rÉsumÉs

1. rÉsumÉs Introduction to Communication Studies Marilyn Shaw, Instructor

2. Purpose • Number one purpose of a resume is to get the interview! • Resume is an advertisement, nothing more or less. • If you buy this product, you will get these, specific, direct benefits

3. Why have a resume • Pass screening process • Establish self as a professional person • Networking

4. What a resume isn’t • History of your past • Personal statement • Self-expression • Not something to go about grudgingly

5. How to Impress • Research shows that only one interview is granted for every 50 to 100 resumes received by the average employer • It will be quickly scanned, rather than read (about 10 to 20 seconds) • First impression resumes—Top half of your resume will either make or break you

6. Focus on employer, not you • Write the resume to appeal directly to the hiring employee • What would make someone the perfect candidate? • What special abilities would this person have? • What would set a truly exceptional candidate apart from merely a good one? • What does the employer really want?

7. Plan first • Write your answers to the previous questions. • Then, why are you the person who best fulfills these needs? • Brainstorm • Look at your entire life • What do you have to offer the prospective employer? • What talents do your bring? • Think about the format of your resume. What best fits the employer and you?

8. A great resume has 2 sections • In the first you make assertions about your abilities, qualities, and your achievements. • Second section, is the evidence section. This is where you back up your assertions with evidence that you actually did what you said you did. List and describe the jobs you have held, your education, etc. This is what you are obliged to include. • The juice to your resume is in you assertions section. You want to pull them in and call! Usually two the three subsections. Name your intended job, (objective section), summary--

9. The objective • Target audience • Example—”A software sales position in an organization where an extraordinary record of generating new accounts, exceeding sales targets, and enthusiastic customer relations would be needed.” • Decide on a specific job title toward which to direct your objective • An XXXX position in an organization where YYY and ZZZ would be needed.

10. The Summary • Concise statements that focus the reader’s attention on the most important qualities, achievements, and abilities you have to offer, those qualities that are the most compelling demonstrations of why they should hire you instead of someone else. • This possibly could be the only section completely read by the employer. • Look at: • Breadth and depth of skills, unique mix of skills, range of environments in which you have experience, a special or well-documented accomplishment, history of awards, promotions, or superior performance commendations, one or more professional or appropriate personal characteristics, and a sentence describing professional objective or interest

11. Summary Example • Energetic self-starter with excellent analytical, organizational, can creative skills”

12. Skills and Accomplishments • Go into more detail • Possible titles • Skills and Accomplishments • Summary accomplishments • Selected Accomplishments • Recent Accomplishments • Areas of Expertise • Career Highlights

13. Skills and Accomplishments • Place in order of importance for desired career • Listing of skills or accomplishments or a combination of both with bullets • Listing of major skill headings with accomplishments under each • A list of bulleted accomplishments or skill paragraphs under each job (in a chronological resume.

14. Evidence and Experience • Evidence • All mandatory information you must include on your resume • Chronological work history with dates, education, affiliations, list of software mastered, etc. • Experience • List jobs in reverse chronological order. (most recent first) Don’t go into detail on jobs early in your career • Other headings • Professional history • Work history • Employment history • Professional experience

15. Education • Reverse chronological order • Degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and advanced training. • Only include major and minor • Include GPA only if over 3.4 • May list course work if important • Awards • If when in school place under education section • Professional Affiliations • Community leadership • Publications • Comments from supervisors • Personal Interests

16. References • References available upon request ????

17. What not to put on a resume • The word resume at the top • Fluffy, rambling “objective” statement • Salary information • Full address and zip codes of former employers • Reasons for leaving job • A personal section or personal statistics • names of supervisors • references

18. Formats • Chronological • Traditional • Experience section is the focus • Advantage—appeal to older, more traditional readers • Functional • Highlights major skills and accomplishments • Good for career changers • Combined • Elements of both • Maximizes the advantages of both kinds

19. Sample Resume www.uni.edu/careerservices