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This is not the time to be humble.

• What is a resume?
• Most Common Mistakes
• Customize your resume
• Helpful Hints
• Cover Letter

What is a resume ?

• A short description of your training and experience
• An employer’s guide to what you can do

Types of resumes

• Chronological
  • Lists most recent job first
  • Lists other jobs in reverse order
  • Most common type
  • Example of Chronological Resume
• Functional
• Transforms experience into functions/skills.
• Good for those changing careers or who have little experience.
• Example of Skills Resume

What to include

• Name, address, phone number, e-mail address
• Career objective - optional
• Education
• Work experience
• Professional licenses, certificates
• Military experience
• Membership in organizations
• Special skills, honors, awards or achievements
• References

Use action verbs--power words--when describing your work.

• managed
• planned
• organized
• analyzed
• taught
• initiated
• directed
• developed
• produced
• trained
• maintained
• supervised

Some resume writers even bold or italicize these words

Words to avoid

• Abbreviations and acronyms, unless they are commonly used.
• Personal pronouns – the reader knows the resume is about you; the addition of I, me, or my is redundant.

Your resume should be as concise as possible.

Chronological Example

Sarah J. Brown

e-mail: sjb@warmmail.com

Objective:To obtain part-time/summer employment working with animals while attending college.

References:List at least three

Functional Example

Qualifications

Sales : Skilled in selling ideas and persuading others to agree upon a common go al.
Planning:   Well organized and have public relations experience.
Training :  Able to train and motivate people to maximum work performance.

Work History

United Minority Students, University of Wyoming
Program Representative

(July 2004-Present) Planned and implemented ten educational and cultural programs.

Political Science Department, University of Wyoming
Research Assistant
 (September 2002- May, 2004) Assisted professor in research project concerning voter apathy; interviewed subjects and compiled survey results.

References available upon request

How is Jonathan's resume different from Sarah's?

1. There was no objective. The objective is optional. If you are applying for a specific job, use it. However, if you are willing to get your foot in the door, or are applying for more than one type of job, you do not have to use it.

2. Jonathon's resume stated, “ references available upon request,” which is acceptable. However, wouldn’t you rather have the employer have your references in hand so he doesn’t have to make that extra phone call?

Listing your references puts you a step ahead!

Another option ­ Combination Resume:

Functional and Chronological

Example of Combination Resume

How long should my resume be?

Many sources will tell you that the resume should be only one page in length. It’s true that it should be concise. However, after you’ve worked for a period of time, your list of skills, organizations and training may become longer. In a survey, employers stated they prefer more information presented concisely over the one page format.

Most Common Mistakes

Example of a Very Poor Resume

1. Too much information
2. Too short
3. Punctuation errors
4. Poor grammar
5. Misspelled words
6. Verb tense changed
7. Disorganized
8. Inappropriate paper

Details! What is too much information.

• Hobbies
• Health
• Height, Weight
• Marital Status

However, if you have a hobby or sideline that is applicable to the job for which you are applying, list it!

Ex: woodworking = carpentry job

What is too short?

• Worked in office.
• Worked on ranch.

This is a better way to explain your work experience:

• Fed cattle, repaired equipment, fixed fence, swathed and baled hay.
• Typed, filed, answered phones,computed payroll, bookkeeping.

Punctuation

• Proofread for commas, periods, quotation marks.

Grammar

• Don´t use no double negatives.

Spelling

• Awlays pruf for spleling airers.

Verb Tense not parallel

• Organized meeting schedule
• Take notes at meeting
• Writing minutes of meeting

Select one tense and stay with it!

Disorganized!

Selecting fonts

• Sans serif - May be used for headers. This one is Arial.
• Serif - works nicely for the text. This one, Times-Roman, is most commonly used.

Customize your resume

Customize your resume for the job for which you are applying. Perhaps you want to emphasize certain skills or volunteer work you have done in addition to your work experience to draw attention to specific abilities.

It is okay to have more than one version of your resume. For example:

. . .A writer may have up to six resumes—one each for editor, copy editor, reporter, marketing manager, and free lancer.

Look at your own skills and decide what you need to do.

For some professions it is okay to spruce it up with something that is eye-catching. However, for occupations in the medical or law fields, you should avoid using clip art. Here is an appropriate example of using clip art in your resume.

For each position for which you apply you may:

• List all related jobs
• List all related hobbies
• List all related training
• Unless it accounts for a long period of time, omit unrelated work, hobbies

Helpful hints

Is it your first time writing a resume? You may wish to utilize templates available in Microsoft Word to get your start.

Fill out this worksheet to help you write your resume.

After that, you can make changes and set it up the way you wish.

Word templates - Watch a video on how to use the Word Wizard.

From menu, select File, then New

Select New from template

Select Other document

Select the resume you wish to use

(First timers may want to use the wizard)

Choose style, type (font), headers

Type in information

Finish

Internet sources

Want a jump start on the competition?

Go to hotjobs for all kinds of information, sample resumes and templates.

You can choose between free templates and professional resume writers. There is also information on writing cover letters.

You may even post your resume on the internet at places like hotjobs or monster; the web sites will tell you how to do it.

The cover letter

• Same rules as resume re: punctuation, grammar, spelling.
• Short and to the point.
• Indicate how you became aware of job.
• Use the same paper.

What’s next?

• Take your resume with you to interviews or when filling out applications for use as a reference. The dates, job descriptions, addresses, phone numbers will be right there.
• Keep it on a disk.
• Update it.
• And, most importantly USE IT!