Date, Business, Cit y, State Responsibilities ▫ Etc. • Skills/Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/Affiliations, etc • References • Objective/Highlights of Qualifications ▫ Statement/bullet list • Accomplishments ▫ Skill How you got that skill ▫ 2nd Skill How you got that skill ▫ Etc. • Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/etc • Employment History ▫ Date: Title, Business, City, State ▫ Date: Title, business, City, State • Education • Awards • Affiliations Skills Based Resume
- 15. Objective Statement • Give the employer: ▫ Kind of employment seeking ▫ Sense of your professional direction ▫ Tailor it to the position ▫ Provide a sense of knowledge and skills ▫ Apply it to a given industry or position
- 16. Summary Statement • Sometimes instead of an Objective Statement • Briefly summarizes resume with: ▫ Employment history ▫ Key accomplishments ▫ Or areas you want to sell to the employer
- 17. Education Consider putting your education after work history if you have greater accomplishments than your education OR you do not want to emphasize your age
- 18. Work Experience • Begin with the most recent experience • Use action verbs • Summarize – Be brief and to the point! • Focus on Accomplishments, Contributions, and Outcomes • Show how YOU made a difference! • Quantify your accomplishments; give amounts; dollars, staff managed, budgets, increases, reductions
- 19. Special Skills • Languages • Computer knowledge • Proven interpersonal skills • Written and oral communication • Creative abilities • Organizational leadership • Independent work • Teamwork • Presentation • Problem solving • Decision making • BUT only if they apply!
- 20. References • Ask ahead of time if they are willing • Keep them well informed • Give a copy of your resume to your references • Mix business and academic if possible
- 21. Don’t Forget! • Proofread • The “friend read test”: ▫ Check for errors ▫ What info stands out?
- 22. Part II: Using Technology for Your Benefit
- 23. Using Technology • Your ability to communicate well through technology is the greatest hurdle for job seekers to overcome • You may have a lot of skills, but if you are unable to use technology as a tool, then you are unable to communicate what you have to offer Learn how to use technology to YOUR benefit!
- 24. Supplies You Will Need: • Computer with Word Processing Program (Microsoft Word) ▫ Will allow you to create your resume on the computer • A Printer or Email Account ▫ Can store your files on email by sending the email to yourself
- 25. Supplies You Will Need: • Memory Stick/USB Flash Drive ▫ Save your file on a portable source ▫ Stores your files using a USB port ▫ USB ports are on all computers ▫ Attaches to your key chain ▫ Store the files and take them with you to different computers
- 26. How much is enough for me? • Storage Size ▫ 1 Bit = Binary Digit ▫ 8 Bits = 1 Byte ▫ 1000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte ▫ 1000 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte ▫ 1000 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte ▫ 1000 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte, etc. • 1 Word file = approximately 36.5KB ▫ Walmart 2 GB drive for $4 32 GB drive for $15 • Will a 2 GB USB Drive be enough for me? ▫ A $4 – 2 GB flash drive will hold 2 million KB ▫ Your resume is only 36.5 KB ▫ That’s over 27,000 resumes!
- 27. Word Basics • Create a new document • Alignment • Font • Size • Format • Bullets/Prioritize • Tabs • Highlighting • Line Spacing • Copy/Paste • Save/Save As • Save As .pdf For more detailed information about Word, take our “Intro to Microsoft Word” class!