Resume Writing 101

What is the initial amount of time an employer takes to review an applicant’s resume?

Answer: 30-45 seconds

A One Page Resume Is Preferred By A One Page Resume Is Preferred By Most EmployersMost Employers

An employer will evaluate you as a person when An employer will evaluate you as a person when scanning your resume, i.e.: scanning your resume, i.e.:

a) neat resume = neat persona) neat resume = neat person

b) well-organized resume = well-organized person b) well-organized resume = well-organized person

c) error free resume = careful personc) error free resume = careful person

d) professional appearance = careful & competentd) professional appearance = careful & competent personperson

First Impressions Count

Will I Have More Than One Version of

My Resume? YES!YES! Employers today want to know what you can Employers today want to know what you can

do for them, so it is imperative that you create do for them, so it is imperative that you create a targeted resume each time you apply for an a targeted resume each time you apply for an opportunity.opportunity.

You will also develop a 'generic' resume to use You will also develop a 'generic' resume to use in online databases, such as ours.in online databases, such as ours.

You may also need a scan able or web-based You may also need a scan able or web-based resume, depending on your field; more on resume, depending on your field; more on these later.these later.

Types of resumes

Chronological resume-

Focus on education and work experience. 

Functional Resume-

Highlights accomplishments and emphasizes skills. This provides applicant’s ability to handle the position. 

The Functional Resume

focuses on your skills & focuses on your skills & accomplishments highlights what accomplishments highlights what they are, not when you they are, not when you developed themdeveloped them

good format for job seekers with good format for job seekers with lots of job experience and manylots of job experience and many

jobsjobs

CONTD.

Combination Resume-

Highlights skills but includes detailed information about candidate’s education and work experience. Mainly for new Graduates.

A+ Resume Writing

Resume = Marketing ToolResume = Marketing Tool

Use Resume To Obtain an Use Resume To Obtain an Interview, Not A JobInterview, Not A Job

Use Short Concise StatementsUse Short Concise Statements

Use Numbers and PercentagesUse Numbers and Percentages

Keep Keep ItIt Easy to Read Easy to Read

Use Action VerbsUse Action Verbs

At the top of the page, list your At the top of the page, list your name and the address and name and the address and telephone numbers of both present telephone numbers of both present and permanent residences,and permanent residences,if appropriate. if appropriate.

Note: Use Professional Email Note: Use Professional Email AddressAddress

Contact Information

The purpose of the career objective The purpose of the career objective is to communicate clearly the type is to communicate clearly the type of position in which you are of position in which you are interested.interested.

Objective Statement

Degrees should be listed in reverse Degrees should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most chronological order with the most recent listed first. recent listed first.

Degree Granted or SeekingDegree Granted or Seeking

Date of Graduation or Anticipated Date of Graduation or Anticipated

College or University, city and state College or University, city and state (if the state is not part of the (if the state is not part of the institution's title)institution's title)

Major and Minor, if applicableMajor and Minor, if applicable

Education

Honors, awards and scholarships Honors, awards and scholarships are important items are important items

Rank ordered by importance to the Rank ordered by importance to the

career objective.career objective.

Honors and Awards

Use the term "experience" instead of Use the term "experience" instead of "work history" or "employment," so "work history" or "employment," so that you can include full and part-time that you can include full and part-time jobs, self-employment, volunteer jobs, self-employment, volunteer work; and practicum, field, and work; and practicum, field, and cooperative education experiences. cooperative education experiences.

Experience

Note: Describe your functional skills in short, snappy phrases starting with descriptive action verbs.

Action Verbs

Administered

Arranged

Built

Designed

Developed

Implemented

OrderedOrdered

PerformedPerformed

PlannedPlanned

ServedServed

ScheduledScheduled

SupervisedSupervised

Rank order professional Rank order professional associations, leadership positions associations, leadership positions and other activities by importance and other activities by importance to the career objective. to the career objective.

Emphasize your leadership roles. Emphasize your leadership roles.

Spell out the name of the Spell out the name of the organization: do not use organization: do not use abbreviations or acronyms.abbreviations or acronyms.

Professional Affiliations

& Activities

Student Professional Organizations

SGAVolunteer

Clubs

Sports Teams

Student Newspaper

Additional Information

Include any specialized skills, Include any specialized skills, training, certification or licenses training, certification or licenses such as foreign language ability, such as foreign language ability, ability to sign for the deaf, CPR, ability to sign for the deaf, CPR, etc. etc.

Suzy Q. Student1234 River Run Road

Chattanooga, TN 37343413-425-5555

suzyqstudent@utc.edu

Objective To obtain an entry-level Human Resources position

Education University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Human Resources

GPA: 3.1/4.0 Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2007

Honors and Awards Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Deans List 6 Semesters

Relevant Experience

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee June 2005 – August 2005 Chattanooga, TN

Human Resources Intern• Assisted with updating employee personnel files• Screened job applications • Observed Human Resources Manager interviewing candidate

Other Experience

Abercrombie Fitch May 2003 – present Chattanooga, TN Sales Associate

• Train new employees• Participate in employee interviews and selections• Oversee inventory and audit of product• Open and close store, including nightly deposits

UTC College of Health and Human Services August 2002-May 2003 Chattanooga, TN Student Worker

• Performed Internet research• Organized office files, records, etc.• Responded to office inquiries• Answered a multi-line telephone

Professional Affiliations and ActivitiesSociety for Human Resource Management, Volunteer at the Chattanooga Soup

Kitchen, Student Government Association-Treasurer

Additional InformationFamiliar with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Publisher

Fluent in Spanish and familiar with French languages

Finishing Touches

♦Proofread your resume

♦Make sure it is “employer-centered”

♦Double-check your contact information

A Resume is NOT a CV

♦ A CV is used in academic &

research-oriented job searches.

♦ A CV is of flexible length

♦ A CV is a record of your academic

accomplishments & credentials.

♦ A resume is used in business, non-profit, government & other types of job searches.

♦ A resume should be 1 page, 2 pages max.

♦ A resume is not all embracing;

it should be targeted to a particular job in a particular field.

Remember

A resume does not get you a job…

A resume does get you an interview.

And, putting time & consideration into your resume is one of the best ways to prepare for your interviews!

Cover Letter Writing

When & Why Do I Need a Cover Letter?

Any time you send your resume to an employer it should be accompanied by a cover letter.

A cover letter acts as an introduction for your resume.

A cover letter also stands as a sample of your writing skills, so be sure to make it the best possible sample you can.

If you are sending your resume via email - the cover letter is the email message itself. Then attach the resume following the employer's instructions (i.e., MSWord document, text document, etc.)

Cover Letters

Should give the employer a reason to look at the resume

3 to 5 bulleted points leading to the resume

If the cover letter does not “speak well,” the resume will not be read!

Application (Cover) Letter

Purpose: persuade your audience to move you onto the next step of the job search process

Tone: project self-confidence and maturity; do not be apologetic, timid, stuffy, or arrogant

Homework: learn something about the company that you can mention in the letter. Can you tie your qualifications to what you learned or the way you might benefit the company?

Letter Format

Heading: your address; city, state, zip code; date

Inside address: audience name and job title, company name, address, city, state, zip

Salutation or attention line Body of letter Complimentary close,

signature block End notations Enclosure

Specifics

Use an attention line when you don’t have a specific person to address Ex. Attention: Human

Resources Department Choose a traditional

complimentary closing Sincerely yours, Very truly yours, Respectfully yours,

End notations– Signature block

• Enclosure: résumé

Specifics 2

End notations– Signature block: typed name

four lines below complimentary closing phrase with space for signature

– Enclosure: can include name or type of enclosure. Use the entire word or abbreviate.

– Ex. • Enclosure: résumé • Encl.

Heading and Inside Address Example

4912 Vasant ViharDehradoon, Uttranchal 21207

February 28, 2009

Dr. ABC Sharma, PresidentInfosys1000 Hilltop CircleBangalore, Karnataka 21250

Dear Dr. Sharma:

Complimentary Close, etc. Example

Sincerely yours,

Jobseeker Negi

Enclosure: résumé

Body (paragraph 2-3)

Discuss work and education experience, one paragraph each– For education, include

specifics about work done in classes. Class titles without supporting specifics won’t tell your audience much about you.

Education example– In my technical writing course,

I designed a web site and worked on a collaborative manual on using Front Page

Conclusion (paragraph 4)

Ask for action from audience: – an interview

Give contact information– E-mail address– Landline phone number(s) – Cell phone number

End all letters with a courteous closing sentence– Thank you for your assistance.

Conclusion (paragraph 4)

Ask for action from audience: – an interview

Give contact information– E-mail address– Landline phone number(s) – Cell phone number

End all letters with a courteous closing sentence– Thank you for your assistance.

THANKS