Then, take a look at the article, "Writing a Resume That Shouts 'Hire Me'" by Phyllis Korkki, and answer the five questions that accompany it.There are three sample resumes that you will read--one of the article questions refers to these resumes.
Next class, Wednesday, 19 September, you will critique sample resumes and begin your own. We will also talk more about key terms, or action words,
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Career Development
Organizer
Complete this organizer to gather information you need to
complete your resume or application.
1. Contact
Information (Use for both application and resume): Someone reading your resume
needs basic information about you, including your name, address, and telephone
number.
Name:
_______________________________________________________________
first middle last
Address_____________________________________________________________
number street apartment
Telephone
number__________________________________________________
2. Career and
Education Plans (include on the resume): An employer would want to know about
your career and education plans and goals. This can be a brief statement in
your resume. You can also expect current as well as future and long-term career
goals to be a topic for a job interview.
A. Job or Career Plans: Examples: become a medical secretary,
electrician, machinist, carpenter,
computer programmer, store manager, teacher, nurse, scientist, auto mechanic
1.
Short-range plans:
2.
Long-range plans:
B. Education Plans: Examples: complete high school, two-year
college, four-year college, graduate
school, career-technical program, job training program, military training
1.
Education goal:
2. Specific
description of education plans, including potential major if known:
2. Education
(use on both application and resume)
A.
Schools attended: List all schools, starting with the most recent and ending
with junior
high/ middle school.
Dates
Attended School City/State
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
B.
Course of study: Program of study in high school (examples: career-technical program,
honors program, music major, etc)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Work
Experience (Use on both application and resume): List jobs you have had in
order, beginning with the most recent. For each one, indicate the
employer and dates of employment, as well as the skills and knowledge you
gained in that position. Indicate both full- and part- time jobs. Also include
work that you have done on your own, such as child care, tutoring, mentoring,
etc.
A. Paid
work experiences
1. Job
title_______________________________________________________________
Type: Full-time________ Part-time________ Summer_______
Employer_____________________________________________________________________
Job
description/
responsibilities________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Dates
employed _________________________ to ______________________________
month/year month/year
Skills and
knowledge gained through this job___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Job
title_______________________________________________________________
Type: Full-time________ Part-time________ Summer_______
Employer_____________________________________________________________________
Job
description/
responsibilities_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Dates
employed _______________________________ to ___________________________
month/year month/year
Skills and
knowledge gained through this job___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Job
title_______________________________________________________________
Type: Full-time________ Part-time________ Summer_______
Employer_____________________________________________________________________
Job
description/ responsibilities_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Dates
employed _________________________ to ______________________________
month/year month/year
Skills and
knowledge gained through this job__________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
B. Unpaid
work experiences
1. Name of activity or
task__________________________________________________
Organization______________________________________________________________
Duties or
responsibilities___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Skills and
knowledge gained ________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Name of activity or
task__________________________________________________
Organization_________________________________________________________________
Duties or
responsibilities___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Skills and
knowledge gained ________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Name of activity or
task__________________________________________________
Organization_________________________________________________________________
Duties or
responsibilities___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Skills and
knowledge gained _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Special
Interests, Activities, and Achievements (Include on application and resume):
List and describe courses and subject areas that are interesting to you, as
well as any other special interests. Also, briefly describe your activities,
awards, and special achievements in school.
A. Special
interests: Examples: photography, painting, swimming, reading, dance, art,
music, travel, etc
B.
Activities: Examples: clubs, teams, journalism, yearbook, student
government, etc
Achievements: Examples:
special awards, scholarships, certificates, National Honor Society, Dean's List/
Honor Roll, competitions, etc
6. Skills,
Strengths, and Abilities (Include on application and resume): Information from
the previous sections of the organizer may be used here to summarize the
skills, knowledge, and abilities you have gained through your experience and
activities.
A. Skills: Examples: office
skills, computer skills, mechanical skills, etc
B. Strengths: Examples: leadership,
punctuality, reliability, etc
C. Abilities: Examples: artistic
ability, writing ability, ability to speak more than one language, etc
7. References
(Include on application. Provide notation on resume): References are people who
can give information about you and your abilities. Try to select people who
know you from different activities. Be sure to ask the individuals for their
permission to use them as references. For each reference, you will need the
person's name, job title, organization, address and phone number. The notation,
“References available upon request” is often included on the resume instead of
listing individual references. However, you need to have the list available in
case it is requested.
List at least three people who could write a recommendation
for you:
Name, address, telephone number
1.
________________________________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________________________________
The Search
Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’
IT’S tempting to think of a résumé as a low-maintenance aspect of
your job search. Just list where you worked, what you did and where you
went to school, attach that to each application and press the button.
In fact, though, you have considerable flexibility in how you structure your résumé. The decisions you make about what it says and how it looks can affect whether you get the job you really want, or get a job at all.
A résumé is a marketing document that “can serve as a magnet to draw job opportunities to you,” said Susan Ireland, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Résumé.” That’s largely because more résumés are now on job boards and social media sites, and are included on company databases, she said.
Often, people place too much emphasis on the parts of past jobs that they hated — and get new jobs they end up hating, too, she said. “Your résumé is about your future,” she said, “it’s not about your past,” so stress experiences that are most relevant to the position you aspire to hold.
Let’s say you were in a data-entry position but want to move into project coordination. Give your true job title, she said, but you can highlight the parts of your job that involved projects.
You aren’t obliged to list every single job you have ever held. If a job is 15 or more years in the past, stop and consider how much it’s worth mentioning, or how much space to give it, said Wendy S. Enelow, a résumé writer for executives and co-author of “No-Nonsense Résumés.”
“Your résumé is not an autobiographical essay of your entire life,” she said. If the sales job you had 20 years ago does not relate to where you are headed, leave it out or summarize it very briefly, she said.
In listing your most relevant experience, quantify your achievements whenever possible, Ms. Enelow said. For example, you could write “automated internal record-keeping processes, resulting in a 27 percent reduction in annual operating costs,” she said.
People with gaps in their recent work history often balk at a résumé that lists their latest jobs first, thinking that a “functional” type, stressing skills rather than dates, will work in their favor. But in most cases, job seekers should go the reverse-chronological route.
Most hiring managers become suspicious when they see a résumé without prominent dates, Ms. Ireland said. Try to list things like your community service, your volunteer work or other activities to fill in gaps in your recent work history, she said.
Many companies use software to weed out unqualified applicants. Pay attention to key words, repeating some defining terms from the job description. For example, if you are applying to be a solar energy engineer, you could include the words “solar,” “installation” and “photovoltaic (PV),” Ms. Ireland said.
Be concise in the job-objective or summary part of the résumé, which comes after your name and contact information. If you are seeking a position similar to one you have held, simply state your professional title, Ms. Ireland said (for example, user interface architect). Otherwise, indicate the job you want next or emphasize the skills that the job involves.
Tweak your résumé when necessary. Be sensitive to wording differences among industries. For example, banks have customers, while libraries have patrons and hospitals have patients, Ms. Ireland said.
Generally, unless you are a very recent graduate, list education after work experience. The older you are, the less necessary it is to list the year you graduated, Ms. Enelow said.
Make sure your résumé is easy to read, both on the screen and on paper. Even though most résumés are sent via e-mail, many H.R. people still print out the attachments, Ms. Ireland said.
Résumés are shorter than they were even five years ago, Ms. Enelow said, perhaps as a result of social-media behavior like 140-character tweeting. Keep them “tight, lean and clean,” she said. Ms. Ireland warns against the “big cement block” effect, meaning the use of dense paragraphs. A paragraph should be no longer than three lines, she said.
Make good use of white space, point size, boldface and bullets. But if you start seeing a laundry list of bullets, group them into clusters under skills headings so they are more readable, Ms. Enelow said.
And if you are a mid- or late-career professional, don’t feel that you must keep your résumé to one page.
Many companies have older versions of Microsoft Word, so make sure that your résumé attachment is compatible with them, Ms. Ireland said. It’s also wise to have printed versions ready, to hand out at interviews.
Finally, have someone review your work. If you need a complete makeover, the services of professional résumé writers may cost from $100 up to thousands of dollars, Ms. Enelow said.
But even an extra set of eyes from a friend, family member or career center employee can be enough to set a wayward résumé on the right course.
-->
In fact, though, you have considerable flexibility in how you structure your résumé. The decisions you make about what it says and how it looks can affect whether you get the job you really want, or get a job at all.
A résumé is a marketing document that “can serve as a magnet to draw job opportunities to you,” said Susan Ireland, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Résumé.” That’s largely because more résumés are now on job boards and social media sites, and are included on company databases, she said.
Often, people place too much emphasis on the parts of past jobs that they hated — and get new jobs they end up hating, too, she said. “Your résumé is about your future,” she said, “it’s not about your past,” so stress experiences that are most relevant to the position you aspire to hold.
Let’s say you were in a data-entry position but want to move into project coordination. Give your true job title, she said, but you can highlight the parts of your job that involved projects.
You aren’t obliged to list every single job you have ever held. If a job is 15 or more years in the past, stop and consider how much it’s worth mentioning, or how much space to give it, said Wendy S. Enelow, a résumé writer for executives and co-author of “No-Nonsense Résumés.”
“Your résumé is not an autobiographical essay of your entire life,” she said. If the sales job you had 20 years ago does not relate to where you are headed, leave it out or summarize it very briefly, she said.
In listing your most relevant experience, quantify your achievements whenever possible, Ms. Enelow said. For example, you could write “automated internal record-keeping processes, resulting in a 27 percent reduction in annual operating costs,” she said.
People with gaps in their recent work history often balk at a résumé that lists their latest jobs first, thinking that a “functional” type, stressing skills rather than dates, will work in their favor. But in most cases, job seekers should go the reverse-chronological route.
Most hiring managers become suspicious when they see a résumé without prominent dates, Ms. Ireland said. Try to list things like your community service, your volunteer work or other activities to fill in gaps in your recent work history, she said.
Many companies use software to weed out unqualified applicants. Pay attention to key words, repeating some defining terms from the job description. For example, if you are applying to be a solar energy engineer, you could include the words “solar,” “installation” and “photovoltaic (PV),” Ms. Ireland said.
Be concise in the job-objective or summary part of the résumé, which comes after your name and contact information. If you are seeking a position similar to one you have held, simply state your professional title, Ms. Ireland said (for example, user interface architect). Otherwise, indicate the job you want next or emphasize the skills that the job involves.
Tweak your résumé when necessary. Be sensitive to wording differences among industries. For example, banks have customers, while libraries have patrons and hospitals have patients, Ms. Ireland said.
Generally, unless you are a very recent graduate, list education after work experience. The older you are, the less necessary it is to list the year you graduated, Ms. Enelow said.
Make sure your résumé is easy to read, both on the screen and on paper. Even though most résumés are sent via e-mail, many H.R. people still print out the attachments, Ms. Ireland said.
Résumés are shorter than they were even five years ago, Ms. Enelow said, perhaps as a result of social-media behavior like 140-character tweeting. Keep them “tight, lean and clean,” she said. Ms. Ireland warns against the “big cement block” effect, meaning the use of dense paragraphs. A paragraph should be no longer than three lines, she said.
Make good use of white space, point size, boldface and bullets. But if you start seeing a laundry list of bullets, group them into clusters under skills headings so they are more readable, Ms. Enelow said.
And if you are a mid- or late-career professional, don’t feel that you must keep your résumé to one page.
Many companies have older versions of Microsoft Word, so make sure that your résumé attachment is compatible with them, Ms. Ireland said. It’s also wise to have printed versions ready, to hand out at interviews.
Finally, have someone review your work. If you need a complete makeover, the services of professional résumé writers may cost from $100 up to thousands of dollars, Ms. Enelow said.
But even an extra set of eyes from a friend, family member or career center employee can be enough to set a wayward résumé on the right course.
“Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’”
Guided questions
1. What does Susan Ireland mean when she
says that the resume is “about your future, not about your past”? How can an
applicant reflect that idea in his or her resume?
2. What are “functional” and “reverse chronological”
resume formats? How can a person best
smooth over employment history gaps?
3. How should
candidates strategically and effectively use key terms (action words) and why?
4. What other tips about a resume's look,
feel and function do the experts interviewed for the article provide?
5. Which of the resumes that we looked at
meet these experts' criteria for effective resumes?
Why?
When you are finished, write on the back of this paper what
you think are the five most important points of the article.
Sample resume 1:
FirstName LastName
6 Pine Street, Arlington, VA 12333
home: 555.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: phjones@vacapp.com
6 Pine Street, Arlington, VA 12333
home: 555.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: phjones@vacapp.com
Education
Arlington High School, Arlington, Virginia
2006 – 2010
Arlington High School, Arlington, Virginia
2006 – 2010
Experience
Sales Associate, The Retail Store
June 2008 – Present
• Maintain and restock inventory.
• Provide customer service.
• Operate computerized cash register system.
Sales Associate, The Retail Store
June 2008 – Present
• Maintain and restock inventory.
• Provide customer service.
• Operate computerized cash register system.
Child
Care
2007 - Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.
2007 - Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.
Achievements
• National Honor Society:
2008, 2009, 2010
• Academic Honor Roll: 2006
- 2010
Volunteer Experience
• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Arlington Literacy Program
• Run for Life
Interests / Activities
• Member of Arlington High School Tennis Team
• Girl Scout
• Piano
• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Arlington Literacy Program
• Run for Life
Interests / Activities
• Member of Arlington High School Tennis Team
• Girl Scout
• Piano
Computer Skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet
Sample resume 2:
First Name Last Name 6 Elm Avenue, Stockler, CA 91733
Home: 111.111.1111 Cell: 766.444.4444
petals@flowershop.com
OBJECTIVE Interested in a paid summer camp working up to 15 hours per week.
EDUCATION
Pepperona Central High School, Pepperona LA
High School Diploma anticipated in May 2010
Sophomore, GPA 3.84
Electives: Art, Culture & Foods, Independent Living, Family Advocacy
Activities: Band and Stage Crew
SPECIAL SKILLS & INTERSTS
VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Stocklerbridge Hospital, Stockler CA Ongoing
Pediatric Ward Volunteer
Volunteer Camp Counselor
Planning to study Psychology or Music as a major in college
Join the Pep Squad in Junior year
Sample Resume 3:
-->
Home: 111.111.1111 Cell: 766.444.4444
petals@flowershop.com
OBJECTIVE Interested in a paid summer camp working up to 15 hours per week.
EDUCATION
Pepperona Central High School, Pepperona LA
High School Diploma anticipated in May 2010
Sophomore, GPA 3.84
Electives: Art, Culture & Foods, Independent Living, Family Advocacy
Activities: Band and Stage Crew
SPECIAL SKILLS & INTERSTS
- Love to work with children
- Can create attractive posters and flyers using graphic software
- Able to follow written instructions
- Good with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Can do internet research using MS Explorer and FireFox
- Enjoy biographies of famous people and plays
- Travelling with family
- Manage family recycling assignments
VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Stocklerbridge Hospital, Stockler CA Ongoing
Pediatric Ward Volunteer
- Read, watch television or play games with children
- Make sure the play area is neat and toys are put away after use
- Run errands or do assignments from staff
Volunteer Camp Counselor
- Led arts, crafts, sports, games, camping and hobby workshops for groups of 8-10 year olds
- Monitored groups of up to seven children on weekly field trips to the zoo, water parks and on walking tours
- Made sure campers were dropped off and picked up safely
Planning to study Psychology or Music as a major in college
Join the Pep Squad in Junior year
Sample Resume 3:
|
Lompoc
|
733-1234 Hotchick@msn.hotmail.com
|
Debi Greer
Objective
|
Introductory position
leading into neurosurgury
|
Experience
|
2006-2007 Arbor Shoes South Ridge,
CA
Shoe Sales
Fit
people into shoes, sold shoes, Maintenance and cleaning
|
Mrs. Smith 688-3456
Babysitter
·
Watched two kids while theyre mom worked
|
|
· 2007-2008
|
|
Education
|
Expected Grad date: 2009 Lompoc High School Lompoc, CA.
·
Career Pathway in business and accounting
·
Honor Roll one time
·
Los Padres Elementary School – student of the
month in Februayr in 3rd greade
|
Interests
|
Video Games, texting,
hanging with friends.
|
References
|
None
|
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