Selling You! Resumes That Sizzle

							Selling You!
Resumes That Sizzle



Patty Kirkley
Career Counselor
586-4091, ext. 212
Purpose

   Your Resume:
       Should sell you…
       Tell potential employers what you can
        do
       Share your knowledge, skills, and
        abilities
       Win you an interview
   Your Resume Should Not Be:
       Your life story
Where to Start
   Research jobs and learn what employers are
    looking for – use the web, newspapers, and other
    resources to learn about jobs, qualifications, and
    employers

   Analyze your strengths and your skills,
    knowledge, and capabilities

   Review sample resumes for ideas and formatting
    (Google).
The Basics
   Resume Styles
       Chronological: focuses on job history, most
        recent first
       Functional: focuses on skills and
        accomplishments
       Combination
   Length of Resume
       Long enough to sell your skills
       Recent college grad: 1 page
       Experienced professional: 2 pages
       Senior manager or executive with lengthy
        experience: 3 pages or more
Nuts and Bolts for Resume
   Main Heading

   Objective

   Summary of Accomplishments

   Education

   Work Experience

   Skills and Abilities

   Honors and Awards (Later, Professional
    Memberships)
Putting the Resume Together
   Main Heading
       Name
       Address
       Telephone Number (including area code)
       E-mail Address (professional)
   Objective (Optional)
       Identify job you want, area of specialization,
        and type of company
       Example: Entry level position as a Medical
        Sonographer in a mid-sized hospital where I
        make a contribution to quality health care
Putting Resume Together
   Summary of Qualifications
       Briefly and concisely present primary skills and
        accomplishments
       Examples: “Care-giving professional with
        excellent interpersonal skills, attention to
        detail, and strong work ethic.”, or “Strong
        accounting and managerial skills with
        extensive knowledge of statistical processes.”
   Education
       Degree, date of graduation, and college/
        university
Putting the Resume Together
   Experience
       If extensive and relevant experience,
        experience should be placed before education
       Start with most recent employer
       Include:
           Employer’s name

           Dates of employment (month/year)

           Most significant title

           Summarize your accomplishments and skills
            relevant to job you are targeting (use action
            verbs)
           Try to quantify skills and accomplishments
Putting Resume Together
   Skills and Capabilities
       Examples: Computer literate, proficient with
        the Internet or other technology
       Highlight exceptional talents such as customer
        service, team work, conscientious work,
        reliability, leadership
   Awards, Honors, Activities
       List separately if three or more
       Include school, community, professional
        activities
Tips for Getting Get Past the 10
Second Glance

   Make It Perfect
       Proofread and carefully check spelling,
        grammar, and professional tone (clear and
        concise presentation of qualifications)

   Focus on Readability
       Select an easily readable font – Arial/Times
        New Roman

       Leave white space (1 inch margins all four
        sides)

       Choose good quality white or ecru paper
        (standard size, 24-pound)
How to Get Past the 10 Second Glance

   Layout for visual appeal and ease of
    reading
       If 2 pages, put name on both pages
       Make headlines stand out (bold or cap)
          • Use italics sparingly

       Use bullets
       Be brief, clear, and concise
       Single space within sections
       Double space between sections
       Avoid art work or photos
Sell Yourself

   Use action verbs to describe your
    skills, abilities, and qualifications
   Translate your experience into what
    a prospective employer wants
   Show that you have done research
    about the company and the job
   Toot your own horn, but never
    exaggerate or lie (be honest and
    ethical)
Don’t…
   Overdo use of caps, bold, or italics
   Use personal pronouns or abbreviations
   Include personal information(age, health,
    marital status, etc.)
   Send out resume without a cover letter
   List references on your resume (ask
    references and have on a separate sheet
    to take to your interview)
   List salary history unless required on
    application
Optimizing for Technology

   Many employers prefer submission of
    resumes via e-mail or online

   Databases may be used to quickly and
    efficiently match job openings with
    qualified job seekers

   Be sure to use keywords
Scannable Resumes
 o   Use 10-14 point font
 o   Use standard typefaces and avoid
     underlining, italics, and bold
 o   Put your name on first line
 o   List each telephone number on
     separate line
 o   Use smooth white paper with black ink
     and quality printing
 o   Avoid double columns
 o   Don’t staple or fold your resume
Maximizing Hits
   Use industry or job-related keywords
   Incorporate words from the job ad
   Use typical headings (objective,
    education)
   Watch abbreviations and use only
    common ones (BS for bachelor of science)
    or industry jargon (CAD for computer-
    assisted design)
   Describe interpersonal skills
   Use more than one page if necessary
Embedded Resume to E-mail
   Follow tips for scannable resumes

   Move all text to the left

   Spruce up your resume by using horizontal lines to
    separate sections – leave adequate space

   Save your resume in plain txt (.txt) or rich text
    format (.rtf)

   Test your resume before sending
Three Essential Tools


   Resume with Separate List of
    References

   Cover Letter

   Thank You Letter
Cover Letters
   Use to tell employers who you are, why
    you are contacting them, why they should
    consider you

   Ground Rules
       Don’t repeat your resume
       Carefully craft words (more subjective
        so more can go wrong than on resume)
       Use good grammar and spelling
        Always say “thank you”
Thank You Letters


   Send immediately following an
    informational interview or a job
    interview

   Send even if you do not receive a
    position for which you applied

   Shows your command of business
    etiquette & graciousness