The ResumeAssignment 5

Purpose of this Unit To help students think about the rhetoric of

creating a professional identity. To give students practical experience in the

steps of applying for jobs: researching a company or organization, writing and tailoring resumes and cover letters, editing and proofreading application materials.

To encourage students to pay attention to detail

Rhetoric When you send in your job-application materials, you're

not just assembling separate documents to fulfill the requirements of an ad. Those documents are part of a larger rhetorical whole, and together they form an argument for the viability of your candidacy for a particular job.

Each of your documents should be crafted meticulously, paying close attention to the rhetorical choices you are making. Other elements—the organization of your documents, the inclusion or omission of certain kinds of information, the use of white space—are equally important in building a case for yourself.

Visual Rhetoric The purpose of dividing everything into subsections rather

than lumping all of your information together is to allow the white space to speak for you.

The white space assists your argument by separating your credentials into discrete, precise units that, in turn, contribute holistically to the rhetoric of the document. It helps those who are reading your resume to quickly take in all of the information and to put the pieces together to form a picture of your candidacy.

Section breaks perform another important rhetorical function: they show the search committee that you understand the landscape of your field and can distinguish among different kinds of achievements and credentials.

Visual Rhetoric Select a Standard Font.Lettering that is too decorative

will stand out as unprofessional. Instead, opt for a classic selection that scales well with the amount of text on the page. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to stick with Times New Roman, but opt for another streamlined, straightforward font -- and keep it consistent throughout the entire document.

Strike the Right Balance Between White Space and Text.No matter which type of résumé format you've selected, make sure the text is distributed fairly evenly over the entire page. If there's too much text, readers may be put off and confused. If there's too much empty space on the page, it may appear that you're a bit lacking in the experience department.

Formats Chronological.

--Lists positions in reverse chronological order

-Job responsibilities and skills are listed under each position held

-Calls attention to growth and progression into positions of increased responsibility

-Lists dates of employment at the top of each job description

-Presents job duties and experience under headings by job title and company

-Easy for employer to determine what work was performed at each company.

Chronological FormatEXPERIENCE

Legal Secretary, Smith Law Firm, Charlotte, NCJanuary 2007 - present Interview clients, open files, draft petitions and letters, and file petitions at the

courthouse Perform legal research

Administrative Assistant, Wachovia, Charlotte, NCDecember 2001 – November 2006 Performed various office duties including letter composition, word processing,

filing, telephones, and other duties Verified accuracy of bills received and submit payment Utilized computer system programs for scheduling appointments and inventory

Functional Headings consist of functions or skills Responsibilities and accomplishments are

described under each applicable heading Employment dates are given at the end of

the resume, after employers have had a chance to read about skills and successes

Shortcomings in job history have less of an emphasis

Functional FormatSKILLS

Communication Fluent in Spanish Communicated verbally and in written form to students,

parents, teachers and administrators Interviewed clients to obtain pre-trial information

Computer Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint and Excel Implemented computerized bookkeeping system Proficient in QuickBooks

EXPERIENCE

Legal Secretary, Smith Law Firm, Charlotte, NC, 1/06-present

Administrative Assistant, Wachovia, Charlotte, NC,12/99-11/05

Common Headings Contact Information Objective Education Honors Experience Skills

Contact Information Your name should appear in a larger and/or

bolded font Address (city, state, zip code) Telephone Number Email

Objective 1 sentence Type of position (part time, full time, summer

internship) What position would you like to find? Emphasize how you will use your skills, not

what you want to gain

Objective Do not be needy:

-To obtain a position that will allow me to advance my potential while seeking new challenges. Show what you will contribute:

-Vice-president of aerospace engineering in an agency where extensive knowledge of thermodynamics and heat transfer are needed.

-Seeking a technical writing position where I can effectively contribute my expertise in written communication.

Action Statements Duties included teaching art lessons (Passive) Prepared and displayed creative art activities

(Active) Responsible for clerical duties (Passive) Managed department and recruited participants

(Active) Counseled ex-offenders on career, alcohol, and

drug abuse (Active)

Accomplishment-Oriented

Successfully developed and implemented systems to streamline office procedures, increasing productivity.

Staffed and managed a 20-30 person department that recruited participants for marketing research studies. Cut costs by one-third in less than six months.

Provided customer service through resolution of problems, explanation of bank services and policies, and knowledge of financial planning, resulting in greater customer satisfaction.

Job DescriptionBarnett & Falls

Location: North Carolina-Charlotte

Job Title: Legal Secretary

Description:  Legal secretary needed for small criminal defense law firm. Communication and computer skills a must. Job includes answering phone, scheduling, writing checks and updating accounts with Quickbooks, letters, file creation and closing. Fluent in Spanish preferred but will consider all. Prior experience in law firm a plus, but not required.

What are the employers needs?

Job DescriptionBarnett & Falls

Location: North Carolina-Charlotte

Job Title: Legal Secretary

Description:  Legal secretary needed for small criminal defense law firm. Communication and computer skills a must. Job includes answering phone, scheduling, writing checks and updating accounts with Quickbooks, letters, file creation and closing. Fluent in Spanish preferred but will consider all. Prior experience in law firm a plus, but not required.

What are the employers needs?

JILL EHLI235 West Thayer AvenueCharlotte, NC 28203(704) 354-7982 Jillehli@yahoo.com

Objective: To secure a legal secretary position with the Barnett & Falls law firm where I can utilize my education, administrative and bi-lingual skills.

Summary of Qualifications: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Fluent in Spanish Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint; QuickBooks Attention to detail, follow-through and time management

Education:Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NCAssociate of Arts, Paralegal Technology, 2009Relevant Coursework: Legal Research and Writing I&II, Civil Litigation I&II, Spanish III&IV

Experience:Legal Secretary, January 2007 – presentSmith Law Firm, Charlotte, NC Performed general office duties including word processing, filing, telephones, and other duties as required Interviewed clients, open files, draft petitions and letters, and file petitions at courthouse. Researched legal issues. Six months devoted to major international case.

Receptionist, December 2001- November 2006Charlotte Family Medicine, Charlotte, NC Scheduled approximately 80 patient appointments daily Translated for Spanish speaking patients Prepared and filed invoices and compiled payments using computerized system. Decreased errors by 15%

Writing Style Find specific, dynamic verbs Use present (or past) imperatives

consistently Include each verb only once Make lists parallel in structure Omit articles (a, an, the) Use more lists than sentences

Resume Do’s Make it brief, using short phrases Use action verbs Include internship, practicum, summer, full-

time, and part-time employment Organize education and employment in

reverse chronological order Emphasize skills, strengths, and

accomplishments List major awards, achievements, and

publications

Resume Don’ts Make the resume longer than 1 page Use abbreviations Use common introductory phrases such as

“my duties included” or “I was responsible for”

Mention high school degrees and activities Include personal information Include present salary or salary desired