RESUME TIPS

What about my Resume?

A resume is a printed picture of you. It is a summary of your background, experiences and other qualifications for employment.

A resume is usually sent to an employer with a cover letter or given to an employer with a completed application form.

A well-prepared resume is a quick way for an employer to learn a lot about you. It can help you get a job interview. If there is no vacancy, many employers keep the resume on file for future job openings.

What Should I Include On My Resume?

Personal Information - Name Address, and Phone Number.

Job Objective (Optional) - Specify the type of job or field you would like and what you have to offer the employer.

Education - List most recent first, the name, city and state of each school, date of graduation, specific programs of study and significant course work.

Experience - List in reverse chronological order, show paid and non-paid work, list name, city, and state of each employer, job title, date of employment and specific duties of each job.

Activities/Interests - List skills such a Words Per Minute in typing, CPR training, clubs and organizations, special awards, and hobbies.

Resume Check List

Resume Lead-in (Objective or Profile)

• Does it use business language that is action oriented?
• You need to have a specific job title that you are seeking (resumes must be tailored to each recipient, particularly if you are sending a resume for a specific position)
• Show your most prominent strengths.
• Indicate the type of responsibility that you can hold.
• Show how your contributions will specifically benefit the employer.

Professional Qualifications

• Does this section highlight each of your major strengths?
• Are all of the qualifications/achievements related to the career objective?
• Is there appropriate usage of key action words that connote your sense of urgency?
• Have you described each in such a way that the reader clearly understands the benefits of your achievements?
  

Experience

• For each job listed, have you listed the Job title, Function and Employer's name?
• Have you updated the language of your resume to include updated jargon that is widely used in your targeted industry?
• Will the reader understand the level of responsibility that you had from reading the information?
• Does this section talk about accomplishments and not about responsibility? Do you try to quantify your accomplishments?
• Don't be timid about listing non-paid accomplishments that you may have achieved for an organization.

Education

• Does the section begin with the highest academic achievement and work downwards?
• Did you include other training (even if it is non-academic) that might be relevant?
• Have you listed credits that might be irrelevant?
• Professional Organizations and Community Activities
• List only those items that have specific relevance to your career objective
• Does it list any organizations that don't present a professional image?
• Does it highlight organizations that will give you prospective employer an advantage with your contacts and business relationships?
• Does it refrain from personal information

Overall

• Does the resume look great? Have you highlighted or boldfaced titles, subtitles and other important information?
• Is there enough white space - does the text flow for 'easy reading' ?
• Has the resume been checked by you and at least two others for spelling, punctuation, syntax and grammar? Have you checked it at least 10 times?
• Does the body of the resume complement the career objective?
• Does the resume focus on what the employer wants to see?
• Does the resume use the word "I" - it shouldn't.
• Don't include references on the resume.
• Would you consider this resume to be an excellent sales tool for your performance and past accomplishments?
• When you are ready
• Print it as needed on a laser printer if you have one. Avoid paper colors other than white or ivory. Modify the resume for a position that you are keenly interested to personalize your specific advantages.

When you are Ready

Print it as needed on a laser printer if you have one. Avoid paper colors other than white or ivory. Modify the resume for a position that you are keenly interested to personalize your specific advantages.

Tips & Techniques

• It's All She Wrote: A resume should never be longer than two pages. It's your job to get noticed not the interviewers to find out what matters on your resume.
• Industrial Strength: If you have worked for Blue Ribbon companies use a resume format that highlights employers. If you had interesting assignments, then highlight experiences with resume format
• Power Statement: Replace job objectives with a power statement that describes your area of expertise (e.g. "Organizational Design Specialist" not "Human Resources Generalist"), demonstrates what you do (e.g. "align HR systems with organization strategy "not" design and develop . . .") and how you do it (e.g. "value - added consultative style")
• Use short, strong phrases to describe activities
• Use action verbs.
• Use correct present of past tense of action verbs.
• Do not use passive or negative words.
• Do not use personal pronouns.
  

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