Crafting Your MBA-level Resume

Transcription

1 Crafting Your MBA-level Resume MBA Orientation Monday August 19, 2013

2 Purpose of a resume Attract the recruiter in 15 seconds Generate job interviews Serve as a marketing tool Promote your brand 2

3 Effective Resumes Focus on accomplishments Appeal to an employer s W.I.I.F.M. Map to the job requirements Demonstrate your strengths 3

4 Ho-hum Resumes Laundry list of job duties Job history Autobiography One size fits all Term paper or thesis 4

5 Resume components Contact information Education Professional experience Skills summary Optional sections 5

6 Contact information Name (larger font, bold, all CAPS) Current address (spell out street, court) PSU/Smeal address Telephone number LinkedIn personalized URL 6

7 Education Present to past Institution, location Expected or completed degree, date Concentration(s) Scholarships or honors Associations or clubs Graduate or Teaching Assistantship 7

8 Professional Experience Reverse chronological Employer, location, dates Position/title Scope of work statement Accomplishments 8

9 Accomplishments-- your key differentiators in a competitive marketplace Penn State Smeal MBA Program

10 Accomplishments Contributions Projects Moments of glory Deliverables Success stories Accomplishments Impact you had 10

11 Why so important to employers? Past performance is the best predictor of future performance

12 Why so important to you? Past success is the best predictor of future success

13 Demystifying Accomplishments Things you did well Things you enjoyed doing Things you are proud of the results 13

14 Appeal to Employer s Motivators Problems Time Customers Money Buying Motivators Workflow/ process 14

15 Accomplishment Touchstones In your past, when you worked with DATA, have you: In your past, when you worked with PEOPLE, have you: In your past, when you worked with THINGS, have you: Analyzed Organized Advised Instructed Assembled Modernized Assembled Presented Assisted Managed Centralized Operated Budgeted Processed Coached Mentored Conceived Organized Calculated Published Collaborated Motivated Constructed Pioneered Compiled Reconciled Consulted Persuaded Coordinated Repaired Evaluated Researched Counseled Recruited Designed Redesigned Forecasted Synthesized Delegated Scheduled Improved Streamlined Integrated Directed Invented Upgraded 15

16 Mining for accomplishments Performance reviews Commendations from managers Recognition from team members Projects, committees, task forces Milestones you reached Awards, honors, prizes 16

17 Some Additional Ideas Improved reporting Initiated quality controls Improved morale Repaired client relations Reduced inventory Reduced overdue accounts Decreased turnover Solved problems Developed new business Improved efficiency Identified new markets Eliminated work backlog Increased sales Increased profits Reduced operating expenses 17

18 STAR Model Situation/Task What was the problem or performance objective? Action Describe your method, approach or intervention Result Describe the outcome, impact Quantify results in numeric terms: #, $, %, time 18

19 Action + Result Action Identified and contracted with an outside vendor to manage customer letter fulfillment Result that achieved a cost savings of 33%. 19

20 Action + Result Action Developed and implemented a comprehensive pricing initiative Result which generated savings in excess of $6 million and improved operational efficiencies by over 50%. 20

21 Without Action + Result what do you get? SO WHAT!

22 Tasks vs. accomplishments Duties and responsibilities Responsible for sales in the Midwest region Managed contracts Managed inventory levels Led various projects Coordinate daily deliveries Accomplishments Transformed an underachieving region into a top producer; generating $15 million in new revenue. Negotiated a revised contract with a local vendor, reducing costs by 10% or $20,000. Implemented an inventory reduction initiative that liquidated obsolete parts and generated $50,000 in revenue. Led a process improvement team to streamline workflow, reallocate shop floor space and save five production hours daily. Reduced delivery cycle time 25% by instituting a Six Sigma initiative. 23

23 Accomplishments Bullet pointed Lead with action verbs for impact Quantify results (when possible) Generally one sentence but no longer than two Always Action + Result 24

24 Map to the Job Requirements You want: Top notch analytical skills Excellent negotiation skills Tenacious problem solving skills Strong strategic thinking skills Ability to influence across teams Flexibility to adapt I have: Action + Result accomplishment Action + Result accomplishment Action + Result accomplishment Action + Result accomplishment Action + Result accomplishment Action + Result accomplishment

25 Deconstruct Your Accomplishments Transferable Skills Subject Expertise Personal Qualities Communication Leadership Team building Mentoring Critical thinking Financial analysis Internal auditing Sarbanes-Oxley Risk assessment GAAP High energy Visionary Tactful Self-motivated Results-driven 27

26 Portfolio of Skills What you do well Transferable Subject What you know Skills Expertise Personal Qualities What you are like 28

27 Transferable Skills Transportable from job to job; industry to industry Often natural abilities or talents Expressed in action verbs & skill nouns Data, people, things 29

28 Subject Expertise Industry or job specific Acquired through education, training or on the job experience Expressed in noun and noun phrases Often called tools of the trade 30

29 Personal Qualities Personality characteristics Self-disciplines Ways you manage yourself Often how friends describe you Expressed as adjectives 31

30 Examples: Transferable skills Subject expertise Personal qualities Analytical Account Management Detail-oriented Communication Business Development Ethical Critical thinking Forecasting Innovative Leadership Inventory Control Methodical Mentoring Labor Arbitration Outgoing Negotiating Lifecycle Management Perceptive Organization Logistics Management Professional Planning Process Engineering Resilient Problem resolution Quality Assurance Self-motivated Research Vendor Sourcing Tactful 32

31 Keywords Software Certifications Licenses Industry jargon Quality programs Technical skills Education degree Transferable Skills Subject expertise Job titles Job specific skills Languages Personal qualities 33

32 Keyword Examples Transferable skills: communication, leadership, team building, mentoring, critical thinking Job specific skills: financial analysis, internal audits, Sarbanes-Oxley, risk assessment, GAAP Technical skills: SAP, systems architecture, programming, CAD/CAM Software: Excel, PowerPoint, Project Manager, Access, PhotoShop Personal qualities: high-energy, visionary, results-oriented, tactful, self-motivated Certifications/licenses: CPA, MCSE, Series 7, RN, Series 65 Quality programs: ISO 9000, TQM, Six Sigma, LEAN Languages: Spanish, German, Japanese, Mandarin 34

33 Optional Components Volunteer Activities or Community Service Professional Affiliations Professional Development Awards or Personal Recognition Security Clearance Languages 35

34 Appearance Guidelines Bullets not paragraphs One page Laser print Times New Roman font.75 margins 25% cotton bond paper Black font color Avoid lines & shading White or ivory paper point font size 36

35 Preparation Tips Action verbs highlight skills End bullets with periods Avoid I me my we our Spell out numbers under 10 Avoid abbreviations Avoid overuse of capitals Spell check, spell check, spell check 37

36 Master Resume Extends experience past recent 10 years Full listing of all accomplishments Resides on hard or thumb drive Copy and paste best matches 38

37 Final thoughts? What questions have I raised? 39

38 Exercise From these ideas, take a look at your resume How many new accomplishments can you develop from experience, education or activities? 40

39 Exercise Exchange resumes with a partner -- Convert two job duties into accomplishments Does an action need a result? Can it be quantified? $, %, # Does a result need an action? How was the outcome achieved? 41

40 Exercise While in pairs, select one of your partner s accomplishments Identify skills, subject expertise and personal qualities Provide feedback to your partner 42

41 Skills Experience Education Knowledge Accomplishments Likeability Work style Social skills Communication Team orientation Strengths: 3C s Competencies Commitment Dress and appearance Compatibility Motivators Passion Interest Attitude Energy level 43