Resume Writing and Interview Techniques

Resume WritingandInterview Techniques March 1, 2003 4-H Teen Leader/Charting Weekend Jackson’s Mill Center for Lifelong Learning Presenters: Kim Suder Linda Hildebrand

Resume: A presentation of your professional objectives, academic achievements and experience background • How is it used? • Support interviews • Send with Cover letters • Send with applications • Follow-up to phone calls • Send with Thank You letters

Basic Resume Rules • No one way to write a resume • One page in length preferred • Is information to your advantage? • Will it be to your advantage? • Validates your objectives

Contents of a Resume • Personal – Name, address, phone, email • Job Objectives/Career Interest • Education – Degree, school and location, GPA and Graduation Date • Experience – Work/Career Related • Honors, Activities, Hobbies • Skills, Abilities - Computer, foreign languages, etc. • References

Analyzed Assisted Arranged Compiled Coordinated Developed Established Facilitated Managed Organized Performed Prepared Programmed Promoted Sold Supervised Taught Wrote Action Words

Types of Resumes • Targeted • Choose employer • Individualized resume • For a particular position (least used) • Functional • Skill oriented • For variety of experiences • Transferable qualities for career change (Administrative, Budget, Personnel) • Chronological • Most recent information listed first

Paper Quality • High cotton fiber content • Light in color

Cover Letter:Business letter written to a potential employer (which accompanies your resume). • Asking for information • Applying for a posted job vacancy • To discuss possible employment • To confirm an interview • As a keep in touch letter • As an acceptance of job offer letter • As a rejection of job offer letter • As a request for a deadline extension

Goals for Effective Cover Letters • To personalize communication between applicant and employer • To elaborate on applicant skills and strengths • To relate applicant’s qualities to the requirements of the position • To state reasons for applicants interested in position/organization • To provide a means for further communication and follow-up

Cover Letters • Do: • Address to a person/title • Refer to specific resume information • Keep letter short • Use standard business letter 8 ½ x 11 • Type all letters! • Do not: • Exaggerate or fabricate • Be cute

Sample Phrases “I read, with a great deal of interest, your advertisement in the January 20 issue of _____________.” “Your ad captured my attention.” “The skills you require appear to match my professional strengths.” “I would welcome the opportunity for a personal interview to further discuss my qualifications.”

Thank You Letters/Notes • Brief • Typed • Mailed ASAP after interview • Used as an occasion to add information not covered during interview • Used to clarify any information

Exercises • Resume writing • Cover Letter • Mock/Critique Video Interview • Thank You Letter

Wrap-Up and Evaluation • Questions? • Additional information: • KESuder@mail.wvu.edu • Linda.Hildebrand@mail.wvu.edu • Evaluation

Resume Writing and Interview Techniques