Resume Writing Workshop

The Purpose of a Resume is

GET THE INTERVIEW! Marketing yourself
What makes you unique Answer the question Why should the employer want to talk to you? Customize, Customize, Customize Only give enough information that 100% qualifies you for the job and NO MORE, NO LESS.

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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What is a Resume?
It is one part of a set of documents you need when searching for any job:
Cover letter Resume Reference list Thank you note

These are your personal ADVERTISING kit

Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Resume Rules of Thumb

Keep it to no more than two pages Tailor it as much as possible to the job description Use language that is in the job description KISS the physical layout (Keep It Simple Silly) REMEMBER: The resume represents you in your absence!
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Key Content Components

Your Contact Information
Who you are and how you can be reached

Your Job or Professional Objective

What kind of work you are looking for

Your Accomplishment Statements

Successes you have achieved
Problem, Solution, Results (PSRs)

Your Skills or Qualification Summary

What makes you the ideal candidate

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Resume Types: Chronological

Advantages
Emphasizes continuity and career growth

Reasons to use
When your career direction is clear

Highlights the name of employers

Easy to follow

When your job target is in line with your work history

When the name of your last employer adds strong prestige
Source: The Perfect Resume, Tom Jackson, 1990

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Resume Types: Functional

Advantages
Flexibility in emphasis

Reasons to use
When you change or redirect your career

Eliminates repetition of job assignments

Tends to de-emphasize experience

When you start your first job search

When you reenter the job market and want to emphasize your abilities
Source: The Perfect Resume, Tom Jackson, 1990

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Resume Types: Targeted

Advantages
Lets you present an impressive case for one selected job Demonstrates strong understanding in a targeted area of expertise

Reasons to use
When you are exceptionally clear about job targets and what they require Certified, licensed, or bonded job requirements
Source: The Perfect Resume, Tom Jackson, 1990

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Writing Guidelines
Top-Left Rule Use active v. passive language Use present tense to describe what you are looking for now Use past tense to describe what you have done before Incomplete sentences are acceptable Take job description and using white letters paste job description is small font below first page of resume so can only be read by scanner.
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Physical Appearance
Make it easy to to look at and easy to read WHITE SPACE Use at least 10 point type (12 is the best)
tiny type is hard to read!

Use a simple typeface (a.k.a. font)

A sans serif font such as this is clean A serif font such as this is easier to read

Dont mix fonts on a page

Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Overview
Does the resume Paint a Clear Picture? Does the resume Tell your Story? Does the resume let the employer make a quick assessment to go further with an interview? Is it a good advertisement?

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Impact of the Internet

Makes it easy to distribute your resume very quickly to lots of companies Quickly becoming a preferred means of receiving resumes by employers Presents opportunities for abuse
Consider setting up a Hotmail or Yahoo email address to protect yourself from spam

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Ways to Submit Electronically

As an attachment via email
Attachments are falling out of favor due to viruses, worms, etc. Only use if job description says to do so

Embedded in email
You will need a text-only file for this

Submitted on-line through a web site

You will need a text-only file for this
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Emailing a Resume
Save Document as text only with line breaks (60 characters per line) Open the document, edit again and save. Highlight all and copy onto clipboard. Go to internet service screen and paste the copied resume into the e-mail preceded by a cover letter. Keep the margins at 6 1/2 to prevent wraparound Send it to yourself so you can preview it.
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Plain-Text Resume
Ugly but necessary
Companies are wary of computer viruses in attachments HR clerks, not hiring managers, are tasked with printing out emails

Simple format
60 characters per line (with a CR at the end) Use ALL CAPS for headers Add line spaces to separate blocks of text
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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The Electronic Scannable Resume

Software reads your resume for keywords
Most popular system is Resumix (now owned by Hotjobs.com) Will score and rank resumes by number of hits

Sample list of companies using it:

AMD, Amdahl, Apple, Bank of America, Cadence, Intel, GE, National Semiconductor, Sun Microsystems, AT&T
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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The Evil Scan Software

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Cover Letters

First Paragraph - Opening Tells why you are writing in a way that arouses interest. Displays your knowledge of the readers company or group. Second Paragraph - Accomplishments Briefly describes your qualifications and identifies the relevant job title. Third Paragraph - Answers the question: Why should I hire you? Fourth Paragraph - Takes the initiative Requests action, asks for an interview, suggests a time to meet. Close - Always thank the employer for time and consideration.

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Your References
Ask permission to use your references name. Send your references a copy of your resume. Ask you references what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. Call your references once you have provided their names to a company. Coach your references on what skills to highlight when called. Ask them to tell you when they are called for a reference.

Resume Writing Workshop

Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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Incidentals
Cover letters
Keep them brief and aligned with what is written in your resume

Reference lists
Dont send them with your resume, but have them with you at the interview

Thank you note

A nice (and rare) personal touch
Resume Writing Workshop Updated: 23 Oct. 02 - Slide

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