Facts and Information About the Resume.

Facts and Information About the Resume. By: Dan Bocchino Megan Bergeron Why should I have a resume?      To establish yourself as a professional with high standards To demonstrate your writing skills Provide something to give to potential employers To place in employer files To clarify your goals, qualifications, and strengths. The Basics    A typical job offer will attract between 100-1000 resumes. Most resumes will receive nothing more then a quick glance. The goal of an effective resume is to win an interview. Only one interview is granted for every 200 resumes received…     First impression is crucial. Make sure your resume is free of all errors. Consider your resume as an advertisement for yourself. Be proud of what you have accomplished How long should a resume be?      Shorter is usually better… Typically 1-2 pages. However a resume that is too short is just as bad as one that is too long. Do not bore the reader with unnecessary details. Do not turn your resume into your life history. Getting Started…      It is best to create a rough draft Include everything you wish to cover in the final draft Do not concern yourself with length Then edit and revise your resume Leave formatting for last The Final Draft      Be sure it is 100% free of errors Use size a standard, sized 10-12 font Print on a laser printer Use resume paper Do not distribute photocopies of your resume, only originals. Be sure to…     Be positive when describing your background Use margins and titles Use bold-facing, underlining, or italics to emphasize key areas Use phrases, not complete sentences Avoid…       Referring to high school, unless you are an undergraduate seeking an internship. Stating reasons for leaving previous jobs Including personal data, such as race, age, sex, religion, etc. Repeating yourself Including salary information, unless requested in the job advertisement. Using resume templates for your final copy. There are several types of resumes… Reverse Chronological      Lists experiences in a strict time sequence The most recent is listed first This works best for people who are working their way up the career ladder. Not recommended for someone with gaps in employment. Example Functional    Lists experiences by skill areas. Under each of these areas, list the specific skills gained. Effective for those who:     have held several of the same positions. wish to focus on skills to change to another position are returning to the workforce after a prolonged absence. Example Combination     Mix of the reverse chronological, and the functional Lists experiences by skill and dates of employment Recommended to most students Example Targeted     Aims directly at a particular job. Emphasizes what you can do for a particular employer. Looks foreword rather than backwards. Direct sales pitch to employers. Which style should I use? Resume calculator on http://www.careervictory.com Posting a Resume Online The Basics…    Similar to a “for sale” ad viewable to the general public. Allows thousands of employers to view your qualifications. Two common methods   E-mail E-forms  Be sure to keep your resume current once it is posted. References http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/career/resum es.html http://www.careervictory.com http://www.computerbits.com/archive/1997/0600/ jobs9706.html http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resume_02.html http://careers.villanova.edu/Students/Sturesumeg uidelines.htm