How to Showcase your Skills and Experience in a Resume Presented by: Kara Renaud Resource Coordinator & Faculty Liaison, Career Services
Agenda Issues and realities How employers recruit methods & strategies What do employers value? Addressing the disconnect ; Making the shift CV versus Resume & Resume formats Helpful Resources for Job Search
Issues and realities Graduate Students Peer pressure and fear of failure Personal and family angst time, money and education wasted Loss of identity who am I outside of this program/field Job market uncertainty & broad possibilities where do you fit in Lack of preparation for careers outside of academia
Issues and realities Employers Perception of being over qualified Expectations of graduate students (position, wages, status, job challenge)
How employers recruit 1. Hire from within 2. Customized application proof of skills 3. Referral from colleague or friend 4. Recruitment agency/headhunter 5. Placing a job advertisement 6. Randomly received resume
The Hidden Job Market 20% of jobs are advertised 80% of job are not advertised
Specialized methods /use of social media HOW DOES YOUR INDUSTRY RECRUIT? Specific websites or applicant tracking systems Preferred resume style or format Additional documentation
What do employers value?
Are you well rounded? Variety of experiences (volunteer, internships, jobs) Community Focus Global Perspective Diverse Skill Set
Key employability skills
Employability Skills 2000+ Refer to hand from the Conference Board of Canada http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/ education/learning-tools/employabilityskills.aspx
Lost in Translation Academia Private Sector
Mind Shift Research Writing Teaching Practical, real world experience Professional skills for the workplace
Addressing the Disconnect Knowledge What you know, expertise Skills How you do itscope, process and results
Know your Audience
Major Research Project/Paper
5 Real World Tips It s not about you. It s about the job. Be prepared to compete Your degree alone will not get you the job It s about your skills: take inventory Research, research, research!
RESUME CV Used for applying to jobs in various sectors Summary of your education, employment and extracurricular Focus is on SKILLS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1-2 pages in length References are on a separate page Used for applying to academic positions, graduate programs Summary of education, research interests and scholarly work Focus is on TEACHING, WRITING and RESEARCH 3+ pages References may/may not be included
Employers respond to achievements rather than typical duties Helps us reflect on personal successes ACHIEVEMENT FOCUSED Identify skills, strengths and talents Help us think beyond daily tasks Prepares us for story telling in interviews Impact of our actions
Writing Achievement Statements Actions performed Challenge Result
Your goal is to go from a simple task Wrote a research proposal to an accomplishment Wrote a SSHRC research proposal which resulted in $2000.00 of research seed funding
What have you done? increased sales reduced costs improved quality Resolved customer issues prevented a problem developed a new resource received an award improved teamwork or employee relations implemented a new policy/procedure
Achievement Statements Describe the competencies (skills, knowledge, attributes) you demonstrated in specific experiences Are expressed in terms of visible behaviours Are not vague ( experienced in research, responsible for classroom instruction do not cut it) Follow a consistent format beginning with a descriptive action verb and followed with concrete, contextual information Describe the outcomes you achieved (include numbers to quantify when possible)
Initiated and launched a campus-wide campaign for the Niagara Food Bank, collecting and delivering 2000 pounds of non-perishable goods for needy families in our community. Researched and wrote a paper on the effects of cyber bullying on pre-teenagers, and was invited to present findings at a national conference for Safe Schools. Maintained positive client relations and dealt with conflict in a highly professional manner when contacting companies regarding overdue accounts and recovering outstanding debts. Took initiative to develop a computerized database which saved 4 hours per week from previous method and increased office efficiency. Graded papers of 300 undergraduate Biology students, providing written feedback and opportunities for additional help at weekly drop-in sessions.
Activity Reflect on a current or recent experience: Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant Part Time/Full time Job Volunteer/Internship positions Committee and community opportunities MRP/Dissertation Refer to the Achievement Statement worksheet What did you do? SCOPE How you did it? PROCESS & SKILLS What was the outcome? RESULTS
Resume Formats Chronological Functional Combination
What is the right format for you? See sample resume templates for Chronological and Combination formats
Job titles & descriptions Salary/ wages Career Progression OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH Labour market trends Company/ employer information Education requirements https://www.brocku.ca/career-services/students-alumni/research
Job Search Resources Community / Social Services Directories Business & Industry Directories Professional Associations & Sector Councils Top Employer Lists/New Grad Employer Lists Career & Occupational Profiles Assessment Tools
May we suggest (Glassdoor.com) Job descriptions, company research, interview tips by company, salary information (jobbank.gc.ca) Career exploration, labour market info, job outlook, salary information (onetonline.org) Career exploration, job analysis questionnaires, employer guides and technical reports MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, Type Focus, Career Cruising, Talentoday Visit your Career Centre
Job Search Success Tips Customization Persistence & Positivity Relevancy Professionalism Attention to detail Adaptation to Audience https://www.brocku.ca/career-services/students-alumni/find-job/online-jobs
Questions Thank you!
Resources Used So what are you going to do with that? Finding Careers Outside Academia by Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius Reframing Doctoral Skills. Articulating Academic Experience for the Non- Academic Workplace. Danielle J. Deveau, April 26, 2013. http://success.uwo.ca/careers/resumes_cvs letters/resumes/accomplishm ent_statements.html http://www.uweccareerservices.org/resume_guide/relevant/accomp.html