Creating the Effective Resume

Creating the Effective Resume

What is a resume?

A resume is a one page summary of your skills, education, and experience. The resume acts much like an advertisement for a company trying to sell something.

A solid resume is the key that will open the door to good jobs. Don t cheat yourself. Work hard on it.

How long do employers typically look at a resume? A. 30 seconds B. 1 minute C. 3 minutes

If you answered A you are correct. Admission officers and employers often receive 100 s of resumes for a single position. They do not have time to pour over every detail. This increases the importance of the smallest detail.

Resume- hidden messages Resume Neat Well-organized Error free Professional appearance Neat You Well-organized Attention to detail Careful & Competent

What should be included in a resume?

Heading The heading should include your essential personal information. Your formal name should appear at the top and it should stand out above all else on the paper. You want them to remember who you are in less than 30 seconds. Also your address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Sharon M. Hunt 375 Holt Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 555-5555 sharon.hunt@cobbk12.org

Objective Employers often say this is the most important part of the resume. It is generally a one sentence explanation of the type of job you are seeking. For this resume your objective is securing a mentor.

Education As students this should be your next section of information. List all high schools attended in reverse chronological order. You need to include relevant courses you have taken (ex. Honors AP)

Education Include: Formal name of school and address (city, state) Date or expected date of graduation Graduation Date: May 2017 GPA Include if overall is 3.0 or higher rounded to the nearest tenth 3.0 not 3.062

Experience Use the term experience What is considered experience? Full and part-time jobs Self-employment Volunteer work Information to include Dates of employment Company name and address Job title Job description

Listing Responsibilities Use bullet points Start each line with an action verb Present tense if currently employed Past tense if no longer employed Vary your choice of verbs Tailor skills and experiences to the position for which you are applying Be concise while providing enough detail

Activities This section includes things you have been involved in in school and in the community. Employers like to see what you have been involved in. Be sure to include specific activities you have participated in. It s quality not quantity that counts

Honors & Awards Order by dates Reverse chronological Rank order by importance to the objective If you have not received any awards or recognitions DO NOT INCLUDE THIS HEADING

Skills and Abilities (soft skills) Some people use this section to include special skills or talents that are not included anywhere else on the resume, but would relevant to the employer.

A list of soft skills & general resume appropriate skills: Fluency and Proficiency in second, third, or fourth languages. Positive work ethic. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs Good attitude. Desire to learn and be trained. Excellent communication skills: Ability to relate to coworkers in a close environment Courtesy and Honesty. Elevated Grammatical and excellent written communication skills Reliability. Flexibility. Team skills/ team oriented/team player. Flexibility/Adaptability. Self-directed. Dependability. Self-supervising and organized. Punctual. Personal integrity. Positive work ethic. Interpersonal skills. Motivational skills. Willingness to learn. Dedication: Staying on the job until it is finished. Ability to listen. Commitment to continued training and learning. Willingness to take instruction and responsibility. Communication skills with public, fellow employees, supervisors, and customers.

References Include 2 people who have observed your work habits (employers, teachers, coaches, etc.)

Order Resume order: I. Heading II. III. IV. Objective Education Experience V. Extracurricular/Activities VI. VII. VIII. Volunteer/Community Service Honors/Awards Skills and Abilities

Resume Dos Use action verbs Use short, concise sentences Keep resume easy to read Keep resume to one page

Resume Don ts Do not use the pronouns such as I, me, my, etc. Do not clutter your resume with nonessential information Do not make any misrepresentations Do not include personal information SSN, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, photograph, etc.