From "Good" to "Great"

Prepared by
Dr. Ayman Shawky
Director, Career Development Center
Graduation is not just a
celebration
 Writing a
Resume
Good Practices and Strategies,
Examples
 Table of
Contents
 What Is a Resume?
 Why We Need of a Resume?
 WhyWe Need a Good
Resume?
 The Goal
 Success strategy
 How to Stand Out?
 Structure
Competitive
Added Value
Unique Selling Point
Job Searching Methods
Transferable Skills
Adaptable
Strong References
How People Find Jobs…

(From HSE WNO 2010)

 Where to Start for Grad Students

Think of the tangible skills you’ve gained at AASTMT.

For example:

What skills have you acquired at AASTMT

that might be of use to you in a given field?
Carefully consider your extra-curricular
activities.
Come to Career Development Center (CDC)
for help with resume writing.
 Transform your Academic Career into
Credible Professional Experience

List your time at AASTMT in the “Experience” rather than the

“Education” section.
Did you teach? Put it here.
Did you do research? Put it here.
Did you take any internship? Put it here.
Did you take any courses at AASTMT or outside? Put it here.
Did you serve on committees, or in student organizations? Put it
here?

This makes your time at AASTMT look like work experience, rather
than schooling.
Your education section should be concise.
 Your resume is YOU
make sure it represents YOU well!
 The 5 P’s of Resumes
• Painless
Easy to read, well organized; use bold to make things stand out and use same font type
throughout.
• Perfect
Proofread for spelling and grammar, consistent with punctuation.

• Page
One or two pages is best, 1”, .75 or .5 margins (no smaller and make sure all sides are
consistent).
• Paper
Resume paper subtle color and pattern \ if mailed do not fold - use large envelope.

• Position
Specific to the position you are applying for, use keywords from job
description.
What Is a
Resume?
 Summary of
skills and
experience
What Is a
Resume?
 Summary of
skills and
experience
What Is a Resume?
Not a
biography
 Summary of
skills and
experience
What Is a Resume?
Not a
biography

Highlights accomplishments
Why We Need a Resume?

Show
experience
 Why We Need of a
Resume?

Show
experience

Reflects more than

paid work
experience
 Why We Need of a
Resume?

Show
experience

Reflects more than

paid work
experience
Why we are
better than the
 Why We Need of a
Resume?
Show our
skills and
abilities
Show
experience
Reflects more than
paid work
experience
Why we are
better than the
Why We Need a Good
Resume?
Why We Need a Good
Resume? Because of
the
Recruiters!
Why We Need a Good
Resume? Because of
the
Recruiters!
No time to
fully review
every CV
Recruiter
s
 Recruiters
:
Review 100
CVs
 Recruiters:
Review 100 CVs
Select only 1 for
interview
Recruiters spend 20-
60 seconds on a
Resume
 The first
impressio
n

The recruiters count

most:

Finding the
correct
keywords
The
Goal
 Sell
The
Goal
 Sell
The
Goal Inform
 Sell
The
Persuad Goal Inform
e
 Sell
The
Persuad Goal Inform
e
Get an
Interview
!
OK. But how to do all
this?
OK. But how to do all
this? All you need is
a!
The Success
Strategy?
 The Success
Strategy?

Be
unique
 The Success
Strategy?

What you want

next?
Be unique
 The Success
Strategy?

The point of the

Resume What you want
next?
Be unique
 The Success
Strategy?

What the employer

wants?
The point of the
Resume What you want
next?
Be unique
 The Success
Strategy?

Good presentation
What the employer
wants?
The point of the
Resume What you want
next?
Be unique
 The Success
Strategy?

Good presentation
What the employer
wants?
The point of the
Resume What you want

at ss
y
eg
r e
next?

St cc
Su
Be unique
 Be
Unique
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want

es
cc
next?

Su
Be unique
 Be
Unique
Good
presentation
What the employer
Don't
wants?
The point of the Resume copy

gy
What you want
paste

te
tra
sS
next? Be unique

es
cc
Su
 Be
Unique
Good
presentation
What the employer
Don't
wants?
The point of the Resume copy

gy
What you want
paste

te
tra
sS
next? Be unique

es
cc
Show Su

creativeness
 Be
Unique
Good
presentation Don't
What the employer wants?
copy
The point of the Resume

gy
paste

te
tra
What you want next?

sS
es
Be unique

cc
Show Su

creativeness
Show what
you want to
show
 What You Want
Next?
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want

es
cc
next?

Su
Be unique
 What You Want
Next?
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want

es
cc
next?

Su
Be unique
Why you choose
this exact job
offer?
 What You Want
Next?
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want

es
cc
next?

Su
Be unique
Why you choose
this exact job
offer?
How you plan to
develop yourself in the
 The Point of The
Resume
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want

es
cc
next?

Su
Be unique

Who will read it?

What is the position you are applying
for?

Why are you writing it?

 What the Employer
Wants?
Good
presentation What the
employer wants?

gy
The point of the

te
tra
sS
Resume What you want
Be unique
Highlight the

es
cc
next?

Su
relevant
things

Show what the employer wants to

see
Not all you have Or just what you
done have been paid
for
 Good
Presentation
Good presentation Be
What the employer
wants?
consistent
The point of the

gy
te
tra
Resume What you want

sS
es
next

cc
Su
Be unique

Be Be
brief Focused
 How to Stand
Out?
Make your Resume
remarkable
 How to Stand
Out?
Chance of
fail first
time
 How to Stand
Out?
Chance of
fail first
time

Take risks
 How to Stand
Out?
Chance of
fail first
time

Take risks

Use "Trial and

Error"
methodology
What Categories do Employers Expect
to See on a Resume?
 Key Resume Categories

 Personal contact information

 Career Objective (optional)
 Qualifications summary, special competencies/skills
(optional)
 Education (degree, major, special training)
 Study abroad
 Relevant paid or unpaid work experience
 Other work experience
 Community service
 Professional affiliations
 Interests/hobbies (optional)
 References/portfolio
 Structure Your
Resumesections in your
 There are some must-have
CV
Personal information
Objective
Previous work experience
Education
Projects developed
E.g. at the university, high school or in free
time
Skills and abilities
 Personal
 Always put it in the Information
top
 Include the following
Your name
A photo
Your contacts
Email address
Telephone number
Home address
Use a
professiona
l photo

The
Photo
Use a
professiona
l photo

The
Photo
Don't use Facebook
photos!
Better no photo at all
 The
 Use your personal contacts Contacts
Personal email, personal telephone!
Never use work contacts
 Be sure to have a good-looking email
address
Even if you use it only for job applications
PeterPetrov@, Peter.Petrov@,
Asen_Georgiev@
Not emails like:

 DestructorMachine@,
 Objectiv
 The objective should be after the e
personal information
What you are applying for?
Be descriptive, but be brief
Don't be overdescriptive
 Sample Objectives

Enthusiastic candidate for summer Graphic Design internship

offered by Gardener’s Supply Company.
Seek a Network Administrator position with Champlain College.
2009 Bachelor’s Degree Graduate eager to be considered for full-
time Restaurant Manager position with Applebee’s International.
Secondary or middle school position in science or math. Qualified
and interested in coaching track, volleyball, or swimming.
 Previous Work
 Write
Experience
your previous work experience
Best to order them by date
Explain your duties at this position
Don't be overdescriptive about your
managers

 Better not to include full names and contacts

 Educatio
n gone
 Write down all the schools you have
to
University
High school
 Itis always better to highlight courses
you visited and are relevant to the job
offer

 Addrelevant informal
education
 Items under Education

Take just a minute to:

 List education-related pieces of
information that an employer might
like to see.
 What are the selling points that
would differentiate you from other
students?
 Education
Before work experience for recent graduates
in reverse chronological order
Institution name, location (city, ST),
graduation date
Dates (month/year, i.e., 10/2018 - 6/2021)
Degrees, major(s)
Licensures, certification, endorsements
Include special training, relevant workshops

High school: Include high school only if lots

of relevant accomplishments or going back
to your home town
 Educational Accomplishments

Honors: Graduated Cum Laude or Summa

Cum Laude, GPA above 3.0 class rank above
3.5, scholarships, awards
Relevant academic projects, special training,
study-abroad
Extra-curricular, athletic and leadership
activities
Club memberships and committee work
 Evidence of Achievements

Advancements
Not just job Bonuses
descriptions, Performance
Evaluations
but rather your Recognitions
skills and Awards/
accomplishments
contributions
Emphasize achievements with concrete, measurable examples
Use references and testimonials to demonstrate accomplishments
 Non-Relevant Experience

Include non-related jobs and volunteer work

if they help create a picture of stability, but
don’t describe in detail
Concentrate on skills you developed that
could relate to your career objective
Include: promotions, management and
supervisory responsibilities, customer
service, etc.
Omit jobs that were very brief
 Presentation of Your Education Credentials, Campus
Involvement
and Academic Achievements

FACULTY OF XXX, AASTMT, ALEXANDRIA

Bachelor’s Degree, Ex: Management , Engineering, Pharmacy, Dentistry : May

2021
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA (4.0 scale) while working 15-20 hours a week.
•Admissions Tour Guide for prospective students and parents.
• Nominated by faculty and competitively selected to serve as a Peer Tutor.
• Organize extra-curricular activities for the Student Government Association.
• Participated in a Study Abroad semester in xxx, France, to expand my
knowledge and develop an appreciation for the culture of another country.

Study abroad may be under its own category.

 Projects
 The best way to showDeveloped
expertise is to
show something real
Like projects you have developed
 Thisgives a better impression than just
plain words like "I am good at…"

 No projects?
Why not start a
project, to gain
experience?
 Skills and
Abilities
 Write down all your skills and abilities
All of them are important
But some are more important than others
Highlight the skills that are most relevant
to the current job description
Just mention the others
Word Processing
Computer Programming
Heavy Machinery Operation
Spanish Fluency
Advanced Bookkeeping
Schedule Management
Systems Analysis
Automotive Repair
Environmental Cleanup
Mathematics
Accounting
Medical Coding
Writing
Data Analysis
Carpentry
Landscaping
Search Engine Optimization
Paid Online Traffic
Website Design
Conversion Testing
Electrical Engineering
Problem Solving
Adaptability
Collaboration
Strong Work Ethic
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Self-Confidence
Handling Pressure
Leadership
Creativity
Decision Making
Negotiation
Motivation
Networking
Conflict Resolution
Customer Service
Business Etiquette
Planning
Adaptability
 Other
Experience
 If you have any other experience that

is relevant to the job offer – show it!

 Ideal References
Get a minimum of 3 references - people who can
attest to your work habits, skills, and
accomplishments
Current or past employer(s)/supervisor(s)
Inform reference of your career objective and give
them a copy of your resume
 Professors
 Advisors
 Coaches
 Internship, field experience, or community
service supervisor
What are the reasons

that a resume would

get Screened out?

 Reasons Resumes Get Screened Out

 Categories missing  Arrogant or dishonest

 Unclear objective  Poor physical layout
 Wrong job target  Too long, short, or
 Generic and condensed
unfocused  Wordy, misspellings,
 Lacks relevant poor grammar
experience/education  Lengthy phrases,
 Explains job sentences, and
descriptions not paragraphs
accomplishments  Irrelevant information
 Hard to understand  Time gaps
 Homework
1. Following our guidelines write your resume
 Targetit to your preferred job position
and employer
 Ifyou don't have work experience think how
you could change this
 Ifyou don't have any projects, start a project
(e.g. open-source in GitHub or Google Code)
 E.g. create your own web site
 Find people who can write endorsements for
you 58
 Writing a
Resume

Question
s?
Thank
You!