PREPARING A RÉSUMÉ. 2 What is a résumé? A résumé is a summary of your employment history,...
-
Upload
britney-watson -
Category
Documents
-
view
230 -
download
2
Transcript of PREPARING A RÉSUMÉ. 2 What is a résumé? A résumé is a summary of your employment history,...
PREPARING A RÉSUMÉ
2
What is a résumé?
A résumé is a summary of your employment history, education, and accomplishments.
The purpose of a résumé is to present aspects of your life that are relevant to an employer.
It is a marketing tool—what is being marketed is YOU!
3
Functions of a résumé …An inventory of your experiencesHelps you clarify your value as an employeeProvides a summary for potential employer so he/she can evaluate whether you should be interviewedUsed as a reference for questions by an interviewerFiled for future reference by a potential employer
4
Résumés at a glance …
A résumé has one specific function:
to get an interview!
Employers need a quick way to reduce the number of résumés they need to read
How? A 5-second glance can give an employer reasons NOT to keep it.
5
Will your résumé make the short list …
Handwritten?Corners curled, paper wrinkled?Smudges, coffee stains, etc.?
Design difficult to read?Oops, there’s a spelling error?No postal codes, no telephone numbers?
Grammatical error?
Definitely a NO!Into the basket!
Not a chance!
Haven’t the time!Pitch this one!
It’s a loser.
Not wanted here.
6
Types of résumés …
There are three main ways to organize the information on your résumé:
Chronological
Functional
Combination
Each type serves a purpose
How do you know which one is best?
7
Chronological Résumé
Use this format if you can show steady progress in your education and employmentThis is the best method to use when:
The name of your last employer is importantYou want to find a job in the same area as your previous oneYour job history or education shows growth and development
8
Chronological Résumé
Don’t use this format if:You want to emphasize skills you haven’t used in other jobs
You’re looking for a job you’ve never done before
You’ve changed jobs a lot
9
Chronological Résumé
Advantage
You can demonstrate, at a glance, a summary of your education and experience.
Disadvantage
You don’t have a place to indicate your skills and qualifications up front.
10
Chronological Résumé Structure
Starts off with a job objective or a personal profileGroups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological orderMay include a section on awards and accomplishmentsProvides information on interestsProvides references
11
CHRONOLOGICAL
RÉSUMÉ
12
Functional Résumé
Use this format when you have little or no actual work experience in the area in which you’re looking for work
This is the best format to use when:You haven’t worked before
You want to emphasize talents and skills you haven’t used in a particular job
You’ve had a variety of jobs in the past which aren’t connected
You’ve done mostly temporary work in the past
13
Functional Résumé
Don’t use this format when:You have a steady pattern of jobs and education
Your past employers are important in relation to your job objective
14
Functional Résumé
Advantage
You can highlight your special skills and any awards and achievements that come from work, volunteer or school experiences.
DisadvantageYou have to back up your list of skills and qualifications with education, work or volunteer experiences. You can’t just list skills you believe you have without demonstrating how you got them.
15
Functional Résumé Structure
Starts off with a job objective
List of skills and/or achievements that support the objective
Groups education, work and volunteer experiences and lists items in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
Provides information on interests
Provides references
16
FUNCTIONAL RÉSUMÉ
17
Combination Résumé
It is best to use this format when:Your education is an important part of your skills and your practical skills are limitedYour background shows a wide range of unrelated skillsYour work history isn’t reflective of you as a stable worker—you’ve held a lot of different jobsYour work history shows more time in other work areas
18
COMBINATION RÉSUMÉ
19
Parts of a Résumé
NAMEDo not use nicknames
Highlight so it stands out: bold, larger font
ADDRESSUse complete addressDon’t use abbreviations except for the 2-letter abbreviations for provinces (i.e. NS, NB, PE)Put the postal code on a line by itself
20
Parts of a RésuméTELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS
Include area codeTwo acceptable styles are:
(902) 555-1234 or 902/555-1234
EMAIL ADDRESSInclude it if you have one, giving the message you are computer literate
Do not use an email address that is inappropriate (i.e. [email protected])
21
Parts of a Résumé
OBJECTIVE OR PROFILEAn objective gives focus, direction and support to the body of the résumé
It is an attention grabber
Use an objective only if it makes sense; otherwise use a cover letter
If you are “shopping for work”, you might use a Career Profile focusing on skills, achievements and character attributes
22
Parts of a Résumé
EDUCATIONList your most recent education first
Include the name of the school and dates of attendance
Include courses studied, particularly if your résumé is short
Additional training courses and certificates should be included
It is not necessary to include your junior high
23
Parts of a Résumé
WORK EXPERIENCEList your most recent work experience first and work backwards
Include dates, job title, employer, job responsibilities
Try to think like an employer—what would you want to see as the reader of your résumé
Use action verbs to tell what you have done
Include volunteer work experience
24
Parts of a Résumé
AWARDS AND ACTIVITIESList academic honours or certificates you received
Stress extra-curricular activities and special achievements in sports, clubs, or other school activities
These offer employers evidence of leadership, dedication and initiative
25
Parts of a Résumé
SPECIAL SKILLS AND ATTITUDESHighlight the skills you have that relate directly to the position for which you are applyingThese may include specific computer applications, fluency in a foreign language, or special abilities you possess that are not necessarily part of your formal educationHighlight attributes such as honesty, enthusiasm, and maturity—qualities that make you indispensable in the work place
26
Parts of a Résumé
REFERENCESThink carefully about who can act as your references. Type the name, title, company, address, and phone/fax number of three to four references.
Prior permission to use any individual’s name as a reference is a must and as a courtesy, inform your references that they may be contacted.
27
Who can you ask to be a reference?
Someone from your school (teacher, guidance counsellor, coach, administrator). Someone you've worked for (summer, part-time or full-time employer). Someone you've worked for on a casual basis (babysitting, shovelling snow, delivering papers). Someone you've helped (as a volunteer or as a friend). Someone whose opinion is respected (elder, minister, community leader). You cannot use a relative!!
28
ReferencesThere are different opinions on whether or not to include the actual references on your résumé. If you decide not to include them on your résumé, follow these suggestions:
In the Reference section, type “References Attached” and prepare them on a separate sheet which matches your résumé.Type “References Available on Request” and do not submit them with your résumé.
29
References
Résumés that say “References available on request” risk delay or rejection
Employers in a hurry will likely favour people whose references are attached to the résumé.
The employer may recognize one of your references and be impressed—making your résumé stand out from the others!
30
Résumé Dos and Don’ts
DOUse only one font size (12 pt) and one font style (Times New Roman, Arial)Be consistent when using bold, italics, underliningLeave 2-3 blank lines between sectionsUse a good-quality paperUse white, off-white, ivory or cream-coloured paper
DOUse power words (action verbs)Use a header including your name and page number on the second pageStaple the pages with one staple in the top left cornerPROOFREAD!!!
31
Résumé Dos and Don’ts
DON’T INCLUDE YOUR …
Age/birthdate
Race
Religion
Marital status
Sexual preference
Social Insurance Number
32
Employer’s Pet Peeves About Résumés
More than two pages long
Coloured paper
Spelling errors
Handwritten corrections
Old jobs that are not relevant
Repetition
Attempts to inflate responsibilities
Fancy graphics
Poor quality paper
A photocopy of a photocopy
33
Employers Speak Out on Résumés
“Any résumé that looks like it’s part of a mass mailing goes into the garbage. And if there’s one spelling mistake or bad punctuation, out it goes.” Mark Bowles, Komex International Ltd.
“I want brief, to-the-point résumés that highlight work experience and education. Tailor your résumé to show me why you should work for my company.” Joanne Tully, Holiday Inn
“When I see neatness in a résumé, I get the feeling that the job candidate will keep his or her work area and tools clean. That’s important in by business.” Clark Johnston, Clark’s Quality Woodwork
LET’S GET STARTED!!