Core & Targeted Resum é Strategies Doug Elliot, Career Counselor/Coach/Trainer

1. Core & Targeted ResuméStrategiesDoug Elliot, Career Counselor/Coach/Trainer

3. Overview and the pre-Resumé Basics Core vs. Targeted Resumé Choosing a Format Parts of a Resumé Experience Statements – P.A.R. or S.T.A.R. Creating a SWOT analysis AGENDA

4. Please write down three soft skills… & three hard skills… & three soft skills… 1st Request

5. Career Change Steps Assess your work values, interests, abilities & skills, personality, long-term career goals. Adjust for clarity. Create a SWOT Explore occupations and industries found in the San Diego. Accept local labor market conditions. (LMI) Evaluate options, make a decision, develop a strategy for achieving your short and long term career goals. Create a CAP SMART goal plan Take action! Get training and/or conduct a job search using a educational sales approach.

6. Skills x 2 :Transferability Analyze how transferable your skills are… Objectively assess your skills and compare resume with job announcement Calculate the degree of transferability

7. Skills x 2 :Transferability & Applied SOFT Skills Job Specific HARD Skills = Portable TRANSFERABLE Skills

8. Conduct a S.W.O.T. Strengths = skills, talents, abilities, attributes, characteristics, etc., that you possess now...

9. Weaknesses = skills, talents, abilities, attributes, characteristics, etc., that are missing...

10. Opportunities = promotions, transfers, new tasks, grant work, interim positions...

11. Threats = funding, lack of tenure, reduced classes, frozen jobs, eliminated jobs, change of management...

12. Purpose: to get an interview There is no ONE correct way Customize it every time Brief is best - include relevant information Visual appeal – fonts, margins, paper Effectively organize information Two primary formats to choose from The Basics

13. What Employers Want Do you fit in? = Personality Type Can you do the job? = Skills Sets Can you be counted on? = Reliability

14. Survey Says 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%)

15. Chronological Functional Chronological is the most traditional Functional combines skills and chronology Resumé Format

16. Lists work experience in reverse Includes 10-15 years of experience Include position title, name of organization, location and dates of employment Best for anyone on a career path that has been building over time and shows a logical progression Chronological

17. CHRONOLOGICAL

18. Presents capabilities according to their relevance to job target and in order of priority to that job Focus first on the transferable skills and functions most likely to interest the employer Minimize less relevant work and employment gaps by listing work history, without details, at the bottom Functional

19. Functional format is best if you . . . Are making a significant career change Have gaps of employment Have many different jobs in a short time Are a recent graduate with no experience Functional Continued

20. FUNCTIONAL AKA COMBINATION

21. Text Only Resumé Always have a flash drive handy with your resumes and cover letters on in two formats… MS Word format to print PDF version to attach 2. Text-only version to upload

22. DIY Text Only Resumé Step 1: Save your Resume as a Text Only document (Plain Text in Windows XP). Step 2: Make sure you have all the keywords that define your job qualifications. Step 3: Delete any references to "page two," "Continued," or your name or head on page 2. You are making your resume appear as one continuous electronic document. Step 4: Use all CAPS for words that need special emphasis. For the best overall effect, use all caps sparingly and judiciously, highlighting only what you really want to have stand out. Step 5: Replace each bullet point with a standard keyboard symbol. Suggested replacements are: Dashes (-) Plus signs (+) Single or Double Asterisks (*) (**)Step 6: Use straight quotes in place of curly quotes. Step 7: Rearrange text if necessary.

24. Core vs.Targeted • No more generic resumés… • No more one-size-fits-all resumés… • No more resumés with clichés! • Have one CORE resumé that no one will ever see. Ever! • Use the CORE resumé as a starter resumé that is customized for each job. • That customized resumé is the TARGETED resumé and used for that “one” job.

25. Parts of a Resumé

26. Contact Information Name should be prominent Use a professional e-mail address Consider adding a design line Name & page number on second page Use for ALL job search documents! Letterhead

27. Professionals use a “headline” Everything that follows must support the objective Be specific…customize every time Job Objective

28. “A challenging position that will allow me to contribute to the growth of the organization while offering me an opportunity for advancement and job security.” Old-School Objective

29. “To obtain a Office Manager position with KMPG LLC, San Diego” New Age Objective

30. Brief look at experience and education Reflects employers’ requirements Use 3-5 bullet statements Title options: Summary Core Competencies Profile Career Highlights Summary Statement

31. Number of years of experience Credentials, education or training Key accomplishments Key strengths, skills or characteristics for the position Bilingual skills Summary Components

32. List where, what, when (dates are preferred) While in school say “in progress” Include on-the-job training workshops, etc. Recent = within two years Recent Education / Training

33. Honors and Awards (recent grads only) Community Service (not court ordered) Unique or Specialized Training (relevant) Professional Development Professional Affiliations (if current Professional Credentials (if relevant Certifications (active and relevant) Additional Settings

34. Accomplishments are best described using the P.A.R. formula: P = Problem (a problem you encountered) A = Action (the action you took) R = Results (%$#+-) P.A.R. or

35. Another way to look at it…S.T.A.R. S/T = Situation or Task A = Action (the action you took) R = Results (%$#+-) …S.T.A.R.

36. Instead of . . . “Responsible for office filing system.” Use . . . “Reviewed and revamped outdated file management system leading to new funding for more efficient software.” Show Results

38. Break into groups Choose a member’s P, S or T Write a before and after statement Present to all….. Write a P.A.R. Statement

39. Remember to proofread (get “new eyes” to have a look) (by someone who doesn’t love you) Save a copy of each version you send out to employers (i.e., sdccdSSA.doc) Writing your resume will help you describe your accomplishments in the interview Update your resume every few months, even when you are on the job Final Thoughts & Q/A

40. COVER LETTERS

41. Customize for each job Pre-sell your resume Email or snail mail Address to a real person: don’t assume gender, spelling of name, or title If you can, make a personal link Express enthusiasm and interest Cover Letter Basics

42. Use their words to show what you can do Show that you know something about the organization or industry Take the initiative One page – exactly the same header, paper and font as your resume Proofread (your letter must be perfect) Basics Continued

43. Career Development Services cds.sdce.edu Doug Elliot, Career Counselor delliot@sdccd.edu