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Resumes

Resume Building Experiences

The resume is a marketing tool which acts as a door opener and allows an employer to assess your qualifications quickly in the prescreening process before interviews.  A resume is a concise illustration of your past experience, which grabs attention and gets you an interview.  It is a critical marketing tool in your personal marketing campaign - which is what the job search process really is.  Your resume should be succinct, commanding and truthful.  It should emphasize skills, strengths and accomplishments.  Most resumes are initially read for 15 seconds or less (3-5 seconds if unsolicited).   Help the readers form mental pictures of you and your activities as the look for key words and phrases.  The employer needs to ascertain the benefits you are offering based on your past accomplishments. 

GUEST PRESENTER:
Diana Gutierrez, Job Placement Specialist
Santiago Canyon College
(714) 564-4201

Click on the following links to attend the online resume and cover letter writing workshops  presented by our guest presenter: Diana Gutierrez, Job Placement Specialist.  The presentation is best viewed in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser; you may be prompted to do a simple and quick installation of the Microsoft Producer reader.

Resume Writing Workshop
http://www.sccollege.edu/kgreen/dgresume2_files/default.htm

Resume Cover Letter Workshop
http://www.sccollege.edu/kgreen/dgcvrltr_files/default.htm

The resume is a more concise presentation of credentials than a curriculum vitae which is prepared for a teaching/research position in a university or for inclusion in an application package for graduate school.  There are 3 kinds of resumes: electronic version, paper version for scanning, and standardized form which requires you to fill in the blanks from which an employer or company matches resumes to jobs. 

Multimedia Portfolio

Online multimedia portfolios are becoming more popular.  Components may include:  cover letter, objective, experience, education, transferable skills, technical skills, language fluencies, awards, community activities, and references in multimedia format; a printable copy of the resume may also be included.  Portfolios can also showcase projects such as an art gallery and written reports and it demonstrates computer literacy on the part of the presenter. 

An electronic version of your resume is somewhat different from those prepared on paper. Some points: 

• An employer can view the document one screen at a time, rather than glancing at the one or two pages to get a sense of your qualifications. Try to limit your information to five  or six screens, with the first being the attention grabber.
• Name and Summary of Qualifications in point form are at the top of the first screen.  You may also be able to get your name, address, phone, fax, e-mail at the bottom of the first screen.  If not, that information will be at the top of the second screen, to be followed by your Job Objective.  The order of your other headings can be similar to those on your paper resume. Keep the information in each section targeted to the job you want, leave off old or unrelated jobs and activities.
• You don't want to get a message from an employer saying that your resume was unreadable. You may want to check with the  computer databases you are considering listing your resume with, or the recent software and books, for more information about  formatting.  ASCII (text only) and HTML are currently being used.  In some instances, the usual formatting techniques to create interest  and readability, such as italicizing, bolding, underlining, may make your words illegible as some computer equipment cannot process  those features.  Bullets before points sometimes also cause problems.  There may be several options you can choose from, some  creating very attractive resumes which can be sent through e-mail. 

A sample of an online multimedia portfolio can be found at:

Samples of online student generated multimedia portfolios can be found at:

http://sacacc.sac.edu/mmresume.htm

Running the Multimedia Resume using Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or newer:

• When the presentation begins you will find a right and a left arrow at the bottom of the screen.
• Use the right arrow to advance forward through the presentation.
• Use the left arrow to move to the previous slide.
• You can also click on any slide title on the left menu bar to go directly to that slide.

Multimedia Portfolio for Small Business:
John Hall, President Hall Career Services
http://www.hallcareer.com
(949) 442-8385
 
7 Benefits to Career Planning

Click on the following link to view 7 Benefits to Career Planning presented by John Hall, President Hall Career Services.  The presentation is best viewed in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser; you may be prompted to do a simple and quick installation of the Windows Media Player.

 7 Benefits to Career Planning

High Speed Connection:
Use lower speed connection if slides do not change.

http://www.sccollege.edu/kgreen/Hall_7_Benefits_4_files/default.htm

Low Speed Connection:

http://www.sccollege.edu/kgwork/Hall_7_Benefits_4_files/default.htm

Points you need to consider when preparing a paper resume for scanning into an employer's database: 

• As part of the research you do on an organization, you may want to determine if you need to submit a resume for scanning.
• Supply a good laser quality document, on 8½ x 11, white or very light-colored paper; use a sans serif font such as Arial, with point size 10 or larger; avoid embellishments such as parentheses, brackets, horizontal lines.
• As mentioned in #3 above, italics, bolding, etc. may also prove problematic in some instances.
• If using a very basic formatting program, ensure that your headings are clearly seen by being featured at the left margin.  By indenting  your text under your heading, you will be able to show visually what belongs together. 

• Employers looking at your resume want to easily find the keywords relating to their needs. Also, when your resume is stored in a  database, an employer will use the computer to conduct a keyword search. Your resume will not be selected unless you have a "hit"  with the minimum number of keywords requested. Your resume will not be near the top of the list unless you have all or most of the keywords they used. 
   
• Interactive multimedia resumes are becoming more common with the advances in both hardware and software. If you choose this type, remember that some employers may not have the latest equipment to download your resume with sound and complex graphics quickly, or at all. But you could try, you may get noticed over other applicants.
   
• Always have a subject in your subject line when sending an e-mail resume to an employer. A precise reference to their job and your fit  may spark their desire to read your resume rather than to hit the delete key.
   
• Include information on technology skills.

One student suggested a nice way to communicate that you plan to transfer to a four year school. I enhanced it to be more specific. Below is an example:

EDUCATION:

A. A. Liberal Arts Santiago Canyon College In Progress
Transfer Program to:
B. A. Business Administration Specialization in Restaurant Management
The Collings School of Hospitality Management at California State Poly Pomona

Focus

It is important to tailor your qualifications to the job for which you are applying.  To do this, review your assessment results, the description of the job you have found in your occupational exploration, and the job description provided by the employer.  Look for information provided by professional organizations to determine trends in the field.  Before starting a draft of your resume, summarize your points a worksheet.  Include the following information.

Job Title or Type of Work
(Focus your strengths and related examples to this target market.  Prepare additional sheets for other jobs)

Job Description Summary

• Rate your oral and written communication skills (e.g., excellent, good, etc.).  Include your ability to listen.  Give examples of when you demonstrated those skills. 
• Rate your interpersonal skills. Give an example.
• Rate your ability to plan and organize. Give an example.
• Describe a situation where you had to solve a problem.  What was the outcome?  What does this tell an employer about your critical thinking/analytical/problem solving capabilities?
• Everyone is creative.  Discuss aspects of your creativity (e.g., generating ideas, design, etc.).
• Would you consider yourself flexible or adaptable?  How would you convince an employer?
• Give a good example of your initiative or self motivation.
• Give a good example of your teamwork.
• Give a good example of your leadership.
• Give a good example of your time management skills.
• Did you ever do more than was required of you by your job description or supervisor?  Describe.
• The world continues to change at a rapid pace.  Perhaps even faster in the future than in the past.  Do you see yourself as having a positive role in this change?  If so, how can you help an employer?
• Discuss your computer knowledge and experience.
• List your achievements which form a good basis for the job.
• Discuss your level of comfort with the risk taking required.
• Add your other strengths as required by the job.

 

• Work content or technical knowledge or skills (e.g., forecasting).  Name skill, and give an example of a time you demonstrated this strength.
• Transferable skills to almost any job (team player). Name skill, and give an example of where that experience could benefit the prospective new employer.
• Personality or self management skills (attention to detail).  Name skill, and give an example of a situation where this strength proved valuable.

The first impression of your resume should be favorable for both your electronic and paper versions: well organized material, easy-to-read font, correct grammar and spelling, up-to-date information. Your paper copies should be printed on good quality paper and have no handwritten corrections or white out. 

One to two pages of information should be sufficient to present your credentials clearly and concisely for the position.  Only in rare cases would you need to go to three pages, but then all three pages must contain essential information needed by an employer to judge your qualifications.  You may get only one chance for that interview.  Write in point form and double check that all pertinent key words are there.  You want to make it easy for both a human reader and the computer to find the information they are looking for. 

Prepare a completely positive document to present your skills.  Don't be shy!  However, the resume must be an honest evaluation.  Don't lie.  The misrepresentation will come back to haunt you, if not in the interview, then on the job. 

There is no one right resume.  Create a document that sells your strengths.  Since employers are looking for the best value for their hiring dollar, you should market what makes you different from your classmates or anyone else wanting an interview for that job. 

Many of your strengths are revealed through both your content and style of writing, e.g., enthusiasm, confidence, reliability, communication skills. 

Major Sections of the Resume

Name and Contact Information

Include name, address(es), telephone numbers, (voice/fax), e-mail, URL.  No other personal information is required.

If you will be leaving a local address while your resume is in circulation, note when (e.g., until April 20, 20xx).    If you will not be personally answering your phone during business hours, list a number and/or e-mail address where an employer can leave a message for you.  Decide what headings you will use if you need to state two addresses, e.g., one "local" or "present" and the other perhaps "home" or "permanent" if applying in that community or "alternate" for applications further afield.  If you include the URL for your web pages, make sure the pages are in professional, business-like condition.  Your site can include  your resume, examples of your work, e.g., code, drawings, etc. 

If you are a foreign student you may have access to other opportunities to work in the United States on a temporary basis after graduation.  Check with the Immigration Office.   Decide whether you would like to include a notation about short-term employment on your resume, e.g., Available  {month/day/year} for one year contract.  If you do not include this information on your resume, definitely discuss it in your interview. 

Job Objective or Career Goal

For co-op, summer, internship, part-time jobs: a job objective is not essential but highly recommended to give the employer an idea of what you want to do.  For on-going (permanent) or contract jobs: a focused statement is essential. "Career Goal" tends to refer to a desired position that has a longer term association, while "Job Objective" can refer to an interim or  more temporary type of job, e.g., Forensic Chemist for a career goal and Laboratory Technician for a job objective.  State your goal or objective in terms of what you can do for an employer, not what you want an employer to do for you.  Avoid expressions such as "...where I can use my knowledge and skills to expand my expertise in...".     Phrase statement in terms of the job you want now, by job title (e.g., Computer Programmer, Social Worker, Technical Writer) or area (e.g., Communications, Public Relations, Health Education).  Prepare two or more resumes to tailor qualifications if you are seeking different types of jobs. 

Summary of Qualifications

This section will provide a concise overview of your qualifications as they relate to your Job Objective or Career Goal as stated immediately above.  Here is where you want the employer to recognize and become interested in the competitive advantage you bring to the position.  Therefore, avoid a historical record. 

State the value you are offering.  Include the key words that would be used in a computer search of a database.  This is the most difficult section of your resume to write.  Do not attempt it until the rest of your resume is completely written because you need to see and understand the information before you can summarize it.  Include three to seven points, using nouns and adjectives, not action verbs.  Draw upon your work experience, volunteer and/or extracurricular activities in terms of duration, scope, accomplishments, etc.  If you lack relevant experience, emphasize those skills you have developed in terms of interpersonal, organizational, supervisory, etc. 

• First statement summarizes the experience you have related to your job objective, e.g., one year experience in graphic design. 
• Second statement describes your working knowledge of the various components or aspects of the position (e.g., budgeting, report  writing, program planning).
• Third statement outlines the various skills you possess to do the work effectively (e.g., problem solving, communication, time management).
• Fourth statement may refer to any academic background you have that complements your practical experience (e.g., machine design, resource assessment, marketing).
• Fifth statement lists your personal characteristics and attitudes as required on the job (e.g., reliable, able to work under pressure, creative). 

This section is essential for resumes without a Job Objective and Summary of Qualifications, and appears immediately after your Name and Address.  Include three to six points outlining your most relevant strengths for the type of work you are looking for.  Describe your competitive advantage, the value you offer.  Draw upon your work experience, volunteer and/or extracurricular activities in terms of duration, scope, accomplishments, etc.  If you lack relevant experience, emphasize those skills you have developed in terms of interpersonal, organizational, supervisory, etc.  Indicate formal or professional training/education.  Note if you are bilingual (English/French) or speak other languages.  List relevant areas of expertise, e.g., computer proficiency, scientific instrumentation, etc.  Draw upon your personal characteristics that are requisites for the position you are seeking, e.g., enthusiastic, flexible, attention to detail. 

Education

For students in post secondary education, first year through six months prior to graduation: state Candidate for Degree, Discipline (major/minor), college, and year beginning program:  Candidate for Associate Degree of Computer Science.  Include GPA if applicable.  You may wish to include specialization if applicable.  For alumni and students in graduating year: state Degree, Discipline (major/minor), college, and year degree obtained or the month/year degree will be obtained.  Add Specialization or Option if you wish:  Associate of Arts, History, College, month, year.  Drop reference to the month by the end of the year. 

Check the name of the degree you get (Associate of Applied Science in Engineering), and list it preferably unabbreviated.  Multiple entries: when referring to additional studies at other schools or to more than one program at Waterloo (Bachelor, Master), arrange entries in reverse chronological order, i.e., most recent first.  Co-op students in graduation year may wish to add a statement about co-operative education and alternating work/study periods to explain the jobs in "Work Experience" if you think employers you are applying to are not familiar with co-op education. 

Relevant Courses

A sub heading of the Education section.  Choose six to ten courses related to your Job Objective where you have not utilized this knowledge yet in a work environment. Do not include course numbers.  If the name of the course as listed in the catalog does not adequately convey the information you wish, elaborate to show the relevance.  Prioritize the list, or arrange by themes, to avoid a random assortment of names.  Place in columns for easy reading. 

Project/Thesis 

A sub heading of Education.  Any relevant project, report, thesis, etc. that you have prepared can be referred to by its title in quotation marks (if the title is sufficiently clear enough to give the reader a feeling for scope), or by using a group of words to show its significance or relevance to the employer. 

Computer Proficiency

List both your theoretical and working knowledge.  Categorize an extensive background in columns with headings such as Hardware, Operating Systems, Software, Languages. 

Work Experience

The Chronological style of resume is the most widely accepted format for outlining work experience.  Try this type of format first.  If you are not getting your best credentials onto page one, then try the Modified Chronological style.  If that still does not help, try the Functional model.
 

Awards and Scholarships

State name of award, name of institution award received from, and date.  Include important awards from both college and high school in reverse chronological order.  Explain the meaning of the recognition if the reader would not understand its significance. 

Professional Memberships

List those with some relevance to the jobs to which you are applying. 

Publications

List in bibliographic form only those publications that the reader of your resume would be interested in. Include the work which has been published, has been submitted for publication, and is in progress. Include also the papers you presented as a guest speaker. If your list is lengthy, include only those relevant to your Job Objective by stating the heading as Selected Publications. 

Languages

Include those for which you are fluent or have a working knowledge.  Indicate if you can speak and/or write the language. 

Activities/Interests

Volunteer work can be included in different ways, depending on the message you want to give. Include volunteer work in this section if you are demonstrating the breadth of your leisure time activities.  If you wish to highlight or emphasize these activities, create a separate heading, e.g., Volunteer Activities, Volunteer Experience, Community Service.  In this section you can either list the organizations, or you can add to the listing more detail about your contributions, beginning each point with an action verb.  You can include your Volunteer Experience before Work Experience in your resume if it would be to your advantage.  If your volunteer activities are as important as your paid work experience, add your information to your Work Experience section, with a volunteer notation, e.g., Assistant to Director (volunteer).  In listings for activities, state role (e.g., Member, President), name of organization, dates.  Organize in reverse chronological order.  State if any positions were elected or appointed.  At the bottom of the section include interests such as physical fitness, hobbies, sports or leisure activities.  Generally, employers are  interested in how you spend your time outside of academics and work, e.g., independent/team activities, as well as your well-roundedness because of the transferability to the work you are applying for.  However, when in doubt about including this section, leave it off the resume. 

References and Portfolio

A reference notation such as Professional and Personal References Available upon Request is acceptable.   Ask the person you would like to use as a reference for permission to do so, and check out what that individual will say about you if contacted by a prospective employer.  Do they see your strengths and weaknesses as you see them?  It is important to discuss what  that person's response might be to potentially embarrassing questions.  A bad reference is a job offer killer!  Choose someone who has seen your work in as similar a situation as possible to the job for which you are applying.  You do not necessarily need to use your immediate supervisor. Give your references a copy of the relevant resume(s) for the type(s) of jobs you are applying to. Type the name, address, telephone number of two or three references on a sheet of paper which you can hand to an employer when asked for reference names.  If an employer will require a portfolio, or if you think that one would enhance your application, e.g., graphic design, technical writing, teaching, then add the words, Portfolio Available on Request, to your resume. 

New Focus

If your resumes seem to be taking you down a path similar to your last job(s) and you want to change direction, you need to interpret or reformat your past jobs in terms of the duties and responsibilities that characterize the new work you would like to have.

Virtual Resume
http://www.virtualresume.com/vitae/

Resume Writing
http://www.ivillage.com/workingdiva/job/get/articles/0,6894,95210,00.html

Monster's Resume Center Quizzes
http://resume.monster.com/archives/quizzes/

Highlighting Transferable Skills 
http://www.free-resume-tips.com/resumetips/transfer.html

HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES CENTER NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
Servicing OSD, Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities
CIVILIAN JOB KIT
http://www.hrsc.osd.mil/instruct.htm