RESUME PREPARATION. Launching Your MBA Experience

Transcription

1 RESUME PREPARATION Launching Your MBA Experience

2 What is the purpose of your resume? It is your personal marketing tool: time to think of yourself as a brand What product/brand do you believe in? To secure the reader s attention (15-30 seconds worth of attention (style) To present your unique experiences and accomplishments to the employer To ultimately get an interview.this is the mission

3 Know Your Brand

4 Think About Your Target Audience What are you trying to convey to the reader? Your PCS and story can serve as your guide Self-assessment: Who are you?...the analytical financier, the problem solving consultant, the creative brand marketer Use your career coach to help with discernment Concise and focused

5 How can your career coach help? A place to talk through your experiences, likes, and dislikes An objective voice with no biases or expectations A place where you can admit things that you don t know Receive input on how to begin packaging yourself

6 Work Experience Relevant Experience, Leadership Experience, Other Experience, Volunteer Experience List most impactful information first If position is more important than the company, list position first Position, Name of Organization, City, State, Date Pay attention to action verbs ex: Managed, Organized, Prepared, Developed Think Accomplishments Action and Results Oriented How did you meet or exceed goals? Be aware of the reader 5 points recommended maximum No more than two lines per point

7 Formatting Chronological: Most recent experience first Benefits: Easiest/fastest to read, most common Employers expect it Functional: Skill based rather than job based Benefit: Useful for selling an unrelated background, focuses on you Worked at same job for 10 years only position

8 Quantifying Accomplishments What kinds of accomplishments are quantifiable?? Brainstorm Think about how you were evaluated in your own positions. Examples Please

9 Chronological: The Body Experience: Human Resources Manager, MACYs Northeast, Baltimore, MD (July 2006-July 2008) Managed the human resources department for a major department store that employed over 150 employees. Managed a department of 8 HR staff that oversaw all aspects of training, compensation and benefits, and recruitment and hiring Executed all the new hiring for a store grand opening which entailed coordinating the recruiting efforts for 15 departments and which represented management, sales, security, and support staff Coordinated and conducted new employee training for all 150 employees to include sales and customer service training, computer training, and benefits seminars Reduced sales force turnover from 20% to 10% annually and upgraded the quality of candidates hired by implementing a new interview skills training program.

10 Functional: The Body Professional Highlights Management Managed a department of 8 Human Resources professionals that oversaw all aspects of training, compensation and benefits, and recruitment and hiring. Responsible for employee evaluation and succession planning for the department Training Coordinated and conducted new employee training for 150 employees to include sales and customer service training, computer training, and benefits seminars Cost Reduction Reduced sales force turnover from 20% to 10% annually by implementing a new interviewing system. Turnover reductions saved the company $250,000 in recruiting and training costs Work History Human Resources Manager, MACYS Northeast, Baltimore, MD (July 2006-July 2008)

11 P.A.R. Stories (Exercise) Problem: What is a specific problem that you were asked to tackle in a job? Action: What action steps did you take to solve the problem? Results: What were the results of your action steps? Is it possible to quantify?

12 Other potential content (know your reader) Activities (Get involved) Member American Society of Training and Development Student Member Society of Human Resources Managers Vice President HR Club *Becoming an officer is even more desirable Community/Volunteer PSU Alumni Association State College Chapter Social Chair Friends of Pittsburgh Zoo Big Brothers/Big Sisters Honors/Awards Governors Workforce Award Certificate of Leadership Pennsylvania Career Network MACY s Outstanding Customer Service Award Skills Fluent in Spanish Performance Appraisal Software packages 360 degree feedback

13 Does your resume seem thin? It s a new game..get involved You now have a an opportunity to build up your resume through involvement Opportunities at Smeal: Smeal Research Centers: Global Business Studies, Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Student Organizations: Penn State Entrepreneurs Network, National Association of Women MBAs

14 References To be listed on a separate piece of paper Anywhere from 3-5 references is typical Time to start thinking about who your references might be Professors/Consultants Employers (Internship and otherwise) Heads of research institutes

15 Stylistic Concerns Must be well organized, easy to read, and is stylistically attractive One page for purposes of Symplicity and ease of reading Watch spelling and punctuation Type size 10-12, preferably not 10 Use CAPS, bolds and spacing to enhance visual appeal Invest in some resume grade paper from the bookstore. Stick with white and ivory unless going into a creative field

16 Professional Styles: Table Resume Table Resume OBJECTIVE: To get a job EDUCATION: PSU We are EXPERIENCE: Lots and lots and lots ACTIVITIES: Yes, of course! Easy to edit Set up a table under your heading (2 columns and a row for each section) Adjust width of columns Avoid tab key

17 Professional Styles: Indent resume Indent Resume OBJECTIVE To get a job! EDUCATION PSU -- WE are... EXPERIENCE Lots and lots and lots Provides more space for text Type everything flush left to start Indent as needed ACTIVITIES Yes, of course

18 Thank You Questions???????