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How To Write A Resume…

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What is a Resume

A resume is your calling card

A resume highlights your experience, skills and accomplishments

A resume motivates an employer to interview you

A resume communicates your value to an employer

The interview gets you the job, the resume gets you the interview!

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The 20 Second Test…

In about 20 seconds, a perspective employer will quickly scan your resume…

If your resume makes a positive first impression, s/he will read the rest of your resume…

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Critical Categories

Contact information

Education

Skills/Qualifications

Employment History

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Contact Information Name (largest font)

Address, City and Province

Telephone Number

Cell Number

Email Address

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Education State current grade and school

State graduation date or anticipated graduation date

If you have attended more than one school, list most recent education first

Academic honours

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Skills and Accomplishments

Describe accomplishments or skills acquired through work, school or other activities

Should be relevant to the job you are seeking Computer programs Languages Communication Skills Interpersonal Skills Organizational Skills

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Skills and Accomplishments

Example for Entry Level Position

Computer literacy with knowledge of MS Word

Ability to type 30 words per minute

Excellent communication skills and able to get along well with peers and co-workers

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Skills and Accomplishments

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Good organizational and planning skills

Prompt, dependable and responsible

Quick learner and enthusiastic worker

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Computer Skills

List software programs and level of expertise

List number of words typed per minute for keyboarding

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Employment History Reverse chronological order (most recent first) Include

Job title Name of company and city & province Do not list address or telephone number Dates of employment (month/year)

Duties and responsibilities Think ACCOMPLISHMENTS not just job

duties Use bullet points Tie in skills required for the position that you

are seeking

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Special Abilities

Special abilities

Are you bilingual?

Do you know sign language?

If yes, list under skills.

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Volunteer or Professional Affiliations Extracurricular activities or Volunteer

work Only use if relevant to the job you are

seeking Ex: Vet Tech applicant who

volunteered for an animal shelter Ex: Management applicant who was

president of his class or school group

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Do’s of Resume Writing

Format One page – VERY IMPORTANT!!!! Short phrases, not complete

sentences – easy to read and understand

Indented or bulleted statements Bolding, different size fonts Your name - largest font

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Do’s of Resume Writing

Content Uses action words to define the

responsibilities of your job-related experience

Must always be 100% truthful Typed NOT Handwritten Proofread for grammar and

spelling

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Resume Don'ts

Don’t list references

Don’t list gender or personal information

Don’t include salary information

Don’t use “I”, “My”, or “Me”

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Resume Pitfalls

Poor layout or appearance Poorly typed and reproduced Misspellings, bad grammar, poor

punctuation and wordiness Lengthy phrases, sentences Too boastful or dishonest

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Resume Pitfalls

Irrelevant information

Critical categories missing (ex: education)

Hard to understand

Unexplained time gaps