Strategic Resume Crafting Guide

2. Introduction • Lindsey Day • Alumni Career Specialist • Meet with alumni 1+ year after graduation • lday8@msudenver.edu • Call 303-556-8320 to make an appt

3. Recruitment Revealed • 75-80% of employers use keyword scanning programs • Employers spend less than 20 seconds during the “initial resume scan” • Cover letters are generally read during the final scan • Initial phone screen • In-person interviews

4. Job Search=Survivor • The job search is a process of elimination • Your goal—Be the last one standing • Don’t just prove you can do the job, prove you can do it better than your competition

5. What is a Resume? • A marketing tool • Summary of past accomplishments • Proves your ability to do the job successfully • Gets you an interview—not the job

6. Think like the Employer • What does my resume look like to someone who has never met me? • Do I have any red flags? • Gaps in employment, job-hopping, no vertical growth • What problems is the employer trying to solve? • What are my strongest/most relevant accomplishments for this position?

7. Formatting • One page—some exceptions • Margins ~ .5-1 inch—same on all sides • 10-12 pt. font • Use bullets, not paragraphs • Balanced on page • Scanable and concise! • Anticipate 3-4 drafts

8. Resume Contents • Header • Objective/Summary of Qualifications (optional) • Education • Experience—paid, volunteer, project • Involvement • Skills

9. Header • Name • Address—can be city only • Telephone number • E-mail address • OPTIONAL: website, Linkedin profile, etc.

10. OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS • Provides clarification to the reader • Effective for broad majorsor those entering a new field • Useful at career fairs • Should include: • Type of position you are seeking • Company/Industry/Job you are seeking • Qualities you bring to the job

11. SAMPLE OBJECTIVES • Seeking a full-time position in data analysis where my skills in mathematics, computer programming, and team building will contribute to new systems development. • To obtain a position in marketing with special interest in market research and product planning. • Energetic professional seeks consulting position demanding skills in relationship building, sound financial planning, and customer service. • Simply name your target job

12. SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS • Eye-catcher that will help you focus your resume on qualifications which are important to potential employers • Employers value candidates who save time, cut costs, generate revenue, improve service, solve problems, or further company goals • http://www.msudenver.edu/alumnicareers/objectives/

13. Education • Degree-Proper Name • Date of graduation • Institution • Location • Minor, Concentration • GPA 3.0 or higher, major GPA • Optional: relevant coursework, study abroad

14. Experience • Don’t cut and paste your job description • PAR format • Tailor your resume according to the job description

15. PAR Format • Problem, Action, Result • Only list the Action and Result • Lead off with a list of action verbs • Quantify when possible- #, %, $ • No personal pronouns- I, me, etc • Alumni Career Services Website

16. WHICH IS MORE IMPRESSIVE? • Chairman of Advertising/Public Relations Athens, GA • American Red Cross, Fundraising Committee March 2010 – Present • Coordinated and supervised committee • Marketed program to media • Wrote press release for event VS. • Chairman of Advertising/Public Relations Athens, GA • American Red Cross, Fundraising Committee March 2010 – Present • Coordinated and supervised a 6 member committee, maximized committee potential by delegating to members’ strengths • Provided personal outreach to various media outlets, led to first coverage from 4 outlets • Wrote press release and secured media publicity through radio, paper, and internet sources

17. Telling Your Success Story • Reflect, Reflect, Reflect • “Writing Your Success Story” handout • Transferable skills survey • Reflect on best days and worst days

18. ADDITIONAL SECTIONS • Campus organizations/leadership • Project experience • Community involvement/ volunteer experiences • Honors, awards, scholarships • Professional organizations/ memberships

19. ADDITIONAL SECTIONS • Write out acronyms of unknown organizations/associations • Where appropriate describe what you did there • Format like experience with bullets, by commas, in columns, or list format • Sometimes your best experience is unpaid

20. Skills Section • Computer skills • Language skills • Other professionally-related skills • Skills should tie in with your career goal

21. Resume Styles • Chronological • Functional • Hybrid

22. The 5 Non-Negotiables • Accomplishments focused • Tailored to the employer/position • Aesthetically pleasing • Most relevant information is “above the fold” • Concise, well-written and error-free

23. REFERENCES • On separate page! • Same heading as resume • Three to five listed in strategic order • Information • Name, Title, Address, Phone #, Email • Relationship (optional) • Always ask permission “References and Recommendations Available Upon Request”

24. What is a Cover Letter? • A marketing tool • Highlights your strongest, most relevant accomplishments • Demonstrates fit for the position/company • Sample of your written communication • Story—not a list

25. Cover Letters = Love Letters • Why I love you—the company • Why the company should love me • Why we are perfect together • Never send the same cover letter to multiple people

26. Cover Letter Formats • Traditional letter • Bulleted • Comparison • http://www.msudenver.edu/alumnicareers/coverletterguidelines/

27. The 5 Non-Negotiables • Concise, well-written and error-free • Do not restate your resume • Focus on 2-5 key accomplishments • Demonstrate passion and fit • Tailored to the employer/position

28. I’m really serious about this... PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

29. Additional Resources • Alumni within one year-303-556-3664 • Alumni 1+ year-303-556-8320 • www.msudenver.edu/alumni/events

30. Walk-In Hours-Tivoli 215 Monday: 4pm - 5pm Tuesday: 11am - 12pm  Wednesday: 3pm - 4pm  Thursday: 2pm - 3pm  Friday: 9am - 10am Walk-in appointments may be cancelled at times due to staff unavailability. Call the office before you come in for schedule changes.

31. QUESTIONS??