The 6 Best ThingsYour Client Can Do

To Get Their Resume

Noticed by Employers

Maureen Nelson, M.A.Certified Professional Resume WriterGlobal Career Development Facilitator

Maureen Nelson, M.A.Certified Professional Resume WriterGlobal Career Development Facilitator

Maureen Nelson, M.A.Maureen Nelson, M.A. 10 years writing resumes

Contract writer for resume service

Published in The Complete Idiot’s Guideto the Perfect Resume by Susan Ireland

Certified ProfessionalResume Writer

10 years writing resumes

Contract writer for resume service

Published in The Complete Idiot’s Guideto the Perfect Resume by Susan Ireland

Certified ProfessionalResume Writer

CONTENTCONTENT

Which is more important?Which is more important?

DESIGNDESIGNSummarySummary

QualificationsQualifications

ExperienceExperience

EducationEducation

AwardsAwards

EndorsementsEndorsements

NoteworthyNoteworthy

ExpertiseExpertise

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

AchievementsAchievements

Professional membershipsProfessional memberships

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, you will know…LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, you will know…

Why objectives work against your client(and what to use instead)

When to create a new resumeand when to just “tweak” it

How to serve up informationthe way employers like it

Why good design matters

How to make a resumemore believable

How to make a resume stickin a recruiter’s mind

Why objectives work against your client(and what to use instead)

When to create a new resumeand when to just “tweak” it

How to serve up informationthe way employers like it

Why good design matters

How to make a resumemore believable

How to make a resume stickin a recruiter’s mind

MAKE IT SELLMAKE IT SELL

Objective vs. profile paragraphObjective vs. profile paragraph

Objective: To obtain a positionwhere I can utilize my education,and skills to advance my career.

Objective: Seeking challengingwork whereby I could perform andaccomplish to the best of my abilityand where I can enhance myknowledge.

Objective: To secure a positionwith a well established organiza-tion with a stable environment thatwill lead to a lasting relationship inthe field of finance.

Objective: To obtain a positionwhere I can utilize my education,and skills to advance my career.

Objective: Seeking challengingwork whereby I could perform andaccomplish to the best of my abilityand where I can enhance myknowledge.

Objective: To secure a positionwith a well established organiza-tion with a stable environment thatwill lead to a lasting relationship inthe field of finance.

TRAINING LEAD/COORDINATOR

Dynamic training and develop-ment professional with 10 years’experience in the financialindustry: designed curriculum,delivered presentations andfacilitated e-learning sessions.Led training for customer ser-vice, sales, collections and fraudprevention. Recognized as Trainerof the Month at Fortune 500company. Consistently receiveexcellent evaluations. Quicklymaster new subject matter.

TRAINING LEAD/COORDINATOR

Dynamic training and develop-ment professional with 10 years’experience in the financialindustry: designed curriculum,delivered presentations andfacilitated e-learning sessions.Led training for customer ser-vice, sales, collections and fraudprevention. Recognized as Trainerof the Month at Fortune 500company. Consistently receiveexcellent evaluations. Quicklymaster new subject matter.

Funct ions

SME

Exp .

Awards

Title of paragraph matches job title

What about a Summary of Qualifications? What about a bulleted list?

An objective sounds like this:“Gimme, gimme, gimme”

An objective sounds like this:“Gimme, gimme, gimme”

A profile paragraph sounds like this:“Here’s what I can do for you

[and your business].”

A profile paragraph sounds like this:“Here’s what I can do for you

[and your business].”

MAKE IT RELEVANTMAKE IT RELEVANT

Employer’sRequirements Job Seeker’s

Qualifications

Every resume/applicationmust be targeted to the jobEvery resume/application

must be targeted to the job Eliminate irrelevant details Transferable situations,

environments, projects Profile title = job Ask yourself: What

is the employerreally looking for?

Eliminate irrelevant details Transferable situations,

environments, projects Profile title = job Ask yourself: What

is the employerreally looking for?

Able to capably manage office and performroutine support tasks: Manage calendars,set up meetings and plan events, composecorrespondence, manage databases, processexpense reports. Experience answeringmulti-line phones in fast-paced office.

Proven sales and account managementskills, including cold-calling and follow-up tobuild long-term connections with clients.Proficient in database and Internet searches.Extensive experience interviewingindividuals over phone and in person.

Able to capably manage office and performroutine support tasks: Manage calendars,set up meetings and plan events, composecorrespondence, manage databases, processexpense reports. Experience answeringmulti-line phones in fast-paced office.

Proven sales and account managementskills, including cold-calling and follow-up tobuild long-term connections with clients.Proficient in database and Internet searches.Extensive experience interviewingindividuals over phone and in person.

Five years developing interactive websites.Background in information technology,financial services and education. Solid workingknowledge of web tools, applications, trendsand techniques: page authoring,scripting/programming, user interfacedesign, accessibility, informationarchitecture, ecommerce, site promotion,security, firewalls, databases, extranets.

[follow with 3-column list of tech skills]

Five years developing interactive websites.Background in information technology,financial services and education. Solid workingknowledge of web tools, applications, trendsand techniques: page authoring,scripting/programming, user interfacedesign, accessibility, informationarchitecture, ecommerce, site promotion,security, firewalls, databases, extranets.

[follow with 3-column list of tech skills]

What picture are your words painting for them?What picture are your words painting for them?

Ready

Selective

Tamestechnicalproblems

MAKE IT ORGANIZEDMAKE IT ORGANIZED

Use tables or columns to organize informationUse tables or columns to organize information

Tables orcolumns…Tables orcolumns…

NETWORKING RESUMENETWORKING RESUME

3-column bulleted listcaptures many areas of expertise

in a short amount of space

3-column bulleted listcaptures many areas of expertise

in a short amount of space

MAKE IT VISUALLY APPEALINGMAKE IT VISUALLY APPEALING

Eliminate Short PagesEliminate Short Pages

Margins = about .7"

E X P E R I E N C EE X P E R I E N C E

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

Format > Borders and shadingFormat > Borders and shading

FractionalFractionallinespaceslinespaces

MAKE IT BELIEVABLEMAKE IT BELIEVABLE

Eliminate Trite Phrasesby Liz Ryan

Eliminate Trite Phrasesby Liz Ryan

Team player Results-oriented professional Cross-functional teams Excellent communication skills Strong work ethic Met or exceeded expectations Proven track record of success Works well with all levels of staff Bottom-line orientation

Team player Results-oriented professional Cross-functional teams Excellent communication skills Strong work ethic Met or exceeded expectations Proven track record of success Works well with all levels of staff Bottom-line orientation

Another reason toask for a letter ofrecommendation

Send out an emailrequestingfeedback

Gather them onLinked In!

Another reason toask for a letter ofrecommendation

Send out an emailrequestingfeedback

Gather them onLinked In!

“Stan’s ability to quicklypick up the right tone foreach article has been areal asset. His pieces arealways well-researched,well-written and interestingto read.”

Naomi SwiftManaging Editor

Diablo Magazine

Add Quotes from Bosses,Customers, ColleaguesAdd Quotes from Bosses,Customers, Colleagues

Quotes

ADD A PROJECT PAGEADD A PROJECT PAGE

PROJECT #1: Real-time Key Operation Indicators (KOI)

GOAL Provide mgt with field-accessible, real-time report on event activities

CHALLENGES Data sources scattered thru 6 different websites requiring individual access No “auto-refresh” option from standard reporting system

ACTIONS Interviewed key users to get business requirements and desired features Wrote technical requirements to create custom report providing snapshots Guided Perl programmer to webcrawl reports and save out as text files Wrote Excel macro to read text files, generate web page and FTP to server Scheduled process to refresh web page every 15 minutes

RESULT Single web page consisting of 18 different event activities, updated in15-minute intervals, simple enough to be displayed on mobile phones. Allowedreal-time progress monitoring of inquiries, registrations, donations and more.

PROJECT #1: Real-time Key Operation Indicators (KOI)

GOAL Provide mgt with field-accessible, real-time report on event activities

CHALLENGES Data sources scattered thru 6 different websites requiring individual access No “auto-refresh” option from standard reporting system

ACTIONS Interviewed key users to get business requirements and desired features Wrote technical requirements to create custom report providing snapshots Guided Perl programmer to webcrawl reports and save out as text files Wrote Excel macro to read text files, generate web page and FTP to server Scheduled process to refresh web page every 15 minutes

RESULT Single web page consisting of 18 different event activities, updated in15-minute intervals, simple enough to be displayed on mobile phones. Allowedreal-time progress monitoring of inquiries, registrations, donations and more.

MAKE IT MEMORABLEMAKE IT MEMORABLE

AVOID TIMES. INSTEAD, TRY:AVOID TIMES. INSTEAD, TRY:Garamond | Georgia | PalatinoTahoma | Helvetica | Verdana COLORCOLOR

Insert > Text box, Insert > Text box, Format > Text boxFormat > Text box

Add Graphic/Change Text DirectionAdd Graphic/Change Text Direction

More at Google Images and http://office.microsoft.com/clipart

MAKE IT MEMORABLE!MAKE IT MEMORABLE!

Biologist

Herpetologist

Animal Control Officer

Veterinary Assistant

Wildlife Museum Docent

What is the implicationfor you and your clients?What is the implication

for you and your clients?

Know how to use MS Word!Know how to use MS Word!

– Adult education – Books– Online classes – Public libraries– Free online tutorials – Technology centers – Community colleges – Community based orgs

Buy resume templates online Get inspiration from books by

the pros

Buy resume templates online Get inspiration from books by

the pros

Help clients pull away from the pack…Help clients pull away from the pack…

Unique skills & experience Unique personal qualities Volunteer work Recognition/awards Professional development Publications/presentations Other “Noteworthies” Quotes (3rd-party endorsements)

Unique skills & experience Unique personal qualities Volunteer work Recognition/awards Professional development Publications/presentations Other “Noteworthies” Quotes (3rd-party endorsements)

Find what distinguishes themFind what distinguishes them

Strategies for Different Kindsof Job Seekers

Strategies for Different Kindsof Job Seekers

Entry-LevelEntry-Level

Challenge: Make the most of very little

Strategy: Include school projects, school

leadership, volunteer work, personalcharacteristics, classes taken, quotes

Add a graphic

Use interesting layout, use plenty ofwhite space

Challenge: Make the most of very little

Strategy: Include school projects, school

leadership, volunteer work, personalcharacteristics, classes taken, quotes

Add a graphic

Use interesting layout, use plenty ofwhite space

ENTER

Mid-Level

Career ChangersMid-Level

Career Changers

Challenge: Show how previous experience is relevant

Strategy: Write strong profile paragraph recasting

candidate in new role; volunteer in field

Rewrite job duties to focus on transferrableskills and parallel environments

If retrained, list classes; quotes/instructors

List professional associations andconferences in new field

Challenge: Show how previous experience is relevant

Strategy: Write strong profile paragraph recasting

candidate in new role; volunteer in field

Rewrite job duties to focus on transferrableskills and parallel environments

If retrained, list classes; quotes/instructors

List professional associations andconferences in new field

Return-to-WorkReturn-to-Work Challenge:

Convince employer they can“hit the ground running”

Strategy: Show how they stayed current in their

career (took classes, joined professionalassociations, did consulting projects orrelevant consulting/volunteer work)

Add favorite quote from current, popularbook in field; quote from working colleague

Maybe: In resume, explain gap briefly (travel,illness, school, caretaking, etc.)

Challenge: Convince employer they can

“hit the ground running”

Strategy: Show how they stayed current in their

career (took classes, joined professionalassociations, did consulting projects orrelevant consulting/volunteer work)

Add favorite quote from current, popularbook in field; quote from working colleague

Maybe: In resume, explain gap briefly (travel,illness, school, caretaking, etc.)

Older Jobseekers / ExecutivesOlder Jobseekers / Executives Challenge:

Convince employer you arenot too old/out of touch

Strategy: List Skype, Twitter, Linked In info

Know current trends in field (classestaken, articles written, presentations)

List mentoring activities

Quantify achievements to convey value

Include a “project page”

Challenge: Convince employer you are

not too old/out of touch

Strategy: List Skype, Twitter, Linked In info

Know current trends in field (classestaken, articles written, presentations)

List mentoring activities

Quantify achievements to convey value

Include a “project page”

Formerly IncarceratedFormerly Incarcerated

Challenge: Show evidence of rehab

Strategy: Include classes taken, certificates or

degrees earned, volunteer work,personal characteristics, jobs while inprison; add a graphic

Quotes: program personnel/judge/P.O.

Use interesting layout, use plenty ofwhite space

Challenge: Show evidence of rehab

Strategy: Include classes taken, certificates or

degrees earned, volunteer work,personal characteristics, jobs while inprison; add a graphic

Quotes: program personnel/judge/P.O.

Use interesting layout, use plenty ofwhite space

She has been speaking and writingon career and management for 12 years. Beforebecoming a career counselor, she spent 20 years inpublishing and graphic arts. Maureen’s resume is published in the fifth editionof The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Resume.She holds an M.A. in Career Development from JFKU.

mpn@dorsey.org or (925) 708-7476.Skype: maureenpnelson • Twitter: @maureencareerhttp://www.MaureenNelsonCareerCoach.com

She has been speaking and writingon career and management for 12 years. Beforebecoming a career counselor, she spent 20 years inpublishing and graphic arts. Maureen’s resume is published in the fifth editionof The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Resume.She holds an M.A. in Career Development from JFKU.

mpn@dorsey.org or (925) 708-7476.Skype: maureenpnelson • Twitter: @maureencareerhttp://www.MaureenNelsonCareerCoach.com

Maureen Nelson is Manager of AdultCareer Services at the Oakland PrivateIndustry Council (OPIC), a One StopCenter in EastBayWorks. Previously, sheworked at Goodwill of San Francisco.

Maureen Nelson is Manager of AdultCareer Services at the Oakland PrivateIndustry Council (OPIC), a One StopCenter in EastBayWorks. Previously, sheworked at Goodwill of San Francisco.