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Résumé Writing. Fall 2012 Welcome Weekend College of Science and Technology. What is a résumé?. A résumé is an advertisement of yourself and displays your value to the hiring company. A document that emphasizes your accomplishments to show a potential employer that you are qualified.
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Résumé Writing Fall 2012 Welcome Weekend College of Science and Technology
What is a résumé? • A résumé is an advertisement of yourself and displays your value to the hiring company. • A document that emphasizes your accomplishments to show a potential employer that you are qualified.
What to Include: • Education • Employment • Activities • Honors • Special Skills • Hobbies - Only include hobbies if space allows and in the following cases: • When it is something unusual (such as sky diving) that might be interesting to a recruiter • When a particular hobby may assist with a job skill, such as a mechanical engineer that enjoys rebuilding classic cars
What NOT to Include: • Personal details such as age, race, gender, religious beliefs, etc. It is illegal for an employer to ask about these factors. • Subjective descriptions, such as “great computer skills” or “excellent leader”. • Salary information from previous work experience.
Formatting • SPELLCHECK & PROOFREAD! • Keep it neat, organized, and easy to scan. • Be honest. • Use action words to describe work experience. • Be consistent with grammar. • For undergraduates, résumés should not exceed one page in length.
Helpful Tips: • Keep it unique. • Tailor your résumé to fit the company/job you are applying for. • As a résumé becomes lengthy, highlight only the most important information. • Always display yourself in a positive light. • Never put “References Available Upon Request” on your résumé. It is assumed.
Contact Information – Make it Professional • Good: • johnsmith@gmail.com • J.smith@yahoo.com • jsmith3@students.fairmontstate.edu • Bad: • ILoveSoda@hotmail.com • krazy4dogs@yahoo.com • PartyGirl@gmail.com
Education • Good: • Fairmont State University, 2015 Bachelor of Science, Biology College of Science and Technology Morgantown High School, 2011 Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 4.0 • Bad: • FSU, 2015 MHS, 2011 GPA: 2.3
Employment History - Descriptions • Good: • Applied professional team-building skills to develop a cooperate volunteer program, leading to positive public relations and heightened employee morale. • Bad: • Supervised kids at camp • Ran cash register
The Ugly…Found on Actual résumés • “Planned new corporate facility at $3 million over budget.” • “Finished 8th in my class of ten.” • “Seeking a party-time position.” • “Objective: Career on the Information Supper Highway.” • “Skills: Strong Work Ethic, Attention to Detail, Team Player, Self Motivated, Attention to Detail” • “Experience: Chapter President, 1887-1992”
Helpful Links • Résumé Template • http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofscitech/ • Cover Letter Assistance • http://www.career.vt.edu/JobSearchGuide/CoverLetterSamples.html • How to Address an Envelope • http://www.ehow.com/how_1332_address-envelope.html