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Creating Your ResumeCreating Your Resume

Norman S. Stahl, Ph.DNorman S. Stahl, Ph.D

Registered Professional Career Counselor

Director, UH Hilo Career CenterPress Left Mouse Button to Move to Next Slide

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There Is No Magic FormatThere Is No Magic Format

But there are

Key Principles: • Target Your Resume

• Look Professional

• Be Easily Read

• Document Skills & Experience

• Stress Accomplishments

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BeforeBefore You Begin WritingYou Begin Writing

Put First Things First • Assess Your

– skills

– attributes

– experience

• Research– your field

– the firms

– the position

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Target Your ResumeTarget Your Resume

• Target your resume and every section in it to the field and the position for which you are applying.

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Look ProfessionalLook Professional

• Aesthetically Pleasing and Balanced

• Organized

• Conservative Fonts w/o Graphics

• Quality Paper– White– Cotton Bond – 24 Lb. Minimum

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Be Easily ReadBe Easily Read

• “Easily Read” = “Easily Scanned”• Consider using bullet format

– Phrases not Sentences– One line per thought – One thought per line

• Judicious use of bold • One page• Thou Shalt Not Use Less Than 11 Point Font !

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Document Document KeyKey Skills & Experience Skills & Experience

• Make Sure that You Address the Position’s Requirements:

– Required Qualifications – Desired Qualifications

• Tell them that YOU have what they want!

• Use Automated Screening Programs to YOUR Advantage– Use Descriptive Job Titles– Use the Employer’s Terminology

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Stress AccomplishmentsStress Accomplishments& Quantify Results& Quantify Results

• Generate a List of Accomplishments (See page 3 of Our Resume Writing Guide)

Think Problems, Solutions, Results

• Quantify with $ # % Grades Etc.

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ContentsContents

• Heading (Contact Information)

• Objective (Optional)

• Qualifications or Skill Summary (I got what you want -- read the rest of this resume for details! -- Optional)

• Education • Professional Certifications / Credentials• Experience Section(s)• Other Categories (Honors / Publications / etc.)

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Chronological ResumeChronological Resume

• Reverse Chronological Order – Most recent experience first– Work backwards from there

• Emphasizes Work/Experience History – When and Where You Gained Your Experience– But you may have more than one experience section

• Type Most Preferred by Employers• See Pages 10, 11, & 12 of our Resume Writing

Guide

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Functional ResumeFunctional Resume

• Emphasizes Skills & Accomplishments• Useful for Certain Problem Situations

– Limited experience– Significant career change– Erratic work history

• But Employers Greet with Skepticism – “What is she trying to hide?”– College students can usually use w/o suspicion

• See Page 13 of our Resume Writing Guide

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CombinationCombination

• Emphasizes Skills and Accomplishments

And

• Includes Work/Experience History

• Useful for a Person Who Has A Lot of Experience in the Same Field

• See Page 14 of our Resume Writing Guide

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Letters of ApplicationLetters of Application

Aka: “Cover Letters” & “Broadcast Letters”: – Identify Position and Create

Interest in You and Your Resume

– Highlight Your Most Salient Qualifications

– Ask for an Interview

• See Pages 8, 15, & 16 of our Resume Writing Guide

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SummarySummary

Before you start writing,

• Assess your skills, strengths & accomplishments

• Research your industry and the firms in that industry

• Apply the key principles: – Target Your Resume

– Professional Look

– Easily Scanned

– Document Key Skills & Experience

– Quantify Results

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Additional AssistanceAdditional Assistance

• Read and Work the Exercises in our Resume Writing Guide!

• Attend One of Our Resume Critique Sessions {See Workshop Schedule for Dates & Times}

• Visit the Career Center in Campus Center 202A to Make an Appointment for Resume Assistance

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? QUESTIONS ?

Attend One of Our “Live” Resume Writing WorkshopsAttend One of Our “Live” Resume Writing Workshops

OrOr

Pick up a Copy of Our Resume Writing Guide in the Career CenterPick up a Copy of Our Resume Writing Guide in the Career Center