1. Resume Writing Workshop Yas Djadali GSEP Career Services

2. Today’s Topics • Creating/Polishing your resume • Customizing your cover letters • Utlizing Career Services Resources • And MY main goal…

3. Decrease the fear… Strengthen your brand… Be that top 5%…

4. RESUME: What’s the purpose? • Marketing tool to get you the interview • Overview of your education, experiences, and skills • Used to demonstrate a match between you and the job description/employer • Script for your job interview

5. Types of Resumes • Chronological • List your former positions in descending chronological order • Start with most recent job and work back to your earliest • Functional • Focuses on your skills and experience, rather than chronological work history • Used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in employment history • Combination • Lists your skills and experience first, then lists employment history • Highlights the skills that are relevant to the job, and provides the chronological work history that employers prefer

6. Contact Objective Education/ Credential/ Certifications Experience (Related/ Professional/ Additional) Professional Affiliations, Leadership, Honors and Awards Skills/ Areas of Knowledge/ Languages Community Service

7. Contact Information: • Bold name, larger font • Appropriate email • Seeking the _______ position at ________, where I can apply my _________ skills and my experience/background/interest in _________. Objective:

8. Education • Spell out University and degree • List in reverse chronological order • Include graduation date (versus dates attended)

9. Experience • Include position title, name of organization, city/state, dates • Use consistent formatting throughout resume • Begin bullet points with action verbs • Avoid “I” statements • Quantify & qualify (#, %) when possible

10. Bullet Points • Use Action + Results format • Highlight tasks performed, accomplishments achieved, skills used, knowledge gained • Practice: • Consider your current/previous experience • Circle all the skills you have used/gain • Create 2 bullet points

11. Other Categories • Languages: fluent, conversational, sign language • Professional Affiliations: • Relevant to position • Officer position • Board / committee member • References: separate page, same heading as resume

12. COVER LETTER: What’s the purpose? • A one-page letter of introduction (3-4 paragraphs) • An opportunity to state your relevant interests and qualifications • Specifically demonstrates that your background matches their job description/organization • Reflects your written communication skills (handout)

13. Cover Letter Content • Use same heading as resume • First Paragraph: • For what position are you applying at which organization? • How did you learn about this position? • Second Paragraph: • What are your relevant qualifications • Why are you interested in this particular position at this particular organization? • Third Paragraph: • Refer to resume, request interview, thank employer for their consideration

14. GSEP Career Services • Clarifying your Career Objective(s) • Career Assessments • Resume & Cover Letter Critiques • Interview Preparation • Job Search & Networking Strategies • Career Panels & Fairs

15. Did it work…

16. Decreased fear? Strengthened brand? Being that top 5%?

17. Resume/Cover Letter Feedback • PepPro: first document uploaded • Drop-In Advising: Mon – Thurs, 12 – 3 pm • Email gsep.careerservices@pepperdine.edu • Individual Career Counseling Appointment: • Education: Yas Djadali, yas.djadali@pepperdine.edu • Psychology: Sadaf Mayet, sadaf.mayet@pepperdine.edu

18. Need additional assistance? Visit Career Services! GSEP Career Services: WLA, 5th floor Appointments & Drop-In