| Most job seekers do not take the time to | | | | phrase "customer service" in the Summary of |
| research what they need in order to prepare a | | | | Qualifications section and in the cover letter. |
| resume that will sell their qualifications to a hiring | | | | This is how the section should look: |
| company. It has been said that preparing a | | | | WORK HISTORY |
| resume is comparable to preparing a tax return. | | | | Rocco's Pizzeria, Town, XX X/XX to Present |
| In short, a real drag! Although it is not mandatory | | | | Second Shift Waitress |
| to have a resume in many situations, it must be | | | | * Provide excellence in customer service to an |
| prepared properly when it is required and with | | | | average of 80 patrons per shift. |
| more creativity than what goes into preparing a | | | | * Train new staff members on shift procedures |
| tax return! | | | | and restaurant policies. |
| So where do you begin? For starters, you will | | | | * Assist with the planning and set up of in-house |
| need an objective, followed by a summary of | | | | and off-site catering services. |
| qualifications, work history, education, and | | | | Fifth Section: Community Involvement |
| computer skills section. Sounds reasonably | | | | This section will convey a strong work ethic, |
| straightforward, right? So why is it so hard for | | | | willingness to contribute to the community, |
| people to write their own resume? | | | | experience working with people, an ability to plan, |
| 10 STEPS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED | | | | organize, coordinate and carry out a program, and |
| Some job seekers have a short work history and | | | | good communication,analysis, and problem solving |
| do not know how to make the most of their | | | | skills. |
| work and non-work related experience, skills, and | | | | This is how this section should look: |
| attributes. Other job seekers have backgrounds | | | | COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT |
| that are so extensive, they do not know where | | | | Strikes and Spares Bowling Alley, Town, XX X |
| to draw the line, and make the mistake of | | | | XX to X/XX |
| including too much information. Still, other job | | | | Volunteer Bowling Instructor |
| seekers have just the right amount of | | | | * Conduct bowling workshops to individuals and |
| experience, but they do not know how to | | | | groups of six to eight children ages 5 to 10. |
| effectively present their experience and most | | | | * Work with pro shop to promote workshops and |
| impressive selling points on paper. | | | | sell bowling balls at discounted rates. |
| The following steps will simplify the process: | | | | * Coordinate fundraisers to raise monies for |
| 1. Decide on the position and research various | | | | awards, marketing campaigns, and competitions. |
| sources to find job ads outlining the requirements | | | | Sixth Section: Computer Skills |
| of the position. | | | | Most people have basic computer skills such as |
| 2. Do a skills inventory exercise by making a | | | | Microsoft Word. It is acceptable to list the names |
| checklist from the list of job requirements. | | | | of software programs without indicating the |
| 3. Take the requirements matching your | | | | proficiency level. |
| qualifications and write a rough draft of | | | | This is how this section should look: |
| experience next to each requirement along with a | | | | COMPUTER SKILLS |
| note of which employer. | | | | MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and Internet |
| 4. Organize all of the roughly drafted sentences | | | | research |
| under each employer listing the most recent | | | | Let's do another one! |
| employer first and work your way down the | | | | This client has a 25-year sketchy background that |
| page ("reverse chronological order") | | | | includes several career transitions. Career choices |
| 5. Polish the sentences being sure to start each | | | | range from her early beginnings as a music |
| one with an action verb such as | | | | education teacher to her business partnership in |
| managed,coordinated, and supervised, and leave | | | | video production, which is ongoing and sporadic, to |
| out pronouns such as I, she, and he. | | | | her more recent experience in retail sales. In |
| 6. In addition to your routine work activities, do | | | | between, she raised her children and obtained a |
| your best to list a few select accomplishments. | | | | bachelor's degree in media production. Additional |
| This could include learning a new software at | | | | experience includes office managerial positions and |
| work and training another person to "increase | | | | part-time evening work as a dispatcher for an |
| productivity" or to save the employer money by | | | | alarm company that she is not unsure about listing |
| avoiding the need to pay a software training | | | | it on her resume. She is now looking to leverage |
| school to teach their employees. | | | | her career in a position with a TV video |
| 7. Do not list sentences about your attributes in | | | | production company so she can explore a position |
| place of experience. For example, under | | | | where her eclectic background in managing a |
| Professional Experience or Work History, do not | | | | similar business will be utilized and developed. So |
| write, "Ensure workflow efficiencies exercising | | | | how should she do her resume? |
| exceptional organizational and time management | | | | This job seeker has decided to target a position |
| skills." This is not specific enough about job-specific | | | | as a senior technician and work her way up the |
| responsibilities. You can, however, include a | | | | ranks. She is very confident, and knows that this |
| statement like this under your Summary of | | | | foot-in-the-door position will launch her new career. |
| Qualification as one of your attributes. Do not limit | | | | The emphasis will be placed on her work |
| your Summary of Qualifications section to only | | | | producing independent films, her technical |
| attributes. Make sure you strike a balance | | | | expertise, (retail) business management and music |
| between experience overview, skills, and | | | | education experience. |
| attributes. | | | | First section: Objective Statement (Target |
| 8. Decide which categories you will need. For | | | | Position) |
| example, if you have a recent degree and limited | | | | Unlike an objective statement, a title objective |
| experience, put the Education first. If you have | | | | consists of a few words that serve as a headliner |
| mostly experience, list Education last. If you have | | | | to brands the job seeker and expresses their |
| impressive academic credentials that were | | | | objective. This is done best if the job seeker is |
| obtained a few years back and want them to | | | | experienced in that occupational discipline. Using a |
| see that right away, still list it last, but mention | | | | title objective rather than a sentence-style |
| the credential in your profile or summary section. | | | | objective statement is much more direct and |
| 9. Include an objective statement. Do not make | | | | very powerful. If a job seeker is transitioning to a |
| the mistake of not including an objective thinking | | | | new career, the use of a title objective can be |
| that you do not want to limit your opportunities. | | | | initially misleading. It is helpful to preface the title |
| If you take this approach, the reader will not | | | | objective with a statement such as "Target |
| know what position you are targeting and will | | | | Position" or "Position of Interest". |
| most likely toss your resume in the trashcan. You | | | | This is how the objective statement should look: |
| cannot be all things to all companies. This goes | | | | TARGET POSITION: SENIOR TECHNICIAN, TV |
| back to the first step in the exercise - choose | | | | PRODUCTION |
| what you want to do. Then build the resume | | | | Second section: Profile |
| around that objective. | | | | Unlike the Summary of Qualifications section, a |
| 10. Format your resume so it is attractive. Be | | | | profile is a paragraph that is more of a bio rather |
| consistent with the style of the headings, dates, | | | | than a few simple sentences. It tells a story and |
| locations, and bolding. For example, if you | | | | is much stronger in language. The goal is the |
| abbreviate the name of the state where you | | | | same, in that it conveys the scope of experience, |
| worked, make sure it is abbreviated in your | | | | skills, credentials and attributes relevant to the |
| address at the top and throughout the resume | | | | position of interest. You do not need to use the |
| with the exception of the sentences. Do not | | | | actual word Profile as you would use Summary of |
| include the day of the month you were hired. | | | | Qualifications in our first example. |
| Limit it to the month and year. Do not include the | | | | This is how the Objective Statement and Profile |
| full address of the employer. This is for the job | | | | sections should look when combined: |
| application form, not the resume. | | | | TARGET POSITION: SENIOR TECHNICIAN, TV |
| First section: Objective | | | | PRODUCTION |
| An objective for a jobseeker's first resume is | | | | Multi-talented business management professional |
| very important because the reader cannot skim | | | | with a strong career path that combines music |
| the experience section to make a quick | | | | education, business ownership in media / video |
| assumption what a job seeker has to offer and is | | | | production and business management. Strong |
| looking to do. The objective statement should be | | | | team leader and client consultant known for ability |
| specific, not making the mistake of being too | | | | to develop scalable solutions that dramatically |
| cliche but stating something so general as "seeking | | | | improve efficiency and productivity through |
| a position with a large organization offering career | | | | management of project specifications, timelines, |
| growth opportunities" because that says | | | | resources, and budget requirements from point of |
| absolutely nothing and is all about what you want, | | | | planning through production. |
| not what you have to offer the hiring company. | | | | Third section: Professional Experience |
| They have a business to run and are looking to | | | | Sometimes a chronological resume will not work |
| hire people who want to contribute, not just take. | | | | because the most recent experience is not the |
| That said, the objective should read this way: | | | | most relevant experience. So, a combination |
| "Ambitious sports enthusiast exploring a position in | | | | resume is the strategy that should be used. The |
| sports marketing. Offer a recentdegree in | | | | combination format combines the elements of a |
| Marketing, valuable field internship experience and | | | | functional (skills based) and chronological format. |
| three years of work experience in special events | | | | Professional Experience will be the main category, |
| coordination and public relations." | | | | followed by sub-categories that are appropriately |
| This is how the section should look: | | | | named according to the function or job title. |
| OBJECTIVE | | | | These will be Video Production; Music Education; |
| Ambitious sports enthusiast exploring a position in | | | | Business Management (retail). Notice how the |
| sports marketing. Offer a recent degree in | | | | category is not called Retail Sales Management. |
| Marketing, valuable field internship experience and | | | | Rather, "retail" is given a backseat because it is |
| three years of experience in special events | | | | not the focus as much as the business |
| coordination and public relations | | | | management end of what this job seeker does. |
| Second Section: Summary of Qualifications | | | | But, before we even get to that point, a |
| A Summary of Qualifications section "summarizes" | | | | chronology of employment will be listed first. |
| a job seeker's selling points relevant to the job | | | | This is how the section should look: |
| they are applying for. The easiest format is a few | | | | PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE |
| bulleted sentences, each dedicated to experience, | | | | Managing Partner, Video Production Studios, Town, |
| skills, credentials and attributes. | | | | X/XX - Present |
| This is how the section should look: | | | | VIDEO PRODUCTION |
| SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS | | | | * Direct the hiring, training, supervision, and |
| * Offer five years of experience in customer | | | | evaluation of a production staff and volunteers. |
| service and workshop coordination. | | | | * Fully coordinate the logistical operations of |
| * Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Marketing; | | | | program productions. |
| consistently maintain excellent grades. | | | | * Conceptualized, developed, and produced |
| * Work full time to finance education to avoid the | | | | 30-minute interview and music shows. |
| need for student loans. | | | | * Supervise and approve show format, host, |
| * Possess excellent organizational, interpersonal | | | | theme song, and casting. |
| communication, and problem resolution skills. | | | | * Plan and organize the scheduling of program |
| * Creative thinker with a proven ability to size up | | | | channels and the casting of community events. |
| a situation and bring new ideas to the table. | | | | * Oversee the implementation of all technical |
| Third Section: Education | | | | requirements and conduct group-training sessions. |
| A job seeker may have five years of experience, | | | | * Manage projects and technical teams and |
| but it is not in their chosen field or in direct | | | | program schedules. |
| alignment with their pending bachelor's degree. So, | | | | * Direct stage productions; conduct orchestras; |
| their most impressive selling point is their | | | | and create, edit, and produce videos. |
| education. Tip: when a degree is pending, it is | | | | * Build and administer system networks and |
| advantageous to include a short list of the most | | | | handle all aspects of creative technical writing. |
| important courses. Do not list high school if you | | | | BUSINESS MANAGEMENT |
| have college experience. It is understood. The | | | | * Serve as a team member responsible for |
| exception would be if you are in your first year | | | | developing and implementing business plans. |
| of college ad have very accomplished experience | | | | * Manage weekly status meetings to instill uniform |
| in high school. | | | | vision of product development. |
| This is how the section should look: | | | | * Execute the distribution and promotion of all |
| EDUCATION | | | | new product lines. |
| Name of College, Town, XX | | | | * Produce voice-overs, audio calls, and on-camera |
| Pursuing Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing; | | | | product introductions. |
| expected December 2007 | | | | * Lead the market push of six new products |
| Current GPA: 3.7 | | | | from conception to completion. |
| Select Coursework: | | | | * Coordinate the design of graphics to created |
| * Principles of Marketing | | | | product branding. |
| * Marketing Research | | | | * Train video editors and operations staff in the |
| * Managerial Accounting | | | | delivery of scripts. |
| * Organizational Communications | | | | * Directed product production, achieving a |
| * Business Policy and Strategy | | | | year-over-year cost savings of 25% |
| Fourth Section: Work History | | | | * Reduced defect reductions from 15% per unit |
| Until you have strong and extensive experience in | | | | to less than 4% per unit. |
| your "profession" you should hold off on using the | | | | Fourth Section: Education |
| category "professional experience" and opt for | | | | Often, highly experience or more senior-level |
| "work history". This job seeker's work history is in | | | | professionals have graduated over ten years ago. |
| customer service as a waitress. Although the | | | | They do not want to emphasize their age or to |
| term "customer service" is not the same as a | | | | show that their education was so far back. So, |
| customer service position in an office setting, it is | | | | the best thing to do is omit the date. Since their |
| still servicing customers. As long as this job | | | | experience far outweighs their education, they do |
| seeker can justify their reasoning behind using | | | | not need to list their GPA either. The best |
| customer service as their area of experience, | | | | approach is to keep it as simple as possible. |
| they will not be stumped in an interview. | | | | This is how the section should look: |
| The first line of this section should include the | | | | EDUCATION |
| company name, town, and state, but not the | | | | Music Conservatory, Town, XX |
| door address. That information should only be | | | | Bachelor of Arts in Music |
| included on a job application form. On the same | | | | Fifth Section: Computer Skills |
| line as the company name and location over to | | | | In some cases, there is specialized software in |
| the right margin, the employment dates. The job | | | | addition to the usual MS Word and Excel. It is a |
| title should be listed on the second line in bold. | | | | good idea either list them first or use |
| There are formatting variations from resume to | | | | subcategories so the technical software stands |
| resume, but this is the basic approach. | | | | out. If there is a series of applications that all start |
| In this position, the job seeker worked in a | | | | with Adobe, Microsoft or Apple, it is a good idea |
| pizzeria as a waitress. Although this is the actual | | | | to list the company name once, followed by the |
| title the job seeker will list, the description will | | | | specific software from that company. When using |
| indicate that they provide customer service | | | | this approach, keep the group together on their |
| excellence. This way they can use the keyword | | | | own line or separated by a semi-colon. |