RESUME DEVELOPMENT

A Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance E-Course

Getting Started
Whether you want to advance in your chosen field or you're making a career change - YOU NEED A RESUME. Your resume provides an overview of all your experience and skills. A great resume will help you get an interview for that job you really want. ITS AN INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF AND YOUR FUTURE!!

Step 1:
BEFORE YOU WRITE
Before you begin writing a resume, take the time to think about your experience and what type of job you are looking for If you're re-entering the workforce, you may pick a different format than someone who's been working continuously A recent graduate will focus more on educational background than an experienced worker

If you're changing careers, you may opt for a different format than someone who is remaining in his current field

Steps for Success

Searching for a job requires that you learn about yourself and your skill sets. You can take a personality test to find out Who You Are http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-in/JTypes2.asp You can take career assessments to help define What You Want to Do http://online.onetcenter.org/ or https://access.bridges.com/ What you learn from those assessments will help you to be clear about Who You Are and What You Want to Do.

Research Your Industry

Check http://online.onetcenter.org/ for demand in your area of interest

The type of job you're applying for will also influence the type of resume you write If there's a style of resume often used in your desired field, consider using it yourself
Look at sample resumes from other people in your industry

Step 2:
WRITING TIPS
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you write or update your resume:

Be Honest
It is better to address any gaps in employment than to try to hide them How? Look at using a Functional Resume or Chrono-functional, a hybrid Resume. Lying on your resume may get you into an interview, but you still have to go through a background and references check to land the job If you state you can perform a task or operate a program you actually don't know, your lie will be exposed and you can lose your job

Be Professional
If your email address is funny or cool, it may turn off potential employers. If necessary, create a new email address solely for resumes responses On the same note, if your voice mail is inappropriate or you have a song that might not be cross-cultural or generational CHANGE IT to something professional

Be Concise
Write out everything - You can trim it down to one page later Note: If you have over 10 years of experience that is important and needs to be included, a resume of two pages is okay Use friendly, easy-to-read FONTS and minimal to no DESIGN to make your resume more appealing

Plan for Success

Make sure your objective matches the position you are applying for

Highlight the skills you have that meet the needs of the employer and the position you are targeting
Make sure you choose the right resume for the position and employer

Step 3:
YOUR OBJECTIVE STATEMENT
An objective statement is the first thing listed after your personal information The objective statement is a sentence or two that sums up your current career goals

Write it Out First

Write your objective statement first This can help you decide what information to highlight on your resume Do not write a generic statement for example: My goal is to get a rewarding job that pays well

Target Your Objective

Your objective statement should relate to the job you are applying for target your statement to the position you're interested in. Example: As an experienced public relations consultant, I now seek a position as an account manager where I can utilize my management skills. This is the first information on the page after your name and address, and it should tell the person reading it why you are the right person for the job.

Objective Examples
Objective: I am seeking a position as a Customer Service Representative allowing me to use my communication and administrative skills to provide excellent assistance to clientele Objective: I am currently seeking an opportunity to obtain a loan officer position, with eventual advancement to vicepresident for lending services, in a growth oriented bank Objective: To help children and families in troubled situations by utilizing my degree and experiences in social services/child protection services

Objective: To join a medical team that will allow me to utilize my EMS, CNA and First Aid/CPR training to assist in helping to save lives

Step 4:
CHOOSE YOUR STYLE
There are several general types of resumes:

(Chrono-functional, Hybrid)

Chronological Resume
A Chronological Resume lists your work history in a time-line order, starting with your most recent job. Traditional format for resumes A best choice if most/all of your experience has been in one field, you have no large employment gaps, and you plan to stay in that same field It is easy to read and clearly demonstrates your job history and career advancement/growth Expected format for all conservative career fields (such as accounting, banking, law, etc.) and international jobseeking.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

Functional Resume
This is a resume format preferred by job seekers with a limited job history, a checkered job history, or a job history in a different career field. Organizes functions in clusters

Company names, employment dates, and position titles are intentionally omitted
Also works well for homemakers returning to the workforce or for new graduates entering the job market

SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL RESUME/CV

Dean Brown 3345 Garden Place Sarasota, FL 34231 941-332-9989 dbrown@home.com Objective: Seeking a position in a non-profit industry where my extensive teaching and communication experience will be used in full. Qualifications: Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills Proficient in organized and environmentally friendly administration Ability to develop rapport with people of all cultures and ages PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Writing Skills Addressed student concerns and inquiries via e-mail help desk. Created and contributed to an International Teacher's Group Blog, titled Show Don't Tell. Blog was featured in China News Daily in May 2007 . Leadership Skills Served as ELT Wonderschool representative in Job Fair 1999. Designed and taught an Advanced writing course for business learners for ELT Wonderschool in 2004.

SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL RESUME/CV

Organizational Skills Used computer skills including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Adobe PhotoShop, and HTML to aid in systematic and creative lesson planning. Developed and maintained reusable teacher files to save time and money, and reduce environmental waste. Met and exceeded daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines for newsletters, test writing, and student records in various teaching positions. Interpersonal Skills Maintained an open door policy during all positions as a senior teacher. Participated in panel interviews with administrators during teacher recruiting sessions. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY www.homestyleenglish.com (tutoring and editing) present ESL Wonder School 2002-2004 Andrew Language Academy 1999-2002 Beijing Baby Preschool (Volunteer) 1995-1996 Seoul English Camp for Kids (Volunteer) 1995 EDUCATION TESL Nation Certification, Florida, 1995 BA, Dramatic Arts University of Florida 1994

Combination (Chrono-functional, Hybrid)

This resume type blends the traditional with the functional. Highlights your outstanding skills and achievements The focus is on clusters of transferable skills and the experiences that are most relevant to the position for which you are applying

Works well especially if you are open to more than one type of job because you can reorganize the functional skills clusters to emphasize the skills most relevant to the particular job you seek

Combination (Chrono-functional, Hybrid)

Serves a variety of job-seeker needs: Those with a diverse job history that doesn't add up to a clear cut career path Or work experience that is related but not an exact link to desired position or who have large employment gaps or many short employments like this format because it downplays employment history This type of resume also works well for older workers, career changers, and job-seekers with academic deficiencies or limited experience.

COMBINATION (CHRONOFUNCTIONAL, HYBRID)

Marjorie Barnes 9931 Sargasso Terrace Pasadena, CA 91050 (626) 555-6313 MarjiB@aol.com OBJECTIVE To contribute to your organization's success through the use of exceptional customer service, managerial, and people skills. QUALIFICATIONS Solid managerial and administrative experience Exceptional versatility and adaptability. Dedication and drive as a hard-working individual. Superlative communication and team-building skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks in a pressured environment. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS INTERPERSONAL AND TEAMWORK SKILLS Entrusted to process confidential employee records such as salary changes, vacation/absenteeism reports, and performance appraisals. Interacted with a wide variety of personalities while scheduling meetings/appointments and making travel arrangements for executives.

COMBINATION (CHRONOFUNCTIONAL, HYBRID)

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SALES SKILLS Interacted with clients and utilized excellent organizational skills to arrange and coordinate special events that include weddings, receptions, and holiday parties, as well as everyday lunch and dinner planning. MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY SKILLS Proved multi-tasking abilities by scheduling and supervising staff, consisting of kitchen workers, bartenders, and food servers while functioning as clubhouse assistant manager at country club and simultaneously serving as pool manager and swim instructor. Served as right hand to lead managers of entertainment company in an administrative assistant capacity.

QUANTITATIVE SKILLS Completed and submitted invoices and process for payments. Handled expense reports with account summaries.

Consistently entrusted with large sums of money.

Maintained inventory control. Managed petty cash, payroll, inventory, member statements, accounts receivable, and payable.

COMBINATION (CHRONOFUNCTIONAL, HYBRID)

COMPUTER SKILLS Proficient in using personal computer skills in such programs as Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Visio. Additionally, use WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, Peachtree, Microsoft Publisher, ClarisWorks, First Choice and First Publisher for word processing, spreadsheet, and graphic design, including internal/external correspondence, reports, procedure manuals, and presentations.

Create and distribute a variety of reports using Access and Excel.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Administrative Assistant, Blue Ribbon Technologies, Inc., Pasadena, CA, 4/06 to Present Beverage Server, The Brew Station , Pasadena, CA, 11/05 4/06 Office Manager, City of Entertainment, Pasadena, CA 1/05 12/05 Bellringer Buffet , Pasadena, CA, 8/04 12/04 Clubhouse Assistant Manager, Golden Bear Country Club , Pasadena, CA, 2/02 8/04

EDUCATION California State University, Northridge -- 2007 General Studies, Marketing and Management. Alumni Member of Alpha Delta Pi. Boswell Secretarial College, Pasadena, CA -- 1999 Associate in Applied Science. Specialized in Accounting, Business and Office Management.

Resume Components
Here are the key components of ALL resumes:

Identification

Job Objective

Key Accomplishments

Education

Community Service

6 7

Professional Experience

Affiliations / Interests

References

Identification
It is essential that a potential employer can reach you. This section should include your name, address, phone number(s), and e-mail address

Job Objective
Your objective explains the kind of work you want to do we have already covered different ways to write a successful objective.

Key Accomplishments
This section should summarize your experiences, focus on describing your major accomplishments and qualifications not duties and responsibilities. List the key accomplishments that will match the skills needed for your specific desired position. This section can also be labeled:
Professional Profile Summary of Accomplishments Key Skills Summary of Qualifications Qualifications Summary Qualifications

Education
This section can be before or after your work experience section dependent on your level of educational experience. This section should include school(s) attended (including the years you attended), majors/minors, degrees, and honors and awards received. Employers may also look or ask for your Grade Point Average (GPA).

Community Service
Not too many people regard service to ones community as really important EXCEPT those who give their time to help others and those who receive the help. Community Service is the most important job you can do! Not only do you help those in need, but you help yourself by learning new skills, sharpening the skills you have already, and getting another reference for your work history.

Professional Experience
This section can also be labeled "Experience, "Work History," or "Employment. Using the word experience is broader than work history, allowing you to include major projects, or other events that showcase your skills and abilities. This section should include company name, your job title, dates of employment, and major accomplishments or responsibilities.

Professional Experience
List your professional accomplishments in bullet format (rather than paragraph format). Avoid discussing job duties or responsibilities. If you don't have a lot of career-related job experience, consider using transferable skills to better highlight your work experience. Use of action verbs when describing your experience. The next two slides offer suggestions for Transferable Skills and Action Verbs.

Professional Experience:
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Communication: the skill of expressing in words and non-verbal ways what you know and understand.

Research and Planning: the ability to search for exact information and to be able to imagine future needs and solutions for meeting those needs.

Human Relations: the use of skills for resolving conflict, relating to and helping people

Organization, Management and Leadership: the ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals

Work Survival: the day-to-day skills that assist in helping successful production and work satisfaction

Professional Experience:
ACTION VERBS
Communication/People Skills Addressed, Advertised, Arbitrated, Arranged, Articulated, Authored, Clarified, Collaborated, Communicated, Composed, Condensed, Conferred, Consulted, Contacted, Conveyed, Convinced, Corresponded, Debated, Defined, Developed, Directed, Discussed, Drafted, Edited, Elicited, Enlisted, Explained, Expressed, Formulated, Furnished, Incorporated, Influenced, Interacted, Interpreted, Interviewed, Involved

For More Action Verbs, Please Visit http://www.quintcareers.com/action_skills.html

Affiliations/Interests
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INCLUDE THIS

Items in this section are often used as a way for interviewers to start an interview on an informal basis.
This section should only include professional memberships and non-controversial activities/interests.

References
If you have room, include a statement saying references are available upon request. NEVER include the names of your references on your resumeand do NOT forget to bring them to the interview!

Rules for Writing a Resume

The first resume that you complete is always the hardest.
However, once you have a basic resume to start with you will be able to change the style as needed for the different positions.

Rules for Writing a Resume:

APPEARANCE
The first impression of your resume is ESSENTIAL It should be well-organized with consistent headings, fonts, bullets, and style Never OVERCROWD the resume - Leave some "white space" so that important points can stand out

Use professional color paper, such as white, ivory, beige, light gray

Rules for Writing a Resume:

TYPOS / MISSPELLINGS
Take your time to carefully write, rewrite, and edit your resume . Be sure to proofread your resume for misspellings and typos. Have someone you know proof read it before you send itResumes with errors get filed in the trash.

Rules for Writing a Resume:

TARGETED AND FOCUSED
There is simply no excuse for having one generic resume anymore

Cover Letters
What is a cover letter?
It is a letter of introduction addressing the employer.

Very few employers seriously consider a resume that does not come with a cover letter.
A written cover letter needs to be part of your job search strategy.

Cover Letters:
WHY IS A COVER LETTER SO IMPORTANT?
A resume is useless to an employer if he or she doesn't know what kind of work you want to do. A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you're seeking and exactly how you are qualified for that position.

Cover Letters:
FORMATTING
A basic format that you can use to create a cover letter is:

1) Short introduction and identification of the position that you are applying for
2) Description of your relevant skills and how they relate to the position that you are applying for 3) Reason why you would be a good fit for this job

4) Request an interview
5) Conclude with a thank you for reviewing your resume

Cover Letters:
THINGS TO AVOID
Important things to avoid on a cover letter:

DO NOT make your cover letter a novel, it should only be a paragraph or two at the most.
NEVER USE To whom it may concern - you should address your cover letter to the person who is accepting the resumes. If you can not find this information from the ad for the job take a moment and call the company to ask.

Cover Letters:
A FEW MORE REMINDERS
Be aware of the tone of your cover letter - it should always be professional and positive. Make sure that all the contact information that you are using on your resume is also on your cover letter. Leave a space to sign your name above your typed name at the bottom of your cover letter, especially if you have to fax it, mail it or hand deliver it.

Thank you for participating in this Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance E-Course.