"Presentation on Effective Resume. Check to see good
examples of effective resumes. Effecive tips for writing a
Resume These PDF's are available for all VEDA students
for free on www.veda-edu.com"
2. Résumé Rules…
What are the Absolute, Unbreakable Rules of
Resume Writing? There are only a few absolute
rules in resume writing! These rules, however, are
absolutes:
No typing errors.
No misspellings.
Do not tell a lie or mistruth.
Do not include any negative information.
It is YOUR résumé, your opinion matters. Use your
critical thinking skill and filter suggestions from
others.
Think of WHO is going to be reading your résumé
and what THEY are most interested in knowing.
3. Résumé = Marketing Tool
How long do you think the average
employer looks at a résumé?
What do you most want the employer to
know about you?
Formatting: first, BOLD, white space!
THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME IS TO GET
AN INTERVIEW
4. MUST HAVE Categories
on a Résumé
Personal Logo
(Name, Address(es), Phone Number(s), and
Email)
Education
Experience (Work or Volunteer)
5. Categories NEVER Included on a
Resume
Height, weight, age, date of birth, place of birth,
marital status, sex, race, health, social security
number (except on an International Resume)
Reasons for leaving previous job(s)
Picture of yourself
Salary Information
References (more on this issue later)
The title "Resume"
Religion, religious affiliations, political affiliations
6. Templates:
To Use or Not To Use?
What About Those Resume Wizards in Microsoft
Word?
Word's Resume Wizards are increasingly popular
with students.
They can be help get you started with categories for
your resume.
CAUTION: Formats are not geared to college
students and can cause students to set up your
resumes inappropriately. If you use Wizards, adapt
them to recommended guideline for college students.
FURTHER CAUTION: Since so many college
students are using Resume Wizards, employers are
seeing an awful lot of resumes that look exactly alike.
7. Education
Bachelor of Science in Scientific and
Technical Communication
Emphasis in Web Development
College & University
Year
Percentage / Grade
8. Work Experience
Five Components:
Job Title
Name of Employer
Location
Dates of employment
Description
9. Use Action Verbs!
Keep it brief and to the point
Organized Communicated
Directed
Planned Created Assisted
Supported Initiated
Solved
Reported Edited Analyzed
Described Developed
Managed
Led Sold Designed
10. Tie skills to context
How have you applied them?
Excellent communication skills
vs.
Presented detailed information related to
resume writing in strategic career planning
workshops
11. And now for the numbers…
Conducted presentations for sales
orientation programmes
Led over 30 presentations to groups of 50
corporate and their representatives
introducing them to the organization’s
services
12. Other Resume Categories
Objective
Computer Skills
Honors and Achievements
Scholarships and Awards
Volunteer Experience
Leadership Experience
Campus or Community Activities
Certificates and Additional Training
13. Objective
Objective can add focus to the resume
Specific to field and industry, but not to job
Examples:
Obtaining an editing position within the
medical industry
To provide web development services to a
health care company in the Chicago area
14. Summary of Qualifications
Must be specific, weighty, & descriptive
Must NOT be a list of vague skills
Example of a good Summary:
Three years editing experience through
college newspaper
Adept at using Pagemaker, Quark, Flash, and
Dreamweaver
Lead designer for 11 web sites used in higher
education and industry
15. Where to start?
What are you trying to communicate?
Three guiding questions:
What is that particular employer looking for in the dream
candidate?
What are the 3-5 most important aspects of your experience
that you need to describe based on what the employer is
looking for?
What is your competitive advantage relative to other
candidates?
16. Other strategies
Placement of content makes a difference
Clump related qualifications
Use category headings that communicate
your qualifications – be creative.
17. The Importance of Research
Talk with people who know the employer,
it’s products, past employees, or
customers.
Web, of course.
18. Checklist
Is it attractive? Does it make a good first
impression?
One page? Or can two pages be justified?
Is it concise? Is extraneous information reduced
or eliminated?
Is unfamiliar information clarified? Just what is
the Wilma Wonderwoman scholarship?
Example:
Wilma Wonderwoman Scholarship Recipient:
Awarded to the senior who displays outstanding
leadership.
19. Types of Resumes
Standard Resumes: Laser printed, well-
formatted, & reader friendly.
Scannable Resumes: Text-based, plain,
no formatting, key words (nouns &
phrases), & qualifications summary.
Web-based Resumes: It is available 24/7,
global exposure (good and bad), no page
restrictions.
21. Guiding Principles
What are your themes? What sets you apart?
Specify how you will benefit the employer
Be as specific as possible-- with examples
How does your background meet their specific
qualifications?
You are just what they are looking for and you
have the proof to back up your statements
22. Employer Name
If the name isn’t given, employ your
research skills to find out the name
Be sure you have the gender and title
correct
23. Position
A good cover letters targets a specific
position
Lack of clarity may lead to the perception
that you don’t know what you want to do
24. Use examples
My excellent financial management skills
will greatly benefit your company
vs.
Through my work at the Jane Smith
House, I honed my financial management
skills by developing spreadsheets,
reporting on cash-flow accounts and
ledger balances
25. Show your knowledge
of the employer
I am interested in working for Delta
because of your reputation for quality
I have been following your decision to
pursue portal technology as a part of your
communication strategy. I am eager to
work for a Delta because of your
commitment to cutting edge technology.
26. Relate skills to the objective
Objective: Entry-level writing position
In my position at Joiner Co. I entered data,
contacted clients to update their addresses, and
wrote letters and reports.
Composed more that 50 letters sent to corporate
clients such as Zeneca and Campbell, Inc.
Wrote narrative for statistical report that was
included in annual report sent to 1000
organizations nationwide.
27. The Big Finish
Ask for an interview
Indicate how you will follow-up (unless
instructed specifically otherwise)
Be sure you really do follow-up!