Job-Applications.com Resume Lesson Plan

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The Art of Writing an Effective Resume
BY DOUG CRAWFORD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Job-Applications.com

The Qualification
Summary

The Qualification Summary
 Replaces the objective on modern-day resumes
 Functions as the written equivalent of the Elevator Speech and answers the
question, “Tell me about yourself”
 Provides a snapshot of career highlights
 Draws attention to specific abilities, accomplishments, experiences, and/or
strengths
 Includes just a few lines of text

Examples of Qualification Summaries
Profile
Expert salesperson with over two year experience in fashion retail. Strong
communicator with expert fashion sense, easily connect with customers to
understand their needs and build wardrobes they love.
Summary of Qualifications
Over 4 years of experience in all aspects of web development. Core
competencies include XHTML, CSS & JavaScript. Highly experienced with Adobe
Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and JBoss. Weaves technology and SEO to drive
traffic to sites and keep users engaged.

Using Keywords WHAT THEY ARE, HOW THEY WORK,
AND WHAT THEY DO

Resume Keywords: What They Are
 Specific terms and phrases employers use to create job postings and
search for submitted resumes that match available positions
 Almost always nouns
 Not to be confused with ‘Buzzwords,’ which are generally adjectives.

Keywords vs. Buzzwords
Keywords
 Essential words that reference specific
job requirements, such as skills,
credentials, and previous experience
 Typically nouns
 Unique to each job or industry
Buzzwords
 Vague, overused words that take up
valuable space on a resume
 Generally not searched for by
employers
 Often adjectives

Examples of Keywords and Buzzword
Microsoft Word
Market Research/Analysis
Public Speaking
Sales Proficiency
Science Background
Hard Worker
Go-Getter
Motivated
Synergy
Organized
Keyword Buzzword

Keyword or Buzzword?
Identify whether the term is a KEYWORD or BUZZWORD
1. CSS/HTML Programming
2. Problem-Solver
3. Good Listener
4. Debate Team Member
5. Team Player
6. CPR certified
 Keyword
 Buzzword
 Buzzword
 Keyword
 Buzzword
 Keyword

How Keywords Work
 The majority of larger companies use tracking software to scan incoming
resumes, searching for specified keywords and other information.
 When searching available job postings, applicants should scan for specific
words and phrases pertaining to qualifications and skills a company
deems most important.
 Keywords work two-fold:
 For employers, it streamlines the application process
 For job seekers, it keeps the resume focused
 Even smaller companies may only look at a few resumes per job opening.

Finding and Using Keywords Correctly
 Study the job description and consider the job experience, skills, and
education an employer is ideally seeking.
 Compile a list of words and phrases by examining job postings for similar
positions.
 Incorporate keywords throughout a resume in a natural way.
 Don’t just make lists, use proper context
 Maintain an appropriate keyword density.
 Other keywords may relate to specific job titles, education and
certification, and industry-related acronyms or terminology.

Professional
History/Experience
WHAT TO INCLUDE AND
EXAMPLES OF FORMATTING

What to Include
For each position listed, the Experience section of the resume generally
includes the following information:
 Job title
 Employer (name and location)
 Dates of employment
 Duties performed

Accomplishments vs. Responsibilities
Don’t Say..
 Sold merchandise
 Raised Money
 Lead team members
Say…
 Consistently exceeded sales goals by
over 25%
 Raised over $1,000 in two weeks by
selling raffle tickets.
 Lead a team of five coworkers to
streamline nightly closing process

Examples of Formatting

Other Sections
To Include
EDUCATION, ACTIVITIES, AND
INTERESTS

Educational Background
 List your education in reverse order
 For instance, if you’ve achieved a Master’s Degree, list it first, then your Bachelor’s
 If you have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, listing your high school diploma is unnecessary
 If you’ve only completed high school, but are attending further education, do not list higher
education until you graduate or receive a degree
 GPA and any academic honors or awards should be listed if you are a graduate
 Recent graduates use such achievements to augment qualifications
 If you did not finish your degree, then write in the amount of credits that you obtained
 List the relevant coursework and the major pursued

Educational Background
 If a degree makes a candidate appear overqualified for a position:
 Job seekers should leave them off
 When applying for jobs that require a certain degree:
 Individuals working to complete that degree should list their education with
expected graduation date and area of study
 Incomplete schooling may be listed as a last resort
 Especially if it's the only thing that qualifies the candidate for the position
 Do not:
 Embellish or falsify accomplishments, keep it too general, or ignore dates

Why Activities
and Interests?
 Any number of interests and activities can be
professionally relevant, and may showcase
your potential for leadership, teamwork, and
experience.
 A study by LinkedIn showed that 41% of hiring
managers find information about an applicant's
interests and volunteer opportunities to be as
equally important as the applicant's work
experience.

Activities and Interests
What to Include
 College Clubs
 Community Involvement/Volunteer
Activities
 Athletics
 Professional Societies
 Always remember: all activities, unless
you are a recent grad, should relate
back to the job you are applying for
What Not To Include
 Explicitly partisan activities
 Should only use if the job is overtly political
 Irrelevant activities should be avoided
 (i.e.) Reading, watching movies, spending
time with friends and family
 Religious activities should be kept to a
minimum, if possible
 Again, if the job itself warrants such
activities, feel free to list them

Resume Types,
Formats &
Presentation
WHICH RESUME IS RIGHT FOR
ME?

Types of Resumes
 Chronological
 Most common
 Usually better for someone with more actual job experience
 Lists work experience chronologically, from most recent to oldest
 Functional
 Skills-based
 Highlights abilities rather than a chronological listing of your work history
 Works well for people with gaps in their work history, those who frequently
change jobs, and young workers just entering or reentering the workforce
 Combination

Which Resume Works Best For Me?
 Chronological Resume
 Contact Information
 Summary of Qualifications
 Experience
 Education
 Functional Resume
 Contact Information
 Summary of Qualifications
 Skills
 Work History
 Education

Formatting and Presentation
 Your final resume should be:
 Easy to scan
 Concise yet complete
 Use basic fonts
 The bottom line…
KEEP.
IT.
SIMPLE.

Should I Send A Cover Letter?
 Cover letters should reaffirm your desire for an open position
 Remember: You’re always competing with multiple other candidates for
the same position
 Any chance you can to stand out, take it
 All jobs don’t need or require a cover letter, but it never hurts to add one
to submitted applications or resumes
 With online applications, certain job portals allow applicants to upload
both resumes and cover letter attachments

What Goes In A Cover Letter?
 Start with your contact information
 Should match the resume
 Use the company information next
 Contact person’s name, title, company name, address
 The first paragraph explains why you are writing
 Get the reader’s attention
 The second paragraph talks about qualifications
 Why you’re a good fit for the job

What Goes In A Cover Letter?
 The third paragraph should talk about education and skills
 Keep it relatable to the job applying for
 The fourth paragraph should discuss availability
 Cater to the employer’s needs and convenience
 The final paragraph should thank the person for their time and
consideration
 Use a proper closing
 “Sincerely” typically works best
 Sign and type your name

So What Have We Learned?
What are the Parts of a Resume?
 What is the difference between a
Summary of Qualifications and the old
Objective?
 What is a keyword?
 How is it different from a buzzword?
 Tell me some sections that go into a
resume.
 What are their importance?
Formatting and Cover Letters
 When should you use a chronological
resume?
 When should you use a functional
resume?
 What role does a cover letter play in
finding a job?

Additional Resources
For more information about creating a resume, check out the following
resources from Job-Applications.com:
http://www.job-applications.com/
http://www.job-applications.com/blog/
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrJobApplications
http://www.job-applications.com/video-library/
https://www.facebook.com/JobApplications

Job-Applications.com Resume Lesson Plan

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