Writing a Winning Resume!

1. Writing aWinning Resume! Holly Heilberg – Career Development Specialist UHR Faculty & Staff Career Services 914 Emmet St., Room 225 924-4343 Hollyh@virginia.edu http:www.hrs.virginia.edu/career

2. Agenda • Introductions • Myths and Realities • Constructing a Winning Resume • Types of Resumes • Resume “Do’s” and “Don’ts” • Complete a resume template • Q & A • Action Plan….what can you do next?!

3. Let me know what you need

4. No question is unimportantand there are no mistakes

5. Mind absorbs as much as…..

6. Confidentiality

7. Introductions: • Connect with a partner and find out: • Their name • What would be their “ideal job” to apply for (or send a resume in for) • Report back about your partner to the large group

8. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The best jobs go to the best applicants • REALITY: The best jobs typically go to those who know: • What they want • How to summarize it in the “30 second elevator speech” • How to target their resume for what they want • How to market themselves in the interview!

9. What is a 30 secondElevator speech?

10. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The most important word in the job search is “YES” • REALITY: Before you hear “Yes”, you probably need to hear “No”, “No”, “No”, “No”, and “NO”. Each NO is one step closer to YES! • This means you are making an effort, communicating what you want, making calls, sending emails, doing informational interviews, networking and asking for information and advice (not sitting by the phone

11. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The best way to look for another job is the newspaper, web, or job placement agencies • REALITY: • 80% of good jobs are found through contacts, referrals and networking. So, spend 80% of your job search time making connections! • Focus on what someone else might benefit from….not what will benefit for you.

12. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The best way to look for another job is the newspaper, web, or job placement agencies • REALITY: • 80% of good jobs are found through contacts, referrals and networking. So, spend 80% of your job search time making connections! • Neighbors • Previous co-workers • Dr., Dentist, Lawyer • Friends

13. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The resume will get you the job. • REALITY: • The goal of a good resume is to help you: • Focus your goals • Attract attention • GET YOU an Interview! • NOTE: The best time to leave a resume is after you’ve connected with someone (it’s like a business card)

14. Myths & Realities • MYTH: • The job search must be a solitary activity • REALITY: • The best job search is one often conducted with another person. This helps provide: • Support • Encouragement • New ideas • Accountability • Commitment!

16. How is a Resume “screened”

17. What is a Resume? • A Marketing Tool .. Individually designed • Summarizes and highlights your background • Shows employers how you have contributed ….and how you’ve made a difference!

18. What is a Resume? • Serves as a screening device • Can guide the interview • Should be targeted to each specific job • Is just ONE piece of the job search processl

19. What is a Resume? • Should be crisp and focused • Should be written in the language of the industry or department • Should be truthfully slanted to your goal

20. What do you include on your resume? • The initial Heading: • Objective, skills summary or profile • Work experience • Education and/or other training information

21. What do you include on your resume? • Other information: • Other skills (typing, computer, etc) • Licenses • Certificates • Awards • Professional affiliations • Language proficiencies

22. Finder’s Sheet

23. A Worksheet to get you started:

24. The Heading(Use the “header” formatting) • Include: • Name • If you have a name you prefer to be called you can place this is ( ) • Example – Margaret (Peggy) Smith • Address • Phone number • Email address

25. Sample Headings:(page 4)

26. Objective:(page 5) • Should be written specifically for the position you are applying for: • What you want to do • Where you want to perform it • At what level of responsibility • With what goal in mind and/or • And/or utilizing what skills

27. Other possible categories: • A “Skills Summary” • A “Summary of Qualifications” or “Qualifications Summary” • Highlights • Profile

28. Skills Summary or Profile:(for Ernie the Alley Cat – pg 6) • Excellent nonverbal communication skills. • Highly developed purring ability. • Affectionate. Adaptable. Rare feline willingness to follow established guidelines. • Omnivorous. Strong rodent-control capabilities.

29. Experience Heading: • Reverse chronological order (most recent experience first) • Include: • Name of organization • Location • Job Title • Dates of employment (or to “present”)

30. The most important section! • Describe your job duties: • ACTION VERBS! (pg 17-18) • Describe accomplishments over duties • Not just a job description • Use present or past tense • Let’s try one! (write down a sentence about something you currently do on your job)

31. Experience Section: • Quantify information: • Number of employees you supervised • Amount of money you handled • Percentage increase in participation • Indicate positive outcomes!

32. Problem Action Result! • Initiated a program to place students in professional position. Interviewed, screened and placed students in 150 positions and increased the placement rate by 25% in the first year.

33. Positive Outcomes: • Reduced turnover • Save money • Increased efficiency • Contributed to departmental goals • Demonstrated ability to ….. • Recognized for…..

34. Experience examples: Page 8

35. Education Heading: • List the most recent schooling (reverse chronological) • Do not include High School if you have a college degree • Don’t always need to put the dates

36. Education: (page 9) • The education information should include: • Name of the school or institution • Location • Date graduated (or anticipated date) • Major/minor • GPA (or major GPA) • Honors can also be added here (Dean's List...) • Related courses (that pertain to the position)

37. Other Possible Headings: (pg 10) TECHNICAL SKILLS: • Proficient in: • Microsoft Office 2005 (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) Harvard Graphics (DOS and Windows) Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft DOS 6.2 Alpha4 • Familiar with: • Lotus 1-2-3 Microsoft Word for Windows Video Show/Picture it

38. Language Skills: • Fluent in French • Conversational Spanish • Basic Chinese

39. Other Possible Headings: (pg 10) Honors and Awards: • Future Business Leaders of America, President • Professional Assistants International Scholarship • Berkley Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business Education

40. Professional Affiliations: • American Institute of Professional Accountants • Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants • VP of Membership – The American Society for Training and Development

41. Types of Resumes: • Chronological: • Functional:

42. A few Samples:(pages 11 – 16)

43. What a recent survey reported:

44. Do’s and Don’ts

45. S.M.A.R.T. Goals • Specific • Measurable • Acceptable • Realistic • Timely

46. Your Individual Plan • Write down these goals: • When will you complete a first draft of your resume: • DATE:________________________________________ • Who are three people who will look it over: • _____________________________________________ • _____________________________________________ • _____________________________________________ • When will these people have finished looking it over: • DATE:__________________________________________

47. The Good Life “Living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the what you love, on purpose” Richard Leider, Repacking your bags, 1995

48. Small Group Discussion • Get with your small group • Are you Plateaued? • What are the “symptoms”? • What are some issues or obstacles you’re facing?