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RESUMES

Your Ticket to the Interview

Please use this presentation in conjunction with my Resume

Guide. This is an overview, you need both to help you write

the “4th draft” of your resume for me. Thanks – lisa

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under

CC BY-NC-ND

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under

CC BY-ND

Presenter: Lisa Worsh

THE IMPORTANCE OF A RESUME

Why is a resume valuable?

❑ Brief, informative summary of you

❑ Highlight your strongest assets and skills

❑ Differentiate you from other candidates

seeking similar positions

❑ Ensure you get invited to interview!

❑ Use it to sell yourself!

RESUME FACTS

❑ The “30 second glance”

❑ Well crafted, targeted, error free resume =

higher chance for the interview

❑ Not a complete history, but highlights

▪ You can have “more” information on your Linkedin

profile, etc.

SAMPLE FIRST RESUME: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

This Photo by Unknown

Author is licensed under

CC BY-SA-NC

This Photo by

Unknown Author

is licensed under

CC BY-NC-ND

Concentrate

on the

format and

your “gut

reaction” to

how it looks.

The format is:

- boring,

- inconsistent,

- and ugly….also

- job descriptions

are lacking (but it is a start…)

Now,

• Format is a lot cleaner,

consistent, and

attractive

• Better choice of email

• More info about

school/degree

• Job descriptions are

much better!

• Added some

volunteering and an

academic project

• Elaborated on skills

• Made interests more

“interesting”

FORMAT/STRUCTURE OF THE RESUME – BASICS

• Create your resume in Microsoft Word (NU students can download it for

free)

• Margins should not be smaller than 0.6 on top, bottom, and 0.8 on

sides

• Font size should be no larger than 12 nor smaller than 10(your name can be larger than 12, but smaller than 18)

• Eventually your resume needs to be one page

• Do NOT use a template - they are very hard to edit and tend to waste space

• Format your resume the way I describe in my RESUME Guide It is easier for employers to read, saves space, and allows you to fit more

SECTIONS OF THE RESUME

• Your resume needs at least four sections:

1. Contact Information

2. Education (Honors, GPA, Study Abroad, Activities, Courses)

3. Experience (Work, Volunteer, etc.)

4. Skills and Interests (computer, language, certifications,

interests) : “Interests” are optional, but encouraged

• Do NOT write an objective - they are

either too broad or too specific to help – cover

letters can cover what you want to say in this regard

SECTION 1: CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address should be professional

Voicemail message must be employer ready

Name should be visible but not huge

SECTION 2: EDUCATION

Format your education section like these so you can fit in all the information

they want to know (like honors, study abroad, activities, relevant classes, etc.)

FORMAT/WRITING OF THE RESUME –TIPS/RULES

• NEVER write in full sentences in a resume!

• Start every sentence or bullet with a power verb (see VMOCK for

examples)

• DELETE articles (a, an, the, etc.) and possessive words (their, my,

our, etc.)

• Dates should be: month year - month year (ex: Dec 2009- July

2010)

…not 12/09 - 7/10) … numbers look awkward and some countries read them differently

• NO periods with bullets

• Remember QUALITY over Quantity - 4 experiences with multiple

bullets (depth) is better than 8 with 2 bullets each

SECTION 3: EXPERIENCE

Format your experience section like these so you can easily see the

COMPANY, WHERE, WHAT you did, and for HOW LONG)

-and it takes up less space)

SECTION 4: SKILLS AND INTERESTS(AND CERTIFICATIONS – IF YOU WANT TO ADD THEM)

This section helps the employer:

• See your Skills and the LEVEL of proficiency you have with them

SKILLS can include Computer, lab & field, languages, other

• If you have Certifications, you can list them as well

• Listing Interests can help start great discussions.

• 1st Draft – Brainstorm/ Brain Dump

• 2nd Draft – Clean up, neaten format,

improve descriptions

• 3rd Draft – Add details about the

purpose of the work…(the “what”

and the “SO WHAT”)

• 4th Draft – add quantitative details

& professional terms. Proofread!

WHAT DOES LISA MEAN BY A 4TH DRAFT OF YOUR RESUME (FOR CLASS)?

FIRST STEP: BRAINSTORM/ “BRAIN DUMP”

• Create a list of past experiences

• Professional Experiences

• Volunteer Activities

• Academic Projects

• Leadership Activities

• Remember to list:

• Dates

• Location

• Job or position title (if applicable)

• Skills you utilized in position/experience

1ST DRAFT EXAMPLE

• Brain dump

• Take what you have collected …..

• Clean Up

• 2nd draft is more refined and a marked improvement in

format, writing, dates, descriptions, etc.

✓Use the resume format suggested by your co-op coordinator

✓Collect all education things, GPA, leadership, etc. together in

that section

✓Move supervisor info to a reference page

✓Descriptions become more than simplified tasks

2ND DRAFT EXPLAINED AND EXAMPLE

• Add details about the employer or purpose of the job,

bring in skills (customer service, problem solving, etc.)

✓ Think about the employer reading your resume…

They want to know “what” (what you did).

✓ But they really care more about “so what” (Why did it matter?.. How did you help the employer meet their

goals?…What SKILLS do you have,? Why do they need you?)

3RD DRAFT EXPLAINED AND EXAMPLE

DESCRIBE more fully

Do this Skills

Inventory exercise

✓ It will help you

brainstorm items

& describe them

more deeply

( hyperlinked to the picture)

• “Professionalize” it

✓Add quantitative details and

professional terms:

think about “what the employers need”

and what you have to offer – highlight those

transferrable skills and accolades

✓Think about if you have missed

anything ….

4TH DRAFT EXPLAINED AND EXAMPLE

This version may still not perfect, but you have now “racked your brain” and improved what you are

starting with (when we meet in person).

RESUME – DOUBLE CHECK – GET FEEDBACK

From here,

Get feedback!

• Meet with your co-op faculty member, your TA, Career Design, etc.

Now we can add helpful input on “how you are writing your

resume” rather than just format and spell check.

You have to get your resume “out of your head” before someone else

can help.

Remember, no one knows what you have done and can do.. .better

than you!) ☺

HOMEWORK:

• You CAN do this! Your resume will be great!

VMOCK: WHAT’S THAT?

• It is a tool to offer critique and feedback on your resume

(the picture is hyperlinked)

Address Contact info