OCD Workshop Series

1. OCD Workshop Series Resume Strategy

2. Objective: Learn to think strategically about your resume • Skimmers & Readers: How do recruiters evaluate resumes? What hints does your resume give? • Targeting Your Resume • Building Out A-C-R Bullets • Q&A • Cover Letter (not included in 4/29 workshop)

3. Opportunities for Resume Critique • OCD Resume Review appointment (30 min & 15 min) • Walk-ins (5-15 min) – Sept thru April • Club-related resume reviews DEFAULT RESUME DEADLINE – Watch for email with specific date! After this date, resume database will go live to recruiters

4. Role of the iMpact Resume • Resumes used for on-campus recruiting must be in iMpact format • Two uses of the iMpact resume: • Students “drop” resumes and cover letters for positions for on-campus interviews. Any version of your iMpact resume can be dropped. • Companies view Default resumes of graduating students in August and may make cold contacts to candidates they feel are good a fit. • Via an electronic resume database frequently referred to as the “resume book”

5. Formats for Off-campus Searches • An iMpact resume is not necessary, though some use it • Can be up to two pages long • See Off-Campus Resume Guide for examples • Attend an Off-Campus Resume Workshop for tips

6. Two Audiences: Skimmer and Reader

7. The Skimmer • Observes major themes, keywords (strategy, GMAT 7xx) • Looking for some sort of focus • Variety of action verbs that correspond to required skills • Anything that stands out (for better or worse) • Shared experiences • Results • Spelling/grammatical errors • May read only part of resume or bullets • Needs to make quick decisions and move on

8. The Reader In addition to the skimmer: • Observes details • Looking for congruent “story,” career progression • Ample evidence to support your features and benefits (achievements/#s) • May develop interview small talk or questions based on specific bullets

9. Can you?You will have 20 seconds to “read” this MBA1 resume Experienced hiring professionals can “read” a resume in the time that most people “skim.”

10. Recruiter Insights – SAM (video) (

11. Recruiter Insights – JORDAN (video)

12. Recruiter Insights – SONAL (video)

13. Your Resume Provides Hints About You EDUCATION • Emphasis (primary skill for future job function) • Club/Officer Title (ways you get involved) • GMAT/GPA/Distinction (performance/intelligence) EXPERIENCE • Organization name, size, industry, location (preferences) • Job title, function, progression, timeline (focus/performance) • Action verbs, business case, results (favorite skills/performance) ADDITIONAL • Hobbies and volunteerism (personality/interests) • Special skills or experiences (uniqueness)

14. What does your resume ‘hint’ about you? • Form groups of 3-4 and review one resume at a time: • What stands out (skills, qualities, etc.)? • What questions (or reservations) might you have before • hiring this person? • What might this person’s career target be?

15. Resume Philosophy: A Paradigm Shift From, “Here’s everything (or a random assortment of things) I’ve done” To, “Here’s the ideal career for me, now, what from my past should I highlight to present this image to target companies?” Strategically align your hints to make the recruiter’s decision easy

16. Determining Your Fit;Targeting Your Resume • Gather information about desired skills, qualities that make successful employees in your target function/industry … what matters to the company? • Job descriptions – e.g., Microsoft Finance Manager Intern • Informational interviews with current/former employees • Language and branding used in company website, corporate presentations • Within this list, identify your best fitting stories/examples • Build out bullets that show transferable skills and a business case • “Core 4” • Identify a problem/opportunity / Attention to detail • Research the problem/opportunity / Analytical skills • Develop a solution / Creativity and innovation • Present or implement the solution / Organization, project management and drive • “Plus 3” – Leadership, Teamwork, Communication

17. Building Out A-C-R Format

18. Writing An ACR Bullet (Action) • Begin with an action verb or two that conveys a skill (Led, Implemented, Analyzed, Created, Collaborated,…) • Avoid beginning with a ‘result’ verb (Improved, Reduced, Increased, Resulted in…) - save it for the latter part of the bullet • Normally use past tense, but OK to use present tense for current tasks • Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in food distribution in 2007 for the organization.

19. Writing An ACR Bullet (Context) • The ‘Context’ portion is to provide the reader with an adequate sense of the following for the task: • The Business Reason (improve satisfaction, reduce cost…) • The Scope (how big? how many people? cost?) • The Significance (who cares?) • Assume the reader is completely unfamiliar with your industry and provide context accordingly • Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in food distribution in 2007 for the organization.

20. Writing An ACR Bullet (Result) • Two types of Results: • Quantitative (reduced cost by $X, increased sales by X%, launched product X months ahead of schedule) • Qualitative (enabled client to do X, presented findings to CEO, awarded X prize) • For current tasks, ‘expected results’ will often suffice • Result could be ‘big picture’ or simply your deliverable • Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in food distribution in 2007 for the organization.

21. ACR – Result Hierarchy of results • Quantitative (saved $X in scrap, increased sales by X%) • Qualitative (presented findings to CFO, developed understanding of debt markets, improved workplace efficiency) • Omit rather than exaggerate!

22. Complete “ACR” Example • Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in food distribution in 2007 for the organization. • Action – Context – Result

23. More examples • Collaborated with team of five to construct investment portfoliobased on client’s risk tolerance and objectives, achieving second place in investment portfolio competition. • Led volunteer recruitment by creating and executing promotional planto reach potential volunteers through new and existing channels, resulting in nearly 30% increase in volunteers. • Performed break-even analysis of local food business and designed surveys to evaluate customer satisfaction, resulting in elimination of unprofitable items. • Action – Context – Result

24. Peer ACR Analysis • Trade resumes with a partner • Select 2 Experience bullets for review • Use different colored highlighters to identify A-C-R • Advise partner on building out areas that are lacking or trimming unnecessary information • Time permitting: compare composition of all action verbs to desired skills for job target • Analysis? Teamwork? Leadership? Management? Creativity? Initiative? Communication?

25. Potential Pitfalls • Resume not in iMpact format for on-campus • Resume before self-assessment / unfocused • Spelling and grammar • Over-scrutiny of small items • Over-reliance on the resume to get the interview • Including information on (health, marital status, etc.) • Misrepresenting work, education, abilities

26. Resume Checklist • Proper degree and graduation date • Proper school name • Proper academic emphasis/emphases (not too many) • Bullet length (2-3 lines) • Active verbs (proper tense) • Correct spelling / grammar • Articles & pronouns (unnecessary), periods (Experience) • Proper length (1 – page optimal, 2 is okay for off-campus) • Gaps in work history (minimize) • Proper space allocation (more important experience = more space allocated)

27. Resources • Step 2 of Career Tracker (see Career tab on iMpact) • OCD MBA Resume Guide; Action Words • OCD Guide to Entering Your Résumé on iMpact • Technical help on iMpact: contact Ross Career Counseling in OCD rosscareercounseling@umich.edu • Ross Career Counseling, E2420, 734-764-1373 • Review resumes of previous students – Resume books available in E2420 (M-F, 8a-5p) at Kresge Library circulation desk

28. Role of the Cover Letter • Use it to indicate • the job you are looking to fill • why you are interested and • why you are qualified • High risk – Low reward • Don’t get fancy • Proof for errors • Be careful when copying cover letters • More important for the off-campus job search

29. Structure of the Cover Letter • First Paragraph • Who are you • Why are you interested in the job (research & names) • What are you requesting

30. Structure of the Cover Letter • Second Paragraph • Short summary of your background specifically as it relates to the skills the recruiter is looking for • Where to find skills? Look at the job description! • 1 to 3 points about your qualifications • Give specific, concrete professional examples

31. Structure of the Cover Letter • Third Paragraph • Conclusion and next steps • Re-state your interest in the position • Give contact information

32. Questions?