Developing a Winning Resume Career Services Moody Hall 134 For appointments call: (512)448-8530

1. Developing a Winning Resume Career Services Moody Hall 134 For appointments call: (512)448-8530 http://think.stedwards.edu/careerservices

2. Resume - Important Points • It’s a marketing document; you’re selling yourself • There’s not one right way to create it; there are exceptions to every rule • Content should be relevant and emphasize accomplishments • No such thing as a generic resume; best resume is tailored to specific goal or job • You have to know what you want to do first • It’s a time consuming process

3. Basic Rules • Develop the content before focusing on the “look” • Don’t use fill-in-the-blank templates; you need flexibility • Font/Margins: 11 font/Garamond ( or 12/Times New Roman or 10/Arial); margins set to 1” or .75”) √Be consistent throughout document • Resumes for a recent college graduate = one page • High school activities not included (except when you’re a freshman) • Quantify whenever possible √“Raised over $500 in donations for charity event.” • Proofread, proofread, proofread!

4. Main Resume Categories • Your Name, followed by: address, city/state/zip, phone #, e-mail address √Where can you be reached? • Objective (“Seeking…..”) √Employers differ on this • Profile or Summary of Qualifications (Skills, such as languages, etc.) √ Capture their attention; tailor to job description • Education √ Degrees, major, school, dates Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing Expected May 2012 St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX • Experience (bulleted or mini-paragraph) √ Reverse chronological order √ Company name, job title, from-to dates √ Description using action verb phrases

5. Other Resume Categories Create separate category/section if you have sufficient information; otherwise double up with another section • Honors, awards • Clubs, organizations • Leadership roles (and training) • Volunteer service • Certifications and licensures • Computer/technical skills • Class projects • Professional organizations • Research, papers written, presentations delivered

6. Action Verbs for Resumes • Action verbs should be used abundantly throughout your resume to stress achievements • Find them through a Google search √ Example: www.writeexpress.com • “Responsibilities included…” or “Duties included…” are a weak way to describe achievements • Action verbs help make a strong impression √ Supervised five students at business conference √ Coordinated plans for promotional event, resulting in…..

7. Incorporating Key Words • Every industry/job has key words specific to the field • Career Counselor: advise, counsel, train, resume, interview, internship, etc….. √ What are key words in Finance industry? Marketing? • Key words can be verbs, nouns, adjectives √ Organized, bilingual, public speaker, spreadsheets…….etc. • Job description has key words √ Tailor to job description, but don’t just copy; you have to have the skill,knowledge, trait • Assume resume will be electronically scanned for key words

8. More Resume Tips • Location in a resume is very important; employers read top to bottom and left to right • Place most important information at the top of the page • Don’t make employer have to search for important information • Don’t expect employers to read verbatim; they speedread/scan your resumes; help them by using: bold font, indention, underlining, well titled categories……

9. Layout and Appearance • Appearance is part personal preference and part strategy to capture the reader’s attention • Find samples online (Google images is a good source) • Hard copies: use resume paper; since most people use white paper, make yours stand out by using ivory or other color • Most business resumes are conservative, but tailor to your audience; in creative fields (Advertising, etc.) you can add clip art, graphics, etc. • To make your resume look unique, you can use a touch of color

10. Effective Resumes Lead to Interview If you want to get that interview, before starting the resume: • Research company website thoroughly • Look up key words you don’t understand • Learn the terminology in the target industry • Look up sample resumes of people in the field • Create rough drafts and have them critiqued • The research alone can take days to conduct; don’t wait until the last minute to create your resume

11. In Conclusion Create a resume that stands out in the crowd.