Resume Writing Tips

1. A resume refresher doesn't need to be painful. And your efforts could pay off with big dividends. Resume Writing Tips

2. Objectives • Format your Resume • Use proper Language/Key Words • Leverage Best Practices 2

3. Formatting • Use resume designs that grab attention • Don’t use unique fonts or formats • Stick with a simple format to so it is easy to read • Arial • Times New Roman • Professional contact information • Avoid using inappropriate email address • i.e. – sexyhotone@gmail.com • Be consistent with your font size for titles and headings • Name and headings should be 14 to 16 • Content information should be 10 to 12 (depending on font style)

4. Formatting • Use white space liberally • Create at least one-inch margins on your resume • Leave blank space between sections of the resume's text so information can be easily seen • Use bold and italics sparingly -- avoid underlining • It's OK to use some bold and italics in your resume text • Bold job titles • Italicize subheadings can be used within each section • Underlining -- don't. Studies show that underlined text is difficult to read.

5. Formatting • Use bullet points to emphasize skills and accomplishments • Bullets make it easier for employers to scan your resume quickly • Bullet points grab the reader's eye and show key points you want to make. • For example: • Increased student organization membership by 25 percent. • Trained five new employees in restaurant operations

6. Language/Key Words • Do I need an Objective section? • While it's important for your resume to include a clear career goal, you don't have to convey it through an Objective section. The majority of job seekers may incorporate their career goals into a Qualifications Summary instead. • Entry-level workers must have an objective because their goals may not be clearly defined by their work history alone • Example, a candidate led her qualifications summary as follows: • Talented and dependable Administrative Assistant, skilled in all aspects of office management within nonprofit environments. Her summary continued to relay her key qualifications for an administrative position, but her introductory line enabled hiring managers to immediately recognize her goal. If you are on a steady career track, incorporating your objective into a summary sends the message "this is who I am," rather than "this is who I'd like to be when I grow up”.

7. Language/Key Words • Tips for writing your own objective summary • Focus on how you would benefit the employer, not on how the employer would benefit you. Stay away from summaries that state your working preferences, such as "seeking a team-oriented environment that fosters professional development.“ • Don't be vague. Steer clear from statements that say nothing substantial about your career goal (e.g., "seeking a challenging position with potential for growth and advancement“). • Keep it concise and targeted. Hiring managers often sort through hundreds of resumes to fill one job opening. Make it easy on them by keeping your summary short and to the point. The best summaries contain a desired job title or target. • If you have more than one career goal, create a resume for each summary statement. Remember, you can store up to five resumes on Monster.

8. Language/Key Words • When is a formal objective required? • Entry-level workers must incorporate objectives. Goals may not be clearly defined by their work history alone. • If targeting a particular position, add a formal objective statement and reference the job opening. Hiring manager will see you took time to customize your resume and the opportunity is important to you. • Sample Objectives: • Entry-Level Workers: “Dedicated Wilson graduate pursuing a customer service position.” • Targeting a Specific Position: “Elementary teacher for ABC School District.”

9. Language/Key Words • Keep your resume concise • Avoid lengthy descriptions • Average recruiter scans resume for 10-15 seconds when deciding who to call • Have multiple resumes tailored to different opportunities to ensure you are highlighting the most relevant skills for the job for which you are applying • Analyze specific job description and identify key words • Use these keywords in your resume • You will generate more interest by using keywords that an employer is seeking

10. Language/Key Words • Quantify experience wherever possible • Cite numerical figures to demonstrate progress/accomplishments attributed directly to your work • Monetary budgets/funds saved • Time periods/efficiency improved • Lines of code written/debugged • Impress Recruiter/Hiring Managers by using "PAR" statements. • PAR - Problem-Action-Results • Problem/Issue that existed • Action took to resolve problem/issue • Result

11. Language/Key Words • Begin sentences with action verbs • Portray yourself as: • Active • Uses their brain • Gets things done Use present tense for current role, use past tense for previous roles • Minimize usage of articles (the, an, a) • Be selective when using "I" or other pronouns to identify yourself • Don't go too far back in your work history. • 2-5 years is usually enough unless your "juiciest" work experience is from farther back

12. Best Practices • Note affiliations, associations, certifications, training, special skill • List education; do not provide actual dates of attendance (school / degree only) • Resume should not exceed 2 pages

13. Best Practices • Have a trusted friend or teacher review your resume • Proofread! Your resume should never have errors, grammatical weaknesses, unusual punctuation, and inconsistent capitalizations. • Remember you don't have to present your entire work history! You can simply label that part of your resume "Recent Work History" or "Relevant Work History" and then describe only the last 2-5 years of your experience.

14. Best Practices • Don’t over reach a job opportunity – if you don’t have the minimum required skills in some shape or form you probably won’t get a call to interview • Do not include salary requirements on your resume; if a recruiter or hiring manager receives a large batch of applicants this can be an immediate eliminator if the applicant's expectations far exceed the amount budgeted for the role • If salary requirements are requested you should only include it in your cover letter • Don't sell yourself short. Your experiences are worthy for review by Hiring Managers. Treat your resume as an advertisement for you.

15. Activity • Revisit your resume and make further edits based on these best practices you just learned • Be prepared to share your resume with the class

16. Questions?