Resume

Tell YOUR Story

  • Marketing Statement – Tell me about yourself  (reflective of your objective)

  • Accomplishment Stories

  • Exit statement – Why you left your last job

  • Make a CONNECTION!

Two Primary Resume Formats

  • Chronological

    • Most common

    • Formatted by date

    • Reverse chronological order

    • Effective for continuous employment

    • Most recent experience relates directly to sought-after position

  • Functional

    • Information indexed by skills & expertise

    • Lists achievements under functional headings

    • Lists work experience after

    • Effective for changing careers

Elements of An Effective Resume

  • Contact Information

  • Career Objective (optional)

  • Summary of Qualifications

  • Professional Experience

  • Accomplishments

  • Education

  • Professional Development

  • Professional Associations

  • Other… (including Military)

Objective

  • Functional description of target position

  • More effective on the cover letter

  • More important for recent graduates or professional changing career fields

Summary Statement

  • Supports ability to do the job

  • Sets the tone of the resume

  • Draws key words, industry terminology and core skills from body of resume

  • Identifies you professionally - experience - competencies - uniqueness

Sample Summary of Qualifications

Sixteen years experience in human resources and a successful track record of training hundreds of new employees over a two-year period.  Demonstrated ability in the development of international operation plans and relocation procedures in conjunction with foreign governments.  Regarded as an analytical problem-solver and hands-on leader with excellent communications skills at all levels of the organization.

Professional Experience

  • For Chronological Resume

  • Names and cities of companies where employed including the dates of employment

  • Title and Brief Scope of Responsibility Statement

  • Followed by Accomplishment Statements

Sample of Professional Experience

  • ABC Company, St. Louis, MO            1992-2015

    • Title – Brief Scope of Responsibility Statement

    • Accomplishment Statement

    • Accomplishment Statement

  • XYZ Company, Baltimore, MD         1982-1992

  • Title – Brief Scope of Responsibility Statement

  • Accomplishment Statement

  • Accomplishment Statement

Accomplishment Statements

What is an Accomplishment?

  • An activity that demonstrates your competence.

  • Starts off with an Action Verb in the past tense (unless you are still working)

  • Explains the Action

  • Shows the Results

  • Most Common Mistake

    • Statements of Responsibility rather than Statements of Action with Results

Assessing Your Track Record

  • Inventory your accomplishments:

    • Value added achievements

    • Something you improved

    • Problems you solved

    • Projects you completed

    • Teamwork you enhanced

Why Use Accomplishment Statements?

  • Past accomplishments predict future performance

  • Accomplishment statements critical to resume, networking and interviewing

Elements of Accomplishment Statements

  • What CONTENT, issue or challenge were you facing?

  • What ACTION did you take to meet/overcome the situation?

  • What was the RESULT?

    CONTENT—-ACTION---RESULT

Education

  • Start with highest degree first

  • List degree then educational institution

  • Include graduation dates only if relatively recent or demonstrates growth during career

  • Use “degree in progress” if currently attending educational institution

  • May choose to include professional developments such as seminars, etc.

  • Professional Licenses/Certifications

Professional Affiliations

  • Include career relevant civic or community organizations

  • Demonstrate leadership, teamwork and competence

Resume Guidelines

  • Content

  • Writing Style

  • Layout

  • General

  • Attachments & Addendums

  • Military Service

  • Your resume is a marketing brochure

  • Include what is relevant to your next position

  • Lead with your strengths

  • Provide quantified, measurable, result-oriented details

Resume Guidelines - Writing Style

  • Show what you know

  • Use appropriate key words

  • Avoid personal pronouns

  • Avoid abbreviations

  • Avoid acronyms

Resume Guidelines - Layout

  • Resume should be easy to read and scan

  • Put key selling points at top-third of first page

  • Include name and number on all pages

  • Limit to 1-2 pages

  • Use 10.5 – 12 font size

Video Resume

  • A video resume allows you to speak directly to your potential employer about what makes you uniquely qualified for the role.

  • It can be a strong addition to your application and help you better distinguish yourself from other applicants, through your personality and creativity. 

Indeed

Resume Guidelines - General

  • Leave off personal information (race, sex, marital status, date of birth, social security number, photos)

  • Use present and past tense in the appropriate context

  • Have several people review your resume

  • Create a separate page for references

  • Print resume on professional paper

  • Word or PDF version for electronic sharing

Attachments and Addendums

  • Use to detail unique aspects of your background

  • May include: publications, hardware and software skills, list of grants and contracts, projects you have led

Military Service

  • Include branch of service and honorable discharge

  • If still active in reserves or National Guard indicate unit and duty title

  • Relate military experience to positions you might seek if possible

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