Learn the basics of resume preparation and how to use technology for your benefit. This presentation was used at Project ReStart, funded by the AARP Foundation, to help job seekers 50+.

1. Project ReStart
Writing a Resume

2. What is a resume?
Your resume is a tool to get an
interview with an employer.

3. What are the characteristics of a
resume?
Clear
Accurate
Concise

4. Questions to ask when writing a
resume:
Where is it going?
Who is going to receive it?
How will it be read or distributed?

5. Where, Who, and How
• Be sure to research the
company and the contact
• Make sure it is in a readable
format
▫ To email, save as a .pdf
▫ DO NOT copy and paste your
resume into an email – it
messes up the formatting

6. You have
30 seconds
to grab
the attention
of an employer

7. How to grab resume attention:
Employers receive many resumes!
You must past the 30 second scan!
• Always include a cover letter and intro email
• Resume is Simple, Concise, Direct, Organized
▫ no more than 2 pages
• Formatted
• Relevant information only

8. Importance of Formatting
• Use the same professional font
• Use alignment – center, left, right
• Create white space
• Make lists and use bullets for reading ease
• Organize with bold, underlined, or italic text
▫ Bold brings emphasis
▫ Underlined is a great header for a section
▫ Italic is excellent for titles or quotes
• Margins
Barbara Howard
Barbara Howard
Barbara Howard
Barbara Howard
Barbara
Howard

9. Relevance:
Will it help me get an interview for this job?
• Never exaggerate, give false or inaccurate information
• Use the job description to imagine the job
• What skills do you have that makes you the best
candidate?
• Only include hobbies, professional affiliations, volunteer
work, etc. if you believe it will help you get the job –
Relevance!
• Not an autobiography – can mention experience briefly
if relevant
▫ “Various Short-term Jobs” as heading and list companies

10. Grammar and Spelling
• No passive language – Show confidence!
▫ I have had a lot of experience with typing.
▫ Correct: I have a lot of experience with typing.
• In a resume make statements not sentences
• No “I” statements

11. Types of Resumes
Skills Based Chronological
• Many years experience
• Lots of things well
• Employment gaps
• Shows Transferable Skills!
• Showing career progression
• Same line of work
• Well-known
companies/organizations
• Highlight level of work activity
• Entering job market for first
time
• Don’t use if:
▫ Irregular employment
▫ Change in careers
▫ Change jobs frequently

12. Skills Based Resume
• Objective
• Accomplishments
▫ Skill
 How you got that skill
▫ 2nd Skill
 How you got that skill
▫ Etc.
• Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/etc
• Employment History
▫ Date: Title, Business, City, State
▫ Date: Title, business, City, State
• Education
• Awards
• Affiliations

13. Chronological Resume
• Objective/Summary
• Education (if not a big focus then put at the end)
• Experience
▫ Title, Date, Business, City, State
 Responsibilities
▫ Title, Date, Business, City, State
 Responsibilities
▫ Etc.
• Skills/Software Proficiency/Instrument Knowledge/Affiliations, etc
• References

14. Chronological
Resume
• Objective/Summary
• Education (if not a big focus
then put at the end)
• Experience
▫ Title, Date, Business, Cit
y, State
 Responsibilities
▫ Title, Date, Business, Cit
y, State
 Responsibilities
▫ Etc.
• Skills/Software
Proficiency/Instrument
Knowledge/Affiliations, etc
• References
• Objective/Highlights of Qualifications
▫ Statement/bullet list
• Accomplishments
▫ Skill
 How you got that skill
▫ 2nd Skill
 How you got that skill
▫ Etc.
• Software Proficiency/Instrument
Knowledge/etc
• Employment History
▫ Date: Title, Business, City, State
▫ Date: Title, business, City, State
• Education
• Awards
• Affiliations
Skills Based
Resume

15. Objective Statement
• Give the employer:
▫ Kind of employment seeking
▫ Sense of your professional direction
▫ Tailor it to the position
▫ Provide a sense of knowledge and skills
▫ Apply it to a given industry or position

16. Summary Statement
• Sometimes instead of an Objective Statement
• Briefly summarizes resume with:
▫ Employment history
▫ Key accomplishments
▫ Or areas you want to sell to the employer

17. Education
Consider putting your education
after work history
if you have greater accomplishments
than your education
OR
you do not want to emphasize your age

18. Work Experience
• Begin with the most recent experience
• Use action verbs
• Summarize – Be brief and to the point!
• Focus on Accomplishments, Contributions, and
Outcomes
• Show how YOU made a difference!
• Quantify your accomplishments; give amounts;
dollars, staff
managed, budgets, increases, reductions

19. Special Skills
• Languages
• Computer knowledge
• Proven interpersonal skills
• Written and oral communication
• Creative abilities
• Organizational leadership
• Independent work
• Teamwork
• Presentation
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• BUT only if they apply!

20. References
• Ask ahead of time if they are willing
• Keep them well informed
• Give a copy of your resume to your references
• Mix business and academic if possible

21. Don’t Forget!
• Proofread
• The “friend read test”:
▫ Check for errors
▫ What info stands out?

22. Part II:
Using Technology for Your Benefit

23. Using Technology
• Your ability to communicate well through
technology is the greatest hurdle for job
seekers to overcome
• You may have a lot of skills, but if you are
unable to use technology as a tool, then
you are unable to communicate what you
have to offer
Learn how to use technology to YOUR benefit!

24. Supplies You Will Need:
• Computer with Word
Processing Program
(Microsoft Word)
▫ Will allow you to create your
resume on the computer
• A Printer or Email Account
▫ Can store your files on email
by sending the email to
yourself

25. Supplies You Will Need:
• Memory Stick/USB Flash Drive
▫ Save your file on a portable
source
▫ Stores your files using a USB
port
▫ USB ports are on all computers
▫ Attaches to your key chain
▫ Store the files and take them
with you to different computers

26. How much is enough for me?
• Storage Size
▫ 1 Bit = Binary Digit
▫ 8 Bits = 1 Byte
▫ 1000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
▫ 1000 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
▫ 1000 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
▫ 1000 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte, etc.
• 1 Word file = approximately 36.5KB
▫ Walmart
 2 GB drive for $4
 32 GB drive for $15
• Will a 2 GB USB Drive be enough for me?
▫ A $4 – 2 GB flash drive will hold 2 million
KB
▫ Your resume is only 36.5 KB
▫ That’s over 27,000 resumes!

27. Word Basics
• Create a new
document
• Alignment
• Font
• Size
• Format
• Bullets/Prioritize
• Tabs
• Highlighting
• Line Spacing
• Copy/Paste
• Save/Save As
• Save As .pdf
For more detailed information about
Word, take our “Intro to Microsoft Word”
class!

28. Questions?
Melissa McGinnis
www.linkedin.com/in/mcginnismelissa
mcginnis.m.melissa@gmail.com