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Resume Writing
Tina Goulart
August 11, 2009
Agenda
Purpose
Choosing a Format
Building Your Resume
Resume Tips
Cover L tt
C Letters
Q&A
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Purpose
To find a new position either within your current
company or with another company
To generate a call from a recruiter or a hiring
manager
To illustrate the value that you can add to a new
employer
To showcase your experiences and achievements
It’s the first impression that you make on a
prospective employer
Choosing a Format
Chronological
– Most common
– This format illustrates career growth
– Objective or professional summary is listed first
– Work
W k experience i li t d i reverse chronological
i is listed in h l i l
order (most recent job is listed first)
– Sample resume
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Choosing a Format
Functional
– Most useful when changing careers
– Objective is listed first
– Skills are listed by functions in a paragraph format
– Example: M
E l Management, Accounting, W iti and
t A ti Writing d
Editing
– Sample resume
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Choosing a Format
Combination
– Objective is listed first
– Experience is listed by functions/skills
– Contains an “Employment” section where you
summarize and list your employers and dates
– Sample Resume
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Building Your Resume
Choose the appropriate format for you
(chronological format will be illustrated today)
Name, address, email, phone number, and
cell number – use a slightly larger font
– Name and contact should be listed on every page
Objective or professional summary
– Should be concise
– Custom to each position applying
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Building Your Resume
Work experience – most recent listed first
– Employment dates
– Job/position title
– Company name and location
– Describe key job responsibilities and
accomplishments
Use keywords
Be concise
Can be in bullet or paragraph form
Building Your Resume
Education
– Degree and Discipline
– University name and location
– GPA and year degree conferred, if graduated within 5 years
– Continuing education
Other inclusions
– Professional affiliations
– Patents
– Certifications
– Recognitions
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Building Your Resume
Exclusions
– Personal information; e.g. age, height, weight,
marital status, religion
– Salary
References
– Do not list your references
– Add “References Available Upon Request” as
your last line on your resume
Resume Tips
Length
– One to two pages is ideal
– Exception: Academia CVs – list publications
– Remember: This is only a snapshot of your experience
– Be concise
Education
Ed ti
– If graduated more than 5 years, list at the end of resume
– Recent grads or change in careers, list after objective
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Resume Tips
Layout and Appearance
– Have consistent formatting (e.g. font, bullets,
heading styles)
– Headings should be spaced evenly
– Verb tenses in present tense for current jobs and
past tense for previous jobs
– Do a spell check and a grammar check
Resume Tips
Content
– Have 2-6 statements for each job
– Your statements should contain “power” and
“action” words
e.g. accomplished, completed, developed, directed,
managed, streamlined, upgraded
– Convey the results of your accomplishments in
your statements
– Quantify your results wherever possible
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Resume Tips
Top Skills Employers Want
– Technical
– Analytical
– Computer
– Communication
– Teamwork
– Problem-solving
– Interpersonal
– Strong work ethic
– Initiative
– Flexibility/Adaptability
Resume Tips
Every expert will have a different opinion
Your resume is a reflection of you and so you need
to be comfortable with its format and content
There’s no right or wrong resume
Proofread your resume several times and have
friends
f i d review it
i
Customize your resume for different job
opportunities
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Cover Letters
Be concise
– It’s not intended to replace your resume
Customize each letter for each employer or position
Cater your accomplishments to the position you’re
applying to
Show passion
Sh i
– Speak to how you want to contribute to the company
– Demonstrate how your interests and skills will help them
Cover Letters
Sell yourself
– What can you do for them?
– Show how you met or exceeded your previous job
requirements
– Highlight your successes
Include a strong ending
– Use “When can we meet?” instead of “I look forward to
When I
meeting you.”
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
– Carelessness can cost you a job
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