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Mastering the Resume Process: Tips for Job Seekers

Understand the intricate process of submitting a resume to an employer, from keyword searches and quick scans to avoiding red flags and what not to say. Learn what employers look for and how to best present your experience, skills, and achievements. Discover the dos and don'ts of resume writing to increase your chances of landing your dream job.

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Mastering the Resume Process: Tips for Job Seekers

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  1. Resume Do’s and Don’ts Harry Urschel

  2. Understanding the Process… What happens when we submit a resume to an employer???

  3. What REALLY happens… • Keyword Search of Database / Emails • 10 to 30 second scan • Look at Work History first • Look for reasons to reject • Sort by Yes / No / Maybe

  4. What a resume CAN and CAN’T do • CAN – get you past the initial screening / get you a phone call or interview • CAN’T – tell the reader that “this is exactly the person I want to hire!”

  5. Value in the process! • Writing your resume is important preparation for the interview process too! • If you can’t write it well… you won’t be able to say it well in an interview either.

  6. What are THEY looking for? • Work experience that matches the job • Skills that match job (software, processes, etc.) • Related industry experience • Appropriate level of experience for the job • Track record of growth in responsibility • Effective presentation

  7. What “Red Flags” to avoid… • Too many pages / Too much detail / Long paragraphs • An overabundance of self-descriptives • Few facts or accomplishments • Unlikely claims of achievements • Purely “Functional” format • Sour grapes • BAD SPELLING OR GRAMMAR

  8. What NOT to say (taken from actual resumes)… • Here are my qualifications for you to overlook • Seek challenges that test my mind and body, since the two are usually inseparable • An obsession for detail; I like to make sure I cross my “i’s” and dot my “t’s” • Note: Keep this resume on top of the stack. Use all the others to heat your house.

  9. What’s the Best Format? • There is no “1” best format for everyone(best formats vary by field, industry, and work history) • Decide: Functional (combination) or Chronological • No “Objective” (heading and summary points instead) • Get ideas from an internet search… Google: “accounting resumes” • Never get “Gimmicky” (fonts, pictures, pop-ups, etc)

  10. Bob Smith 1234 Eden Prairie Rd. Eden Prairie, MN 55347(952) 123-4567bob@gmail.com Objective: Seeking a senior project manager opportunity with a growing, dynamic company where I can further develop my skills and continue to advance in my career.Summary:Driven, strategic thinker, with a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills. 20 years of experience as a business analyst and project manager that has utilized formal methodologies, gained a PMP certification, and successfully managed budgets and resources. Have a record of on time project delivery and gained experience as an Agile Scrum Master. Experience ABC Company 2004 – 2012 Senior Project Manager - Responsible for software development projects. Worked with stakeholders, kept management informed, utilized Agile methodology and completed projects on time. - Projects included web and desktop application development. Managed up to 15 resources at various times and budgets up to $1M…

  11. Bob Smith 1234 Eden Prairie Rd. (952) 123-4567 Eden Prairie, MN 55347 bob@gmail.com Project Manager Senior Project Leader with 20 years of proven qualifications including: • Formal Methodologies  On time project delivery • PMP Certified  Staying within budgets • Agile Scrum Master  Managing resources Experience ABC Company 2004 – 2012 Senior Project Manager • Led project teams up to 15 people, including developers and business analysts. • Achieved budget goals, managing projectbudgets up to $1M. • Specialized in Web and Desktop application projects • Applied Agile project methodologies; completing projects early

  12. More actual (bad) excerpts… • Education: curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting • I am a rabid typist • Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store • I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing, and absolutely no one • Don’t take the comments of my former employer too seriously, they were unappreciative beggars and slave drivers

  13. A,B,C’s of a Good Resume • A: Accuracy Honest facts of your responsibilities and achievements • B: Brevity Short substantive lines beat paragraphs every time! • C: Clarity Connect the dots between your related experience and the job! By Susan Whitcomb

  14. Writing it… • Avoid using “I” or writing in third person • Keep sentences short (Short Substantive Soundbites) • Use bullets – spaced well • Use plain English(avoid industry lingo or overly pretentious or complex words) • Use keywords from their job description • Use smaller margins and good line spacing • Show accomplishments, stick to facts

  15. Questions?

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