Transforming your Resume © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. The content of this publication is the copyrighted work of Wiser U, LLC. The reproduction and/or distribution of this publication, including any of its parts, is strictly prohibited.

With Kathy Bernard

• Career Coach • Resume Writer • Creator of the WiserU Career System

Invite me to connect on LinkedIn: Kathy Bernard, St. Louis, MO Kathy@WiserU.com

Today’s Purposes:

1) Determine: Use a CV or resume

2) Develop a targeted resume, modified for every opening

3) Learn what’s wrong with most resumes

4) Play up strengths/fix weaknesses

5) Handle wrong/no experience

CV or Resume?

Curriculum Vitae = “Course of life”

• Full record of academic/work history

• Same CV every time. Only cover letter changes

Resume = “Summary”

• Covers relevant highlights of work/education

• Relays why you’re the best for the job

• Modify it for each opening

CVs

• Full academic background (degrees, research, awards, achievements, publications, presentations, patents, grants, fellowships, associations, affiliations, memberships, licenses, classes, professional development, teaching/work experience)

• Put most important/relevant categories first

• Length: Varies

Resumes

• Education and relevant professional experience for last 10-15 years

• Headline and summary emphasizing why you are the best person for the job, relevant skills accomplishments, and achievements

• Length: 1-2 pages.

• Remove early, irrelevant experience

CVs AND Resumes

• Name and contact info (city/state, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile address).

• Education, skills, experience, and achievements (in detail for CVs, briefly in your resume).

General Tips – CVs or Resume:

• Research examples for your field.

• Don’t include your salary history.

• For resumes, start sentences with action verbs. Keep entries short (preferably one line each). Don’t use “I”.

• For CVs, use full sentences.

Resume problems:

1) Wrong format

2) Generic

3) Don’t play up why you’re uniquely qualified

I love creativity, but . . .

• With online applications, creativity can kill

• Improperly formatted resumes go unread

• Keywords and qualifications are king

• Be creative in other ways

What’s wrong: • PDF format,

2 columns

• Hard-to-read type

• No quantifiable results

• Objective is about her, not the company

What’s wrong:

• PDF format • Multi- columns • Artsy • Old fashioned

feel • Dense copy • Lines

What’s wrong:

• PDF format, multiple columns

• Artsy for arts sake

• No duties or accomplishments

What’s wrong:

• PDF format, multiple columns

• Way too busy • No duties

1. Black text on white paper

2. Use only standard bullet or hyphen

Keep it simple

2-page resumes are widely accepted

• Don’t limit your experience to 1 page!

• Use extra space to:

o Establish your brand

o Emphasize your skills

o Add duties/accomplishments

o Increase type size

o Add white space

Chronological or capabilities

resume?

Capability/functional resume?

86% prefer chronological

• See accomplishments at a particular company

• See gaps and whether you are progressing or digressing

• Relates better online

• GOOD: Word 97-2003

• BEST: Plain text

• NOT RECOMMENDED: pdf, Excel, jpeg, or Word 2007 or newer (some companies can’t open .docx)

Saving your document

• Create in Word; save as Plain Text

• Use fixed width font like Courier

Plain text formatting

Plain text quirks

Highly

formatted

resume

• Only for interviews or applying offline

Resume tips

from top to bottom

Resume formatting

• 1” border to prevent text cut off

• 1 to 2 pages

• 1 font

• Use standard fonts: Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman or Calibri to be readable on ATS

• 11 pt. or larger body copy

• Double space between sections

More formatting tips

• Limit italics and underlining

• No lines, boxes, shading, graphics, tables, or columns

• Make email and web links live

• Type “First Name Last Name, page #” at the top of all pages beyond page 1

• Don’t add a header or footer

• Limit indents

Add bold section headers

• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• SKILLS SUMMARY

• PROFICIENCIES

• EXPERIENCE

• EDUCATION/TRAINING

• AWARDS/ACTIVITIES (Optional)

Contact information section

• Name

o Certification / degree abbreviations

• Address

o Local/national

• Cell number

• Email address

• LinkedIn address

Use headline NOT an objective

OBJECTIVE: To positively contribute in a creative advertising trajectory. SAD BUT TRUE: Companies don’t care what you want. They want to know what you can do for them.

Headline: Match the job

Proven Human Resources Manager with Extensive Global Corporate

Recruiting and Compliance Experience

Include career highlights

• Spit back main job requirements

Include a skills summary

• List keywords from job description in alphabetical order

List proficiencies

• Add category header: PROFICIENCIES (Alphabetical)

• List computer and tech skills

• List Microsoft Office Suite, including Access, Excel, Outlook, etc.

Add certifications / licenses

• Double space under PROFICIENCIES listing

Certifications

• Project Management Certification (PMP), Current

• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), Current

Licenses

• Life Accident & Health Insurance Agent License, Current

• FINRA 7, 63 and 66, Current

• AAMS® Designation, Current

Feature your experience

• Most recent job first

• 1st line: Company name, city/state and starting/ending date (to the far right)

• 2nd line: Company description (in italic)

• 3rd line: Job title (bolded)

Educate readers about companies

What did the company do?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car The world’s largest rental car company. LHM Global nonprofit with a $20 million budget and 33 world offices.

List duties in order of importance

• Explain why duties mattered

• Try to keep duties to one line each

• Weed out irrelevant tasks

Match the job description

• Match job requirements

• Use keywords from the job description

• Add quantifiable results

Learn keywords

• Test resume against job description on Wordle.net

Example that needs works

Play up experience

Weak: “I helped edit magazine articles.”

Strong: “Managed award-winning editorial content for Blank magazine, the flagship publication of XYZ Corp.”

Both statements are true. The second one says it with power

Use power verbs

• Start with power verb: “Led the successful implementation of…”

• Don’t use “I”.

Use power verbs

Type “resume power words” into Google

Or, try www.betterjobsfaster.org

Leadership keywords

Accomplished

Built

Business

Created

Decisive

Develop

Directed

Experienced

Implemented

Launched

Led

Leveraged

Managed

Oversaw

Proven

Results

Strategic

Transformed

Accountant keywords

• Tax accounting

• Reconciliations

• Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable

• General ledger

• Profit or loss statements

• CPA, MBA

Use quantifiable statements

• Increased sales or donations by $XX / XX%

• Secured $XX cost savings by …

• Trained XX employees in a new program, which resulted in a XX% increase in sales

No quantifiable statements?

Consider part you played to bring about results

“Was part of a team that brought about $120,000 in savings by implementing…”

Break up text into bullet points

Long paragraphs are hard to read Better - Real Estate Solutions Architect - Led technology integration of 14 companies into one - Integrated offerings between business major units - Developed proposals, due diligence reports, and ROI estimates - Bundled B2B/B2C internet services, increasing sales by 225%

while saving 38% over previous processes

Use degree AND abbreviation FORMAT:

MBA – Master of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN BS – Bachelor of Science – Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX

Include courses

• Relevant college classes

• Training/courses after college

Wrong degree or no degree?

• Include classes, seminars, training courses

• Play up proficiencies

• Take a college class. Say, “Working toward XX degree.”

• Consider (honestly) saying proficiencies / experience equivalent to an Associates degree in …”

What else?

• Have network vouch for you

• Have a flawless resume and cover letter

• Focus on companies willing to hire you

• Include samples

• Consider leaving education off

Include awards/activities

• List awards and honors

• Volunteer involvement, particularly field related

–If very active, shorten list to most relevant

• Don’t list personal information

Omit “References” line

• Drop the line or add a page of references

References

Available upon request.

Determine best references

• Have 4+ references; at least 2 a business reference

• Ask influential people in your target field, industry or company

Ask! Don’t assume

• Remind them of your relationship

• Bring them up to date

• Frame request to give them an out: "Would you be comfortable serving as a reference for me during my job search?”

• Never pressure a reluctant reference Seek an alternate instead

Ask for this information:

• Name (and nickname)

• Job title

• Company / school name and address

• Phone number

• Email address

• Relationship to you

Prepare your references

• Email them:

– Job description

– Bullet points about job qualifications

– Resume

– Company representative’s contact information

• Follow up by phone

Example:

Del Schwinke

Director of Retail Advertising

Geile-Leon Marketing Communications

130 S. Bemiston Ave.

Clayton, MO 63105

Adjust Advertising Professor, Washington University

(Volunteer) President of the Advertising Club of St. Louis (AAF)

(W) 123-456-7890 (C) 098-765-4321

del@companyname.com1

Relationship: Long-term colleagues on the Advertising Club of Saint Louis board.

In conclusion … WORK

your resume to rise to the top!

Do so by …

• Being prepared for online applications

• Branding yourself as a perfect match

• Being flawless in grammar, punctuation and consistency

Be careful!

• Proof every time

• Check dates, titles, etc.

• Run spell check

• Have someone read your materials

• Improve your grammar / punctuation

www.grammar-quizzes.com

Attach documents!

• Attach resume when you type the word “attached” as in …

“Please find my resume attached.”

Resume / LinkedIn profile =

Be consistent

• Update LinkedIn profile when you update resume

• Make sure numbers agree

Sounds simple, but …

Many job seekers use the same ineffectual resume again and again …

… and NEVER land a well-paying

job that they love.

That doesn’t have to happen

to you!

WiserU will train you to get

what you want

WiserUCareerSystem.com

We’ll train you in the most

strategic way possible Research-based, step-by-step video training

Follow-up take action guides

Special resources including a career action

plan, resume template, cover letter template, and LinkedIn profile template that will teach you EXACTLY what to say and do

View intro videos … wiseru.com/career-system/

wiseru.com/career-system

WiserU also provides individual …

Services: 847-606-5160 | info@wiserU.com or visit wiseru.com/services/

• Career coaching • Interview preparation • LinkedIn training • Resume • LinkedIn profile • Recruiter Reach services

Transforming your Resume © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. The content of this publication is the copyrighted work of Wiser U, LLC. The reproduction and/or distribution of this publication, including any of its parts, is strictly prohibited.