Career Services - Central Piedmont Community Collegejoe.carbon.people.cpcc.edu/Resume Writing 101 with Christy Curts.pdfCAREER SERVICES Which format is best for you? Chronological

CAREER SERVICES

Career Services Christy Curts, Career Counselor

CPCC Career Services

• Provide assistance with everything related to jobs

– Choosing a career or major

– Job search

– Interviewing skills

– Resume/cover letter writing

© CPCC Career Services 2013

CAREER SERVICES

Job Search

• View online job postings exclusively for CPCC students

• Save searches and receive emails with customized job matches

• Check our calendar for on-campus recruiting events

• Research companies seeking CPCC students

CPCC CAREER SERVICES


https://www.myinterfase.com/cpcc/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=/cpcc/student

A few words about your job search

• Networking begins now!

– Co-ops are a great way to make networking contacts that could turn into to future jobs down the road

• Start working on your resume now.

– Update it with skills and techniques learned in class and in co-op

• Fill out a sample job application to simplify process


CAREER SERVICES

Online Presence and Your Job Search

• 70% of hiring managers and recruiters have rejected a job candidate based on data they found online (2009 Microsoft Survey).


C E N T R A L P I E D M O N T C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E CPCC CAREER SERVICES

Resumes


CAREER SERVICES

• Summary of qualifications for a specific position

• Marketing tool to help you stand out from other job seekers in an online job search world

CAREER SERVICES

Purpose of a Resume


Most important function is to compel an employer to

grant you an interview!

CAREER SERVICES

What’s your target?

• Customize to a specific position

• Match employer’s needs

• Revise for different positions



Writing Tips

• No spelling or grammar errors

• Concise and clear

• Use phrases, not complete sentences

• Begin phrases with action verbs

• Language is assertive

• Avoid personal pronouns

• Use numerals instead of spelling numbers out

CAREER SERVICES

CAREER SERVICES

Which format is best for you?

Chronological Career Guide p. 13

• Emphasizes career progression

• Easy for employers to understand

• Often easier to write • Emphasizes continual

employment • Most common/traditional

format

Functional Career Guide p. 12

• Focus on skills • Entering job market for

first time or changing careers

• Have unconnected work experiences

• Have gaps in employment history


CAREER SERVICES

Basic Categories for Entry-Level Resumes


• Contact Information • Objective • Education • Skills • Certification/Licensure • Experience (including Co-op) • Professional Affiliations • Community Involvement • References

CAREER SERVICES

Avoid Irrelevant/Controversial Information

• Age or birth date

• Picture

• Marital status

• Salary information

• Health

• Social Security number

• Complete addresses of previous employers

• Religious/political affiliations


CAREER SERVICES

READY TO WRITE YOUR RESUME?


CAREER SERVICES

Contact Information


• Name in larger/bold font

• Indicate which number is home, which number is cell

• Appropriate voicemail

• Appropriate email

CAREER SERVICES

What’s Your Objective?


A short, focused statement that acts as a blueprint for the rest of your resume.

“Seeking position in setting utilizing qualifications.”

• Seeking an Automotive Technician position. Position

• Seeking an Automotive Technician Position at Firestone Complete Auto Care.

Setting

• Seeking an Automotive Technician Position at Firestone Complete Auto utilizing experience with engine diagnostics and repair and customer service.

Qualifications

CAREER SERVICES

Education

• Degree and major with actual or expected graduation date

• College and city, state • Cooperative Education may be a sub-category or separate

section • GPA of 3.0 or higher is optional • Relevant coursework is optional (limit to 3-6) • Academic honors, clubs, associations are optional


CAREER SERVICES

Skills

• Will take up the most space on a functional resume – break down into sub-categories for easier reading

• Specific skills and accomplishments are best

• Emphasize technical skills. – While soft skills are important, they are better demonstrated in an

interview.


What are some skills you can currently add to your resume?


Keyword/Skills Resources

• CPCC Catalog course descriptions

• O*Net Database: http://online.onetcenter.org

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco

• Automotive Job Descriptions


CAREER SERVICES

http://online.onetcenter.org/

http://www.bls.gov/oco

CAREER SERVICES

Related Experience

• Focus on accomplishments that set you apart from other candidates

• Bulleted style makes your resume more reader-friendly – try to use 3-5 bullet points per experience

• Do not limit to paid employment. Include volunteer work, lab work, co-ops, and leadership roles


CAREER SERVICES

Other Experience

• Use less space for unrelated experience

• List position, company name, location, dates.

• No job description to use minimal space


CAREER SERVICES

Certification & Licensure

• Additional information helps with keyword scans

• Don’t assume employers will know your licensure/certification based on your education

• Remember to update your resume with new credentials once you achieve them


• Never list specific references directly on your resume

• Indicate “Available upon request”

• Three references are generally sufficient

• Ask permission and inform your references about your pending applications

• Give references a copy of your resume

• Thank your references for their assistance

CAREER SERVICES

References


Top 10 Resume Bloopers from Real Resumes

10. I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse

9. I am a rabid typist

8. Personal Interests: Donating Blood. 15 gallons so far

7. Extensive background in accounting. I can also stand on my head

6. References: none, I’ve left a path of destruction behind me

5. Education: curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting

4. Instrumental in ruining an entire operation for a Midwest chain store

3. Personal: Excellent Health, except for ingrown toenail

2. Reason for Leaving: Maturity Leave

1. Hobbies: Mushroom Hunting


CAREER SERVICES

Career Services is Here to Help!

To make an appointment at Levine Campus:

1. Call 704.330.6433 (must specify Levine campus)

2. Visit the Student Success Center in Levine I Building

3. Call Christy directly: 704.330.4247

CAREER SERVICES

Career Services - Central Piedmont Community Collegejoe.carbon.people.cpcc.edu/Resume Writing 101 with Christy Curts.pdfCAREER SERVICES Which format is best for you? Chronological

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