Career Services presents Recipe for a Winning Resume

Career Services presents Recipe for a Winning Resume LEAD Program Requirement - Spring 2009 Facilitated by Daphne Walker

Workshop Preview l Review of packet l General DO’s and DON’T’s resume tips l Tools: Internet, Resume Templates, Optimal. Resume l Hands-on step-by-step resume creation l Guidelines for follow-up assignment l Wrap-up and evaluation

Steps for Resume Preparation l Plan: Consider your audience and your purpose. l Organize: Review the resume checklist, outline the information, then determine the format. l Create: Write a first draft using samples and templates. l E-mail Resume Draft: sealey@champlain. edu for review by a Career Services Advisor l Revise: The Career Advisor will review the resume and e-mail you a draft with suggested editing or schedule an appointment.

Purpose of a Resume l Resume is a brochure promoting a product —YOU. l As your first contact with the employer, it must create a good first impression l Used by employers as a screening tool. l Highlight relevant qualifications and accomplishments l Should be well-organized, factual, clear, eye -catching, easy to read, and truthful l GOAL: Get an interview!!!!!

What a Resume Tells an Employer l Type of opportunity you seek l Who you are l What you know l What you have done It helps the employer get a sense of your potential as an employee.

RESUME LAYOUT – 30 Second Test organized, concise, consistent, eye-catching, and truthful l 1 - 2 pages in length l Use easy-to-read fonts, white space and bolding for emphasis l Use bullet statements or short paragraphs l Start sentences with vivid action verbs l Use descriptive adjectives and accomplishment statements l Begin with most important material first l Quantify your experience l Avoid personal pronouns

RESUME LAYOUT l Be neat and error free l Proofread for grammar, punctuation, spelling l Be consistent in formatting/similar “treatment” for like information: numbers and dates uniform margins - align text and dates - grammatically parallel Business names/titles l Use quality printer and neutral bond paper l Coordinate color paper for your resume, cover letter, envelopes

What Categories do Employers Expect to See on a Resume?

Key Resume Categories l Personal contact information l Career Objective (optional) l Qualifications summary, special competencies/skills (optional) l Education (degree, major, special training) l Study abroad l Relevant paid or unpaid work experience l Other work experience l Community service l Professional affiliations l Interests/hobbies (optional) l References/portfolio

Resume Critique l Pretend that you are the employer and critique the resume in your packet looking at such areas as: Main categories, career objective, education and experience highlights, dates, layout, grammar, spelling, tenses, order of the resume, consistency, fonts, content

What are the reasons that a resume would get Screened out?

Reasons Resumes Get Screened Out l Categories missing l Unclear objective l Wrong job target l Generic and unfocused l Lacks relevant experience/education l Explains job descriptions not accomplishments l Hard to understand l Irrelevant information l Time gaps l Boastful or dishonest l Slick, gimmicky l Poor physical layout l Too long, short, or condensed l Wordy, misspellings, poor grammar l Lengthy phrases, sentences, and paragraphs l Poorly reproduced

AVOID IN LAYOUT l Too many fonts, fancy fonts, wordiness, long paragraphs l Personal data l Abbreviations except States l Full justification option for text l Too many UPPERCASE LETTERS, underlining, and italics l Empty words – various, duties included l Emphasizing what does not exist (in other words, be truthful!)

Sample Resume Headings John A. Smith John. Smith@mymail. champlain. edu 123 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (Website URL) 802/999 -9999 (IM Address) John A. Smith 123 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 999 -9999 John. Smith@mymail. champlain. edu (Website URL, IM address)

Career Objective A Resume without a Job Target is like a book without a title! • Beginning of the resume or in cover letter • Target it to a specific job or employer if possible • Keep it concise, avoid unnecessary words • Avoid the “all purpose” type of objective

Sample Objectives üEnthusiastic candidate for summer Graphic Design internship offered by Gardener’s Supply Company. üSeek a Network Administrator position with Champlain College. ü 2009 Bachelor’s Degree Graduate eager to be considered for full-time Restaurant Manager position with Applebee’s International. üSecondary or middle school position in science or math. Qualified and interested in coaching track, volleyball, or swimming. üCandidate for a Police Officer position at Burlington Police Department.

Summary of Qualifications May Include l Functional specialty/title l Overall picture of your qualifications l Years of experience in the field l Certifications, licenses l Accomplishments/recognitions/results l Key talents/special knowledge related to target job l Language skills l Technical and special skills

Examples of Qualifications §Effective communication and customer service skills §Skill-set(s) related to your career concentration §Computer expertise (including industry software) §Willingness to work as part of a team §Project management and problem-solving skills §Financial savvy (P&L, cost control, budgeting) §Multi-tasking ability and flexibility §Organizational skills and attention to detail §Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure §Networking ability (to cultivate new business, for example) §Leadership or supervisory experience

Items under Education Take just a minute to: l. List education-related pieces of information that an employer might like to see. l. What are the selling points that would differentiate you from other students?

Education l Before work experience for recent graduates in reverse chronological order l Institution name, location (city, ST), graduation date l Dates (month/year, i. e. , 1/09 - 5/09) l Degrees, major(s) l Licensures, certification, endorsements l Include special training, relevant workshops l High school: Include high school only if lots of relevant accomplishments or going back to your home town

Educational Accomplishments l Honors: Graduated Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, GPA above 3. 0 class rank above 3. 5, scholarships, awards l Relevant academic projects, special training, study-abroad l Extra-curricular, athletic and leadership activities l Club memberships and committee work l Number of hours worked to help finance your education

Presentation of Your Education Credentials, Campus Involvement and Academic Achievements CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE, Burlington, VT Bachelor’s Degree, Hospitality Industry Management Anticipated: May 2010 • Maintain a 3. 5 GPA (4. 0 scale) while working 15 -20 hours a week. • Dean’s List all semesters. • 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 Rennes, France, to expand my knowledge and develop an appreciation for the culture of another country. Study abroad may be under its own category.

Internet Research for Resume Prep l Google a Job Description for a (put in a job title) and copy and paste into word. l Google ONET or go to: ONETcenter. org - Under find occupations, type in key word search for a (put in job title) l Google Indeed or go to: http: //Indeed. com - What: Put in a (job title). Where: Boston, MA

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE BEFORE NON-RELEVANT EXPERIENCE l Job title, employer, location (city, state), dates l Reverse order/relevant before non-relevant l Include relevant paid and volunteer experience (FT, PT, summer): retail sales, administrative assistant, home childcare, camp counselor, tutor, Special Olympics Volunteer l Group similar jobs with one job description l Use action verbs/industry jargon to describe experience in specific achievement oriented terms

Evidence of Achievements l. Not just job descriptions, but rather your skills and contributions ¡Advancements ¡Bonuses ¡Performance Evaluations ¡Recognitions ¡Awards/ accomplishments §Emphasize achievements with concrete, measurable examples §Use quotations and testimonials to demonstrate accomplishments

Sample Description for Campus Job Front Desk Associate CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES, Burlington, VT hrs/wk 1/09 - 5/09, 15 l Promoted to Technical Assistant after six months due to hard work and proven ability. l Serve as primary point of contact for students, alumni, and business recruiters. l Trusted to manage the office alone daily; constantly relied upon to assist advisors with personal projects. l Used Adobe products to create and coordinate all marketing materials for campus-wide Graduate School Fair, Grad Chat, Career Services Logo, and the annual Job Fair. These included student communications and mailing materials. l Created career campaign bulletin boards each semester four locations around campus. l Tracked evaluations and assessment results using both Microsoft Excel and Access database systems.

Sample Description for Campus Job Champlain College, Burlington, VT Phonathon Ambassador January-March 2008 • Developed communications and public relations skills during three-month participation in College fundraising effort. • Informed alumni and friends of the College about options for making donations to the Annual Support-a-Student Campaign and actively solicited contributions. • Received special recognition at the end of the campaign with a College commendation and pay bonus for excellent attendance and for achieving the highest number of individual donations.

Non-Relevant Experience l Include non-related jobs and volunteer work if they help create a picture of stability, but don’t describe in detail l Concentrate on skills you developed that could relate to your career objective l Include: promotions, management and supervisory responsibilities, customer service, etc. l Omit jobs that were very brief

Professional Affiliations, Interests, or Community Service l List memberships and responsibilities that relate to your career objective l Demonstrates that you are keeping up to date in your profession l Include organizations that show community involvement l Special interests, travel

Testimonials: Who might be on your reference list?

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

May Include on the Bottom of Resume or Attach Reference Contacts with Your Resume l Name, title, company, address, phone # l Or indicate at the bottom of the resume that: ¡References are Available on Request… References Available… References will be Furnished upon Request (optional)

Sample Presentation of Reference Information John A. Smith John. Smith@mymail. champlain. edu 123 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 802/999 -9999 References Mr. Charles Amey, III Instructor, Hospitality Industry Management Program Champlain College P. O. Box 670 Amey@champlain. edu Burlington, VT 05402 -0670 (802) 651 -5988 Mr. Milton Smith Field Experience Supervisor ABC Conference Center 208 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 MSmith@ABCConferences. org (802) 888 -8888 As a general rule, have at least three references.

Top Tips to Remember: Clear, Consistent, and Concise l Proof… proof! l Write your own resume! Speak to your audience l Easy to read l Well organized l Honest l Dynamic word choice l Flawless l Update frequently

Resume…always changing Be Strategic in Enhancing your Resume!!!! l Resume development is on ongoing process. l As a second-year student, you are just beginning the process. l Enhance your experience, qualifications, and leadership qualities over the next two years. l Keep a folder of your accomplishments. l Update your resume regularly.

REMINDER for Next Steps l Thoroughly review workshop handouts. l Prepare a rough draft of your resume following resume content checklist utilizing a template from the workshop or Optimal. Resume. l Once you have completed your resume check off each required section against the LEAD Resume Assessment to make sure you have fulfilled all the criteria. l E-mail your resume and completed LEAD Resume Assessment to Sealey@champlain. edu by April 20 th for review by a Career Advisor l Make your final edits based on feedback and resubmit to Career Advisor.

Build your resume as an investment in your future … l! … Your LEAD Peer Advisor and Career Services will support you on your journey to success!