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Strategic Resumes July 2016
The document provides tips for navigating the three barriers a resume must pass through: the applicant tracking system (ATS), human resources (HR), and the hiring manager. It advises tailoring the resume for each application by using keywords from the job description. Formatting tips are given to avoid ATS rejection, like including dates on the right and avoiding tables. For HR, errors should be avoided. Hiring managers spend 6 seconds reviewing each resume, so it should be easy to read and impress with skills and accomplishments. Sample resumes are reviewed in a group activity to identify strong elements. Additional sections, like summaries, profiles, and accomplishment statements are discussed.
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Strategic Resumes July 2016
- 1. Eilidh Sligo, July 2016for YWCA FOCUS@Work *
- 2. * 1. The 3Barriers your Resume Must Get Through 2. Group Activity: Think Like a Hiring Manager 3. Resume Format & Structure 4. Individual Activity: Writing Accomplishment Statements 5. Breaking the Resume Rules 6. Questions
- 3. * ATS HR Hiring Manager 1. ATS(Applicant Tracking System): Avoid Elimination 2. HR: Avoid Elimination 3. Hiring Manager: Impress
- 4. *Follow application instructionsexactly *Use specific keywords from the job description *Do not use underline or italics *Do not include information in a table or diagram and avoid page borders *Do not include information in the header or footer *Place dates on the right hand side *Do not include skills that you don’t possess in an attempt to trick the ATS! * Typically ATS will reject 75% of online applications! At this stage, the key is to avoid elimination
- 5. * • Mission: Toreduce the number of resumes that the Hiring Manager must look at • Average of 6 seconds per resume • Checking for qualification and experience requirements • Unforgiving of typos, spelling & grammar errors • Will not necessarily understand specific technical acronyms • Make it easy for them! At this stage, the key is to avoid elimination
- 6. • Mission: Toidentify people who will contribute to the success of their department • Impress them with your skills and accomplishments, not job duties (they know!) • Showcase your industry knowledge • Quantify your successes to help them imagine you supporting their success • Know what they actually do At this stage, the key is to impress *
- 7. * 1. Get intogroups or pairs 2. Look through the resumes 3. Decide which one(s) you would put into the ‘yes’ pile 4. Group discussion You only have 5 minutes – a lot longer than most Hiring Managers would take!
- 8. Resume 1: Oldfashioned Resume 2: Messy! Resume 3: Winning (in my opinion!) Resume 4: Too much information *
- 9.
- 10. * Concise Max. 2 pages ErrorFree No spelling or grammar errors Easy to Read Arial, calibri or verdana font size 11 or 12 1” margins Don’t make the recruiter search! Consistent Professional But you can add some colour
- 11. * Your resume hasto be relevant to the position that you are applying for – one size does not fit all. How can you determine what is relevant? 1.Read the job description 2.Industry and organization research
- 12. * Name, address,contact telephone number and email address Include your LinkedIn link Accurate & easy to read Use a professional email address Don’t put it in the ‘Header’ section on Word If using color, keep it professional and minimal
- 13. * What is thepurpose of a headline? • Entice the reader to read • Concisely summarize what the article is about Administrative Assistant Typing Speed of 80 WPM Skilled in MS Office Suite Recruitment Specialist: Connecting Business with Skilled Professionals Health Care Assistant Customer Service Experienced Tour Guide Fluent in English & Japanese Event Coordinator | BBA | Total Event Management
- 14. * In the 6seconds that recruiters spend looking at your resume, they spend the most time looking at the top third. What makes a strong resume profile or summary? Tailored for each application Highlights 3-4 of your skills that are most relevant to the job More than just a list of skills Written in the 3rd person (do not use “I”) Concise and easy to read Paragraph or bullet point format I know how busy you are, so I’ve pulled together the most compelling components of my resume and put them in an easy to read section at the top….you’re welcome!
- 15. * Example One (NotGood – Do Not Use) “A motivated individual who excels in administrative support and can work well as part of a team or independently.” Example Two (Good) “An administrative professional with 3+ years of experience providing support to senior management. Proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook with a typing speed of 80WPM. Experienced at utilizing strong administrative skills to assist local community organizations to manage membership fees.” Or * An administrative professional with 3+ years of experience providing support to senior management. * Proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook with a typing speed of 80WPM. * Experienced at utilizing strong administrative skills to assist local community organizations to manage membership fees.
- 16. * In reverse chronologicalorder Full-Time Employment Part-Time Employment Volunteer Work Internships Summer Work International Employment
- 17. * Vacuum 1 • Capturesmore dirt and microscopic dust than any other cyclone. • Captures particles that clog conventional vacuum cleaner bags and filters. • Uses half the energy of conventional vacuums. Vacuum 2 • Cleans dirt from the floor. • Plugs into the wall. • Can be emptied. • Has various attachments. • Can fit in a closet.
- 18. * Ask yourself: *What areyou most proud of? *How do you compare to your co-workers? *Was there anything that you did above and beyond your normal responsibilities? *Was there a time when you were recognized for a job well done? *Was there something that you did that resulted in improvements? *Can you quantify your achievements? Your resume should not just be a list of your job duties. You need to tell your potential employer what you can do well and the skills that you have.
- 19. * *Number of employeesmanaged *% increase in sales and/or profits *Number of senior staff supported *$ saved *$ budget managed *Age of children taught *Number of patients cared for *Age of patients cared for *Frequency of a task *Number of people presented to *Size of committee chaired *Time saved *Number of people you hired *% of deadlines met *$ under budget Don’t assume that it is obvious!
- 20. * Sales Assistant June2015 – July 2015 ABC Company | Vancouver | BC • Skill (action verb) + What You Did + Results/Purpose (how or why) Sales Assistant Jan. 2015 – Sept. 2015 ABC Company | North Vancouver | BC • Served customers • Re-stocked shelves • Cleaned store Sales Assistant Jan. 2015 – Sept. 2015 ABC Company | North Vancouver | BC • Served over 100 customers per day in a busy store using excellent communication to improve customer service; processed credit and cash payments accurately. • Maintained stock levels by counting products throughout the day and re-stocking in-demand items. Immediately reported any stock shortages to manager to request re-order. • Cleaned the store, accurately following end-of-day procedures to ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for all customers.
- 21. * Take a lookat one of your current employment experiences, consider: *Do your bullet points start with an action verb *Used the past tense for previous jobs and present tense for current jobs? *Do you show the value that you added? *Have you quantified a task, or any success? *Would someone who doesn’t know you have a clear understanding of what you did? Any why it was important? Try re-writing a bullet point based on the formula below Skill (action verb) + What You Did + Results/Purpose (how or why)
- 22. * Accounting Assistant Diploma2004 Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC Psychology Courses 2011 BCIT, Burnaby, BC BA Business with Psychology 1998 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Psychology Courses BCIT, Burnaby, BC BA Business with Psychology Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Social Media Marketing Courses 2016 Lighthouse Labs, Vancouver, BC Series of one day courses including: • Increasing followers (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) • Online brand management • Creating and sharing engaging posts
- 23. * What are someexamples of relevant skills?
- 24. * “96% of resumesinclude reading, travelling, music and web browsing in the ‘interests and hobbies’ section” • Relevant • Team Based & Social • Unique • Achievement • Be Honest!
- 25. * Your references areprecious…these are people who will be the final check for employers before they make you an offer. *Don’t include these on your resume *Don’t include the statement “References are available on request” *Have a good professional relationship with your references When should you provide your references to a potential employer?
- 26. * *Don’t hide essentialskills/certifications *Use headings strategically *Volunteer employment can be listed first *Consider a short organization description *Use headings accurately & consistently
- 27. *Eilidh Sligo eilidhsligo@gmail.com |Linkedin.ca/eilidhsligo | @EilidhSligo