Developing Your Resume

1. Developing Your Resume This module consists of three individual parts: • Part 1: Understanding the Resume • Part 2: Creating Your Resume • Part 3: Locating Additional Resources Developing Your Resume

2. Learning Objectives • Understand the main areas of resumes • Identify and correct errors in your resume • Commit to re-doing your resume • Locate at least five different local resources or reference books Developing Your Resume

3. Part 1: Understanding the Resume Job Applicant Contact Information

4. Common Errors in Resumes • Spelling errors, e.g., “Costumer Service” • Formatting issues, e.g., inconsistent information/columns do not line up • Missing or incorrect telephone number, e.g., wrong area code in (730) 555-1212 instead of (703) • Missing information in job description, e.g., “helped customers” • Dates out of sequence, e.g., most recent job not listed first • Wrong dates, e.g., list 1898 as HS graduation date instead of 1998 Developing Your Resume

5. Common Errors in Resumes cont. • Crazy email address, e.g., LazyGuy@slowmail.com • Irrelevant experience, e.g., highlight an astronaut seeking a job as a florist • Capitalization problems, e.g., non-capitalized proper nouns, 123 elm street or mcdonalds • Too many pages (have a small book) • Not enough information, e.g., listing just job titles with no details • Repeated information, possibly resulting from “cut and paste” Developing Your Resume

6. Customize resume for each job opening Sample Job Opening -- Help Wanted Ad: Customer Service Representative Do you speak with a smile? We are looking for talented Customer Service Professionals for entry-level positions with a rapidly growing firm located in Alexandria, VA. If you are team-oriented, enthusiastic, have a talent for customer interaction, and speak a second language, this may be the right job for you. Qualified applicants will be team players that thrive in a fast-paced environment, with excellent problem-solving, multi-tasking, communication, and organizational skills. Basic computer skills and additional language skills are a plus! Developing Your Resume

7. Analyze what you can/can’t do Developing Your Resume

8. Part 2: Creating Your Resume Personal Information Career Summary and Objective Statement Developing Your Resume

9. Career Summary and Objective • “An outgoing, bilingual (English/Spanish) Customer Service professional with 3 years of retail experience seeking an Assistant Manager position to utilize XXX skills.” • “A reliable, certified HVAC Technician with 2 years of XXX experience seeking a Lead Technician position to XXXX.” • “A detail-oriented Accountant with 2 years of AP/AR experience seeking an Accounts Payable position that capitalizes on outstanding Excel and QuickBooks skills.” • “A compassionate CNA with 5 years work experience in a retirement home setting seeking XXXX position to make the most of recent XXX training.” Developing Your Resume

10. Indicate relevant skills and work history Skills Employment History Developing Your Resume

11. Present or Past Tense Developing Your Resume

12. Employment History (I) • Employment History • Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-Present • Sales Associate/Cashier • Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise • Promote store credit card and specials to customers • Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift • Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01 • Waitress • Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests • Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them Developing Your Resume

13. Employment History (II) • Employment History • Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-Present • Sales Associate/Cashier • Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise • Promote store credit card and specials to customers • Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift • WHAT DID THIS PERSON DO FOR 4 YEARS? WHAT’S UP WITH THIS GAP? • Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01 • Waitress • Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests • Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them Developing Your Resume

14. Employment History (III) • Employment History • Hecht’s/Macy’s Alexandria, VA 07/05-Present • Sales Associate/Cashier • Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them to find desired merchandise • Promote store credit card and specials to customers • Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift • Greenbelt High School Greenbelt, MD 07/01-06/05 • Served as Board Member for the PTS • Managed school project budget • Marriott Hotel Greenbelt, MD 04/00-06/01 • Waitress • Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests • Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them Developing Your Resume

15. Part 3: Additional Resume ResourcesTips and Advice • http://www.how-to-write-a-resume.org/ • http://www.howtowritearesume.net/ • http://www.myfuture.com/toolbox/createresume_all.html Developing Your Resume

16. Resume Templates • http://www.myresumeonline.org/resume-templates/ • http://www.resumetemplates.org • http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickstart/ Developing Your Resume

17. Community Centers • Falls Church SkillSource Center • Lake Anne SkillSource Center • South County SkillSource Center • Cherokee Avenue Workforce Center • City of Alexandria Joblink • Arlington Employment Center • Loudoun Employment Resource Center • Prince William Workforce Center Developing Your Resume

18. Books • Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer • The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write and Use an Effective Resume In Only One Day • Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work • Expert Resumes for Career Changers • Resume Writer's Workbook • Winning Resumes • The Resume Handbook • Resumes for Re-Entering the Job Market • Resumes for Dummies Developing Your Resume

19. Action Verbs on Resumes Developing Your Resume

20. Closing Remarks • Creating a resume that is customized for a specific job; accurate; attractive; error-free; and reflects your skills and abilities will provide a chance to get an interview – which is its primary purpose! Developing Your Resume