English WritingLecture 8:

Resume Workshop

John E. Clayton

Nanjing University, November 11, 2004

Looking

If you did not get your mid-term exam back, please look up front.

Some old journals are here as well.

Syllabus01 Introduction; Student photos; Overview02 Information cards; Punctuation; Writing process journal 103 Paragraphs; Essays – structure, outline, thesis, etc. journal 204 No Class - National Day Holiday05 No Class – Education Conference

06 Essays – conclusion07 Essays – Let’s start again Journal 108 Mid-term exam09 Review exam, Introduce Business letters journal 210 Business – Resume, Johnny Lingo11 Business – Resume, cover letters journal 112 Business – Cover letters, Statement of Purpose13 Business – Statement of Purpose journal 214 Movie – “Wizard of Oz” – if we are caught up15 Review for final exam16 Final exam

Save the TOEFL TestI took the TOEFL test.I thought I did my best.

I really tried.

That test was hard to take.I got a stomachache.

I thought my heart would break

At the TOEFL test.

My eyes filled up with tears.

I wasted all those yearson English class.

My teacher promised meThat I’d speak fluently.

I don’t know what became of me

At the TOEFL test.

Traditional Resume

• A summary of your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honors, and special skills you might have.

• Printed on nice paper

• Sent with all applications

Traditional Resume

John E. Clayton

Education wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdppeddls rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssddExperience wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdwesdcvf leorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdffghhgfvv rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssbvActivities wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdvfffhjku rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssggggInterests wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdgjjllljky

1984 N, 12th E, North Logan, Utah

(801) 5557603

Coleman Camping Equipment

PX Retailing

K-Mart

IBM

Traditional Resume

John E. Clayton

Education wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdppeddls rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssddExperience wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdwesdcvf leorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdffghhgfvv rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssbvActivities wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdvfffhjku rrldlslsllbbmvmtmtmrrmssggggInterests wleorottjjgjgjfjdddjfjgjgjfjdgjjllljky

1984 N, 12th E, North Logan, Utah

(801) 5557603

By the way…

It is illegal in the U.S. to discriminate on the basis of • Gender, • Race, • Age

Therefore, U.S. resumes typically no longer include photographs or date of birth.

Traditional Resume

• Your resume may be considered for 1 minute or less

• If it is not specific to a particular job or company, it may quickly be discarded

The “scattergun”

approach is not very effective

Better Method: A Focused Resume

“Zero-in” on a particular company, a particular job

• More personal• More sincere (you are no longer saying “I’ll take any job”)• Recruiter can quickly see what your skills and job goals are.

Resume Workshop

• Find your homework: “pool of experience”

• Take out a clean sheet of paper

• Identify a company and position that you might like to apply for

1. Identify Yourself• Put your name,

permanent and campus addresses, permanent and campus phone numbers, and email address prominently at the top of your resume.

• Avoid using a nickname.

• E-mail addresses are acceptable.

Kimberly Ann Hurst1305 Palmer Dr. #1275

West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

Identify Yourself

Kimberly Ann Hurst1305 Palmer Drive #1275

West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

Phone 83596557

2. State Your Objective

• One to three sentence summary of your area of expertise and career interest.

• Relate your existing skills directly to the job you are seeking. Demonstrate what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you.

Objective Statement

Avoid over-generalized statements: A position allowing me to utilize my

knowledge and expertise in different areas.

Avoid statements that focus only on what a company can do for you:A position where I gain experience in working on biological problems.

Make the statement as specific as possible:

A position which allows me to apply my background in engineering and high performance computing to biological problems.

State Your Objective

Objective: Seeking a position which will allow me to apply my background in international cost accounting to the computer industry.

Kimberly Ann Hurst1305 Palmer Drive #1275

West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

3. Match Skills to Requirements

Ask yourself: “if I were the recruiter, what skills and experience would I look for in the applicant?”

Match Skills to Requirements

Example 1: Apply for a job as a programmer for HP-Compaq computer company.

• Do you have good programming skills?• Are you a good team player?• Do you understand the IT industry?

Match Skills to Requirements

Example 2: Apply for a job as a programmer for Wilson Sporting Goods company.

• Do you have good programming skills?• Do you play basketball?• Were you ever team captain?

4. Select Education/Skills Draw from the pool the best

skills, experience, talents, etc. that match your objective.?

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ResumeHP

ResumeWilson

Education

• Important especially for recent college graduates or students seeking internships or summer jobs.

• Begin with the highest educational

• University attended, degrees, major, minors, grade point average, date of program completion, and so forth.

• Usually, don’t include middle school.

Education

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Graduation May 2000Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering GPA: 3.2/4.0Major GPA: 3.5/4.0

• You do not have to include your GPA on the resume, but if it isn’t included, employers may assume that it is lower than it really is.

• Always state the grade point scale your school is using.

Relevant Courses

• List relevant courses that:

– Help you stand out from the crowd

– Have provided you with specific skills or knowledge

Spanish (4 semesters)Computer ScienceBusiness WritingBusiness LawEthics• Only include courses taken

in addition to your major or minor.

• Refer to the course by name rather than by number.

Education/Relevant Courses

Objective: Seeking a position which will allow me to apply my background in international cost accounting to the computer industry.

Kimberly Ann Hurst1305 Palmer Drive #1275

West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

EDUCATIONPurdue University, West Lafayette, IN Graduation May 2000Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering GPA: 3.2/4.0; Major GPA: 3.5/4.0Relevant courses: Spanish (4 semesters), International trade

5. Employment Experience• Positions you have held which are related, in

some way, to the job you are seeking.

• Might be both paid and volunteer.

• Be creative with this section by describing and emphasizing your experiences in the most relevant way possible.

• Show your contribution, not just your duties.

Employment ExperienceHospitality Intern (May 1999-August 1999)Mountain Jacks, Lafayette, IN* Oversaw the planning,

production, preparation and prompt delivery of food

* Assisted in training and retaining new and experienced employees

* Wrote a well-received report on ways to improve the food preparation department

• Company name & location• Job title• Dates & Duties

• Make this section easy to read by using spacing and bullets.

• Use action phrases to highlight the duties your contribution to the business.

Employment

Objective: Seeking a position which will allow me to apply my background in international cost accounting to the computer industry.

Kimberly Ann Hurst1305 Palmer Drive #1275

West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

EDUCATION

ExperienceHospitality Intern (5/99-7/99)Mountain Jacks, Lafayette, IN* Oversaw the planning, production,

preparation and prompt delivery of food

* Assisted in training and retaining new and experienced employees

* Wrote a well-received report on ways to improve the department

6. Activities & Honors

• Include relevant activities that you could discuss with your prospective employer or that have given you valuable experience or skills.

Activities & HonorsKimberly Ann Hurst

1305 Palmer Drive #1275West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

ACTIVITIES•Tutored students in math twice a week, Young Scholar’s Institute, Trenton, NJ

•Initiated a Christmas toy drive for local orphanage while serving as Vice President of NAACP.

•Raised close to $1,000 through intensive fundraising efforts, 1995.

EDUCATIONEXPERIENCE

Activities & HonorsKimberly Ann Hurst

1305 Palmer Drive #1275West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

AWARDS & HONORS•Herbert Lehman Education Foundation Award for Academic Excellence, 1992-1996

•First Place, Most Original Speech, Hokkaido International Foundation, August 1994

•John Stuart Class of 1900 Memorial Scholarship, 1993-1994

EDUCATIONEXPERIENCEACTIVITIES & HONORS

7. Specialized Skills• Include skills that make you unique, such as

computer skills, foreign language skills, or military service.

• Be specific in describing your special skills; name computer programs you know, how long you studied a foreign language, or your dates of military service.

Specialized SkillsKimberly Ann Hurst

1305 Palmer Drive #1275West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

COMPUTER SKILLSC++, Java, Delphi

LANGUAGE SKILLSProficient in Spanish. Basic conversational ability in American Sign Language.

EDUCATIONEXPERIENCEACTIVITIESAWARDS & HONORS

8. References• In general, do not include the names and addresses

of your references on your resume.

• It is enough to state that references are available upon request.

• Choose professional references rather than character references. Employers and professors who know you and your work are the best references.

Education/Relevant CoursesKimberly Ann Hurst

1305 Palmer Drive #1275West Lafayette, INBoiler@purdue.edu

(765) 555-1706

EDUCATIONEXPERIENCEACTIVITIESAWARDS & HONORSSKILLS

References available upon request

6. Finally, Remember the Basics• Length: usually one typed page is best.• Content: be concise.• Font: avoid fonts <10 point and > 12 point.• Font: use Times Roman or Arial.• Paper: A4, good quality.• E-Mail resume? Use special format• Education: usually just university classes• Employment: relating to the job you seek• Skills: specific to the job you seek• Honors: show experience and skills. • References: usually not included

Homework

Type your resume on the PC,print out a copy to turn in.

NOTE: For class purposes, please put your student number on the

same line as your phonePhone 83596557 Student 021073009