How to write a Resume 1
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How to write a Resume
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Resume United States
} Used to apply for jobs in:• business, government, non-profits.
} It presents the most relevant skills and experiences that make you qualified for the position.
} Typically, 1-2 pages, but may be longer depending on experience and position you are applying to.
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} Definitions are not consistent across countries/cultures.
} Some countries use CV to refer to any document that demonstrates an applicant’s skills, experience, and accomplishments.
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} In the United States, it is illegal for employers to ask for personal information and employers. If you include personal informaton, it may illicit a negative opinion from reviewers.
} Often expected in other countries. If you omit personal information, reviewers may reject your application.
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Major Difference:Personal Information: marital status, age, number of children, ages, and your photo:
Preparing for a Job Search
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● Keep a professional data file and update it regularly.● Employment● Course Projects● Volunteer or Unpaid Work Experience● Awards / Activities
● Compose a working resume and adapt for each application.● Organize working resume using headings/subheadings. Write
concise, detailed descriptions of past employment, course projects, etc.
● Find position descriptions in job announcements.● Internet, newspaper classifieds, UI Career Center.
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Write a Targeted Cover Letter and Resume
On average, reviewers spend just six seconds on a resume before making an initial “fit” or “no fit” decision about an applicant.
Target your resume to show reviewers how you fit the position.
How to Write a Targeted Resume
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} Analyze position description to identify qualifications and skill-sets.
} Create a list of qualifications and skills employer wants and in order of importance in position description.
} Analyze your qualifications and skills -- what matches or closely matches items on the list from your employment history, coursework? Identify applicable transferable skills.
} Use language from position description
} Decide how to organize body of resume. Adapt working resume by choosing those skill sets and experiences that will target the position.
Identify Your Transferable Skills
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} A transferable skill is a skill you have used in one situation or experience that applies to another.
} Identifying transferable skills will help you decide how to organize the body of your resume.
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Three Ways to Organize Resume
• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
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Chronological Employment Focus
} Lists and describes employment history in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent job).
} Works well if you have employment experience that fits potential employer needs.
} Poor choice for recent graduates because a student’s job history often reflects part-time work not in his/her field of study. As a result, it is difficult for a potential employer to see how you would fit the position description.
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Functional or Skills Focus
} Organized to emphasize course work, particularly, large projects. Allows you to showcase the knowledge and skills you have developed in pursuing your degree that fit position description.
} A functional resume does not mean that you should ignore your employment experience.
} After all, if anyone has employed you, it is relevant to a potential employer, but you want to de-emphasize those positions (such as that pizza delivery job, wait-staff positions etc.) that do not sell your qualifications well.
} Typically, you can list employment that is not directly relevant at the bottom of the resume and limit the content (generally, you will want to just state the name of the position, employer, and dates of employment.
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Combination Employmentand Functional Focus
} If you have experience in your field (such as a previous internship experience or other position), you may want to choose a combination of targeted employment/functional focus.
} Body is organized around work history that directly relates to the position you are applying for and also includes a section that emphasizes course work, particularly, large projects where you collaborated with others.
} Again, this type of resume does not mean that you leave off all other employment experience, but you de-emphasize it as in the functional resume.
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• Document Design Enhances Readability
ResumeDesign
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} Design for eye-at-a-glance-appeal. } Use headings and subheadings.} Bullets} White Space} Horizontal lines
} Use keywords (nouns and noun-phrases) and specific descriptions of skill sets using strong verbs. Write fragments not complete sentences.
} Choose typography wisely. Consider serif font for headings and sub headings and san serif for descriptions.
} If you use a template, modify it, so you don’t look like everyone else who is using the same template.
Design for Eye-At-A-Glance Appeal} Useheadingsandsubheadings
} nounsandnounphrases
} Bullets
} WhiteSpace
} Horizontallines
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Document design works for graphic designers. Not for other positions.
CV or Resume Choose Modern Professional Typefaces
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Choose Modern Professional Typefaces cont’d.
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Standard Resume Sections
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} NameandContactInformation(topheading)} Objective(optional)} Education} Awards/Scholarships (ifapplicable)
} RelevantCourses(optional)} Body:SkillsandExperience
} Chronological,Functional,orCombination} ActivitiesandInterests(optional)
Name and Contact Heading
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} Include permanent and local addresses, e-mail address, and phone number. } If using two addresses, indicate dates you can be reached at
each.
} Centering the information takes up real estate, so consider creating a table table to justify some information to the left and some to the right. Eliminate table borders when finished.
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Objective Statement: Don’ts
} How to tell an employer you don’t really want this job:
} Objective: seeking position in publishing business withimmediate opportunities for advancement.
} How to tell an employer you want to use them.
} Objective: to gain useful tutoring experience that will help me to become a great teacher.
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Objective Statement Do’s
Objective: To produce effective technical documents that meet the needs of audiences.
Objective: Assist students to become successful learners while challenging and expanding my knowledge and understanding of teaching.
Education
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} Degree and Major} Last degree earned first} Do not list high school information
} Where Earned
} Graduation Date
} GPA (if 3.0 or higher)
Resume: Examples
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How to Write Your Degree Information
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} Spell it Out} Bachelor of Arts in English, Literature Emphasis} Bachelor of Arts in English
} Abbreviate } B.A. in English, Teaching Emphasis} B.A. in English, Professional emphasis
Second Language
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Rate level of proficiency
• Basic
• Conversant
• Fluent
Second Language levels of proficiency
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} Basic } Able to speak simple phrases and sentences to
communicate basic communicative tasks. May have some difficulty understanding native speakers, elementary reading and writing skills.
} Conversant} Intermediate level of language proficiency. Can easily
participant in conversations but may be less skilled at reading/writing.
} Fluent} A high level of language proficiency (speaking, reading,
and writing).
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Relevant Curriculum (Optional)
} Create a list
} Use course names not numbers
} Use table or column feature to structure the list into two or three columns.
} Don’t take up valuable real-estate with your list.
Resume Body
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} Use keywords in headings and subheadings.
} keywords are nouns or noun phrases that organize the focus you have chosen for the resume.
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Descriptions should answer:
What? Who? For Whom? Where? Why? How?
Write fragments not complete sentences. Punctuate consistently.
Relevant:• Skills
• Experience (Paid or Unpaid)
• Course Work / Projects
Example 1: Prior Employment
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RelevantEmploymentHistory
ResearcherandWriterSummer2010PennsylvaniaResourcesCouncilPittsburgh,Pennsylvania
} Compiledcomprehensiveguidetorecycledproductsforconsumersandsmallbusinesses.Composedquestionnairessenttoover500companiesnationwideforproductverification;designeddatabaseforstoringinformation.
} EditedarticlesforPRCnewsletter.Researchedlegislationonenvironmentalissues;attendedandreportedonEPAconferences.
Example 2: Internship Experience
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}
EngineeringIntern Summer2008EnergySystems Spokane,WashingtonAssistedinthedesignoftransmissionlinesthroughoutWashington.UsedMicrostationtoupdatestandardstructuredrawingsfortransmissionlinesandsubstations.Completedanindividualprojectandgaveapresentationattheconclusionoftheinternship.
Example 3: Course Project DescriptionWriting Experience
} Senior Capstone Project. Collaborated with mentors and professors on campus to produce a 20 page analytical report on the topic of technical communication.
Research included scholarly articles, books, surveys, and interviews with professional writers across multiple disciplines.
Analyzed research findings to identify and explain skills and work ethic needed to be successful as a technical writer across multiple emphases.
Example 4: Course Project Description
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WildlifeCourseProjects} GoldenEagleResearchProject- (Fall2012)
} Organizedsemesterlongresearchongoldeneagles} Wroteproposalforresearch} CreateddataanalysisusingMicrosoftexcelandPopGrowthAnalysis
Example5:CourseProjectDescription
Wastewater Treatment Project
} Lab Research with Alternative Carbon Sources: Currently evaluating PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) production in microbes utilizing alternative carbon sources, such as glycerol and dairy waste, in UI CE Environmental Lab with Dr. Erik Coats. Lab procedures include COD, DO, pH, and solids testing. Research is conducted in academic journals.
Review descriptions for this problem
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Not parallel:Responsibilities included: recruitment of volunteers; coordinating fund-raising; and distributed promotional materials.
Parallel:Responsibilities included: recruiting volunteers; coordinatingfund-raising activities, and distributing promotional materials.
Additional Sections
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Length of Resume
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PageEntry level resumes are often one page, but they may be longer.
PagesResearch shows employers prefer two-pages. Even when they claim otherwise.
Avoid crowding on a single page or “padding” resume to meet 2 pages.
References
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Okay to use if you don’t have room, but most employers know that references will be given if asked, so it’s a choice.
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} Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.
} Ask others to review.
Where resumes with surface errors wind up.
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