RESUME RESUME

1. RESUME RESUME What it is REALLY about

2. This PPT will help you to: • Understand the basic principles of text- resume writing • Develop skills to create effective resumes • Be aware of the different genres of modern resumes

3. What people can say about their talents: • Resumes describe your assessment of your talents, accomplishments, and achievements. • Sometimes you can be too straightforward….

4. Famous Resumes? Guess who they are… • My last job involved a lot of office politics and back stabbing. I'd like to get away from all that. • I can give your company a head start on the competition. • My primary talent is downsizing. On my last job, I downsized my staff, my organization, and the populations of several countries.

5. You got it! 1. Julius Ceaser 2. Joseph Guillotine 3. Ghengis Khan

6. Think resume writing is funny! • THINK • AGAIN

7. Resume Facts and Fallacies • Resume writing is serious business, and certainly very challenging • The world of resume writing is often surrounded by myths and contradictions • Let us test our Resume IQ….

8. Fact or Fallacy • The purpose of a resume is to get you a job. • Fallacy • Career objectives should be general enough to qualify you for a variety of jobs. • Fallacy • You don’t need a current resume if you’re not seeking employment. • Fallacy

9. Fact or Fallacy • The order of information on the resume is very important • Fact • The best resumes list education followed by experience. • Fallacy • Never delete work experience from a resume. • Fallacy

10. Fact or Fallacy • Using different highlighters (e.g., bullets, arrows, etc.) creates interest and excitement • Fallacy • A 2-page resume is better than a 1-page resume. • Fallacy • Always proofread your resume at least twice • Fact

11. Why do resumes fail? • Here are the reasons given in a survey of employers: • No accomplishments (78%) • Negative visual impact (55%) • Poor or no cover letter (40%) • Lack of objective (36%) • Format problems (32%) • Irrelevant data (29%) • Inadequate job description (12%) • Time gaps unexplained (10%) • Resume too long (10%)

12. 12 Accomplishments Employers Want To See • Increased revenues • Saved money • Increased efficiencies • Cut overhead • Increased sales • Improved workplace safety • Purchasing accomplishments • New products/new lines • Improved record keeping process • Increased productivity • Successful advertising campaign • Effective budgeting

13. 7 Resume Revision Tips • In the next slides we will learn about some simple, but pertinent rules of effective resume writing.

14. 1) Be Original • ‘Borrowing’ statements from other resumes is a BAD IDEA. • This tactic almost never works. It can also backfire on you. • Take the time to create your own style and look to your résumé.

15. 2) Be Factual! • Although just 5 percent of workers actually admit to fibbing on their resumes, 57 percent of hiring managers say they have caught a lie on a candidate's application, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey. • Of the hiring managers who caught a lie, 93 percent didn't hire the candidate.

16. Top Resume Lies • Stretched dates to cover up employment gaps • Past employers (18 percent) • Academic degrees and institutions (16 percent) • Technical skills and certifications (15 percent) • Accomplishments (8 percent)

17. Why and How?? • Reasons for lying range from innocuous (not being sure of the exact employment dates) to unethical (intentionally being deceitful to get the job). • To ensure your resume is accurate, but still portrays you in the best light, here are some tips …..

18. If you don't have much formal experience... • Highlight any activities or coursework that could be relevant to the position. Volunteer activities, part-time jobs and class projects can all provide transferable skills and training. • Highlight skills acquired during your tenure.

19. If you didn't quite finish your degree... • Do not indicate on your resume that you graduated. • Instead, name the university and list the years in which you attended.

20. If you were out of work... • Don't stretch the employment dates to cover the gap. • Instead, keep the dates accurate and address the gap in your cover letter. Be sure to mention any classes you took or volunteer work you performed during this time to keep your skills up-to-date.

21. If your company uses unfamiliar titles... • This is one of the only circumstances in which it's acceptable to change your title to something more recognizable. • For example if your title was "primary contact," and you performed the duties of an administrative assistant, you can clarify your title by writing "Primary Contact/Administrative Assistant." • Giving yourself a promotion to "office manager," however, crosses the ethical line.

22. 3) Write Specific Objective Statements • Generic objectives are one of the worst mistakes that a job candidate can make; generic career objectives indicate a candidate who is unsure about his career goals. • Effective career objectives are specific and quantitative.

23. Example: • ‘Seeking a challenging position where there is room for growth.’ • What is this objective statement really saying about you? • Nothing at all! By using this type of introduction, the only message you are sending to an employer is that you are not interested in the hiring organizations needs, only your own.

24. Or • To acquire a creative development position within the entertainment industry that would utilize my vast (2 years) technical experience Is not as specific as: • To acquire a creative developer position in a film production company that would enhance my experience in using visual aid and special effects technology.

25. 4) Use Chunking Aids • Customer’s buying decisions are influenced by how a product looks. • This same philosophy holds true for a hiring manager. • When they have to sift through a pile of resumes, they will automatically be drawn to the resume that is easier for them to read. • However…….

26. Be Judicious • Too much variation can move the recruiter’s attention to your design elements, rather than your credentials. Use chunking judiciously.

27. Example: • The only purpose of a bulleted statement is to draw the reader’s attention to key accomplishments. • If every statement is bulleted, the reader will have a difficult time differentiating between them. • For maximum impact, combine the use of paragraphs and bulleted statements.

28. 5) Tailor your resume to the job requirements • A resume should only be as long as it takes to tell your story in a succinct and powerful way • Read what the job demands and design your resume accordingly

29. Example • You may have excellent qualifications and experiences both as an administrator and a professor. If you are applying for a teaching position, the administrative skills may not be as relevant as your teaching skills. • Include only those information that most effectively markets your skills and potential benefit to the employer for the specific position

30.  6) Make it Accomplishment/ Skills Acquired vs. Duty Based • Incorporate your accomplishments, instead of simply telling what your duties are/were in any job. • Tell what skills you acquired while in that job.

31. Examples: • Worked as sales manager • Managed all sales activities for the car accessories division • VS • Worked as sales manager • Managed all sales activities for the car accessories division • Increased sales by 3% in the Sep 05- Dec 05 quarter • Learned fiscal management skills • Learned office management and handling employees in  a large setting

32. 7) Disregard mundane job details if possible: • Examples: • Responsibilities included checking customers out. • Maintained files and reports, did data processing, cashed employees' paychecks. • Washed dirty dishes and cleaned up for the next day.

33. The Resume Mantra • Highlight your marketable skills relevant to the particular position • Be consistent in your format and description • Be truthful. Remember, you may be asked to prove your skills

34. TO CONCLUDE • An effective resume has three criteria: • Key understanding of the audience • Strong, succinct message of qualifications • Relate past successes to the hiring organization’s immediate needs • If your resume doesn’t meet these three criteria, it won’t make the needed impact on the hiring manager. • GOOD LUCK