Resumé Writing Career Development Centre 2015 2016 - Laurier Navigator
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Resumé Writing
Career Development Centre
2015 - 2016
Learning Objectives
• Understand the importance and purpose of an effective
resumé
• Understand how to create an effective resumé to
demonstrate my skills and experiences
• Know how to target a resumé by reviewing a job
description
• Become aware of the resumé resources and services
available through the Career Centre to assist in my career
planning and job search
Your resumé is your marketing
tool – and you are the feature
product!
Remember Your Audience
Your resumé is your advertisement
3 Parts of an Effective Resumé
Appearance
Part I
Structure
Appearance:
Content
- HowOrganization
does it look?
Part II - Do Iand Selection:
want to read further?
Wording:
- Is- itCan I find what I
Professional?
Does
needthe
quickly?
Effective
- information
Is the sound
necessary
Part III Resumé
RELEVANT
information and
TARGETED?
included?
Primary Goal of Your Resumé
Skills
To
demonstrate
your FIT for
the job Activities
Employer
Your
Experience
Relevant
Requirements
Education
Will the employer read your resume?
For How long?
3 steps to
screening and
making an Content Review
impression 30+ seconds
Second Look
15 seconds
First Impression 3.
5 Seconds Content
2.
1. Organization
Appearance
Don’t Let This Happen To You!
Target your resumé!
Use information obtained from
the job posting and your research
to target the content of your resumé
www.wordle.net
Part I: Appearance
Key Appearance
Components
Needs to be
attractive,
appealing,
and fit
company/
industry styleKey Appearance
Components
Have a
prominent
header with
clear
contact
informationKey Appearance
Components
Should be
easy to read,
and have
consistent
font,
size/styleKey Appearance
Components
Be sure that
your sub-
section titles
stand out
and are easy
to locateKey Appearance
Components
Be sure it is
modern and
professional;
explore layouts
to suit you &
your target
industryKey Appearance Components
Be error free!
Remember
I’m Wilfrid,
not Wilfred!Part II: Organization
Part II – Organization
Choices of structure, order and
layout impact the effectiveness
of your resumé.Targeted Organization Organize Sections to Target the Resumé Objective Profile Education Relevant Experience Additional Experience Interests
Education Reverse chronology Degree name in full, i.e., Bachelor of Arts, not BA Include name of school, city and province What about high school? What about listing courses or awards? What about the GPA?
Weighing in on Experience
Less More
Detail Detail
Focus on
transferable skills
and achievements,
not specific
tasks/dutiesOrganizing Experience
Organizing Experience
Personal Details? • Date of birth • Marital/Family Status • Disability information • Country of Origin/Citizenship • Ethnic background • Languages spoken • Religion • Gender Check out the Career Resource Centre for: • The Global Resumé and CV Guide, and • Best Resumés and CVs for International Jobs: Your Passport to the Global Job Market
Interests – Are They Interesting?
• Enthusiastic about helping youth increase their fitness level; former
soccer coach and lifeguard
• A useful collection of over 1,000 photographs of Canadian heritage
sites and geographic landscapes
• Active member of neighborhood association; co-created Canada
Day bike parade event for 30 children
• Competitive swimmer currently training for first triathlon
Write more than a word and explain the extent of your involvement
and interests so that they
distinguish you from other candidates.Additional Training
& Professional Development
• Focus on relevant training and professional development i.e.,
Certified Human Resource Professional · Career Development
Certificate
• Include seminars/lectures you attended which were not part of
course work
• May include presentations or publications (if several, create a
separate section)
This section can be listed either in a separate section or in the
Education section.Content What you say and how you say it impacts the message you are sending the potential employer There are 3 main areas that need targeting: 1. Use your Objective to focus the resumé 2. Use your Profile to provide a big picture or snap-shot summary of your qualifications 3. Evaluate how you describe your Experiences (paid and unpaid) to support your candidacy
The Objective
Should you add an objective?
• There is no agreement
• Be sure it is not generic!
• Consider using the following formula:
Identify yourself,
indicate the role for which you are applying,
select relevant experience/skills/knowledge you can
offer, and point out how you will
contribute to the goals of the position/organization.Targeted Objective
Generic To obtain a sales position with a reputable
organization
Resourceful and collaborative psychology graduate
Targeted seeking to secure the District Sales Team Lead
position in order to leverage strong relationship-
building and analytical skills to foster new clientele
in the Waterloo regionThe Profile
Is a big picture statement
• Keep bullets at a
highlight level
• Entice your reader to
view the rest of your
resumé
If you have 15 seconds to
tell your employer about
yourself, what do you want
them to know?
Consider the qualifications
of the job as ‘The Question’
and your Profile section as
‘The Answer’Profile Components 4 - 6 point form summary statements: • Experience Summary – Relevant, targeted information about your background that is connected to the position • Knowledge – Highlight your applicable knowledge especially when you lack relevant experience • Relevant Skills - Select skills that indicate your understanding of job requirements and how you will/have used the skill • Key Achievements – You may highlight the benefit of a relevant achievement • Personal Qualities or Attributes – Focus on qualities suitable to the target industry • Key Certification or a Bonus Highlight - Identify other information that adds to your candidacy
Profile Samples • Be sure to ‘back up’ your claim to a skill and discuss it dynamically:
The Profile
Notice how Alexa’s Profile changes based on the distinct
targets: Customer Service vs. Data Entry ClerkProfile: Experience Statements
Generic • Strong customer service experience
Targeted • Progressive customer service experience gained
within a consumer packaged goods company
Targeted • More than 2 years of experience delivering high
quality customer experiences within an
internationally recognized technology retailerProfile: Knowledge Statements
Generic • Strong economic background
Targeted • Solid ability to comprehend complex and detailed
information, including demographics and
economic information for the purpose of
developing recommendations and policies
Targeted • Strong familiarity with online marketing strategies
including social media tools, Google analytics and
HootsuiteProfile: Skills Statements
Generic • Excellent interpersonal skills
Targeted • Proven ability to establish co-operative,
professional relationships with customers, staff
and administration through effective
communication and interpersonal competence
Distinguish yourself with unique statements!Sample Bonus Certification or
Bonus Highlight (1 line)
Generic • Interest in and passion for social media
Targeted
• Anticipate summer 2015 completion of
Google Analytics Training Part 1
• Strong knowledge of social media trends
Targeted through education, personal research,
marketing related volunteering and
student club membershipExperience Section - Targeting
• Re-focus descriptions
to target each job to
which you are applying
• Draw greater attention
to the relevant aspects
of your experiences
• If minimal relevance,
stress transferable
skills
• Be sure to use result-
oriented statementsTargeting Job Descriptions
Include details if they are relevant to
Job Goal: the target job
Camp
Counsellor
Camp Counsellor Summer 2011 ,2012
Kid’s Summer Camp Experience, Kitchener, ON
Previous
• asSupervised
job a children ages 8 – 16 at a summer camp
Camp
• Developed and lead activities including arts and crafts,
Counsellor
nature exploration, swimming, water safety and canoeing
• Ensured inclusive summer experience for children with
disabilities (seasonal)Targeting Job Descriptions
Stress transferable skills when the job is less
relevant to your target
Past job not
directly
relevant?
Camp Counsellor Summer 2011-2012
Kid’s Summer Camp Experience, Kitchener, ON
• Co-ordinated and organized activities which involved preparing
materials, creating schedules and managing multiple
Job Goal:
participants
Junior
Marketer
• Liaised with the public to ensure exchange of information
including negotiating special requests and answering concerns
• Collaborated with colleagues to plan and assign tasks and
provided training and orientation to new employeesTargeting Job Descriptions Notice how the description of Zehr’s changes based on the distinct targets. Data Entry Clerk vs Customer Service
Accomplishment Statements • Differentiate yourself by HOW you describe your experiences • Discuss points dynamically, in relation to the position to which you are applying • Ask yourself when you have: – Initiated something −Demonstrated Leadership – Achieved a goal −Been selected for added – Exceeded expectations responsibility/promotion – Solved a problem −Received praise/award
Writing Accomplishment Statements
Task Result
Action
(& Tools) (Impact,
Verb
(Relevant) Purpose)
e.g., Designed client database using MS Access resulting in 50%
increased retrieval rateAccomplishment Statements BEFORE • Responsible for training new staff • Performed customer service and cashier duties as required • Stocked supplies and cleaned cash area AFTER • Selected by management to train 5 new staff members to encourage consistent customer service • Interacted professionally to successfully build customer relationships, resulting in repeat business • Maintained an organized, efficient area to ensure brand standards were met
A Word About References
• Prepare on a separate page
• Only submit upon request
• Should have seen you within a related professional
environment
Professors Dean
Supervisors Colleagues
Directors Other Staff
Key members of your job search team!
Keep them informed of your progress.Final Checklist Concise Easy to read Organized ALWAYS send a Error free targeted cover Attractive letter with Professional your resumé! Position-relevant Formatted (PDF) Appropriately named! Targeted
Resources • Resumé and Employment Letters Guidebook wlu.ca/career • Resumé Video • Resumé & Cover Letter critiques: in-person, telephone, email or Skype • Resumé & Cover Letter proofreading service after a critique appointment • For quick questions, visit our drop-in (Monday to Thursdays, 1 – 3 p.m.)
Connect with us! 519.884.0710 x 4495 careercentre@wlu.ca wlu.ca/career facebook.com/lauriercareercentre linkedin.com (Laurier Career Centre Group) @WLUCareerCentre
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