Resume Preparation

1. Resume Preparation

2. Objectives • Personal Career Vision Presentations • Resumes & Correspondence

3. Career Vision Presentations • In 2-3 minutes, tell us about: • Your ideal career(s) • How reality limits your vision • Do your career goals change when faced with reality? • How can we help you follow your passion?

4. Activity • Think of an important purchase you have made (i.e. house, car, clothing, electronics) • What did you like (not like) about the product that made you buy it? • What did you like (not like) about the salesperson that made you buy it?

5. How does this relate to you? • In the job search process, you are both the product AND the salesperson. • What are some of the things that you want others to like about you? • How can you display your best qualities?

6. Purpose of a Resume • Attract attention & stimulate interest …to get you an INTERVIEW! • Basis for interview discussion • Highlights credentials & qualifications

7. Time employers spend …

8. Rules for Resume Writing • RELEVANT • CONCISE • CONSISTENT • Consider the Employers Perspective What skills, abilities, interests, experiences, and personal characteristics do you have that will meet the employer’s needs ?

9. Types of Resumes • Chronological • Focuses on time; looks best for stable employment • Jobs organized by date, reverse chronological order • Most common & familiar to employers • Functional • Focuses on skills; best for little experience or large employment gaps • More flexible and creative format • Combination • Combines the features of Chronological & Functional

10. Basic Resume Format • Main Heading - Contact Info • Objective Statement • Qualification/Skills Summary • Education/Licenses/Certifications • Professional Experience • Activities or Affiliations • Additional Skills/Experience

11. Main Heading ~ Contact Info • Name (As large as or larger than anything else on the page) • Address • Phone Number • E-mail or web site • must be checked daily • professional website or email address only • Alternate address only if you will be moving during your job search (move date)

12. Main Heading Examples SUSAN SMITH After May 10, 2000 152 South Woodcrest Olympia, WA 98501 206-936-1211 115 Lincoln Street Gainesville, FL 32607 352-292-1567 SUSAN SMITH 152 South Woodcrest Olympia, WA 98501 206-936-1211 SUSAN SMITH 115 Lincoln Street Gainesville, FL 32607 352-292-1567 ssmith@ufl.edu

13. Objective Statements (optional) • The focal point around which all other elements in the resume relate. • Work or employer centered • Lists the title or position desired and the qualities you provide for the job.

14. Examples of Career Objectives • A position in marketing with special interest in market research and product planning. • A consulting position utilizing skills in relationship building, sound financial planning, and customer service.

15. Action Words • Accomplished • Initiated • Achieved • Adjusted • Directed • Instructed • Built • Maintained • Conducted • Managed • Promoted • Motivated • Led • Composed • Operated • Organized • Designated • Established • Reported • Persuaded • Developed • Presented

16. Education Section • Degree / Anticipated Degree • School & Location • Minor or Specialization • Graduation Date • GPA • No high school (community college optional) • “Selected Courses” in select cases • Licenses, Certifications or Accreditations

17. Education Section EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts in Psychology, May 2000 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Minor: Finance G.P.A. 3.23/4.0 Financed 75% of college expenses through part-time employment. Additional Coursework: Advanced Managerial Theory Production Management Fundamentals of Accounting Principles of Supervision EDUCATIONBS in Business Administration, Marketing University of Florida, Gainesville, FL December 2000 Business G.P.A. 3.4/4.0

18. Experience Section • Job Title • Organization or Company • Location • Employment Dates • Description • past tense action verbs & key words • sentence fragments • highlight skills that relate to objective • Include accomplishments, major projects, outcomes (quote endorsements) • Be concrete and quantify ($, %, #) when possible

19. Experience Section • EXPERIENCE Waitress, Red Lobster June 1998 - July 1999 • Gainesville, FL • Primarily responsible for serving customers in fast- paced restaurant environment. Developed skills in customer service, especially in dealing with angry or upset patrons. • EXPERIENCE Waitress, Red Lobster, June 1998 - July 1999 • Gainesville, FL • * Maintained superior service to customers in fast- paced college-oriented restaurant. • * Operated cash register. • * Dealt with angry or upset customers.

20. Additional Section Examples COMPUTER C++, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Lotus 1-2-3, SKILLS Filemaker Pro, Html. LANGUAGE Basic French, Intermediate Latin, Fluent Spanish ACTIVITIES President, Minorities in Action, 2002-2003 LEADERSHIPPresident, April 2003- May 2004 Zeta Zeta Zeta Fraternity, University of Florida Allocated annual budget of $25,000. PROFESSIONAL Chi Sigma Iota, 2001 - Present AFFILIATIONSFlorida Education Association, 2006-Present COMMUNITY Weekly Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, 2004-2005 SERVICE Hospice Volunteer, 2002-2004 PUBLICATIONS Smith, J. & Moore, K. (2002), Treatments for Chronic & PATENTS Pain. Journal of American Medicine, 2, 123.

21. Quick Tip • Use O*Net, OOH or UF Guide to identify skills that you might want to add to your resume. • Use job postings to get an idea of what the employer is looking for and be sure to include the skills they are looking for (only if you really have them)

22. References • Provide separate sheet only upon request • Use same letterhead as resume • 3-5 References • Name & Title • Address • Phone Number(s) • Email (if used regularly) • Their relationship to you • Use Combination of References • Employment, Academic (no family or friends) • Be Sure to Ask Permission /Notify them

23. Resume Format Basics • 1-2 full pages (8.5 x 11”) • Conservative color paper & consistent alignment • .75 to 1.0 inch margins – 10-12pt standard font • Avoid fancy typeface (italics, script, underlining) • PROOF READ for spelling, grammar & punctuation • Laser printed / scannable (use keywords) • If emailed, submit in .pdf to maintain formatting • Employer’s Perspectives • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr1o1Prw4Ew&mode=related&search=

24. Resume Dont’s • Abbreviations • Personal Pronouns • Personal Data • Lies • only include true things; leave out the information that may be perceived as negative • Include Irrelevant Information • Example: 20/20 Clip on Aleksey Vayner

25. Information to Leave Out • Photo • Hobbies/Personal Interests • Weaknesses • Childhood Background • References • Letters of Reference • Reason for Leaving • Salary • Social Security # • UFID • Age/Birth date • Marital Status • Race/Citizenship • Religion • Health/Description • Sexual Orientation

28. Resume Critique • Find a partner & exchange resumes • Your partner will briefly describe the career they are looking for and the experience they have. Look through their resume to identify transferable skills or details that need to be included or clarified. • Give feedback on format, details, and fit

29. Leela de SouzaThe Phi Beta Slacker Dances for Herself • After leaving ballet (her passion), she danced around a variety of other jobs but never seemed to find something she loved. She stated “you have to select something and make it work for you. I can’t just keep looking for that perfect job – there isn’t a perfect job…. That’s too outside myself. It’s going to come from me, inside, and from my committing to something.” • How can you effectively design your resume to reflect a completely different career?

30. Lady JLady Reads the News: A Good Day Job • Lady J loves radio and works from 6-8am. Radio does not pay well, so she also works a day job. • What can she do to fulfill her dreams? • Can she tie her interests and skills into a meaningful objective?

31. Other Correspondence • Cover Letter • Follow-up/Thank you Letter • Acceptance/Rejection Letter • Company Applications

32. What is a Cover Letter? • An introduction • A sales pitch (low key and masterful) • A proposal for further action

33. Things to Think About Before Writing • What does the prospective employer need? • What are your objectives? • What are 3-5 qualities that you would bring to this employer or this job? • How can you match your experience to the job? (at least two specific accomplishments you can mention to give credence to the qualities you have identified in #3) • Why do you want to work for this particular organization or person?

34. Cover Letter • Address it to the hiring authority (call and ask for name if necessary or look on website) • Introduce yourself • Highlight skills or experience • Reason you want to work for their company • Include the name of the person who referred you if applicable. • If emailed, shorten it to 1-2 small paragraphs See Model & Sample Cover letter on website

35. Sample Cover Letter

36. Other Correspondence • Application • Follow-Up Letter • Acceptance Letter • Rejection Letter • Email Correspondence

37. Application • Obtain & complete ahead of time • Read the directions! • Use a practice form to determine best spacing • Answer all questions or use N/A • Verify all information is correct

38. Ask any questions you forgot Highlight any other pertinent information that you didn’t cover or covered inadequately State how the organization could benefit from hiring you (your VIPS) Restate that you would like to work for them. Thank the person for their time and information Follow Up / Thank You Letter

39. Acceptance Letter • Accept the offer • Refer to the offer letter or document • Tell your travel plans and anticipated date of arrival, if known • Express your appreciation and your pleasure at joining the organization

40. Rejection Letter • Refer to the offer letter or document • Express your appreciation for the offer and the organization’s interest in you.

41. E-mail Correspondence • The speed of today’s interviewing process makes email correspondence necessary. • General guidelines: • Include all formal touches you would use in a written letter. • Use the subject line effectively • Include your contact information with your signature • Condense cover letter into 1-2 paragraphs • Follow-up email correspondence with a written note - especially when sending a “Thank You” note.

42. Correspondence Activity Log Names, addresses and dates Actions taken & Follow-up items Remember to save / print out all email correspondence Interview Record Log Company or organization Date of interview Name(s) of interviewer(s) Follow-up action Date Thank You note sent Personal impressions Keep It All Organized

43. Final Thoughts • There is no perfect resume but you can get close by getting it critiqued & revised. • Doing your research about the company or hiring person will let you know what they are looking for and how you might tailor your resume and cover letter.

44. Resume, Cover Letter & Goals Resume • Résumé and Cover Letter • Cover your actual past & present experiences • Written for a job, internship or grad school • Handouts & samples on the class website • Visit a Career Ambassador at the CRC for resume critique • Goals Resume • Identify the gaps in your resume • Add the activities that you want to see in your list of achievements. • Put your ideal goals in another color to separate them from actual experiences. • Create the opportunities for yourself to turn them into real ones!

45. For next week… • Job / Internship Search Strategies, Informational Interview & Experiential Ed • Read Bronson Ch 26, 33, 54 • Julia – abandoned engineering for something else, but no one every asked why • Marcela – hated being identified by her job • Phil – took the opportunity to learn about a variety of job to learn more • Resumes & Cover Letter due