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Week 11. Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume Method # 1 Fairly Clear about your job objective ? Job Objective Compose a clearly stated JOB OBJECTIVE. Answer the questions WHAT do I want to do ? Teacher
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Week 11 • Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume • Method # 1 Fairly Clear about your job objective ? • Job Objective • Compose a clearly stated JOB OBJECTIVE. Answer the questions • WHAT do I want to do ? Teacher • WHERE do I want do it ? In a public school • WITH WHOM do I want to do it ? Teacher of autistic children • At what LEVEL of RESPONSIBILITY ? Head teacher • Under what SPECIAL CONDITIONS ? Room for me to be innovative & creative • So, the objective would be, “A POSITION AS HEAD TEACHER OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE I CAN USE MY SKILLS AS A CREATIVE INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR.”
Week 11 • Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume • Method # 1 Fairly Clear about your job objective ? • Name your Major Skill Areas • Generally, two or three Major Skill Areas are adequate for this purpose. • One way to identify the Skill Areas is to imagine that you’re the person doing this hiring. • Ask yourself, • “What kind of person do I want for this position ?” • “What kind of experience and training am I looking for in the new employee ?” • “What skills expertise do I want ?” • Example: for the job objective used in “head teacher of autistic children,” the Major Skill Areas might be: • A. TEACHING • B. ADMINISTRATION • C. SPECIAL CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Week 11 • Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume • Method # 1 Fairly Clear about your job objective ? • Write "One-Liners" • Arrange One-Liners into Your Major Skill Areas
Week 11 • Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume • Method # 2 Vague & Fuzzy about your job objective ? • Write "One-Liners" • Short, descriptive statements describing your most satisfying work experiences, each statement beginning with an action verb. • Tag One-Liners with a Skill (s) Names it reflect • Ex: • “Designed and implemented unique programs and classes.” • “Taught effectively in three different classrooms.” • “Supervised & evaluated student teachers’ plans & techniques.”
Week 11 • Two Approaches To Writing Your Resume • Method # 2 Vague & Fuzzy about your job objective ? • Group similar skills until you have three Major Skill Areas • Notice what skills show up most often alongside your One-Liners, and group similar skills together until you have two, three, or four Major Skill Areas. • Job Objective • Compose a clearly stated Job Objective which . . . . . • Uses the skills you’ve identified above • Answers the who / what / where questions as in Method # 1
Week 11 • Key words to keep in mind as you edit the skill section: • QUANTIFY – Tell HOW MANY, HOW OFTEN, describe tangible products and results. • Ex: • “supervised 10 people.” • “produced 24 consecutive issues of a 16-page newsletter.” • “sold a million dollars of real estate the first year as an agent.” • CREATE PICTURES in the reader’s mind – Quantifying is one way. Being very explicit is another; avoid vagueness. Generalization do NOT create mental pictures and so they don’t “register” with the reader.
Week 11 • Key words to keep in mind as you edit the skill section: • BE “PUNCHY” – Say “human relations” instead of “interpersonal relations” for example. In-ter-per-son-al is FIVE syllables, while Hu-man is only TWO – more punchier ! • REFLECT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY – Employers are looking for evidence of how much responsibility you assumed in jobs you’re describing. “Was responsible for” does NOT explain enough. Be explicit: • “Interviewed, hired, and trained 24 waitresses & bartenders.” • “Taught computer programming to high school students.”
Week 11 • The Highlights or Summary of Qualifications • This section is optional . . . but, personally I would never omit it from my own resume. • An advantage of using the HIGHLIGHTS section is that you can MAKE SURE the reader gets the essential points you’re presenting. • A typical Summary might include: • How much professional experience you have • What your formal training and credentials are, if relevant • One significant accomplishment, very briefly stated • One or two outstanding qualities or skills • A reference to your personal values or philosophy, if appropriate
Week 11 • Finally: Putting It All Together • Rough Draft • Assemble the four parts of your resume – job objective, skills presentation, work history, education. • Type up a draft copy. • Keep it to one page if you can. • If your resume MUST be two pages, present your “aces” on page one (objective and skills) and use page two for the back-up documentation (education and work history). • Show this draft to your family & friends and ask them how it “feels.” • Ask for ideas on improving the wording or layout.
Week 11 • Finally: Putting It All Together • Final Copy • Look over the sample resumes in this book for format or layout ideas. • Martha’s (page 21) is a good example of the minimum amount of white space you need • If your resume is too crowded, it will turn off the reader and it won’t work to your benefit. • Employers say they’d rather see two pages than one that’s overcrowded.
Week 11 • Finally: Putting It All Together • Final Copy • Typing • Get it typed on the computer, even if you have to hire somebody to do it for you; it’s worth it. • Print • Get it printed by Laser Printer for your master copy, if possible. • Copies • Get it copied by the best process; XEROX machine give excellent results. • Use white or cream-colored paper
Week 11 • Please be careful with Construction and Layout • Printing • Although it is not essential, having your resume printed will save you considerable time. • If you elect to print it yourself, get it printed on the Laser Printer. • Make sure there are no typographical or content errors. This document represents you, it should make the BEST possible first impression. • Length • Remember that a resume may be one or two pages in length. • Regardless of the amount of work experience, this should be the RULE.
Week 11 • Please be careful with Construction and Layout • Writing Style / Type of font • Omit all personal pronouns. • Avoid wordiness and strive for conciseness. • Use phrases instead of lengthy sentences and start such phrases with an action verb in the past tense. • Selection type of font • Format • Remember the employer may give your resume the 20-second scan test. • With this in mind, readability, eye appeal, and a total positive impression of the components of your resume will help you achieve this effect. • You may want to underline or capitalize key headings.
Week 11 • Please be careful with Construction and Layout • Paper Quality • Always have your resume prepared on high-quality bond paper of at least 20-pound weight. • Knowing your audience is your best guide to the selection of paper, color, and design. • Generally speaking, employers are cautious and conservative in their views and prefer resumes in an off-white, ivory, light tan, or light gray color.
Week 11 • Review materials from Week 1 – Week 7 • Miscellaneous Letters