Online Profile and Resume Guide4 - Concordia University Texas · 3. Upload your final resume to...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Center for Vocation and Professional Development

A Pathway to Meaningful Work

Library Building F, Room 208

[email protected]

512-313-5041

Purpose of a Resume

• To get the interview

• Communicate your accomplishments and value

relevant to the specific opportunity

• Serve as a marketing tool

Purpose of Online Profiles

• To connect and network with other professionals

• Communicate your accomplishments, talents, and

character

• Serve as a marketing tool

The Online Profile and

Resume Builder The Basics

KNOW THYSELF

Knowing who you are is the

first step in building a

successful personal profile and

resume for the job market.

Before you start it is important

that you know what skills,

interests, talents, ethics, and

professional values make you

unique. See the PROFILE

BUILDER exercise in this guide

as a reflection tool.

ONLINE VERSUS A DOCUMENT

Once you have reflected upon

and documented descriptive

words and phrases use the

appropriate pronouns for the

method you are using to

communicate. As a rule, use

the informal first person

pronoun for online profiles (I,

me, my), and third person,

(sometimes incomplete

sentences) for your resume.

FEEDBACK

After applying what you learn

from this guide send your

resume draft to

[email protected]

for feedback before you upload

to an online profile or send it

to an employer. It is always

best practice to have someone

review your resume and profile

before placing it in front of

potential employers. Use the

checklist at the end of this

guide to review your final

draft.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Resumes

Resume Format

Choose a template either in your major or a general template in folders at

www.ctxcareerconnections.org.

Explore other online resources listed below. Choose one that is a traditional or classic version.

Have one "go to" resume and customize it for a specific job, internship, or graduate program

application.

www.resumenow.com

www.myperfectresume.com

www.resumehelp.com

Keep it concise

The "one page only" rule about resumes is a myth. The purpose of a resume is to show

accomplishment and value relevant to the opportunity. A 1 ½ - 2 page resume that does it well

is acceptable as long as you stay clear of narrative style and be concise.

Creative, artistic elements

Your photo or other artistic elements are appropriate when it is relevant to the career cluster,

position or industry. As a general rule, a resume if free of these elements and directs the

reader to your online profile such as LinkedIn or ctxcareerconnections.org where they will find

creative elements like your photo and e-portfolio.

Font

Name font should be 1-2 points larger than the remainder of the document. Use 10-12 point

black font of the same style like Arial or Times New Roman.

Visually organized

Bold headers, bullets and indentations visually organize the information. Stay away from text

boxes or other segmented styles as they will confuse online application systems and distract

the reader.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Top 1/3rd Profile and Skills Sections

Write the top 1/3 of your resume after doing

the PROFILE BUILDER exercise below. This is

where you capture the attention of the reader.

Make it count.

• Summarize what distinguishes you in 4-

5 sentences and 3-4 bullet skills

statements.

• Pack this section with power words that describe you and highlight your qualifications,

skills, and characteristics relevant to the opportunity. See list of power word examples

in this guide.

• Use the PROFILE BUILDER below to create a narrative of your story to use when building

your profile and skills statements. The exercise will also help prepare you to talk about

yourself in an interview by helping you reflect on your skills and stories that show proof

of how you demonstrate those characteristics in your life.

The Profile Builder

Do this Profile Builder on a separate document as an exercise on how to talk about

yourself. You can use what you discover during this exercise for the top 1/3rd of your

resume, online profile, and in an interview.

1. IDENTIFY: Identify 10 skills or strengths in a word or short phrase.

2. DEFINE: Define each skill or strength. What does it mean to you?

3. DEMONSTRATE: Describe how you demonstrate this skill or strength in your life,

work, home, family, or school. What does this looks like in your life. What

behaviors are visible to others as you live out this strength or skill?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Education and Certification

List highest degree first and

only include:

o Degrees completed

o Degrees in progress

o Certifications received

• GPA is optional and only

include if it is 3.5 or higher.

• List internships and/or relevant courses in this section as an option.

• For internships, include the name of the organization, the internship position title, and

the semester you worked in the position. (Note: Details about accomplishments during

an internship should be included in the experience section.)

• Place the education section before experience if you have less than 1-2 years of solid

professional work experience. Otherwise, the education section goes after experience.

Experience

• Start each bullet statement

with a past tense action word.

• Focus on results and

achievements not the job

description.

• Include internships, volunteer

roles, significant leadership

roles or projects if they are

relevant to the opportunity.

• List your experience in

reverse chronological order,

by organization name,

including locations, beginning

and ending month/year, job titles, and roles/achievements.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Accomplishment Statements

A strong, action- and results-based resume is one primarily composed of statements like, “Took

over management of [situation] and achieved 10% customer retention improvement, $2 million

in new sales volume, and 11% profit improvement through the following initiatives [how you

did it—briefly].”

• Use metrics to back up accomplishments.

• Bullet statements should start with a past tense verb and be supported by evidence,

particularly quantitative evidence.

• Separate "Relevant Experience" and "Other Experience" for roles that are important but

not as relevant to the opportunity.

Each bullet statement should include the following 4 elements:

Accomplishment Statement Examples

Statement before Clarifying questions Statement after

Conducted phone interviews. How many interviews?

With whom?

For what purpose?

Was there an indicator of success or a goal to reach?

Conducted 15-20 phone interviews daily with

candidates for positions in marketing, finance, and

accounting. Filled 17 positions and reduced time-to-

fill by 30% over 6 months.

Tutored students. How many students?

For what subjects?

How often?

What age or grade level?

Tutored 10 college age students weekly in Statistics

resulting in an increase of one letter grade for each

student during the fall 2014 semester.

Redesigned company website For what purpose?

How long did it take to complete the project?

What was the size of the website

What was the measurement of success?

Redesigned a 50 page website in 3 months to

incorporate 6 new product lines and a new logo,

resulting in a 25% increase in visitors and 15% increase

in sales.

Interacted with customers. How many?

How often?

For what purpose?

In what kind of setting?

What was the measurement of successful

interactions?

Interacted with 20-30 customers daily by phone to

help trouble-shoot issues with HP, Cannon, and

Lennox printers. Maintained a monthly resolution

score of 95%.

SPECIFICS – Who, what, where, and how? Include as much detail as possible about the accomplishment.

What kind of report? Who was involved? What system was used? Who was the audience?

METRICS – Quantify the work by answering how many, how much increase in numbers or percentages. How

many were in the training? How many reports? What size was the space? How many were on the team?

TIME – daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually are common ways to include time-orientation. If it was a

one-time accomplishment include the date it was carried out.

RESULTS – ask yourself, “What resulted in my work/involvement?” Include this as the last bullet statement or

in each bullet statement if it makes sense to include it.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Community Involvement /Volunteerism

• Reflect on your hobbies or

interests that provide insight

into your values.

• Include the role under the

experience section with

accomplishment statements

if it is not a paying job, but is

significant and relevant to

the opportunity.

• Mention any leadership roles

you hold or have held,

serving on campus or leading

a community event or organization.

Title this section after you decide what to include. Some examples are:

• Other Activities

• Community Involvement

• Campus Activities

• Volunteerism

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

Video Resume

1. What is your name, college name, and major?

2. What is your favorite class or subject at Concordia and why?

3. What are your career goals when you graduate from Concordia?

4. What would be the ideal job title or role for your first full-time position out of college?

5. What would classmates, professors, or former employers say about you that makes you unique?

6. How can an employer get in touch with you?

OnlineProfiles

CTXCareerconnection.org

The university hosts a unique site specifically for CTX

students and the employers who want to hire them.

On the site you can:

• Find jobs and internships

• Create a virtual profile and e-portfolio

• Take the interest and skills inventory

• Post a resume and video resume

• Research career paths on the video wall

• Explore career events on the community calendar

• Discover resume resources

Log on to www.ctxcareerconnection.org and create your account. Use your CTX email and

create a unique password.

1. Complete and update the sections of the profile as you develop knowledge of your skills,

talents, values, and experience using information from your PROFILE BUILDER exercise

and your final resume.

2. Remember, transfer third person accomplishment statements to first person (I, me, my)

and use more casual language.

3. Upload your final resume to your portfolio in PDF format after receiving feedback from

career services or your faculty advisor.

4. Continue to update your resume and e-portfolio with new experiences and significant

portfolio worthy projects such as team papers, presentations, video, or other projects.

5. Create and upload a video resume. Wear a clean, button down shirt our blouse and ask

a friend to video you answering the following questions:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional networking site where you will transfer your portfolio from

ctxcareerconnection.org once your student site is developed. LinkedIn will open up a world of

possibilities for your career by connecting you with like-minded professionals and opportunities that fit

your career aspirations.

Before building your LinkedIn profile account visit the LinkedIn student resources at

https://university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students. Review the Profile Checklist and Building a Great

Student Profile.

Contact a career services advisor or faculty advisor for help transferring your student e-portfolio to

LinkedIn.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

ProfileBuilderPowerWords

We identify with words and phrases that best describe us. Use the chart below to help you to

write the profile and skills statements of your resume.

Accurate Counseling Friendly Navigating Conscientious Sense of humor

Action oriented Courageous Funny Negotiating Considerate Sensitive

Activating Courteous Gathering information Objective Consistent Serious

Active Creative Generating ideas Observant Constructive Simplifying

Adaptable Credible Generous Open Controlling Sincere

Administering Critical thinking Giving feedback Open minded Cooperative Skillful

Adventurous Cultured Gratitude Optimistic Coordinating Social intelligence

Advising Curious Guiding Orderly Fearless Social skills

Aggressive Data input Handling Organized Finalizing Sophisticated

Agreeable decisive Hardworking Originality Finding Spontaneous

Alert Dedicated Harmonious Outgoing Flexible Steadfast

Ambitious dependable Helpful Overhauling Focused Stimulating

Amiable detailed Honest Overseeing Forceful Straightforward

Analytical Determined Hope Patient Formulating Strategic thinking

Appreciative Developing people Humorous People skills Marketing Strategizing

Approachable Devoted Idealistic Perceptive Meeting people Successful

Arranging Diligent Imaginative Perseverance Mentoring Succinct

Articulate Diplomatic Impartial Persistent Methodical Supervising

Artistic Directing Implementing Personable Meticulous Systematic

Assertive Disciplined Independent Persuading Monitoring Tactful

Athletic Discovering Industrious Persuasive Motivated Talented

Attentive Discreet Influencing Planning Resourceful Talkative

Autonomous dynamic Ingenuity Positive Respectful Teaching

Balancing Eager Initiating Practical Responsible Team oriented

Boundless Easygoing Innovative Precise Reviewing Team-work

Brave Economical Inquisitive Preparing Scheduling Technological

Briefing Editing Insightful Presenting Self-assured Thinking creatively

Budgeting Efficient Inspiring Prioritizing Self-controlled Thoughtful

Building teams Eloquent Instinctive Problem solving Will relocate Resolving

Calm Empathetic Instructing Procedural Will travel Tolerant

Capable Empowering Integrity Productive Willpower Tracking details

Careful Encouraging Intelligent Proofreading Wisdom Training

Caring Energetic Intuitive Prudence Writing Trouble-shooting

Charismatic Enterprising Kind Punctual Competitive Trustworthy

Charming Entertaining Knowledgeable Qualifying Compiling Unbiased

Checking Enthusiastic Launching Questioning Confident Understanding

Cheerful Evaluating Leadership Realistic Fair Uniting

Citizenship Examining Leading Receptive Faithful Updating

Clever Excellent Learning Recording Resolute Upgrading

Coaching Excited Listening Reflective Love of learning Verbalizing

Communicative Explaining Lively Relaxed Loyal Versatile

Compassionate Extroverted Locating Reliable Managing Vigorous

Competent Exuberant Logical Reporting Researching Visionary

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

ResumeActionWords

Use the list below to help you start accomplishment statements under the experience section

of your resume. Start each statement with a past tense action word. Complete the statement

by including the specific, metrics, time, and results.

Absorbed Composed Expanded Justified Publicized Selected

Accelerated Computed Experimented Lectured Purchased Simplified

Achieved Conducted Explained Listed Qualified Skilled

Adapted Consolidated Financed Logged Quantified Solved

Addressed Constructed Financed Maintained Quoted Sorted

Administered Consulted Forecasted Managed Reacted Streamlined

Advanced Coordinated Formulated Marketed Received Strengthened

Advised Counseled Formulated Measured Recommended Studied

Analyzed Created Fulfilled Mediated Reconciled Summarized

Announced Critiqued Gathered Mentored Recorded Supervised

Appraised Defined Generated Modeled Recovered Supplied

Arranged Delegated Granted Monitored Recruited Supported

Assembled Demonstrated Grossed Motivated Reduced Surveyed

Assessed Designed Guided Multiplied Referred Sustained

Assigned Detected Handled Negotiated Refine Taught

Assisted Determined Helped Observed Refined Tested

Attained Developed Hosted Obtained Rehabilitated Trained

Attracted Devised Hypothesized Operated Reinstated Transcribed

Audited Diagnosed Identified Ordered Rejected Translated

Balanced Directed Illustrated Organized Repaired Traveled

Bargained Discovered Implemented Oversaw Reported Triumphed

Beneficial Displayed Improved Performed Represented Troubleshot

Benefited Earned Increased Persuaded Researched Tutored

Bolstered Edited Influenced Photographed Resolved Tutored

Boosted Efficient Initiated Planned Responded Uncovered

Budgeted Eliminated Innovated Prepared Restored Unified

Calculated Enforced Inspected Presented Retained United

Classified Enhanced Installed Printed Retrieved Updated

Closed Enriched Instituted Processed Revamp Upgraded

Coached Established Instructed Produced Reviewed Utilized

Collaborated Estimated Integrated Programmed Saved Validated

Collected Evaluated Interpreted Projected Scheduled Viewed

Communicated Examined Interviewed Promoted Screened Witnessed

Compiled Exceeded Invented Proofread Secured Worldwide

Comply Excelled Investigated Provided Segmented Wrote

________________________________________________________________________________________________________




[email protected]

512-313-5041

OnlineProfileandResumeChecklist

Use this checklist as you complete the final drafts of your online profiles and resume.

Remember, always ask someone to review and edit your profile and resume before sending it

to employers or posting it online.

� Are your resume and online profile marketing tools that sell you? Or, are they a list of

jobs and education?

� Does your resume and online profile tell the story of you as an interesting person?

� Are you using third person in your resume and first person in your online profiles?

� Does the top 1/3 of your resume include profile and skills statements that provide a

summary of your character, interests, and experiences and communicate what’s in it for

the employer?

� Do you use bold headlines, bullets and indentations to tell the story of your education

and experience?

� Are you merchandising your associations? Do you include affiliations that are relevant?

� Do you lead with the Education or Experience section on your resume? Why?

� Are you selling the most important aspects of your work experience? Are you framing

experience statements as accomplishments using the specifics, metrics, time and results

model?

� Are there more past jobs you could include on you resume if presented the right way

that is relevant to the opportunity?

� Are you putting yourself in a mindset of an employer reading your resume or online

profile?

� One page resume or two? Why?

� Do you include your GPA, academic honors, courses taken, and internships?

� Are you presenting any of your coursework, leadership experiences, internships or

extra-curricular activities as experience?

� Are you selling the most important aspects of your extra-curricular activities?

� Are you using action verbs?

� Are you being specific enough with your accomplishment statements? Are you using

metrics and results where it makes sense?

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