Customize Your Resume to Get the Job You Want

1. Customize Your Resumeto Get the Job You Want David Marwick and Len Schwartz for JobAssist.org August 12, 2013 Hosted by Kemp Mill Education Center www.kmedcenter.com/ JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

2. Overview • Why customize your resume • How to customize--four steps • Wrap-up JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

3. Why Customize Your Resume • Companies • In buyer’s market, looking for “perfect” candidate • Receive many applications per opening • Reduced HR staffs • Use computers for initial screen • Applicants • Many people looking for jobs • Little cost to email another resume • Time-consuming to customize a resume, and most people do not do so Finding the right applicant is like finding a needle in a haystack JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

4. Find a Job You’re Well Qualified for • Invest time up front in analyzing job openings: Are you a good fit? • Recent study found • Job seekers spent little time • deciding whether a position was suitable. • reviewing job description and job requirements • 65% of applicants did not meet basic requirements • experience • education • skills JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

5. Job Posting for Nurse Manager Position: Nurse Manager, Ventilation Unit 7 stated “requirements” ( = 6 required + 1 desired) • BS in Nursing • 3+ years of clinical nursing experience • 2+ years of supervisory/management experience • Ventilator Unit experience desired • Meets requirements of MD Nurse Practice Act • MD Registered Nurse license • Effective oral communication skills JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

6. Introducing the Qualifications Matrix A tool to help determine whether you are well qualified for a specific job posting JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

7. Analysis of Nurse Manager Posting JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

8. To Apply or Not? • Types of qualifications • Objective = Yes/No • BS in Nursing • 2+ years supervisory experience • Subjective • Effective oral communication skills • Don’t be too literal • Wiggle room even on yes/no qualifications • They want 2+ years of supervisory experience; Jane has 1.5 years • May be multiple ways to meet some criteria • How demonstrate “effective oral communication skills”? • The 80/20 rule • Employers often “ask for the moon” • If you meet 80% of required qualifications, go for it JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

9. Resume: Overview • Purpose • A meansto an end => interview • Demonstrate qualifications for a specificjob • It’s not about you; it’s about what you can do for employer • Length • 1 page if <10 years • 2-page maximum • Zero-sum game Use your resume to show that you are the needle in the haystack JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

10. Resume: Basic Modules • Five basic modules • Contact info • Work experience • Education/training • Computer skills • Other JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

11. Module A:Contact Information General Approach • Name • Address • Phone • Email address • LinkedIn address (usually) • Professional license number, if applicable Nurse Manager [CONTACT INFORMATION] Jane R. Doe 123 Oak Street 123.456.7890 Ames, MD 22111 jane.doe@gmail.com MD Registered Nurse License 5678 JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

12. Module B:Work Experience General Approach • Sequence • Most recent job first • Then work backwards for <10 years • Directly relevant vs. other experience • For each job • Title, employer, location, dates • For lesser-known employer, explain briefly, provide URL • Volunteer work counts • Emphasize/quantify results • Not a job description • Challenge/Action/Result (CAR) format • If applicable, refer to computer skills Nurse Manager NURSING EXPERIENCE Nursing Supervisor 2012-present Smith Hospital, Ames, MD www.smithhospital.com • Supervised 5 nurses in cardiology unit with average of 14 patients per shift • Reduced unit’s infection rate by 12% by implementing new cleanliness protocols • Unit received “Excellent” or better grade on every quarterly review of compliance with MD Nurse Practice Act • Chosen to provide oral briefings to hospital board of governors, 2011 and 2012 • Recognized as Nurse of the Month, Jan. 2013 Floor Nurse 2010-2011 Jones Hospital, Troy, NY www.troyhospital.com • Worked on ventilator unit (1 year) • Responsible for average of 6 patients per shift • Rookie of the Year award, 2010 OTHER EXPERIENCE Sales Clerk, Walmart, Troy, NY summers 2007, 2008 JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

13. Module C:Education/Training General Approach • New entrants—before Work Experience • Experienced workers—after Work Experience • What to include • List highest degree first, back to BA/BS • New entrants: List key courses, term papers, etc. • Recent courses, webinars, conferences in your field Nurse Manager EDUCATION/TRAINING • “Reducing Infections” 3-day workshop, Yale 2012 • BA, Nursing, Clark College, Utica, NY 2009 • Deans List, 2006, 2007 • President, Future Nurses of America JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

14. Module D:Computer Skills • List computer skills most relevant to target job • Only current versions • Incorporate into Challenge/Action/Result (CAR) statements JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

15. Module E:Other • Can list other activities, interests • If relevant to job opening • If demonstrate character, initiative • Examples: • Volunteer activity • Sports, especially high-level competition • Foreign travel • Foreign languages JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

16. Nursing Manager Resume [CONTACT INFO] Jane R. Doe MD Registered Nurse License 5678 123 Oak Street 123.456.7890 Anywhere, CA jane.doe@gmail.com NURSING EXPERIENCE Nursing Supervisor 2012-present Smith Hospital, Ames, MD www.smithhospital.com • Supervised 5 nurses in cardiology unit with average of 14 patients per shift • Unit received “Excellent” or better grade on every quarterly review of compliance with MD Nurse Practice Act • Reduced unit’s infection rate by 12% by implementing new cleanliness protocols • Selected to provide oral briefings to hospital’s board of governors, 2011 and 2012 • Recognized as Nurse of the Month, Jan. 2013 Floor Nurse 2010-2011 Jones Hospital, Troy, MD www.troyhospital.com • Worked on ventilation unit (1 year) • Responsible for average of 6 patients per shift • Chosen as “Rookie of the Year—2010” [OTHER EXPERIENCE] EDUCATION/TRAINING • “Reducing Infections” 3-day workshop, Yale University, New Haven, CT 2012 • BS, Nursing,Clark College, Utica, NY 2009 Deans List, 2008, 2009 President, Future Nurses of America [COMPUTER/OTHER SKILLS] JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

17. Job Posting for Program Associate Position: Program Associate, Jewish Community Relations Council Requirements: • Bachelors degree • 2+ years professional experience; event planning, community relations or communications/marketing experience preferred • The following professional skills are required: excellence in writing, organization, strategic thinking, time management, and interpersonal communication • Ability to self-motivate, prioritize, work independently and complete multiple assignments with attention to detail in a fast paced, rapidly changing environment. • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and willing to learn JCRC’s software platform • Excellent understanding of Middle Eastern affairs, a passion for Israel, and a proven ability to be innovative in support for Israel • Ability to work some nights and an occasional Sunday JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

18. Analysis of Program Associate Posting JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

19. Wrap-up • Explained why you need to customize your resume. • Showed how to customize your resume in four steps • Find a suitable job • Use Qualifications Matrix to analyze the job opening’s requirements and your relevant education and experience • Incorporate your relevant education and experience into each of five resume modules • Assemble the modules to create a resume • Customizing applies equally to cover letters • The final slide lists a few excellent resources • Questions/comments? JobAssist: Customize Your Resume

20. Resources • “Why Job Seekers Don't Land Jobs.” In an excellent 7-minute video, a Wharton Professor explains why the hiring process is frustrating for employers and job seekers, June 5, 2012. http://online.wsj.com/video/why-job-seekers-dont-land-jobs/7951AB32-2509-473A-AB14-09B09E6CBDC0.html • “10 Reasons Why You Aren't Getting Hired,” by Miriam Salpeter, 07.17.13 http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/10/reasons-didnt-get-hired/ • “10 Reasons Your Resume Isn't Getting You Interviews,” by Alison Green, August 13, 2012 http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/08/13/10-reasons-your-resume-isnt-getting-you-interviews • “4 Signs You Shouldn’t Bother Applying to a Job,” by Katie Douthwaite, 03.05.13 http://www.thedailymuse.com/job-search/4-signs-you-shouldnt-bother-applying-to-a-job/ • “The Difference Between A Good And Bad Job Opportunity,” by Heather R. Huhman, 02.19.13 http://comerecommended.com/publish2/4-ways-to-spot-a-good-job-opportunity-from-a-bad-one • “How We Really Read Job Ads,” by Lauren Weber, 05.02.13 http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2013/05/02/how-we-really-read-job-ads/ • “Why the Job Search Is Like 'Throwing Paper Airplanes into the Galaxy‘,” 02.29.12 http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2947#.UgJLetHaNPg.gmail JobAssist: Customize Your Resume