resume guidance - a guide towards quality resume

Resume Writing

Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade Lecturer, Garden City College

Objectives • Review the purpose of a

resume

• Learn the types of resumes

• The sole purpose of your resume is to effectively sell your credentials for the

purpose of employment, admission to Universities, consideration for a scholarship or fellowship, or other professional purposes.


What Is a Resume?

• Personal summary of your professional history

• Includes anything a person wants to express about:

– Career Goals

– Education

– Experience

– Activities

– Honors


General Guidelines

• Length: Limit resume to min 2 typed page

• Font: Arial or Times New Roman – Between 10 – 12 point font

• Paper: Use 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch paper (A4 size) – White


Preliminary Research

• Find Out: – General job information

– Desired qualifications and skills

– Key values and key words

• Look on: – Company website

– Job advertisement

– Any publications about the company

(magazines, articles, etc.)

Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade

Lecturer, Garden City College

RESUME Resume is summary of your educational qualification details

It highlights your skills and experience relevant to the field

It highlights your objective and accomplishments

Its purpose is to get you an Interview call

A resume should reflect more than just work experience

It should consider your extracurricular, and leadership qualities

TYPES OF RESUMES

Chronological resumes

Functional resume

Combination resumes

Curriculum vitae (CVs)

Online Resumes


Chronological Resume

• Key components of Chronological Resume Identification

Job Objective

Key Accomplishments

Education

Professional Experience

Affiliations/Interests

References


The Chronological Resume

• The most commonly used resume format is the chronological resume. On a chronological resume, your work history is listed by job title beginning with your current or most recent job.

• The chronological resume works best for job seekers who: – Want to showcase a steady employment history

– Are looking for a position that matches or logically progresses from previous jobs


The Functional Resume

• The functional resume highlights your skills without revealing the dates associated with your job history. The functional resume minimizes specific job titles and eliminates dates of employment, while emphasizing your abilities and skills.

• The functional resume works well if you: – Have worked many different jobs or possess very

diverse skills

– Have skills that relate to the position, but not a lot of previous work experience in the field


Combination Resume

The hybrid resume balances the functional and chronological approaches

It starts with skills, accomplishments, and qualifications of the job

applicant.

Second page is reverse chronological ordering of your work experience.

This format allows the reader to first match your qualification against job opening.

It showcases your work experiences in the most marketable fashion.

It highlights your both job skills and accomplishments.


SECTIONS Your Resume

Objective

Experience

Contact Information

Qualification

Project Details

Interests Awards & Achievements

Workshop & Seminars attended

IT Skills

Key Strength

Personal Details


Contact Information

• Include: – Name

– Permanent and/or campus addresses

– Permanent and/or campus phone numbers

– Email address

If you do not include contact information

(how to reach you), your resume will most probably be thrown in the trash.


Objective Statements

• Two different approaches to objective statements

– Brief and to the point

– Detailed description of desired position and qualifications

You must decide which approach is best!


What is an objective statement?

• A short section (usually 1-3 lines), often in the form

of a sentence fragment, immediately below your

contact information

• An “at a glance” picture of you and your career

interests

• Other names: Professional Objective, Resume

Capsule, Career Goals, Career Objective etc.


Why write one?

• Emphasize key

qualifications, skills

and/or goals

• Help your readers find

what they need to

know quickly

• Make a good first

impression

Q: Is this a good objective statement?

• Well-written but raises too many questions

• For example: What kind of internship? What knowledge? What kinds of expertise? Which areas?

An internship allowing me to utilize my

knowledge and expertise in different areas


A good objective statement answers questions

• What position(s) are you

applying for?

• What are your main

qualifications?

• What are your career goals?

• What is your professional

identity?

The importance of tailoring

• Sometimes one size

does NOT fit all

• Each person and

employer is unique in

certain ways

• Aim for a custom fit

when possible, but

how?

Questions about employers

• What qualifications are most desired by employers in

your field?

• What positions are available on the job market?

• What are they titled?

• What are some goals of the organizations that

interest you?

• What kinds of organizations are now hiring?


“Instant” objective statements

• For practice, fill in the parts in brackets

– To utilize my [qualifications, strengths, or skills] as a

[position title]

– A position as a [position title] for [company name]

allowing me to develop my [qualifications, strengths, or

skills]

– An opportunity to [professional goal] in a [type of

organization, work environment, or field]

– [position title] with emphasis in [areas of expertise]


First Approach: Brief

To seek the position of Human resource analyst.

Seeking to obtain a position of administrative support

To obtain position as a Accountant


Second Approach: Descriptive

To work in an organization where my technical skills will be best utilized and provide my career a rapid and good

growth

A data entry clerk position where I can utilize my skills and work experience to improve efficiency and

profitability of company

To obtain a waitress position in the Food and Beverage Industry with a challenging company that offers me the

possibility of professional growth and career advancement opportunities


Qualification

• Professional & Education Qualification

• Beginning with the highest level of educational achievement, include:

– University / Board

– School / College Name

– Majors/Minors

– Date of program completion


Work Experience

• Include positions you have held which are related, in some way, to the job you are seeking. – Can be both paid and volunteer positions

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


What is an experience section?

• A section that emphasizes your past and present

employment and/or your participation in relevant

activities

• Other common names: Professional Experience,

Work History, Field Work, Volunteer Work, etc.

• Special names: Technical Experience, Supervisory

Experience, Aviation Experience, etc.


What goes into this section?

• Company or organization and location (city, state)

• Position title

• Dates of employment or involvement

• Descriptions of responsibilities, duties, achievements, etc.

Getting started…

List your past and present experiences.

Include:

– jobs

– volunteer positions

– appointments

– assistantships

– internships

– etc.

Developing your descriptions

• Use varied action words to describe experiences

• Answer the journalistic questions:

– Who?…With whom did you work?

– What? …What duties did you perform?

– Where? …Where did your job fit into the organization?

– Why? …What goals were you trying to accomplish?

– When? …What timelines were you working under?

– How? …What procedures did you follow?


Work Experience

HR Specialist Sept 2004 – Dec 2005

Company Name, Place.

-Role & responsibility

Asst. Manager HR May 2003 – June 2004

Honeybell, Bangalore

-Data banking, short listing of resumes, conducting interviews, laisioning with

various departments of the organizations



The Extras Section


What is an honors and activities section?

• A section that emphasizes

your participation in

relevant activities and any

honors you have received

• Other names: Awards,

Memberships, Volunteer

Work, Hobbies

White Space

GOOD BAD


Where does this section go?

• Usually last section on last

page

• Sometimes omitted

Extra Tips

• Ultimate goal is to get an interview. • Employer will only take 15 seconds to glance at a

resume. • Most resumes are scanned by a computer for

keywords, so match the words in advertisement in your resume.

• Have a copy of your resume in plain text to email to employer. To save in plain text:

In Microsoft Word, go to Save As and save the file in text only format.



Extra Tips

• Have someone read over your resume for errors that spellcheck doesn’t find.

Ex: Using their instead of there

Confusing two & too

• Microsoft Word has several resume templates. - We are using Chronological Resume –CV (Modern)

• Have white space in the resume so its not overwhelming to the reader.


Important Tip! Bad grammar is a terrible issue in many resumes. Here is one

of the most frequently misused word combinations.

AN – The form of “a” used before words that begin with a vowel or an u unpronounced consonant such as “h” in some cases. Example: We had lunch an hour ago. I saw an ostrich at the zoo. AND – This word is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses; to create the meaning of together with, along with, as well as, or in addition to. Example: I stuffed envelopes and answered the phones. We fed the dog and the cats. Used together appropriately: An ostrich answered the phones and fed the dog an hour ago.


RESUME WRITING TIPS

• List your technical knowledge first, in an organized way.

• List your qualifications in order of relevance, from most to least.

• Quantify your experience wherever possible.

• Begin sentences with action verbs.

• Highlighting all of your strengths.

• Be concise resumes reflecting five years or less experience should

fit on two page

• Omit needless items.

• Have a trusted friend review your resume.

• Proofread. Be sure to catch all spelling errors, grammatical

weaknesses. Prof. Elizabeth Chacko, Selection Grade


RESUME DO’S

• Do send your resume with a cover letter.

• Do strive to make a good impression.

• Do make your resume clear, concise and easy to read.

• Do use BOLD or Underline for section headings.

• Do emphasize your strongest qualifications.

• Focus on accomplishments, skills, and results.

• Do print your resume on high quality 8 ½ by 11 paper.

• Give contact info like home and office telephone numbers.

• Create a resume tailored to the job you are after.

• Do keep your resume up-to-date.


RESUME DO’S

• DO think of your resume as an ad for your qualifications, not an

autobiography.

• DO begin each bullet point with a verb.

• DO included paid and unpaid experience to demonstrate the range

of what you’ve done.

• DO show the reader why you’re a good match for a particular job.

• DO make several resumes, with each one targeting a particular

field.

• DO look at other resumes to see how they are written.


RESUME DON’T

• DON’T make your reader dig for information.

• DON’T tell everything you’ve ever done.

• DON’T use complete sentences

• DON’T include personal information, such as age, race, marital

or health status.

• DON’T make your resume too dense, busy or cute.

• DON’T use a font smaller than 10 point.

• DON’T use fancy fonts that are hard to read.


RESUME DON’TS

• Don't title your resume as Resume and start with your full

name.

• Don’t post or fax if email is an option.

• Don't use fancy fonts.

• Don’t use personal pronouns "I", "my" or "me".

• Don't use passive words.

• Don’t use colorful paper – white, buff or beige is standard.

• Don’t include a picture or other artwork.

• Don’t say you were laid off or fired from your last position.

• Don’t include “references available upon requests.” If they

want them they will ask.


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