WRITE A WINNING RESUME

1. WRITE A WINNING RESUME Facilitator’s Name Phone Number Email Address creating a resume with impact!

2. Job Search Success Pyramid The ICC offers several workshops to help you through the job search process. Don’t forget to take Self-Assessments or try Informational Interviews before starting the Job Search Success Pyramid. Ask an ICC advisor for more info.

3. Purpose Your resume is your Marketing Brochure • Identifies what you have to offer • Explains what contributions you can make • Targeted directly to the specific needs of the employer • Can be given to references • Used in the interview as a guide by employer • Main purpose: to get you an interview!

4. Resume Formats CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT • Easy to read, employer preferred • Presents education and work experience in reverse chronological order TIP! Very effective if majority of education and work experience is related to objective

5. Resume Formats FUNCTIONAL FORMAT • Focuses on skills and abilities you have used that relate to the objective • Often used by career changers, graduate students and postdocs • Groups experience (including volunteer work and extracurricular activities) under functional skill headings (e.g. research, writing, marketing)

6. Resume Formats COMBINATION FORMAT • Uses elements of both Chronological and Functional Format • Stresses skills and abilities • Provides job/experience descriptions TIP! See Career Resource Manual for an example!

7. Resume Formats-Government • Federal resumes have unique requirements • Check www.resume-place.com for information • See an ICC Coordinator for assistance

8. Resume Formats CURRICULUM VITAE (C.V.) • Used by individuals seeking teaching and/or research positions in a post-secondary institution or high-level research industry • Often two or three pages for master or doctoral candidates • Workshops for C.V. writing are available by the Internship & Career Center.

9. Necessary Categories TITLE BLOCK/HEADING • Your name • Address (include local and permanent if applicable) • Daytime telephone number - don’t forget area codes – more than one number is o.k.- make it easy for the employer to reach you • Make sure your voice message is professional sounding – no music, jokes, etc. • Email address – moniker should be professional, create a separate account exclusively for job search if needed through one of free ISPs

10. Necessary Categories OBJECTIVE • Need only be the job title you are applying for • Many career hubs will allow you to upload more than one version of your resume and designate which one to be “active” • Statements such as, “A challenging position that will utilize my ___ skills” is not necessary – recruiters just want to know what position you are applying for

11. Necessary Categories SUMMARY OR SKILLS • Can be bulleted or in columns • For examples, see the Career Resource Manual • List skills you can perform with little or no direction • General skills, including communication (written and verbal), problem-solving, managerial, etc. • Visit www.damngood.com for Summary ideas

12. Necessary Categories SUMMARY/SKILLS continued • Research - list research skills with which you are familiar • Laboratory - list techniques, procedures and/or equipment • Language - indicate fluency level, specify if you can read/write/speak the language • Computer – list software applications • can use “Proficient in” and “Familiar with” to qualify skill level • IT resumes will list hardware, software, operating systems, etc.

13. Necessary Categories EDUCATION • List highest degree first, followed by other degrees received; date to be conferred • AA is optional unless it has relevance to the job objective • High school diploma not necessary • GPA if 3.0+ (check specific major for guidelines)

14. Necessary Categories EDUCATION • List Relevant Coursework • See Career Resource Manual for examples • Put in columns or can list in bullet format with a brief description, for example: • Research Methods in Psychology: Designed and conducted experimental and non-experimental studies, doing descriptive statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, data collection and analysis, results interpretation and report writing.

15. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE • List job title, employer, city, state, dates of employment • List jobs in reverse chronological order • Use accomplishment statements whenever possible to describe experience and add impact • Start with an action verb to add interest

16. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued • Accomplishment statements examples: • Reorganized pharmaceutical sample cabinet and developed inventory tracking system to ensure sample medications were consistently stocked and easy to locate by physicians and staff. • Promoted to team lead as a result of consistently demonstrating excellent organizational skills and completing projects on or before deadlines.

17. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued • When not using an accomplishment statement, describe how well you performed job tasks • Start bullet point with an adverb, for example: • Accurately filed documents to ensure staff had easy and quick access to all critical information. • Strictly adhered to all safety and infection prevention standards. • Tactfully and courteously handled difficult customers at busy, high-volume retail outlet.

18. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued • Use the SAR approach to brainstorm accomplishments • Situation, Action, Result • Quantify results when possible • Ran culture studies on 85 amoebas, daily, over a two-month time period contributing to three successful research projects

19. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued • Add impact to your resume by giving a sense of scope: • Fast-paced office (store, restaurant) • Seven person team • Ten person office • $80 million dollar company • Upscale restaurant • Popular eatery • High volume store • Highest volume store in the tri-county region • Supervised 10 member team • Promoted to team lead within 3 months

20. Necessary Categories EXPERIENCE continued • Create special sections (e.g. Related Experience, Research Experience, Marketing Experience • For examples, see Career Resource Manual • May include significant academic assignments and relevant extra-curricular activities

21. Optional Categories • Honors/Awards/Hobbies/Interests • Avoid listing those which may be controversial • Extra-Curricular Activities/Professional Affiliations • List memberships and offices held • Licenses, Certifications, Credentials, Training • Related items only (CPR, First Aid, Hazardous Materials Training, Prof. Engr., MCSE, etc.) • Place in Summary/Skills section if important to job requirements

22. Optional Categories • Publications • List articles published and those accepted for publication • May include in experience section • Computer Skills • Unless critical for job then put in Summary/Skills section at top of resume • Military Service • May include in experience section

23. General Guidelines • Length • Generally 1 page (especially recent grads) • Two pages with extensive related experience • Layout – DO NOT use a template • Must be easy to read – most resumes get a 20 second glance, initially • Use white space, bullet points (non-bulleted o.k. as long as text is limited to one or two short sentences; avoid large paragraphs or big blocks of type). • Choose standard font in 10-12 point size • Name should be in larger font but 18pt max

24. General Guidelines • Layout continued • Paper color – white, beige, grey, ivory • 24 lb. quality resume paper, one-sided only • Proofread!! Have at least three other people read your resume. Don’t rely on Spell-check! • Watch present/past tense • No personal pronouns • Tailor contents to each job • No need to use line, “References furnished upon request” – recruiters know this already

25. The Cover Letter • Should always accompany each resume you send out • Establishes personal contact • Introduces resume, highlights experience and promotes your eligibility • Address it to a specific person • Print on good quality paper (match resume) • Use standard business formatStress how your skills, education, experience can benefit the employer • Close by indicating your interest in the position and follow-up plans

26. Reference Page • Take with you to an interview or include with resume only when requested • Three to six names; your contact information at the top, with the title, “REFERENCES” • Ask before listing – include name and all contact information with email address • No relatives, friends, other students • Send references a copy of your resume • Notify references if you think they may be contacted; provide information about the job you are applying for • Thank people who serve as a reference by sending thank you email/note

27. THANK YOU! • Attend the Online Resumes Workshop for specifics about electronic resumes • Any questions? Visit icc.ucdavis.edu Call 530.752.2855 Visit the 2nd & 3rd floors of South Hall or the Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center