Professional Professional ResumeResume

ResumesResumes

What is the purpose of a resume?What is the purpose of a resume?To get a job you really wantTo get a job you really wantTo give your work historyTo give your work historyTo entice a prospective employer To entice a prospective employer to call you for an interviewto call you for an interview

Entice a prospective Entice a prospective employeremployer

Show the employer that you can Show the employer that you can make an immediate & valuable make an immediate & valuable contributioncontribution

Only include information relevant Only include information relevant to the position to the position

Focus on where you are going with Focus on where you are going with your career (short and long-term your career (short and long-term goals)goals)

Types of ResumeTypes of Resume

ChronologicalChronological (most common, lists (most common, lists the most recent job experience first)the most recent job experience first)

Functional Functional (Describes (Describes set of set of skills/specific accomplishmentsskills/specific accomplishments ) )

CombinationCombination (Uses major skills in an (Uses major skills in an addition to a record of job addition to a record of job experience)experience)

Electronic/ScannableElectronic/Scannable

Electronic/ScannableElectronic/Scannable

Scanned by a computer using optical Scanned by a computer using optical character recognition softwarecharacter recognition software

Helps large employers manage a large Helps large employers manage a large number of resumesnumber of resumes

Used to respond to Internet job postings Used to respond to Internet job postings Database search for specific skills, Database search for specific skills,

experience and educationexperience and education Electronic Resume = Formats, uploads Electronic Resume = Formats, uploads

converts, or scanned by computer converts, or scanned by computer (Common)(Common)

Electronic Resume Electronic Resume ScanningScanning

Avoid italics, Avoid italics,

underlining, underlining,

shadows, and shadows, and

reverse type.reverse type. Avoid vertical Avoid vertical

and horizontal and horizontal

lines, graphics, lines, graphics,

and boxes.and boxes.

CENTER name and CENTER name and address.address.

Use standard fonts Use standard fonts such as Helvetica, such as Helvetica, and Timesand Times

Use white or ivory Use white or ivory paper.paper.

Use key words, Use key words, jargon and acronyms jargon and acronyms specific to your specific to your industry.industry.

Resume LayoutResume Layout

Try to have Try to have one-inchone-inch margins margins on on all sides. You want to create the all sides. You want to create the visual impression that there is visual impression that there is not too much reading to be done.not too much reading to be done.

Font size should be Font size should be 12-14 12-14 pt.!pt.! Anything less will give the reader Anything less will give the reader eyestrain.eyestrain.

Printing needs to be laser Printing needs to be laser quality.quality.

Resume Do’s…Resume Do’s…

Use short phrases rather than Use short phrases rather than complete sentences. complete sentences.

Use positive language in Use positive language in describing your accomplishments.  describing your accomplishments.  (use action words)(use action words)

Keep the reader of your resume in Keep the reader of your resume in mind. Ask yourself, “If I were the mind. Ask yourself, “If I were the employer, would I interview this employer, would I interview this person?"person?"

Skill AssessmentSkill Assessment

1. Find out what skills, knowledge, 1. Find out what skills, knowledge, experience and training are experience and training are required for job.required for job.

2. Make a list of your 3-5 strongest 2. Make a list of your 3-5 strongest skills or abilities that make you a skills or abilities that make you a strong candidate for your target.strong candidate for your target.

Resume ComponentsResume Components

Identification InformationIdentification Information ObjectiveObjective EducationEducation SkillsSkills ExperienceExperience ActivitiesActivities

Career ObjectiveCareer Objective

Every resume needs one!Every resume needs one! Gives focus to your job searchGives focus to your job search Clear and concise statement about Clear and concise statement about

the position you are seeking using a the position you are seeking using a job title or a job descriptionjob title or a job description

May be specific or generalMay be specific or general

Sample of ObjectivesSample of Objectives

Chemical engineer with focus in Chemical engineer with focus in biopharmaceuticals biopharmaceuticals

Seeking a management position which Seeking a management position which utilizes my engineering background utilizes my engineering background

Process Engineer with Dow ChemicalsProcess Engineer with Dow Chemicals Technical service representative in the Technical service representative in the

computer science industrycomputer science industry Seeking position in lean manufacturingSeeking position in lean manufacturing

EducationEducation List items in reverse chronological orderList items in reverse chronological order List high school only if you have not gone to List high school only if you have not gone to

collegecollege Name of institution, city, state, degree, Name of institution, city, state, degree,

major/minor, graduation date, GPA=3.0 major/minor, graduation date, GPA=3.0 Selected relevant courses/Detail on course Selected relevant courses/Detail on course

workwork Honors/ScholarshipsHonors/Scholarships Computer skillsComputer skills Foreign languagesForeign languages % self-supporting if greater than 50%% self-supporting if greater than 50%

Sample EducationSample Education

EducationEducation

University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky Lexington, KY Lexington, KY

Masters degree in Mechanical EngineeringMasters degree in Mechanical Engineering August, August, 20082008

GPA: 3.0/4.0, worked 20+ hours/weekGPA: 3.0/4.0, worked 20+ hours/week

XYZ UniversityXYZ University IndiaIndia

Bachelor degree in Electrical EngineeringBachelor degree in Electrical Engineering May May 20052005

SkillsSkills

Highlights qualifications in an easy Highlights qualifications in an easy to read formatto read format

Example:Example:

QualificationsQualifications• Proficient in C++, HTML, JAVAProficient in C++, HTML, JAVA• Knowledge of lean manufacturingKnowledge of lean manufacturing• 4 years customer service experience4 years customer service experience

ExperiencesExperiences

Anything career related, including Anything career related, including volunteer positions, co-ops, volunteer positions, co-ops, internshipsinternships

List in reverse chronological order List in reverse chronological order (most recent position first)(most recent position first)

Info to include: employer, location Info to include: employer, location (city, state), job title, dates of (city, state), job title, dates of employment and description of your employment and description of your duties and accomplishmentsduties and accomplishments

Work ExperienceWork Experience

Start with your current position and work your Start with your current position and work your way back.  way back. 

List a minimum of 3 related positions – try to go List a minimum of 3 related positions – try to go back 10 years.  Be sure to include job duties and back 10 years.  Be sure to include job duties and accomplishments for each position.  accomplishments for each position. 

Again, tailor your details to the job for which you Again, tailor your details to the job for which you are applying.are applying.

Sample ExperienceSample Experience

Powerful Job Description Statements Powerful Job Description Statements With Action WordsWith Action Words

Example:Example:Toyota Toyota Erlanger, KYErlanger, KY

Engineering Co-opEngineering Co-op Spring 2005, Spring 2005, Summer 2006Summer 2006

Designed car doors using AutoCADDesigned car doors using AutoCAD Developed and formalized Developed and formalized

manufacturing processesmanufacturing processes Reduced waste on line by 20%, saving Reduced waste on line by 20%, saving

$300,000$300,000

ActivitiesActivities

Include Relevant Activities Include Relevant Activities (i.e., (i.e., Fraternity, Sorority, Campus Fraternity, Sorority, Campus Organizations, Sports, etc.)Organizations, Sports, etc.)

List positions and describe your List positions and describe your participationparticipation

Incorporate skills acquired and usedIncorporate skills acquired and used Focus on accomplishmentsFocus on accomplishments

Additional InformatinAdditional Informatin

Honors and ActivitiesHonors and Activities Computer SkillsComputer Skills AccomplishmentsAccomplishments Professional MembershipsProfessional Memberships ProjectsProjects Skills or Summary of SkillsSkills or Summary of Skills

Resume TipsResume Tips

Use black ink on white, ivory, or gray Use black ink on white, ivory, or gray resume paper.resume paper.

Should NOT include a picture unless Should NOT include a picture unless you are applying for a job in modeling you are applying for a job in modeling or ministry.or ministry.

One page only, unless you are writing One page only, unless you are writing an academic vita.an academic vita.

Mail in a large envelope to prevent Mail in a large envelope to prevent unnecessary creasing.unnecessary creasing.

Resume TipsResume Tips

Reflects the truthReflects the truth Is free of errors and gimmicksIs free of errors and gimmicks Is visually powerful and easy to readIs visually powerful and easy to read Focuses on skills and uses action Focuses on skills and uses action

words to get the reader’s attentionwords to get the reader’s attention Should always be accompanied by a Should always be accompanied by a

cover lettercover letter

Do…Do…

Demonstrate how you can benefit an Demonstrate how you can benefit an employeremployer Use reflective language (what does Use reflective language (what does

their ad say?)their ad say?) Keep concise and relevantKeep concise and relevant Manage referees Manage referees Check spelling and grammarCheck spelling and grammar Target resume for specific jobsTarget resume for specific jobs Always send a targeted cover letterAlways send a targeted cover letter

DON’T…DON’T… Use an inappropriate email address:Use an inappropriate email address:

superstud@yahoo.comsuperstud@yahoo.com Leave major gaps in the dates without Leave major gaps in the dates without

explanationexplanation … … remember - short and remember - short and

sharp sharp Go into too much detail about duties Go into too much detail about duties Try to be humorousTry to be humorous Lie or over inflate your experienceLie or over inflate your experience Use fancy fonts or change fonts Use fancy fonts or change fonts

throughout throughout … … keep it simplekeep it simple

Other TipsOther Tips

Proofread your resume for correct Proofread your resume for correct spelling, punctuation, and spelling, punctuation, and grammatical and typographical grammatical and typographical errors. Have your resume critiqued errors. Have your resume critiqued by by severalseveral professionals. professionals.

Use capital letters, dashes, bolding or Use capital letters, dashes, bolding or bullets for emphasis. Use these bullets for emphasis. Use these symbols sparingly, or they lose their symbols sparingly, or they lose their effect.  effect. 

Never use the word “I” Never use the word “I”

Is your resume….Is your resume….

Concise.Concise.

Focused.Focused.

Easy to read and find information.Easy to read and find information.

Error-free.Error-free.

PowerfulPowerful