09 02-10 Mark Stryshak - Master GO! Network Resume Writing

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Creating an Effective Resume
_________________________________________________

Mark Stryshak
VP, People Continuity
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

February 10th, 2009

GO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd. 7/25/2006
• St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com 1

Anheuser-Busch Training & Development Group

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Agenda
• Style

• Resume do’s and don’ts

• Cover letter

• Gaps in employment

• Applying on-line

• Staying connected during your job search


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Why are resumes so hard to write?

• Many people are uncomfortable speaking about
their strengths and shy away from bragging
about themselves.

• We are most familiar with our own experience
and forget to include key accomplishments.

• We have a tendency to generalize and not write
about our job history and skills effectively.


• Most people aren’t objective about their resumes. The biggest issue is that often
people are not comfortable talking about their strengths and their accomplishments.
• They may also not be aware of their strengths and therefore don’t write about them
effectively or in order of preference or development.


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What makes a resume successful?
• It’s all the truth!

• It offers essential information to the reader.

• It looks attractive and is easy to read.

• It is succinct.

• It’s targeted to the position for which you are applying.
• Employers write job descriptions with their ideal candidate in
mind.
– Pay close attention to the job description and tailor your resume
to match the requirements and responsibilities of the position for
which you’re applying.


• Resume “inflation” and false degrees run rampant. Be sure to be honest about your
work experience, education, and skills.
• Formatting is important. A resume should be easy to read. Bulleting is often
recommended as it helps break up a resume visually. Refrain from using long
sentences or worse yet, paragraphs to describe job experience.
• Important to keep your resume as succinct as possible.
• Keep in mind that a Recruiter may have several hundreds of resumes to review for a
single position. On average, a Recruiter will spend one minute reviewing each
resume. If that Recruiter can’t determine within that one minute if you’re qualified
for the position, you won’t move forward in the recruitment process.


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Picking a resume style - Chronological
• Chronological -
(it’s really reverse chronological)
• Start with most recent experience and work
backwards.
• Easy to see career progression
• Most common type of resume and makes sense to
use if you have a straightforward background.
• Company names and position titles are prominent;
work history timeline is clearly outlined.


• The chronological resume is a good way to get started. Anheuser-Busch prefers
functional resumes, but the best way to start writing a functional resume is to first
write down your basic information in a chronological (reverse) format.
• This will give you the basic outline of your previous experience, and you may find
that other employers may prefer this style.
• It creates a clear straightforward work history.


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Template for creating a chronological resume

7/25/2006 6
GO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com


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Picking a resume style - Functional
• Functional
• This format is used to assert a focus to relevant skills that are specific
to the type of position being sought.

• This format works well for the following types of backgrounds and
careers since skills can be easily grouped into broad categories
• Information Technology, Engineering, Administrative Support, HR

• Useful if you are trying to change fields or emphasize a particular skill
set.
• Useful if you have a mixed career background with a collection of jobs
not specific to the type of position being sought.
• Appropriate for someone returning to a previous profession, where the
most recent experience is not as directly applicable to the job currently
sought.


• The functional resume is preferred here at Anheuser-Busch; and can often form the
basis for the structured interview.
• Functional skill headings can also be useful as they can dovetail with the defined
core competencies that form the basis for the interview process at Anheuser-Busch.
• A well written functional resume can help you in the interview process by giving the
interviewer a basis for asking certain questions.
• Once you have written a functional resume it is easy to take your different
functional skills areas and move them around to create a different emphasis
depending on the requirements of the position for which you are applying.
• If you think of your bullet points under your skill titles as a heading, specific
examples can be a subset that you can draw on in the interview process.


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Template for creating a Functional resume



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Example of Functional/Chronological

Functional
section

Chronological
section



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How to get started on your resume

• Set the stage for your reader; giving the size and scope of your area,
and your role within that organization.

• When you write a first draft of a resume – over write. It is always easy
to come back later and discard things that aren’t necessarily important.

• Include your education.

• Mention any certifications you possess.

• Are you affiliated with any professional organizations? If so, include on
your resume

• Add community or volunteer involvement.

• List computer and technical skills.

• St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com10


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What font should you use?
• Use an easy to read font.

• Not Courier, Not Times New Roman

• Sans (Without) Serif fonts are recommended – Arial, Gill
Sans, Franklin Gothic Book, News Gothic, Tahoma,
Trebuchet, and Verdana.

– These fonts are more easily scanned, e-mailed, faxed and uploaded
for electronic applications

– These fonts make your document look crisp and clean.

GO! Network • 800 N Tucker Blvd.
7/25/2006
• St. Louis, MO 63101 • 314.802.5475 • www.gonetworkstl.com
11

• If you aren’t comfortable with the graphic design elements of a resume, ask a friend
to review what you have decided to use.
• Always remember your audience. If you find out what the specific supervisor wants
to see, tailor your resume to their preferences.


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First things first – your contact info

• Name – use your formal name, no clever nicknames. If your
name does not identify gender, include a middle name or Mr. or
Ms.
• Address - list current home address or P.O. Box.
• Phone - home and cell numbers. Have an appropriate voice
message on your phone.
• E-mail - make sure your personal e-mail is appropriate for
business purposes.



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Objectives
• Objectives are appropriate if they are
targeted and clear – otherwise, don’t use
them.
• Objectives must match the job description.
• A summary is more useful if you have varied
work experience and want to create
emphasis for a particular area.
• A summary can be targeted to a specific job.


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Summary
• A summary is a brief description of your
background and work history highlighting the
experience and skills you want to emphasize to a
future employer.

• Focus on skills and ability to make a contribution
based upon previously demonstrated expertise

• If you are applying for a specific job – include key
words from the job description in your summary.


• The summary is your chance to put your overall experience in a light that is focused
toward the position that you are seeking – not just a description of what you have
done in the past.
• If possible use some of the language that was in the job description of the position
for which you are applying.
• If education is a requirement and you have that level of education, include it in the
summary.


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Example objective and summary



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Education

• Include formal education and degrees.

• Not necessary to include somewhere you haven’t
completed a degree, unless the education is
applicable to the position you’re applying for

• If reinforcing, include major(s), minor(s), GPA,
scholarships, honors, leadership roles, and
involvement with particular organizations.


• If you do not have a degree in an area that is asked for in the position description,
but you have hours in this subject area include it. The same thing goes for internal
training or specialized seminars.
• On the job training (hours) can also be included for an area you are seeking to
expand into.


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Education continued

• Include special training, certificates,
continuing education if relevant.

• Languages, computer training, etc. Place
this first if it’s critical to the position, after
work experience if not.


• Some jobs require a degree, but there are times when a position requires an
advanced degree when you may still be considered if you have one degree and other
work experience in the field.
• When we talk about networking we will talk about how you can learn more about
job requirements as opposed to the ideal candidate requirements that may allow you
to get past the gate keeping aspects of some educational requirements.
• This is also a place to reflect upon the fact that if an employer wants to hire you –
they can think of any reason to do it and make certain exceptions, and if they do not
want to hire you they can also find almost any reason not to do so.


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Education examples



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Professional experience
• Professional experience can include
full-time, part-time, internship/co-op
and volunteer positions.
• Clearly state name of organization,
location, position title.
• Put dates of employment on the
right.
• Use numbers, 8/01 – 7/04,
instead of words.
• Focus on accomplishments and
results more than just activities.
• Helpful to use bulleting.


• Unpaid internships, volunteer activities, and avocations can be included in
experience particularly if they relate directly to the job you are seeking.


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Action Verbs
• Use action words – write in simple past tense or
active voice, whichever is appropriate.

An “Action Verb List”
is included as handout.



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Quantifying achievements
• Emphasize scope of your activities. Most people under-estimate the
breadth and depth of their work. Use amounts and #’s whenever possible.


• One of the biggest mistakes that people make on their resume is not giving enough
information about their accomplishments. Many people talk about responsibilities –
which is what the job asks you to do, but few give any information about the
outcomes.
• What were the results for the organization of your work? How did you save money,
make money, and generally create a positive outcome for your group that was a
direct result of your activities.
• You are trying to differentiate yourself from others, and outcomes will help you do
this.


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General Formatting Tips
Clearly states
current profession.

Contact info is
prominently
displayed.
Unique way to
include reference
comments.

• Resume should be
visually pleasing to
the eye.
• Resume must be
clearly formatted so
it’s easy to read.



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How long should your resume be?

• Many people think you should have a one
page resume – not necessarily true.

• Say what needs to be said.

• Don’t short change yourself.

• Don’t let format be the ultimate decision.

• Two pages is probably the limit.


• Ask people what they have heard about the length of a resume.
• In some organizations there are format issues for resumes and some managers want
them to be a certain length and no more.
• Again, this is a place where networking can help people with creating a resume that
meets their target.


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Resume do’s
• If you are willing to travel and/or relocate, be
sure to include this.

• When mailing or hand delivering your resume,
print on medium to heavy weight bond paper.
– Use only white or off-white paper as that is most
professional.

• Make sure the font size of your resume is
readable (no smaller than 10 font).



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Resume don’ts
• Do not mention ethnicity, religion, personal data such
as age, marital status, or if you have children.

• Memberships or activities that could be perceived as
controversial, unless it is extremely important to you.

• Do not include photos in your resume.

• Not necessary to include personal interests such as: “I
enjoy shopping, playing tennis, etc.”
– Keep your resume professional.


• Ask for examples of an activity or interest that might be considered too controversial
to be included on a resume.
• Emphasize that the resume can be a ‘ticket’ to an interview –which is the goal.


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All resumes…
• Must be perfect, no typos or misspellings.
– Ask someone to proofread your resume not only for
typos/misspellings, but to ensure your resume
makes sense to an external audience.

• Must be accurate and truthful – don’t stretch.

• Must be easy to read and have contact information
readily available.

• Must be a positive reflection of your background and
experience.


• Emphasize that the resume and cover letter are the candidate’s first work product for
a new job.
• This is, once again, something that the candidate has in her or her control.
• If they do their homework about the job, and write a good resume, they will be more
likely to get an interview.


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Website references
The internet is a great resource for career information, in particular resume
writing tips.

• www.monster.com – this site offers resume samples and articles on
resume writing.
• www.mycareerguide.com – a free site with a significant amount of career
advice.
• www.therileyguide.com – a longstanding informative career information
site.
• www.careerjournal.com – a site of the Wall Street Journal, it offers
numerous articles on all aspects of the career process.
• www.careerinfonet.org – a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site
that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers,
students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent
development in a global economy.



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The value of a cover letter
• The value of a cover letter is the ability to present your
intentions, qualifications, and availability to a prospective
employer in a succinct, appealing format.

• First impressions are lasting ones. A well written cover letter
acts as an introductory handshake for your resume, and by
extension, for you

• While your resume gives the specifics on places of
employment, responsibilities, and educational background, a
cover letter is your first chance to make an impression on
the job screener and personalize the attached information
contained in the resume.



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The value of a cover letter
continued
• The cover letter is where you tell the employer about your
soft skills, penchant for attention to detail, and willingness to
devote the extra time necessary to complete assigned
projects on time.

• Yes, you can usually touch upon one or two of these
intangibles in your resume, but any more than that and you
run the risk of your resume coming off as fluff and loaded
with filler.

• Take the time to craft your resume and cover letter to
accurately present your skills and experiences, and your
efforts will be rewarded.



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Example cover letter



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Gaps in employment history
• Reasons for gaps in employment history:
– Taking time to raise a family
– Serving in the military
– Having been displaced at some point in your career
– Caring for a sick family member
– Recovering from an illness or injury
– Returning to school for higher education or technical training

• A chronological format can draw undue attention to gaps in employment.

• A functional resume may be more effective because it will portray
transferable skills attained through such activities such as domestic
management, leadership roles within the community, volunteer work, etc.

• A functional format provides a platform for you to showcase your varied
strengths, talents, and experiences.



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A cover letter can address
employment gaps

• If you have extensive gap(s) in employment, you
may want to address it in a cover letter.
• Include a brief one or two sentence explanation,
but do not go into detail about a long illness or a
frustrating job search.
• Rather, state that you were out of the workforce
for whatever reason, and explain that you are
eager to return.



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Using the cover letter to explain
gaps in employment
• For example, a returning teacher may include a sentence or two in
the cover letter such as:
"As you can see on the enclosed resume, I have a Masters
Degree in Special Education and have more than 10 years of
teaching experience in the XYZ and ABC School Districts.
While I have taken a leave from teaching over the past five
years to raise my two daughters, I have recently begun
working as a substitute teacher in several local school
districts and am anxious to resume a full-time teaching
position."

• The applicant is focusing the employer’s attention on his or her 10
years of relevant teaching experience and is also providing
information that he/she is pursuing current experience in the field
through substitute teaching.



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Using the cover letter to explain
gaps in employment continued
• An operations manager who was displaced and took time off
to go back to school in preparation for a career change may
include the following information in his cover letter.
"I would like to transfer my strategic planning and
project management skills into the financial
management arena where my interests are targeted. I
have already completed six hours towards my MBA in
Finance and would like to build a new career in the
financial services field."

• Again, the job applicant is stating that he has skills and
experiences in a different industry but that he is redirecting
his efforts, attending graduate school, and seeking an entry
into a new field.


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Applying on-line
• In today’s digital internet age, more and
more companies use an on-line application
process.
• Many companies now refuse to accept
paper resumes due to governmental
compliance, and documentation
requirements.
• It is likely you will have to apply on-line for
some job openings that interest you.


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Applying on-line: application tips

• Follow directions – be careful to enter the correct
data in the correct field.

• Tailor your application information as well as your
resume to the specific position you’re applying
for.

• Helpful to incorporate as much of the verbiage in
the job description in regards to requirements
and responsibilities into your resume.



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Applying on-line: keywords
• Use keywords in your resume as many employers screen resumes by
keyword searches.

• Review the job description to pick out the most appropriate key words
for the particular position, then include them in your resume.

• In the following example, the keywords have been underlined and are
in red.
– Conducted cross-functional management for initial and follow-up
contact.
– Coordinated marketing campaigns and special events.
– Managed customer database, product updates, and upgrades.
– Functioned in project management role.
– Oversaw procurement, allocation, distribution control, stock levels,
and cost compilation/analysis.



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Applying On-line Reference Sheet

• Please refer to the “Applying On-line
Reference Sheet” for additional information
about successfully applying on-line.
• The following items are covered with more
detail in the sheet:
– The need to have an e-mail address/account
– Completing the application itself
– Uploading your resume to your on-line application
– Following up on your electronic application



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Staying connected

• Just because you are not working doesn’t
mean that you can't keep busy.

• Keeping busy means staying involved in your
profession.

• It is easier to re-enter the workforce if you
keep your skills sharp and your job knowledge
up to date.



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Staying connected continued
• Here are some suggestions to help you stay
connected to your career while conducting
your job search:
– Find a consulting assignment or project. Many times, employees
who are “in-between” jobs supplement their knowledge (and
income) by taking contract or consulting assignments. Sometimes
these assignments can result in full-time, permanent positions.
– Take a class in a subject related to your profession.
– Volunteer with an organization or become a mentor.
– Read trade journals and attend seminars in your field of expertise.
– Write an article for a publication in your area of expertise. Many
freelance writing assignments pay well.



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In conclusion
• Keep in mind there are differing opinions about
resumes.

• You should cater your resume for each position you
apply for based upon the position’s job description.

• Helpful to have a functional as well as chronological
version of your resume you can edit each time you
apply for a position.

• Resumes are changing documents and need to be
updated on a regular basis to keep current.


• Because there are different ideas about resumes it is always a good idea to find out
what the norms are for the position and department for which you are applying.
• Remember that the resume is a changing document and that it will be adapted
frequently.


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Questions?



09 02-10 Mark Stryshak - Master GO! Network Resume Writing

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