resume guidance - a guide towards quality resume
TRANSCRIPT
Resume Writing
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Objectives • Review the purpose of a
resume
• Learn the types of resumes
• The sole purpose of your resume is to effectively sell your credentials for the
purpose of employment, admission to Universities, consideration for a scholarship or fellowship, or other professional purposes.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
What Is a Resume?
• Personal summary of your professional history
• Includes anything a person wants to express about:
– Career Goals
– Education
– Experience
– Activities
– Honors
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
General Guidelines
• Length: Limit resume to min 2 typed page
• Font: Arial or Times New Roman – Between 10 – 12 point font
• Paper: Use 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch paper (A4 size) – White
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Preliminary Research
• Find Out: – General job information
– Desired qualifications and skills
– Key values and key words
• Look on: – Company website
– Job advertisement
– Any publications about the company
(magazines, articles, etc.)
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade
Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME Resume is summary of your educational qualification details
It highlights your skills and experience relevant to the field
It highlights your objective and accomplishments
Its purpose is to get you an Interview call
A resume should reflect more than just work experience
It should consider your extracurricular, and leadership qualities
TYPES OF RESUMES
Chronological resumes
Functional resume
Combination resumes
Curriculum vitae (CVs)
Online Resumes
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Chronological Resume
• Key components of Chronological Resume Identification
Job Objective
Key Accomplishments
Education
Professional Experience
Affiliations/Interests
References
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
The Chronological Resume
• The most commonly used resume format is the chronological resume. On a chronological resume, your work history is listed by job title beginning with your current or most recent job.
• The chronological resume works best for job seekers who: – Want to showcase a steady employment history
– Are looking for a position that matches or logically progresses from previous jobs
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
The Functional Resume
• The functional resume highlights your skills without revealing the dates associated with your job history. The functional resume minimizes specific job titles and eliminates dates of employment, while emphasizing your abilities and skills.
• The functional resume works well if you: – Have worked many different jobs or possess very
diverse skills
– Have skills that relate to the position, but not a lot of previous work experience in the field
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Combination Resume
The hybrid resume balances the functional and chronological approaches
It starts with skills, accomplishments, and qualifications of the job
applicant.
Second page is reverse chronological ordering of your work experience.
This format allows the reader to first match your qualification against job opening.
It showcases your work experiences in the most marketable fashion.
It highlights your both job skills and accomplishments.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
SECTIONS Your Resume
Objective
Experience
Contact Information
Qualification
Project Details
Interests Awards & Achievements
Workshop & Seminars attended
IT Skills
Key Strength
Personal Details
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Contact Information
• Include: – Name
– Permanent and/or campus addresses
– Permanent and/or campus phone numbers
– Email address
If you do not include contact information
(how to reach you), your resume will most probably be thrown in the trash.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Objective Statements
• Two different approaches to objective statements
– Brief and to the point
– Detailed description of desired position and qualifications
You must decide which approach is best!
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
What is an objective statement?
• A short section (usually 1-3 lines), often in the form
of a sentence fragment, immediately below your
contact information
• An “at a glance” picture of you and your career
interests
• Other names: Professional Objective, Resume
Capsule, Career Goals, Career Objective etc.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Why write one?
• Emphasize key
qualifications, skills
and/or goals
• Help your readers find
what they need to
know quickly
• Make a good first
impression
Q: Is this a good objective statement?
• Well-written but raises too many questions
• For example: What kind of internship? What knowledge? What kinds of expertise? Which areas?
An internship allowing me to utilize my
knowledge and expertise in different areas
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
A good objective statement answers questions
• What position(s) are you
applying for?
• What are your main
qualifications?
• What are your career goals?
• What is your professional
identity?
The importance of tailoring
• Sometimes one size
does NOT fit all
• Each person and
employer is unique in
certain ways
• Aim for a custom fit
when possible, but
how?
Questions about employers
• What qualifications are most desired by employers in
your field?
• What positions are available on the job market?
• What are they titled?
• What are some goals of the organizations that
interest you?
• What kinds of organizations are now hiring?
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
“Instant” objective statements
• For practice, fill in the parts in brackets
– To utilize my [qualifications, strengths, or skills] as a
[position title]
– A position as a [position title] for [company name]
allowing me to develop my [qualifications, strengths, or
skills]
– An opportunity to [professional goal] in a [type of
organization, work environment, or field]
– [position title] with emphasis in [areas of expertise]
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
First Approach: Brief
To seek the position of Human resource analyst.
Seeking to obtain a position of administrative support
To obtain position as a Accountant
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Second Approach: Descriptive
To work in an organization where my technical skills will be best utilized and provide my career a rapid and good
growth
A data entry clerk position where I can utilize my skills and work experience to improve efficiency and
profitability of company
To obtain a waitress position in the Food and Beverage Industry with a challenging company that offers me the
possibility of professional growth and career advancement opportunities
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Qualification
• Professional & Education Qualification
• Beginning with the highest level of educational achievement, include:
– University / Board
– School / College Name
– Majors/Minors
– Date of program completion
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Work Experience
• Include positions you have held which are related, in some way, to the job you are seeking. – Can be both paid and volunteer positions
• Be creative with this section of your resume by describing and emphasizing your experiences in the most relevant way possible.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
What is an experience section?
• A section that emphasizes your past and present
employment and/or your participation in relevant
activities
• Other common names: Professional Experience,
Work History, Field Work, Volunteer Work, etc.
• Special names: Technical Experience, Supervisory
Experience, Aviation Experience, etc.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
What goes into this section?
• Company or organization and location (city, state)
• Position title
• Dates of employment or involvement
• Descriptions of responsibilities, duties, achievements, etc.
Getting started…
List your past and present experiences.
Include:
– jobs
– volunteer positions
– appointments
– assistantships
– internships
– etc.
Developing your descriptions
• Use varied action words to describe experiences
• Answer the journalistic questions:
– Who?…With whom did you work?
– What? …What duties did you perform?
– Where? …Where did your job fit into the organization?
– Why? …What goals were you trying to accomplish?
– When? …What timelines were you working under?
– How? …What procedures did you follow?
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Work Experience
HR Specialist Sept 2004 – Dec 2005
Company Name, Place.
-Role & responsibility
Asst. Manager HR May 2003 – June 2004
Honeybell, Bangalore
-Data banking, short listing of resumes, conducting interviews, laisioning with
various departments of the organizations
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade
Lecturer, Garden City College
The Extras Section
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
What is an honors and activities section?
• A section that emphasizes
your participation in
relevant activities and any
honors you have received
• Other names: Awards,
Memberships, Volunteer
Work, Hobbies
White Space
GOOD BAD
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Where does this section go?
• Usually last section on last
page
• Sometimes omitted
Extra Tips
• Ultimate goal is to get an interview. • Employer will only take 15 seconds to glance at a
resume. • Most resumes are scanned by a computer for
keywords, so match the words in advertisement in your resume.
• Have a copy of your resume in plain text to email to employer. To save in plain text:
In Microsoft Word, go to Save As and save the file in text only format.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade
Lecturer, Garden City College
Extra Tips
• Have someone read over your resume for errors that spellcheck doesn’t find.
Ex: Using their instead of there
Confusing two & too
• Microsoft Word has several resume templates. - We are using Chronological Resume –CV (Modern)
• Have white space in the resume so its not overwhelming to the reader.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Important Tip! Bad grammar is a terrible issue in many resumes. Here is one
of the most frequently misused word combinations.
AN – The form of “a” used before words that begin with a vowel or an u unpronounced consonant such as “h” in some cases. Example: We had lunch an hour ago. I saw an ostrich at the zoo. AND – This word is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses; to create the meaning of together with, along with, as well as, or in addition to. Example: I stuffed envelopes and answered the phones. We fed the dog and the cats. Used together appropriately: An ostrich answered the phones and fed the dog an hour ago.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME WRITING TIPS
• List your technical knowledge first, in an organized way.
• List your qualifications in order of relevance, from most to least.
• Quantify your experience wherever possible.
• Begin sentences with action verbs.
• Highlighting all of your strengths.
• Be concise resumes reflecting five years or less experience should
fit on two page
• Omit needless items.
• Have a trusted friend review your resume.
• Proofread. Be sure to catch all spelling errors, grammatical
weaknesses. Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade
Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME DO’S
• Do send your resume with a cover letter.
• Do strive to make a good impression.
• Do make your resume clear, concise and easy to read.
• Do use BOLD or Underline for section headings.
• Do emphasize your strongest qualifications.
• Focus on accomplishments, skills, and results.
• Do print your resume on high quality 8 ½ by 11 paper.
• Give contact info like home and office telephone numbers.
• Create a resume tailored to the job you are after.
• Do keep your resume up-to-date.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME DO’S
• DO think of your resume as an ad for your qualifications, not an
autobiography.
• DO begin each bullet point with a verb.
• DO included paid and unpaid experience to demonstrate the range
of what you’ve done.
• DO show the reader why you’re a good match for a particular job.
• DO make several resumes, with each one targeting a particular
field.
• DO look at other resumes to see how they are written.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME DON’T
• DON’T make your reader dig for information.
• DON’T tell everything you’ve ever done.
• DON’T use complete sentences
• DON’T include personal information, such as age, race, marital
or health status.
• DON’T make your resume too dense, busy or cute.
• DON’T use a font smaller than 10 point.
• DON’T use fancy fonts that are hard to read.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
RESUME DON’TS
• Don't title your resume as Resume and start with your full
name.
• Don’t post or fax if email is an option.
• Don't use fancy fonts.
• Don’t use personal pronouns "I", "my" or "me".
• Don't use passive words.
• Don’t use colorful paper – white, buff or beige is standard.
• Don’t include a picture or other artwork.
• Don’t say you were laid off or fired from your last position.
• Don’t include “references available upon requests.” If they
want them they will ask.
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College
Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College