RESUMES

YOUR TICKET TO AN
INTERVIEW.
Building Your Resume Workshop

TODAY’S AGENDA:
• Define what a RESUME is.

• Two types of RESUME.

• RESUME format and content.

• RESUME OBJECTIVE and/or

CAREER PROFILE.

• Helpful tips when emailing and

scanning your RESUME.
Building Your Resume Workshop

You will also be able to:

• Create a job reference page.

• Create a professional cover

letter to accompany your
RESUME.

• Write a THANK YOU letter

to the employers with whom
you have interviewed.
 Someone Once Said:

“YOU NEVER GET A

SECOND CHANCE TO
CREATE A FIRST
IMPRESSION.”

Your RESUME is one of

your FIRST
IMPRESSIONS with a
potential
EMPLOYER
 A RESUME
IS:
• A short account (1-2)pages) of
your Experience,
Qualifications, and
Achievements.

• Its goal is to capture the

reader’s interest.

• Most resumes only get 20-30

second scan by the reader.

• It MUST have enough

IMPACT to GRAB the
ATTETION of the prospective
EMPLOYER.
The Employer Wants to know :

• What can you do for me?

• How can you improve my

operations?

• Can you make me money?

• Save me time?

• Keep my customers happy?

Your resume must not only show the skills you have; it must
demonstrate your success.
There Are 2 Main Types Of
Resumes
Chronological Functional
 Chronological

• It is the MOST common type of

Resume

• It lists previous jobs & dates;

most recent job first

• It identifies work
accomplishments and skills
connected to each job.

Easier to prepare and is generally

successful
 Formatting your Resume
You can arrange your resume in
a variety of formats.

However, most resumes follow

this type of order:

• Contact information
• Objective or Career Profile
• Summary of Skills (optional)
• Work Experience
• Education
• Professional Affiliations
(optional)
• Military Information
 Contact Information
Your CONTACT INFORMATION is the most
IMPORTANT PART of your Resume:

NAME
Address (optional)
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number – Email Address
Professional affiliation; e.g. www.linkedin.com
(optional)
 Make an Impact!
OBJECTIVE

A short statement that includes the job title you

want, and the main reason why they should
consider your for the position.

CAREER PROFILE

A short paragraph (three –to five sentences)

that highlights your experience and
qualifications that match the job you are
applying for.
Skills Related to the Job You Are Seeking
or Strengths/Key Accomplishments

Include the skills that

are directly relevant to
the job you are seeking.

Use strengths and

accomplishments to
highlight these skills
 Education
List diploma, degree(s) or certificate(s) and the school name,
city and state. If you did not graduate college, list total
semesters completed.

List dates of completion if you are a recent

graduate (last three years)
 Military Experience

List this as part of your work experience, if chronological and

recent, or if it relates to the job you are seeking. You can also list
military training under education.

Branch of service and last rank may be listed under a separate

heading if it is too far back to include as part of your work
experience.
 Structure
Be consistent in structure to
make it easy for readers to
skim through your resume
quickly without confusion.

Font: 10-12 points

Bold for name and positions
Dates – Month/Year
Paper color – WHITE
Spacing – 1 or 2 line spacing
 Content and Structure

Use short, bulleted statements

Use numbers or percentages

Avoid personal pronounces

like “I” or “ME”

Start your statements with

action VERBS!!!
Advantages & Disadvantages Of The
Chronological Resume

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Easy to follow. Doesn’t hide flaws in the
work history,
Work history shows such as job changing or
progression. “spotty” work history.

Your objective / summary Doesn’t allow flexibility to

is the same or similar to change objective to
your recent experience. something different from
your experience.
 Functional
• Uses career profile in lieu of
objective.

• Focuses on jobseeker’s
knowledge; skills and abilities.

• Lists company names, titles and

job dates at the bottom.

• May list number of years

experience in a function.
Advantages & Disadvantages Of The
Functional Resume

ADVANTAGES
Dates/positions not emphasized.
Skills/experience from not so recent jobs
can be emphasized.
Hides downward regression.
DISADVANTAGES
Employers are sometimes suspicious
of this format because it can disguise
negative information.
Employers may assume all skills are
current.

Emphasis on transferrable skills. Absence of dates may confuse

employers.
Objective may be different from your
experience.

Appropriate when considering a career

change.
 Emailing and Scanning Tips
Choose conventional fonts like…
Arial
Tahoma
Verdana
Times New Roman

Font sizes should be 10 -12

Avoid a lot of Bold, Italics, Tables and

underlining.

Use KEYWORDS for your industry/job

Do not use Header/Footer

Send a .doc (or .docx) and not a.PDF

 Creating a
Cover Letter
Why a Cover Letter?

It accompanies a Resume and tells

the employer why he/she is
receiving your Resume

Used to convince the employer:

• Why you are best candidate

• That you understand the

position for which you are
applying

• Why you should be considered

for an interview.
 Cover Letter
Content
First, your cover letter should
include your contact information so
that the prospective employer can get
in touch with you. Include current
date.

Second, your cover letter must

include the name of the hiring
manager and his/her title; company
name and address, followed by the
proper salutation.

Important: Never use the salutation:

“To whom it may concern.”
 Cover Letter
Content
First, your cover letter should
include your contact information so
that the prospective employer can get
in touch with you. Include current
date.

Second, your cover letter must

include the name of the hiring
manager and his/her title; company
name and address, followed by the
proper salutation.

Important: Never use the salutation:

“To whom it may concern.”
 Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:

1. What position your are applying

for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.

2. What you have to offer (middle

paragraph(s).

3. How you want to be contacted at

the employer’s time and
availability.
 Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:

1. What position your are applying

for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.

2. What you have to offer (middle

paragraph(s).

3. How you want to be contacted at

the employer’s time and
availability.
 Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:

1. What position your are applying

for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.

2. What you have to offer (middle

paragraph(s).

3. How you want to be contacted at

the employer’s time and
availability.
 Cover Letter
Content
Third, your cover letter should
include at least three paragraphs:

1. What position your are applying

for and where you found the job
posting – first paragraph.

2. What you have to offer (middle

paragraph(s).

3. How you want to be contacted at

the employer’s time and
availability.
And last but not the least, don’t forget
the closing; your name, and the word
“Enclosure(s)” to indicate that your
are enclosing your Resume.
 Reference Page

Prepare as a separate page.

Don not include on your Resume.

“Reference Available Upon Request.”

Prepare at least three references; usually

either two professional and on personal or
three personal and on professional.

Take the reference page with you at the time

of the interview, but submit only if requested
by the prospective employer.
 Thank You Letters

Send immediately after an interview:

• Card

• Letter

• Phone call

• Email

A THANK YOU LETTER REEMPHASIZES YOUR VALUE

TO THE COMPANY AND RESTATES YOUR INTEREST
IN THE POSITION.
 Small Things Do Matter
ALWAYS THINK
YOU MAY THINK THIS IS JUST POSITIVE…
EXTRA WORK FOR YOU….

BUT IT MAY MAKE THE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING
EMPLOYED…OR…UNEMPLOYED!

IT’S ALL ABOUT GETTING A

JOB DONE!!!
AND REMEMBER TO
KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON
THE BIG PICTURE…