In Resume Writing, you'll learn...
- The differences between chronological, functional and combination resumes
- Action words … which ones should you use—and which should you avoid?
- Salutations to use when you don’t know the hiring person’s gender or name
- The one thing that turns off anyone if they see it in your resume
- And much more!
First, you interview on paper, then you interview in person. Ever thought of it that way? Far from being just words on a page, a resume is a story—a personal story encapsulating everything you’ve accomplished over the years in your working life into just one or two pages.
More and more, employers use resumes not only for screening the qualified from the unqualified in the hiring process, but also as an important tool in evaluating candidates’ abilities and skills for promotion opportunities.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
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The goal of your resume+
- The 2 important roles of an effective resume
- The best information to include to stimulate interest
- An employer wants to know about you, not your position—how to present the information they’re looking for
- Stop wasting your time (and your potential employer’s)—what you should really be focusing on
Preparing your resume+
- The key to designing your resume format
- Characteristics of well-designed resumes
- The one thing in your resume that will always turn anyone off
- How many pages should your resume be?
- The 6 main categories of information you should include on your resume, and how to arrange them
- What is the first thing that should appear on your resume?
- A career objective isn’t always recommended—what are the alternatives and when should you use them?
- It’s not all about degrees and GPAs: The guidelines to follow when formatting your educational highlights
- The basics you need to know to prepare an effective and relevant employment and/or experience summary
- Professional activities and accomplishments: This tricky section can really boost your appeal—if you are selective and complete
- What you need to know when including references
- What information you definitely should not include to comply with EEO guidelines
- Attachments: Are they necessary?
Types of resumes+
- The “standard” type of resume is not always the best choice; there are other options
- The advantages and disadvantages of the chronological resume
- The functional resume can de-emphasize some weaknesses—but beware, it may throw up a “red flag” if not prepared correctly
- The combination resume: How to combine the best elements of the chronological and functional types
Resume checklist+
- Why some resumes are discarded based on design alone, before the reviewer ever gets the chance to see how qualified you may be
- A comprehensive checklist designed to assist you in assembling a winning resume
- A resume is only as good as the paper it’s printed on—tips for reproducing your resume
Scannable and e-mail resumes+
- Making sure your resume is compatible to the changes of the electronic age
- Which fonts and style choices present challenges for scanners?
- Do this simple step—or your resume will be almost impossible to read by most on-line systems
- Guidelines to follow that allow systems to extract your information more accurately
- Job jargon: Why is it imperative that you use it in the language of your resume?
Key resume words and phrases+
- An extensive list of words that will help with organizing and writing your resume statements
- Stand out from the crowd—avoid using this one common word that most weak resumes overuse
- Turning a phrase: A list of proven attention-getters to make your resume more effective
The transmittal letter+
- How to tailor your experience and background to the position for which you are applying
- The specs: How many pages? What to include?
- Suggested salutations for your letter
Sample resumes+
- Complete and detailed examples of each type of resume
