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C ENTER

FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AND ENGAGEMENT /C AREER S ERVICES

W RITING YOUR WINNING RESUME


What is a resume? A resume is a brief (one to two page) summary of your education, work experiences, and skills that is used to market yourself to employers when applying to job openings. The purpose of a resume is to get you an interview.
What makes it winning? A winning resume contains the following: Accomplishment statements , not just a list of job duties Action verbs Strongest sections and most important facts listed in the top portion Relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences that are tailored to the job posting. What are the different sections? You can include any of these sections (varies by individual) Contact Information Objective Relevant Skills Highlights of Qualifications, Summary, Professional Summary, or Highlights Education, Relevant Coursework, Projects Work Experience, Employment History, Work History, Professional Experience, Related Experience Other Experience Licenses/Certifications Awards & Achievements Clubs and Activities Volunteer Experience Professional Organizations
Random Resume Fact: The word rsum is a French word, which in English translates to summary. Your resume is a summary of you!

F ORMATTING
RESUME

YOUR

Error-free Easy to read 11 or 12 pt font Times New Roman and Arial are the most common fonts Use Bold, italics, and underline consistently, but sparingly, just to highlight important headings or titles

RESUME TYPES: The type you choose depends on what you want to focus on and sells you best! Chronological Most common type Experience is listed in reverse order Preferred by employers Highlights dates and work history Functional Highlights transferable skills and strengths Does not contain dates or job titles Great for those with gaps in employment Experience is detailed under relevant skill categories Combination (minus the pepperoni) Top section is focused on skills Bottom section lists employment history, but is not the focus.

CSSE/ CAREER SERVICES Eldridge Hall, Top Level 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 (413) 662-5333 Fax: (413) 662-5444 J.Desgres@mcla.edu or career@mcla.edu

PARTS OF A RESUME Contact Information: Include your name (slightly larger or in bold), address, telephone number(s), and email address at the top of the resume. Only list the telephone number that you would like the employer to use to contact you. Make sure your voicemail sounds professional. Is your email address professional? If not, create a separate email that you use for job searching purposes. Instead of hotmama@yahoo.com, create this one: jsmith@yahoo.com Janine Desgres 375 Church Street Example: North Adams, MA 01247 (413) 662-5333 Email: J.Desgres@mcla.edu

The following are possible sections. You choose what works best for your individual circumstances: Objective: State the type of occupation you are seeking and the skills you want to utilize. Objectives are especially helpful if the position you are seeking is different from past experience. This lets employers know that you are intentionally changing career directions. For example: Management position utilizing my expertise and organization skills, supporting my commitment to customer service, employee development and continuous improvement. Summary: A sentence or two that summarizes who you are and your overall skills/experiences that are related to the position and/or industry to which you are applying. For example: Highly competent results-oriented project manager experienced at completing large projects on time and budget. Demonstrated skills in formulated business requirements and supporting project documentation, successfully managing project scope, stakeholders, risks, and issues. Highlights of Qualifications: Similar to a summary, but pinpoints more exact qualifications from all of your work experiences that make you a good fit for the position. This section often uses bullet points to make it easier to skim for key words. For example: 9 years of teaching experience in various settings, including non-profits and post-secondary institutions. Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite Recognized for superior problem-solving, project management, relationship building, and planning. Excellent attention to detail, dependable, honest Polished presentation skills utilized in both one-on-one and group settings.

PARTS OF A RESUME ( CONTINUED ) Key Skills: Highlight only those skills which relate to the position and can be found within the advertisement/posting. For example: Key skills (for a teacher): Curriculum design, advanced computer skills, knowledge of learning styles, lesson planning Key skills (for an accountant): Quickbooks, Excel, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Reconciliation Experience Section (heading options includeWork History, Work Experience, Professional Experience, Employment History) In a chronological resume, the experience section has the following: A listing of current and past work experiences starting from your most recent and working backwards in time, usually covering 10-12 years of relevant positions. If you have an experience that is not relevant, but still is important because it highlights something an employer should know about you, create an additional section called, Other Experience. An Other Relevant Experience heading could be used to capture any experiences that happened outside of the 10-12-year span. Each bullet point should be more than just a listing of duties, ideally; these points should elaborate, give details, quantity, and qualify your past experiences in accomplishment statements.

How to Write an Accomplishment Statement: Action Verb + Duty+ How = Results How did you save the company time? Money? Stress? and what was the result? Basic Statement Answered phones Stronger Statement Answered multi-line phone and transferred calls to appropriate department and/or recorded detailed messages. Increased size of sales force Increased size of sales force by 50% achieving 200% increase in sales revenue within two quarters. Developed lesson plans following the guidelines of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks for English Language Arts, grade 5.

Developed lesson plans

PARTS OF A RESUME (CONTINUED) Education: This section should come Before your work experience, if you are a current student or recently graduated within the last 5 years. Still in college? Put In Progress or Expected Date of Graduation. Include your GPA if its over 3.0 and is something you want to highlight. Add a subheading, Relevant Coursework to show what you have learned in college related to the position. Add a subheading, Relevant Projects to provide examples of the type of work you completed that is relevant to the job. For example: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, MA Bachelors, Major: Business Administration Minor: Marketing Expected Date of Graduation 2013 Relevant Coursework: Strategic Marketing Marketing Communications Management

Additional Headings you may want to add to show any extracurricular activities or awards: Honors & Awards, Clubs and Organizations, Professional Associations, Volunteer Experience, Internships, Professional Memberships, Achievements, Leadership, Sports

ACTION VERBS Use to make you a doer and add interest to your resume.
Communication Authored Collaborated Contacted Expressed Influenced Marketed Negotiated Outlined Promoted Summarized Creativity Adapted Composed Created Designed Invented Originated Financial Adjusted Analyzed Audited Balanced Calculated Estimated Measured Projected Reconciled Helping Advocated Aided Assisted Coached Counseled Guided Supported Management Administered Appointed Authorized Chaired Delegated Directed Established Led Organized Oversaw Prioritized Streamlined Strengthened Supervised Organization Arranged Catalogued Categorized Classified Compiled Filed Generated Ordered Organized Prepared Recorded Reviewed Standardized Systematized verified Research Collected Examined Explored Gathered Investigated Solved Tested Teaching Advised Coordinated Developed Explained Facilitated Instilled Instructed Taught Trained Tutored Technical Assembled Converted Engineered Fabricated Installed Overhauled Repaired Restored Upgraded Utilized
How important are 1st impressions? 7-10 seconds!

Thats how long an employer takes to read your resume for the first time.

REFERENCES: The line References available upon request is not really necessary. You should, however, expect to be asked to provide a list of at least 2-3 professional references, at some point in the hiring process. This list will be separate from your resume document . Heres what your list of references should look like: (Your contact information) Hope Kingsley 86 Rogers Drive Durham, NC 27701

Ideal References Current or former boss, manager, or supervisor Current or former co-workers Professors or Teachers Fellow Volunteer Not Ideal: Parents/family members Spouse Friends

(919) 856-1122 hkingsley@yahoo.com REFERENCES 1. Mr. Steven Brown President, Bingham Realty 22 Realty Circle Durham, NC 27701 (919) 856-5096 stevebrown@binghamrealty.com

Ask your references before adding them to your list. Explain the type of work youre looking for. Ask if he/she is comfortable serving as a reference. Verify contact information and best method of contact. Provide a copy of your resume and the job posting. Follow up after the hiring process; sending a thank you note or email makes the person feel like his/her efforts were appreciated.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME EXAMPLE 1 Molly DiMarco


19 Blackington Street, North Adams, MA 01247 (413) 268-9988 mollydimarco@mcla.edu ____________________________________________________________________________________ Education Bachelor of Arts in English/Communications Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts May 2008 North Adams, MA, Minor in Public Relations 3.0/4.0 GPA ____________________________________________________________________________________ Highlights of Excellent Organizational Skills Quark Publishing Qualifications Strong Interpersonal Skills Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Design and Layout Experience ____________________________________________________________________________________ Work Experience Internship, MCLA Advancement Office, North Adams, MA January 2008-May 2008 Compiled profile pieces for Alumni Magazine (Beacon and Seeds) through Raisers Edge Database. Researched topics for alumni publications. Prepared event programs and mailers. Created informational documents that were uploaded to the college blog. Interviewed alumni along with faculty members. Assisted event planners with high profile, VIP events. Advertising Manager, The Beacon, North Adams, MA September 2007-May 2008 Managed and coordinated with a staff of 4 students to publish advertisements in the newspaper for local businesses. Scheduled and organized weekly progress meetings to assess staff and business relationships. Designed layouts for advertisements using professional publishing software. Negotiated with businesses for advertising contracts and maintained close relationships to ensure customer satisfaction. __________________________________________________________________________________ Other Work Experience Activities Coordinator, YMCA, North Adams, MA October 2005-November 2007 Scheduled daily activities for child care center Supervised and maintained the safety and welfare of 40 children, ages 6-12. __________________________________________________________________________________ Leadership President, Beta Lambda Sorority, North Adams, MA May 2007-May 2008 Maintained relations with the MCLA Dean, 4 Greek Chapters, and the North Adams Community. Organized community service projects with the help of 14 sorority sisters.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME EXAMPLE 2 John Fisk


128 Pleasant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55416, jfisk@umn,edu, (612) 625-4346 ___________________________________________________________________________ MINNESOTA TEACHING LICENSES Early Childhood Education (birth to 3rd grade) Early Childhood Special Education (birth to age 6) EDUCATION University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development Minneapolis, MN Masters of Education: Early Childhood Special Education Expected: May 2008 Bachelors of Science: Foundations of Education, Early Childhood May 2005 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Student Teacher, grades 1-3 Sunset Terrace Elementary School, Minneapolis, MN Spring, 2006 Taught students with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances in 15:1 class. Individualized reading lessons based on students developmental abilities. Conducted large group lessons in sciences, social studies, and math, based on state standards. Differentiated instruction to foster success and appropriately challenge students. Collaborated with another student teacher to plan and team teach thematically-based lessons with a multicultural focus. Created classroom management system to successfully address behavior issues. Developed Individual Education Plans and participated in ongoing meetings for each grade level. Practicum, grades 1-2 Spring 2004 Kellogg Elementary School, Saint Paul, MN Sixteen week experience, including two-week orientation to technology, lesson plan development, assessment, and classroom management. Planned lessons for individuals, small/large groups, and adapted lessons for diverse student learning styles. Used various management strategies and assessed instruction with daily reflections and journaling. Integrated multimedia in ePortfolio including lesson plans,assessments, accommodations, and reflections. Professional Organizations National Association for the Education of Young Children Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children

FUNCTIONAL RESUME EXAMPLE


MIRANDA LOPEZ 1234 MORGAN STREET RALEIGH, NC 27601 (919) 555-7896 MLOPEZ@YAHOO.COM

SUMMARY: Over 13 years experience as real estate paralegal and contracts manager for nationally recognized law firms and wireless communications companies. RELEVANT SKILLS CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT
Prepared and reviewed legal documents required for ground lease dispute resolution, and access issues and protection of leasehold interests. Cured lease defaults and title defects, resulting in $1.3 million in recovered property. Coordinated in-house and outside counsel regarding litigation for more than 15% of active suits. utility

REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL


Coordinated review and obtained legal approval for all regional leases and lease amendments related to site alterations. Served as liaison during the collocation process. Populated and supervised maintenance databases for lease tracking and property management.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Served as Director of Facilities, maintaining legal documents and mitigating site issues for 18 international locations.

LEADERSHIP
Directly managed legal department staff of 36. Served as Mid-South Area Rent Roll Coordinator, overseeing 23 employees at 5 sites.

WORK HISTORY Present: Previous: EDUCATION


B.A. Political Science, University of North Caroline, Chapel Hill, NC Certification, Paralegal Studies, Duke University, Durham, NC 1994 1992 Williams Communications, Inc., Raleigh, NC Hunter & Sugarman, Murphy, NC Daniels Henderson, Jamison, & Walker, Murphy, NC Contracts Manager Paralegal Real Estate Paralegal

KEY SKILLS
Microsoft Office, LeaseTech 200 Settlement System, Deed Analysis System, StandardLegal, EasySoft Billing

COMBINATION RESUME EXAMPLE

Beth Shaw
342 Wells Street, Sandgate, VT 05250 (802) 378-5775 bshaw@mcla.edu Education: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), North Adams, MA Bachelors of Arts, SociologySumma Cum Laude/Minor: Anthropology Professional Experience: Management: Achieved two million dollar sales budget Recruited, interviewed, and hired employees. Managed office staff of 12. Prepared agendas, chaired meetings, and upheld board meeting protocol. Organization: Worked on multiple projects under pressure and met strict deadlines. Collaborated with parents to draft and implement new safety protocol for transportation. Updated and maintained client calendar by scheduling appointments utilizing internal software. Process client billing, answered questions, and worked with insurance companies to ensure proper coding was applied. Office Operations: Oversaw the successful relocation of the sales office, while continuing to operate with seamless transition. Designed and implemented new staffing guidelines. Raised funds for capital campaign for building expansion. Provided outstanding customer service to clients in the office and over the phone. Employment: President/Board Member Office Assistant Stay-at-home Parent Proficient in: Microsoft OfficeWord, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook Hiland Hill School Board Dr. Burns, Bennington, VT 2001-2005 2002-2003 1994-2003 May 2008

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