This document provides guidance on building an effective resume. It discusses the purpose and components of a resume, including the two main types (chronological and functional), proper formatting, and key sections like contact information, objectives, skills, work history and education. Tips are provided for emailing resumes, cover letters, reference pages, and follow-up thank you letters to help stand out to potential employers. The overall message is that resumes are an applicant's first impression, so they must be well-structured and highlight relevant qualifications and achievements to capture a reviewer's interest within 20-30 seconds.

1. RESUMES
YOUR TICKET TO AN
INTERVIEW.

2. Building Your Resume Workshop
TODAY’S AGENDA:
• Define what a RESUME is.
• Two types of RESUME.
• RESUME format and content.
• RESUME OBJECTIVE and/or
CAREER PROFILE.
• Helpful tips when emailing and
scanning your RESUME.

3. Building Your Resume Workshop
You will also be able to:
• Create a job reference page.
• Create a professional cover
letter to accompany your
RESUME.
• Write a THANK YOU letter
to the employers with whom
you have interviewed.

4. “YOU NEVER GET A
SECOND CHANCE TO
CREATE A FIRST
IMPRESSION.”
Your RESUME is one of
your FIRST
IMPRESSIONS with a
potential
EMPLOYER
Someone Once Said:

5. A RESUME
IS:
• A short account (1-2)pages) of
your Experience,
Qualifications, and
Achievements.
• Its goal is to capture the
reader’s interest.
• Most resumes only get 20-30
second scan by the reader.
• It MUST have enough
IMPACT to GRAB the
ATTETION of the prospective
EMPLOYER.

6. • What can you do for me?
• How can you improve my
operations?
• Can you make me money?
• Save me time?
• Keep my customers happy?
The Employer Wants to know :
Your resume must not only show the skills you have; it must
demonstrate your success.

7. There Are 2 Main Types Of
Resumes
Chronological Functional

8. Chronological
• It is the MOST common type of
Resume
• It lists previous jobs & dates;
most recent job first
• It identifies work
accomplishments and skills
connected to each job.
Easier to prepare and is generally
successful

9. Formatting your Resume
You can arrange your resume in
a variety of formats.
However, most resumes follow
this type of order:
• Contact information
• Objective or Career Profile
• Summary of Skills (optional)
• Work Experience
• Education
• Professional Affiliations
(optional)
• Military Information

10. Contact Information
Your CONTACT INFORMATION is the most
IMPORTANT PART of your Resume:
NAME
Address (optional)
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number – Email Address
Professional affiliation; e.g. www.linkedin.com
(optional)

11. Make an Impact!
OBJECTIVE
CAREER PROFILE
A short statement that includes the job title you
want, and the main reason why they should
consider your for the position.
A short paragraph (three –to five sentences)
that highlights your experience and
qualifications that match the job you are
applying for.

12. Skills Related to the Job You Are Seeking
or Strengths/Key Accomplishments
Include the skills that
are directly relevant to
the job you are seeking.
Use strengths and
accomplishments to
highlight these skills

13. Education
List diploma, degree(s) or certificate(s) and the school name,
city and state. If you did not graduate college, list total
semesters completed.
List dates of completion if you are a recent
graduate (last three years)

14. Military Experience
List this as part of your work experience, if chronological and
recent, or if it relates to the job you are seeking. You can also list
military training under education.
Branch of service and last rank may be listed under a separate
heading if it is too far back to include as part of your work
experience.

15. Structure
Be consistent in structure to
make it easy for readers to
skim through your resume
quickly without confusion.
Font: 10-12 points
Bold for name and positions
Dates – Month/Year
Paper color – WHITE
Spacing – 1 or 2 line spacing

16. Content and Structure
Use short, bulleted statements
Use numbers or percentages
Avoid personal pronounces
like “I” or “ME”
Start your statements with
action VERBS!!!

17. Advantages & Disadvantages Of The
Chronological Resume
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Easy to follow.
Work history shows
progression.
Your objective / summary
is the same or similar to
your recent experience.
Doesn’t hide flaws in the
work history,
such as job changing or
“spotty” work history.
Doesn’t allow flexibility to
change objective to
something different from
your experience.

18. Functional
• Uses career profile in lieu of
objective.
• Focuses on jobseeker’s
knowledge; skills and abilities.
• Lists company names, titles and
job dates at the bottom.
• May list number of years
experience in a function.

19. Advantages & Disadvantages Of The
Functional Resume
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Dates/positions not emphasized.
Skills/experience from not so recent jobs
can be emphasized.
Hides downward regression.
Emphasis on transferrable skills.
Objective may be different from your
experience.
Appropriate when considering a career
change.
Employers are sometimes suspicious
of this format because it can disguise
negative information.
Employers may assume all skills are
current.
Absence of dates may confuse
employers.

20. Emailing and Scanning Tips
Choose conventional fonts like…
Arial
Tahoma
Verdana
Times New Roman
Font sizes should be 10 -12
Avoid a lot of Bold, Italics, Tables and
underlining.
Use KEYWORDS for your industry/job
Do not use Header/Footer
Send a .doc (or .docx) and not a.PDF

21. Creating a
Cover Letter
Why a Cover Letter?
It accompanies a Resume and tells
the employer why he/she is
receiving your Resume
Used to convince the employer:
• Why you are best candidate
• That you understand the
position for which you are
applying
• Why you should be considered
for an interview.

22. Cover Letter
Content
First, your cover letter should
include your contact information so
that the prospective employer can get
in touch with you. Include current
date.
Second, your cover letter must
include the name of the hiring
manager and his/her title; company
name and address, followed by the
proper salutation.
Important: Never use the salutation:
“To whom it may concern.”

23. Cover Letter
Content
First, your cover letter should
include your contact information so
that the prospective employer can get
in touch with you. Include current
date.
Second, your cover letter must
include the name of the hiring
manager and his/her title; company
name and address, followed by the
proper salutation.
Important: Never use the salutation:
“To whom it may concern.”

24. Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:
1. What position your are applying
for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.
2. What you have to offer (middle
paragraph(s).
3. How you want to be contacted at
the employer’s time and
availability.

25. Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:
1. What position your are applying
for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.
2. What you have to offer (middle
paragraph(s).
3. How you want to be contacted at
the employer’s time and
availability.

26. Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:
1. What position your are applying
for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.
2. What you have to offer (middle
paragraph(s).
3. How you want to be contacted at
the employer’s time and
availability.

27. Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:
1. What position your are applying
for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.
2. What you have to offer (middle
paragraph(s).
3. How you want to be contacted at
the employer’s time and
availability.
And last but not the least, don’t forget
the closing; your name, and the word
“Enclosure(s)” to indicate that your
are enclosing your Resume.

28. Reference Page
Prepare as a separate page.
Don not include on your Resume.
“Reference Available Upon Request.”
Prepare at least three references; usually
either two professional and on personal or
three personal and on professional.
Take the reference page with you at the time
of the interview, but submit only if requested
by the prospective employer.

29. Thank You Letters
Send immediately after an interview:
• Card
• Letter
• Phone call
• Email
A THANK YOU LETTER REEMPHASIZES YOUR VALUE
TO THE COMPANY AND RESTATES YOUR INTEREST
IN THE POSITION.

30. Small Things Do Matter
YOU MAY THINK THIS IS JUST
EXTRA WORK FOR YOU….
BUT IT MAY MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING
EMPLOYED…OR…UNEMPLOYED!
IT’S ALL ABOUT GETTING A
JOB DONE!!!
ALWAYS THINK
POSITIVE…
AND REMEMBER TO
KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON
THE BIG PICTURE…