This document provides guidance on creating an effective resume. It discusses the purpose of a resume, formatting guidelines, content guidelines, and common resume problems and solutions. The key points covered include tailoring the resume to the specific job by doing research on the employer, using a standard resume format of 1-2 pages with easy-to-read fonts and spacing, including relevant qualifications and accomplishments using action verbs and metrics, and addressing issues like gaps in work history or dates that make the applicant seem overqualified. The workshop provides tips on writing an effective summary statement, skills list, experience section, and cover letters to help applicants create resumes that clearly showcase their qualifications for the desired position.

1. Resume Writing
Workshop
Instructor -
E-mail -
Phone-
1

2. Expectations and
Concerns 2

3. • It is a powerful marketing tool
showcasing your qualifications for the job.
• It is a memorable presentation of your experience, skills,
knowledge, and expertise in an easy-to-read format.
• An effective resume clearly answers the employer’s question,
“What can this job applicant do for me?”
What is a resume? 3

4. • To get the interview
• To structure the interview
• To remind the employer of your best points during
the selection process
What is the Purpose of a Resume? 4

5. Do Your Homework First!
• Tailor the resume based on your research
• Highlight your qualifications based on the employer’s needs
• Follow the employer’s application instructions to the letter!
Leads/Sources
• Job Descriptions & Job Announcements
• Human Resources
• Company Website
• Internet
Homework! 5

6. • 1-2 full pages
• Easy to read
Phrases vs. sentences
Lists vs. paragraphs
Priority order of most important information
• Good use of white space; ¾ - 1” margins
• 11-12 point for main body
• Arial or Times New Roman
• Conservative use of bullets, underline, bold, and italics
• No errors – “Hire” a proofreader!
• Use high quality bond paper
Format Guidelines 6

7. • An average resume tells the employer what you did on the job
• A great resume tells the employer how well you did it
• Use “action” verbs
• Quantify job duties – use #s, %s, $ amounts, and state positive
results
• Remove all personal pronouns . . . You, I, My, We, They
• Use accepted terminology . . . avoid jargon and abbreviations
• Include job title, company name, city, state and dates of
employment
• Do not include supervisor’s name, company mailing address,
salary, or references
• Omit “References Available Upon Request”
• Generic resumes are NOT effective
• If you want the job, do your homework and tailor your resume to
meet the employer’s expectations
Content Guidelines 7

8. 1. Contact Information
3. Summary Statement
5. Skills List or Summary
7. Experience
5. Education and/or Training
Five Basic Sections 8

9. • Other Sections
Licenses and Certifications
Affiliations
Volunteer and Community Involvement
Honors, Recognitions, and Awards
Professional Development
Value to an Organization
Personal Reference
Other Sections 9

10. What NOT to What to INCLUDE:
Include:
• Name (bold, larger font)
•Social Security
Number • Complete Address (including zip
•Date of birth code)
•Marital status/children • Phone/Message phone (including
•Personal Data (height/
weight, health,
area code)
ethnicity, etc.) • Appropriate Email Address
•Photo
• Linked-In Profile
Contact Information 10

11. When writing your
summary statement,
• A clear, concise statement of your
consider including the experience tailored to the job you
following: are seeking.
• Job Title
• Core Competencies • Emphasize what you bring to the
• Industry employer rather than what you
• Years of Experience want from the employer.
• Highlight of
Accomplishments
• Degrees/Certifications
• 2-3 key phrases.
• Language Skills
• Technical Skills
• Management Style
Summary Statement 11

12. • Summary Statements can be called:
Career Summary Field of Experience
Profile Strengths
Career Profile Expertise
Career Highlights Strengths & Expertise
Professional Profile Qualifications
Professional Summary Summary of Qualifications
Other Choices 12

13. Summary
Objective Statement: Statement:
What I Want! What I Bring!
• Seeking a position as a • Human Resources
valued member of a Manager with 5 years
successful human experience. Skilled in
resources department identifying superior job
where I can use my skills, candidates. Proven
energy, and talents in a record of building
position with potential for competent and cohesive
advancement. work teams.
13

14. • List skills that most relate to the job
target
• Easy-to-read format (i.e., columns)
• Include 9-15 skills
Skills Summary 14

15. • Use reverse chronological order – list last job first
• Go back 10 years, with less detailed job descriptions
on positions further back in work history
• Use concise accomplishment statements (#s, %s, $
amounts, rankings)
• Use action verbs
• Experience can include full and part-time
employment, paid and unpaid internships, volunteer
work, and temporary positions
Experience 15

16. • List most recent education or training first
• Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A.), major, institution
attended, courses taken – if applicable
• List military or specialized training when appropriate
• Certifications or licenses may be added in this section
• Education can include in-service classes, workshops
and seminars, and on-the-job training
• GPA: Include GPAs that are 3.5 and above
• Leave dates off if they “date” you!
Education and/or
Training 16

17. • Licenses & Certifications
Based on individual
• Affiliations
circumstances, add,
delete, or change • Volunteer & Community
sections in order to Involvement
market your • Honors, Recognitions & Awards
qualifications most • Professional Development
effectively
• Value to an Organization
• Personal Reference
Other Sections 17

18. COVER LETTERS:
Another Marketing Tool
18

19. • Always include a cover letter when
submitting a resume
• Personalize the greeting whenever
The cover letter is an possible
introduction to your • Answer the employer’s question
resume & an additional “What can this applicant do for
me?”
opportunity to showcase
• Select 4-5 skills from the job description
your skills to the (homework) and briefly describe how your
employer qualifications match with the employer’s needs
• Express your knowledge of the
company
• No errors! “Hire” a proofreader!
• If faxing or mailing, sign your cover
letter using a black pen
Cover Letters 19

20. Critique a resume through the eyes of. . .
• A Graphic Artist
How does it look?
• An English Teacher
How does it sound?
• A Future Employer
Does it answer the employer’s question “What can this job
candidate do for me?”
• Your Eyes
Does it market your skills and qualifications in the best
possible light? Do you love your resume?
How to Critique a Resume 20

21. Resumes & Cover Letters
Activity 21

22. Extension for Microsoft office. Consider saving as
a Word 97-2003 document to ensure readability
Can be read and edited by many different word
processors. Most word processors will allow you
to save in this format.
Also called ASCII or plain texts, or .txt files.
Recognized by all word processors and text
editors. Often used for special purposes or in
situations where formatted text is unsuitable (i.e.
job boards).
File will look the same on the screen and in print,
regardless of what kind of computer or software
package was originally used to create it. Requires
free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view file.
Emailing Your Resume 22

23. Online Resumes 23

24. RESUME PROBLEMS AND
SOLUTIONS 24

25. • If training or work opportunities were obtained
during an incarceration period, write the name of the
facility and your title under “Work Experience” and
list skills or contributions just as you would other
jobs.
• This information is best handled in a face-to-face
interview when an explanation can be provided
regarding how you have learned from your mistakes
and are currently interested in making a positive
contribution to the employer’s operation.
Criminal Background 25

26. • Lead with whatever makes you most qualified
for the position which you are applying
•Education with
Limited Work
• Start with “Professional/Relevant” experience
Experience
and education that relates to the job you are
seeking
•Lack of Experience
• Put your unrelated work history in a separate
section entitled “Additional Experience” or
•Unrelated Job “Prior Experience” at the end of the resume
Experience
• Apply for jobs where you meet the minimum
qualifications
Experience 26

27. • If your religious or political experience will enhance
your skill base for the job you are seeking, include it
in “Complementary Experience” or “Community
Involvement”
• Be selective and general in your titles and
descriptions
• Steer away from naming specific religions or political
parties
Religious and/or
Political Experience 27

28. • Don’t list education dates if they are more than 10
years old
• List dates year-to-year or total number of years
worked
• State the information differently (e.g. “More than 10
years successful experience...” is the same as
“Twenty-five years successful experience…”
• Take the risk and leave dates off completely
Dates that Date You 28

29. • Show the gap without comment and be prepared to
address it in an interview
• De-emphasize dates by listing them year-to-year
(1999-2000) or actual amount of time worked (1
year) or (18 months), etc.
Gaps in Work History 29

30. • Include relevant jobs only and list dates year-to-year
• Consolidate 2 or 3 related jobs into one title
• List the companies and dates year-to-year
• Combine all your accomplishments from each
individual position into one job description
• Show all the jobs without comment and be prepared
to address it in an interview
Too Many Jobs in a
Brief Period of Time 30

31. Questions? 31