it resume writing
TRANSCRIPT
Writing an Effective Resume
The First Step Toward Landing Your Next Career
Objective
• Determine DO’s and DON’TS of resume writing• Determine what it should look like• What to watch out for• Various issues for minorities• Build each section of your resume
The Job Search is a Sales Process
Goal: SALE YOURSELF• You are the product• Employer is the buyer• Purchase is your paycheck• Your resume is the marketing brochure
Characteristics of a Successful Resume
• Relevant skills • Action words • Easy to read • Visually powerful • No Gimmicks/Jargon• Don’t use “I” or “me”• Easy to read format• Language is grammatically
correct• Formal Style (no extravagant
colors or fonts)
• Spelling or grammar errors• Neat, clean, and professional
looking• 1-2 pages• 1” margins at sides and bottom
How long should it be?• Out of college less than 5 years: 1
page• In the workforce 5-20 years: 1-2
pages• Federal Employment: More than 2
pages
Resume Faux PaX
Typos and Grammar Slips
•“Proven ability to track down and correct erors”•“A perfectionist and rarely if ever forget etails”
Buzzwords/JargonDependent on industry•Leadership (If applying for management position, this is a given. Show by quantifying leadership activities)•Teamwork (what did you do in team that is valuable)•Knowledge of (ex. Public Admin consistently changes)•Acronyms (NCOIC? No. Manager? Yes.)
Make it Simple
• Easy formats will download and scan easily
• Send “test” copies to colleagues and friends. Ask for feedback
• Send resume as a Word doc from a PC (simple for everyone) NO MACS
Equal Opportunity Issues
• Use every “unfair” advantage whenever you can• Most organizations want diversity (men, women, veterans,
minorities, etc)• USA jobs (5-10 point preference?)
• Take advantage of footholds• ex. “Are you looking for an energetic female public
admin?”• Volunteer on the African American Planning
Commission (AAPC)
Watch out … Recruiter pet peeves vary
• Phone messageProfessional away messageDon’t let it be full
• Spelling and grammar errors• Unprofessional phone
conversation• Bad interview skills
Electronically Scanned Resumes
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software• Words relevant to job applying for
• Resume Search Optimization (RSO) • Key words• Use words they use in job description, knowledge,
skills, and abilities (KSA’s)• Boolean Operators (AND, OR, and NOT)
Job Specific Keywords
• Use EXACT words from job description• Skills and accomplishments that matter• Key words distributed evenly through resume• Buzzwords and Jargon (specific to different
industries)• Use Industry-specific terminology (policy
implementation, workflow prioritization, etc)
Be FINDABLE
• Design your resume to meet the needs of the web and job board search engines.
• Recruiters search the web, job boards, social media (like LinkedIn), employer applicant tracking systems, and even their own email accounts.
• So, be FINDABLE!!!
Basic Checklist
• Emphasize important titles
Experiment with fonts & styles; bold, italic, and underlines. No more than 2 or 3 different sizes.
• Information is logically recorded.
• Use Action Verbs for accomplishments & results.
What Information Should be in a Resume?
Section 1: Personal InformationSection 2: Objective StatementSection 3: Key Skills & AbilitiesSection 4: Employment HistorySection 5: EducationSection 6: Professional AccomplishmentsSection 7: Professional Organizations/ Volunteer Experience
Personal InformationSection 1•Name•Address: City, state you wish to work (ex. Denver Metro Area)•Phone numbers•Email address – permanent / personal /professional
• NO. [email protected] • NO. [email protected]• YES. [email protected]
•LinkedIn URL•Are you open to relocation?
Resume Objectives• Tailor your objective to the job• Personal branding statement
• 30 sec elevator speech• Objective statements can help you transition• Great place for key words• Cover letter insurance
Section 2
NO-GOS
•Recently graduated from The Ohio State University and looking to work for a successful company with great pay.
•Looking for an entry level position where I can utilize my strengths, with room for advancement.
•Looking for a position that allows me to fully utilize my skills and attributes and provides professional advancement opportunities.
Sample Resume Objectives
Strong and Powerful•Network Administrator with 5+ years’ experience in wiring and routing. Able to effectively troubleshoot and evaluate network systems. With a BS degree in Computer Information Systems and maintaining CompTIA Sec+ and CCNA certifications. Proficient in communications and customer service allowing the delivery of high level success rate for the customers and the team.
Sample Resume Objective (cont.)
Target a Specific Company•Seeking a position as a Network Administrator with ABC Networks, Inc. Utilizing 10+ years of wiring and routing experience and WAN/LAN connectivity. Having an extensive background in Windows / Linux based environments.•Seeking a Desktop Support Technician position with ABC Technologies. Maintaining CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications for Tier II employment opportunities and DoD 8570 compliance. Offering hardware and software installation skills and customer service to ensure the company’s success.
Key SkillsSection 3
Should reflect requirements of jobBe Specific (keep out broad words like Leadership, Teamwork)Pick skills that make your different from your competition
PMP/ITIL CNA TS/SCI
Lean Six Sigma Client/Server Technology Product Development (SDLC/Agile)
VMware Business Analyst (CBAP) Software Engineering
Employment HistorySection 4
Three things any company cares about1.How can you make them money?2.How can you save them money?3.How can you save them time?Quantifying these answers creates VALUE especially for career changers
Employment History (cont.)
• Revenue brought in.• Rankings compared to
colleagues• Direct Reports to you• Production. Number
parts produced in a month.
• Degree of Accuracy• Size of Budget you
managed• NUMBER OF PROJECTS
COMPLETED
• SCHEDULE. HOW OFTEN YOU COME IN ON TIME & UNDER BUDGET
• HOW MUCH YOU DECREASED TURNOVER RATE
• HOW MANY NEW PROCEDURES YOU IMPLEMENTED
Quantify Accomplishments in #, $, and %
Action VerbsManagement Skills Communication Skills Clerical or Detailed Skills
administered improved addressed lectured approved organized
analyzed increased arbitrated mediated arranged preparedassigned organized arranged moderated catalogued organizedattained oversaw authored motivated classified preparedchaired planned corresponded negotiated collected processed
contracted prioritized developed persuaded compiled purchasedconsolidated produced directed promoted dispatched recorded
coordinated recommended drafted publicized executed retrieved
delegated reviewed edited reconciled generated screeneddeveloped scheduled enlisted recruited implemented specified
directed strengthened formulated spoke inspected systematized
evaluated supervised influenced translated monitored tabulatedexecuted interpreted wrote operated validated
Action VerbsResearch Skills Technical Skills Teaching Skills
clarified inspected assembled maintained adapted evaluatedcollected interpreted built operated advised explained
critiqued interviewed calculated overhauled clarified facilitated
diagnosed investigated computed programme
d coached guided
evaluated organized designed remodeled communicated informed
examined reviewed devised repair coordinated initiated
extracted summarized engineered solved developed instructed
identified surveyed fabricated trained enabled persuadedsystematiz
ed upgraded encouraged set goals
stimulated
Action VerbsFinancial Skills Creative Skills Helping Skills
administered conceptualized assessedallocated created assistedanalyzed designed clarifiedappraised developed coachedaudited directed counseled
balanced established demonstratedbudgeted fashioned diagnosedcalculated founded educatedcomputed illustrated expediteddeveloped instituted facilitatedforecasted integrated familiarizedmanaged introduced guidedmarketed invented referredplanned originated rehabilitated
projected performed representedresearched planned
revitalized shaped
Employment History (cont.)
XYZ Technologies, Inc. 2004-2016IT Project Manger•Managed a Water Event Monitor Trigger System research, engineering, and product release project using government obtained research data and software development worth over $120M. •Coordinated and managed an annual budget of over $50M supporting operations and maintenance of over 290 systems positioned globally
Employment History (cont.) Quantifying & Action Verbs Explored
• Improved the needs of 30 clients by providing $295k worth of IT training programs and increased their employability through DoD 8570 compliance
• Managed a technical team of 9 to support wiring and routing needs for a fortune 500 networking company”
• Coordinated training protocols for a networking program that supported an over 5000 member database platform.”
Employment History Issues
Fill in employment gap• List reasons why
company went under, laid off, moved, project completed, fired?
• My objectives did not match with companies any longer
• Make this brief, don’t need to explain in interview• Explanations may or may not be necessary
EducationSection 5•Most recent degree first•Type of degree•Major and date•GPA- only if recent graduate, only above 3.0•Professional Development courses•Certificate Programs
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LeaderQuest Holdings, Inc. 08/2016 Certificate: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, PMP
Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, CO 12/2014 Bachelors of Information Systems & Technology
Professional Accomplishments
Section 6You are selling yourself. Provide information that makes you valuable to THAT position•Publications•Research •Presentations•Lectures•Courses•Seminars•Relevant Dates•Hobbies (that relate to potential job)
Professional OrganizationsSection 7A strong professional organization presence related to industry.•Great place for keywords!!!
• Use organizations affiliated with LinkedIn profileInformation Systems Security Association 09/2015- PresentVolunteer
The information security professionals and practitioners group provides educational forums, publications, and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill and professional growth of its members
References“References available upon request”
That’s a given…
Never list references on your resume!
Getting ExperienceJob Shadowing•When transitioning into a new industry•Great material for
• Interview• 30/60/90 day plan• Adds value through experience
•Elevates you as a candidate• Initiative enthusiasm and drive
•Education
Getting InvolvedNetworking•Join Community Networking Groups
• Northern Colorado Springs Business Alliance• Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence
Peer Navigators- Veteran & Military Spouse Networking Opportunities
• Prep Connect 360- Veteran centric & highly professional group• National Association of Professional Women• IT & PMP Groups
ISSA, PMI, Colorado Technology Association, Eagle Information Technology Group
•Volunteer Work•Social Organizations
Develop job skills hereAdds value
Your Resume is Critical
• It’s the first thing a hiring manager sees
• It deserves your time and best effort
Good luck!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kimberly ArcherRegional Employer Relations ManagerLeaderQuest
Office: [email protected]/in/kimberly-archer
33
Upcoming classes and eventsLeaderQuest: www.leaderquestonline.com
*Connect to our LinkedIn: LeaderQuest Technical Professionals Group for job recs and upcoming events