Using Your Resume to Your Advantage Emily Ingram TTU School of Human Ecology

1. Using Your Resume to Your AdvantageEmily IngramTTU School of Human Ecology

2. Course Standards • Early Childhood Careers II Standard 8.1 Examine and apply requirement and procedures commonly followed during job procurement. • Life Connections: Standard 5.0 Assess personal traits and employment requirements to prepare for a successful work experience.

3. Statements Found On Resumes and Cover Letters • "My fortune cookie said, 'Your next interview will result in a job' -- and I like your company in particular." • "I need just enough money to have pizza every night." • "You have to give me the job, or my mother will be highly upset at you."

4. What is a Resume? • An opportunity to “sell” yourself • It tells the employer/company what you have to offer and why they need you

5. A Good Resume • Tells the truth • Makes sense/flows • Is short and sweet without being choppy • Is one page in length • Provides all necessary information: • career objective, personal information, education, experience, work skills, awards/accomplishments, extracurricular activities/interests

6. Career Objective • This is the first opportunity to get their attention. Be effective, but concise. • OBJECTIVE: An xxx position in an organization where yyy and zzz would be needed (or, in an organization seeking yyy and zzz). • Xxx is the name of the position you are applying for. Yyy and zzz are the most compelling qualities, abilities or achievements that will really make you stand out above the crowd of applicants.

7. Examples • An entry-level position in the hospitality industry where a background in advertising and public relations would be needed. • A position teaching English as a second language where a special ability to motivate and communicate effectively with students would be needed.

8. Personal Information • Full name (no nicknames or abbreviations) • Address and phone number (where you may be reached) • E-mail address (professional) • Not goteamedward@hotmail.com or luv2cheer@aol.com

9. Education • List first the most recent school attended and list last the first one attended. • Include name/location of school, dates, degree earned • May include relevant course work if it would help you appear more qualified • May include GPA if it is above 3.4

10. T-shirt resume? Hmmm. Interesting.

11. Experience • Like education, start with the most recent/relevant experience and work backward. • Include name of place of employment, job title, dates worked, and brief description of duties. • Remember, experience involves work and applicable volunteer experience.

12. Work Skills • List special skills that will set you apart or show you are qualified? • Computers • Ex: AutoCAD, Powerpoint, Excel, etc. • Machines • Ex: cash register • Specialized • Ex: foreign languages

13. Awards/Accomplishments • This is a great place to shine! • List special awards received in school, clubs/organizations, the community, church, work,etc. • Include title of award and date.

14. Extracurricular activities/Interests • Include items that relate to the job. • This is somewhat hit or miss. Some employers will like to see that you are well rounded, and it will provide a conversation starter in an interview. Others may feel that it was unnecessary information and they really don’t care if you’re an avid bird watcher.

15. References • Although it is common to write “References Available Upon Request,” it is not necessary. • Do take a List of References to your job interview. • 2-3 people who can speak for your work ethic (teachers, coaches, employers, etc) and 2-3 people who can speak for your character/integrity. • Make sure you ASK these people for permission before putting their names down.

16. Pick me, Pick me! • Job offers typically attract between 100 and 1000 candidates. • This is a lot of resumes for employers to read! • Approximately 30 seconds ate spent looking at each one. • How will your resume stand out?

17. Making Your Resume Stand Out • Pretend you are the person reading the resumes. • Make a list of the top five things you would be looking for in a candidate. Why? • Share one of the five things from your list. • Keep these things in mind as you write your resume.

18. Be Purposeful • The Goal: showing the employer you have the qualities they are want. • Everything on your resume should work toward that goal.

19. Be Neat • Resumes will most likely be thrown out of the pile if the following occurs: • Spelling/punctuation errors. • Not uniformed and consistent with underlining, bold typing, tenses, etc. • Aligning like items has not been done.

20. Implement Power Words • Avoid vague terms and use powerful action verbs instead. • Examples: • advised, chaired, promoted, specified, delegated, verbalized, incorporated, processed, evaluated, resolved, developed, allocated, launched, selected, targeted, managed, assisted, improved, enlisted, etc.

21. Now, it’s your turn! • Prepare a sample resume for a job you would be interested in. • Brainstorm qualities, wording, and information on notebook paper first. • Type and print. • Look at the sample resumes if you need help/direction.

22. Rubric for Resume Evaluation Format 10 Neatness 10 Content 10 Spelling/Grammar 10 Objective 10 Correct # of reference 10 Completeness 40 Total 100

23. References • http://www.speedygrl.com/resumequotes.html • http://www.ccd.me.edu/careerprep/CareerPrepCurriculum_LP-4.pdf • http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html