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Writing Effective Resumes

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Writing Effective Resumes

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    1. Writing Effective Resumes Lynne Kartsakalis, PHR Paco Valencia, MSOD NIH Work/Life Center

    2. Opening New Doors Customize and focus the resume for the job Different resumes for different types of jobs USAJobs.com allows for 5 separate resumes Tailor a resume to match the job

    3. Resume Writing - Competencies Describe and illustrate core competencies Know the agency’s list of competencies Use titles or headings that match the job Highlight all transferrable skill sets Before : After : Accounting / Recordkeeping Management of A/R and A/P Accounts Administrative Departmental Administration / Recordkeeping Computer Skills Computerized Accounting ApplicationsBefore : After :Accounting / Recordkeeping Management of A/R and A/P Accounts Administrative Departmental Administration / Recordkeeping Computer Skills Computerized Accounting Applications

    4. Side by Side Comparison Read the “Entire” job notice Review questionnaires or screening surveys Recognize “KEY” words and competencies Identify the job qualifications Consider any “Implied” characteristics Cross reference your skills Consider other experiences …outside of work List major accomplishments …not just job duties “Tailor” your resume to match “Quantify” results and use numbers often

    5. The next 30 Seconds If you met the boss in the elevator… what will they remember about you in 30 seconds? Brevity should be the focus… be concise and succinct Pay attention to “KEY” words and filter your resume like a book editor The next job depends on 30 seconds …make a good first impression!

    6. Your Work Experience – Draft 1 Experience is your “Main Ingredient” …make it appetizing A first draft should be a “Life Story” Write it out first, Reflect on it Later Organize your thoughts… a “Unique” picture of capabilities Plan on multiple drafts… Practice makes Perfect! Quantify results as often as possible (How MANY, How BIG or How MUCH)

    7. Writing Accomplishments Specific, measureable, and realistic… S.M.A.R.T. Goal Principle Accomplishments accentuate job skills and demonstrate qualifications Set yourself apart from the others… describe job challenges and show your successes Use numbers to highlight actions Think in terms of “Saving time”… “Saving Money”… “Making Money”… or “Meeting Goals”

    8. Ten Ingredients to a Better Resume Follow the “Resume Recipe” Rule Use a bulleted style to make your resume “reader-friendly” Match your resume to the job opportunity Use strong, action verbs to describe your experiences List most recent/relevant experience first, in order of priority Make sure there are NO spelling or grammar errors Know the mission of the organization(s) for which you apply Revise it regularly … you are acquiring new skills everyday Be neat, concise, and remember to check verb tenses Let someone else read it…get constructive feedback Employers screen resumes between 2.5 and 20 seconds. In the public sector, resumes are screened online using key words.You can use bullets in “USAJobs”, but you must cut and paste the content from a “MS Word” or compatible document into the system. Ingredients Rule – Set forth by Donald Asher, says information in a resume should be listed in order of importance to the reader. For example, the most important might be your title and position, so list that first. USAJobs leads you through this process. Never use phrases like “Duties include” or “Responsible for” on your resume – your resume should be “accomplishments” driven. Accomplishments-oriented language tells the employer how you’ve gone above and beyond; shows you have taken initiative and made your jobs your own. Clutter includes – unnecessary dates, parentheses, “References available upon request” and the filler words – “a”, an” and “the”…resumes are not written in sentence form, but in “concise” phrases. Be consistent with verbs: Supervised inventory; Completely oversaw profit and loss aspects of operations”. Don’t spend a lot of time describing skills or activities that you are not interested in doing in the future. Focus your resume content on describing duties and accomplishments using skills, knowledge, and abilities that you prefer to use frequently or can apply consistently in an effective way. Sure, it’s nice to have a one-page resume, but it might be impractical and nearly impossible to accomplish. If you have significant experience, you will need more than one page to describe the breadth of your work and results. Avoid having a lot of information on one page and only a little on a second page. If you run into this issue, try adjusting the margins, use a smaller font, or stack your headings on top of each section. Show the employer at a glance what you are good at and what you want to do. One way is to provide an “Objective” statement or a section called Summary of Qualifications”. The general rule for listing past experience is to list employment for over the past 10 years – also, don’t put the date if your college graduation was more than 10 years ago. Spell out any acronyms you think could be questionable and explain any terms you think the resume reader might not understand.Employers screen resumes between 2.5 and 20 seconds. In the public sector, resumes are screened online using key words.You can use bullets in “USAJobs”, but you must cut and paste the content from a “MS Word” or compatible document into the system. Ingredients Rule – Set forth by Donald Asher, says information in a resume should be listed in order of importance to the reader. For example, the most important might be your title and position, so list that first. USAJobs leads you through this process. Never use phrases like “Duties include” or “Responsible for” on your resume – your resume should be “accomplishments” driven. Accomplishments-oriented language tells the employer how you’ve gone above and beyond; shows you have taken initiative and made your jobs your own. Clutter includes – unnecessary dates, parentheses, “References available upon request” and the filler words – “a”, an” and “the”…resumes are not written in sentence form, but in “concise” phrases. Be consistent with verbs: Supervised inventory; Completely oversaw profit and loss aspects of operations”. Don’t spend a lot of time describing skills or activities that you are not interested in doing in the future. Focus your resume content on describing duties and accomplishments using skills, knowledge, and abilities that you prefer to use frequently or can apply consistently in an effective way. Sure, it’s nice to have a one-page resume, but it might be impractical and nearly impossible to accomplish. If you have significant experience, you will need more than one page to describe the breadth of your work and results. Avoid having a lot of information on one page and only a little on a second page. If you run into this issue, try adjusting the margins, use a smaller font, or stack your headings on top of each section. Show the employer at a glance what you are good at and what you want to do. One way is to provide an “Objective” statement or a section called Summary of Qualifications”. The general rule for listing past experience is to list employment for over the past 10 years – also, don’t put the date if your college graduation was more than 10 years ago. Spell out any acronyms you think could be questionable and explain any terms you think the resume reader might not understand.

    9. Resources and References Resume tips: http://www.jobstar.org USAJobs: http://www.usajobs.com Resume Tutor: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume Resume writing for Federal employment: http://www.resume-place.com Office of Personnel Management: http://www.opm.gov Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm America’s InfoNet: http://www.acinet.org/acinet e-Resume Writing: http://www.ersumewriting.com Master Resume Writer’s Secrets Revealed: http://www.liglobal.com/b_c/career/res.shtml Quintessential Careers: http://www.quintcareers.com/printable/improving_resume.html

    10. The WLC Can Help! The NIH Work/Life Center offers free career management services to the NIH community. Call for an appointment or visit our website for more information: NIH Work/Life Center EPS, Suite 211 Tele: 301-435-1619 E-mail: wlc@od.nih.gov Website: http://hr.od.nih.gov/worklife/default.htm

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