1. Introduction to Resume Writing

2. Professional Summary
Sales Brochure
Calling Card

3. Catalog
Laundry List
Comprehensive History
Static

4. Overestimating the power of a resume
• A good resume can help you get an interview
Overestimating attention paid to resumes
• The average resume is “read” in 15-20 seconds
Underestimating the odds
• Employers receive dozens if not hundreds of
resumes for open positions
Overestimating the people screening
resumes
• Screeners are often not field personnel

5. Including irrelevant content
• A good resume is tailored to the job description or
to the specific company/industry where you apply
Using distracting or inconsistent formats
• A good resume is easy to quickly read
Assuming the cover letter will “sell” the
resume
• Cover letters can explain or expound upon your
background and experience and are often read
after your resume is screened.

6.  A Resume is Designed to Get you A Job
• Myth- A Good Resume Can Get you an Interview
 A Resume Can Be Longer Than One Page
• Fact- Your Resume Should Outline Your Qualifications
in a concise, clear Manner
 I Only Need One Resume
• Myth- Resumes should be tailored to individual Jobs
 There is more than one way to do a resume
• Fact- A resume is your signature calling card. It should
represent you.

7. Chronological
• Most Common Form
• Easiest to Prepare
• Lists Detailed Employment History in Reverse
Chronological Order
• Provides Dates of Employment and Duties
Performed

8. Functional
Also known as a skills resume
Focuses on knowledge, skills and abilities
Provides less detailed job experience
Does not focus on employment dates
Is often used to disguise potential faults
• Poor/Short work history
• Gaps in employment
• Irrelevant experience

9. An Effective Resume…
Sells your experience and qualifications
Relates your qualifications to the industry
and company
Showcases what you CAN DO over what
you HAVE DONE

10. Contact Information
Introductory Statement
Professional Experience
Education

11. Full Name (Largest item on page)
Mailing Address
Contact Phone Number(s)
Email Address
• Should be professional I.E. first.last@email.com

12. John Smith
1234 Any St, Anywhere, USA, (555) 555-1212 john.smith@email.com
John Q. Smith
123 Any Street
Anywhere, USA 55555
(555) 111-2222
johnqpublic@ineedajob.com

13. Explains background, qualifications or
intentions
Brief, directly related to Job
Examples:
• Objective statements
• Profile statement
• Professional summary
• Core competencies

14. Statement of your specific employment
goal
Relates directly to the position from the
employer’s point of view
Must be clear and concise

15. To obtain a position in a foreign relations
firm where my knowledge and
background in Political Science as well
as Russian language and culture will
allow company goals and objectives to
be met

16. Pro
• Frames your resume in relation to the job
• Shows analytical ability
Con
• Employers don’t care about Your objective; they
care about Their objectives
• Wording often not specific enough to be useful
• Can often be considered “fluff” by screeners

17.  Also called a career summary or career
profile
 Provides an overview of your qualifications,
experience and accomplishments
 Is helpful only if the employer is seeking the
kind of experience on your profile

18. Profile
Top producing sales specialist with 15
years experience developing innovative
solutions to complex technical problems

19. Lists professional strengths
Shows strengths within focus areas
Can be listed in multiple columns if
necessary
Should be focused on relevant skills to the
specific job

20. CORE COMPETENCIES
 Strategic Program Development
 Public Speaking
 Event Coordination
 Strategic Communications
 Community Outreach
 Team Development and Motivation
 Individual and Group Instruction
 Cross Organizational Communication

21. Include paid and unpaid work experience
in reverse chronological order
Company name
Location
Dates of employment
Job title
Principal duties and accomplishments
• Provide in bullet form
• Be specific and concrete
• “Stories tell; numbers sell”

22. Build-It Construction June 1997 – August 2009
Construction Foreman
 Managed a staff of ten construction laborers
 Collaborated with crew to ensure timely
completion of projects
 Developed blue prints applicable to the job at
hand
 Finalized inspections with the county building
department

23. List all institutions you graduated from in
reverse chronological order
Include name and location of institution
Include GPA if 3.0 or greater
Include extra curricular activities
If you received a bachelor’s degree or
higher, leave off high school
If you graduated from college within the
past three years, list education at top of
resume

24. EDUCATION
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Bachelor of Science, June 2010
Major: Marketing and Public Relations
Dean’s list GPA: 3.97

25. Military Experience
Publications
Media Experience
Certifications/Training
Affiliations
Achievements
Computer Proficiency

26.  Hobbies (Unless relevant to the job)
 Protected info (Religion, Race, Nationality, etc.)
 Pictures
 Salary history or salary expectation
 Exaggerations or misrepresentations
 Reason for separation from previous employment
 “References Available Upon Request”

27. List references on a separate sheet of
paper
Use the same format as your resume
List 3 – 5 professional references (I.E. co-
workers, former supervisors etc.)
Include:
• Name
• Email address
• Phone number(s)
• Brief description of how you know them

28. Write your own resume, do not use
templates
Use traditional fonts
• I.E. Arial for headings and Times New Roman for
body
Keep formatting consistent
Do not pack in too much text or leave too
much blank space
Use high quality paper such as resume or
parchment paper

29. If emailing your resume, save in PDF
format
Ensure you are submitting your resume to
the correct person
Use the same fonts and paper quality for
all documents submitted with your resume

30. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
Do not use gimmicks such as colors,
perfume, graphics, pictures, etc.
Watch out for redundant content
Avoid “I” statements
Make it easy to read

31. Your resume is your sales pitch
You are the world’s foremost expert on you
and your qualifications
Just as a calling card gets a salesperson a
meeting, your resume can get you an
interview
Your resume should be engaging and
motivate them to meet you
You got this!

32. Unbeatable Resumes by Tony Beshara
101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled
Times By Jay A. Block

33. Charles E. Anderson
(828) 265 – 5385
Charles.Anderson@NCCommerce.com