Creating an Effective and Appealing R é sum é

1. Creating an Effective and Appealing Résumé AGCM 4203 Professional Development in Agricultural Communications

2. Objectives • Assess the purpose of a résumé • Distinguish differences between the three types of résumés • Identify content of a résumé • Suggest some résumé parameters

3. The Purpose of a Résumé • To capture someone’s attention in a positive manner. • To be in the “Let’s take a look” pile and not the “round” file. • To get you a job (internship) interview. • Your personal 30-second commercial

4. Chronological Résumé • Professionals making upward career move • Combines experience/skills with employment history • Each position has different description • Shows stable work history • Work history shows progress toward objective

5. Functional Résumé • Highlights skills and experiences • Focuses attention on skills, not work experience • Best for first time job seekers • Skills related to objective are highlighted • Employment history at the end

6. Skills Employers Desire 5 = Extremely Important Source: Job Outlook 2000, National Association of Colleges and Employers

7. Combination Résumé • Highlights skills of specific jobs • Lists other work experience • Each position involves a different description • Excellent for “new” college graduates

8. 30 Seconds Is All You Get • Make your résumé eye-catching and impressive • What do you want them to remember? • Your name • Your qualifications • Your experience and accomplishments

9. This One Has to Be Perfect • Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation • Alignment/Consistency • Accuracy in content • Dates • Names of Employers • Duties/Titles

10. Audience-Centered • Pull yourself away from your ego • Stuff that is important to you may not be so important to others • Brag on yourself • Don’t be afraid to say what you did in your previous jobs • Don’t get carried away making up a cool title for your summer job as a lifeguard • “Executive Manager of Aquatic Safety and Recreational Rules Enforcement, Stillwater Public Swimming Pool”

11. Action! • Use active verbs to describe what you did in your previous jobs and experiences • Achieved • Broadened • Initiated • Maintained • Transformed

12. Focus on Your Strengths • Less-experienced applicants usually like the functional résumé, which focuses on skills as opposed to actual work experience • Put the most important info. first, according to the job requirements • Don’t discount class projects and activities, volunteer work, and other extra-curricular activities

13. Personal Heading • Name • Address • Telephone number • E-mail • Web site Pistol Pete 514 Kerr Hall Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-5555 pistolpete@okstate.edu http://www2.okstate.edu/lam2717/PISTOLPETE.html

14. Objective Describe a position in a field “A marketing position with a major manufacturer of packaged foods.” Tie your skills to a position • “To apply research, design, data analysis, and report writing skills to a marketing research position.”

15. Objective • Be specific by: • Industry • Position • Geographic location • “To obtain an entry-level public relations position with a large company in the Midwest.” • Or better yet, don’t include one.

16. Degree and date awarded (to be awarded) Institution (city and state) Major and minor(s) Overall GPA Financed education “Financed 75% of college by scholarships and employment” Education

17. Education Sample Bachelor of Science May, 2000 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078 Major Area: Agricultural Communications GPA: 3.15/4.0 scale Financed 80% of college by scholarships and employment

18. Experience/Skills • Position title • Name and location of employer • Dates of employment • Description of responsibilities (use action verbs – past tense) • Description of skills

19. Additional Categories • Relevant course work • Honors and recognitions • Indicate award’s purpose • Activities • Don’t list clubs if all you did was belong

20. Writing Your Résumé • Step 1: Prepare your objective • Step 2: Develop your specific headings • Step 3: Determine leads • Step 4: Construct entries • Step 5: Proof…proof…have someone else proof…PROOF!!

21. Résumé Appearance • Paper • Margins • Font types and size (serifor sans serif) • Don’t underline or use italic font • Header location and spacing • Location of dates • Use simple bullets (not “*”)

22. Calm Your Fears • Relax, if you’re struggling a bit; you’re no different than thousands of college graduates in the same situation • Work with others to proof and improve your résumé • Don’t wait until the last minute … BE PREPARED!