Better Resumes in 3 Easy Steps

Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps Ben T. Field & Paul K. Wright

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NOTICE TO THE READER Publisher does not warrant or guarantee any of the products described herein or perform any independent analysis in connection with any of the product information contained herein. Publisher does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to obtain and include information other than that provided to it by the manufacturer. The reader is expressly warned to consider and adopt all safety precautions that might be indicated by the activities herein and to avoid all potential hazards. By following the instructions contained herein, the reader willingly assumes all risks in connection with such instructions. The publisher makes no representation or warranties of any kind, including but not limited to, the warranties of fitness for particular purpose or merchantability, nor are any such representations implied with respect to the material set forth herein, and the publisher takes no responsibility with respect to such material. The publisher shall not be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting, in whole or part, from the readers’ use of, or reliance upon, this material. Delmar Staff: Business Unit Director: Susan L. Simpfenderfer Executive Editor: Marlene McHugh Pratt Developmental Editor: Judy Roberts Executive Marketing Manager: Donna Lewis Executive Production Manager: Wendy A. Troeger Production Editor: Elaine Scull Cover Design: Joseph Villanova COPYRIGHT © 2000 Delmar is a division of Thomson Learning. The Thomson Learning logo is a registered trademark used herein under license. Printed in Canada 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 X X X 05 04 03 02 01 00 99 For more information, contact Delmar, 3 Columbia Circle, PO Box 15015, Albany, NY 12212-0515; or find us on the World Wide Web at http://www.delmar.com All rights reserved Thomson Learning © 2000. The text of this publication, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. You can request permission to use material from this text through the following phone and fax numbers. Phone: 1-800-730-2214; Fax 1-800-730-2215, or visit our Web site at http://www.thomsonrights.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Field, Ben T. Better resumes in 3 easy steps / Ben T. Field & Paul K. Wright. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-7668-1563-3 1. Résumés (Employment) I. Wright, Paul K. II. Title. III. Title : Better resumes in three easy steps. HF5383. F485 1999 808'.06665--dc21 99-36587 CIP

Table of Contents Chapter 1 A Resume in Today’s Workplace

1

Introduction The Resume: Its Purpose and Format The Changing Workplace Employment Outlook Summary

2 3 4 5 7

Chapter 2 How to Develop an Effective Resume

8

Key Components that Attract Attention Basic Resume Outline Paper Quality, Color, Typefaces, and More Examples of Attractive, Easy-To-Read Typefaces for Resumes Summary

9 10 11 12 13

Chapter 3 What Employers Want Today

14

The SCANS Report and Skills for the Future Critical Factors and Personal Marketing Summary

15 16 17

Chapter 4 Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

18

Step One Step Two Step Three Evaluate the Facts to Develop Your Profile Enhance Your Resume with SCANS Skills Use Action Verbs and Phrases Profile or Faux Pas? Do’s and Don’ts that are Critical Summary

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Chapter 5 Worksheets Make It Easy For You

29

Employment Worksheet Education and Training Worksheet Skills and Accomplishments Worksheet Training Worksheet and Other Personal Notes Summary

30 31 32 33 34 v

Chapter 6 Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

35

Profile Examples Summary

36 48

Chapter 7 Facts for High School and College Students

49

Resumes and Facts for High School Students Resumes and Facts for College Students Summary

50 55 60

Chapter 8 Facts for Women

61

For Women Only Summary

62 64

Chapter 9 Better Cover Letters

65

How to Write Your Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts for Cover Letters Summary

66 67 72

Chapter 10 Information to Help You Write Better Resumes

73

What Do Employers Expect? Be Creative But Not Stupid Suggested Sources of Occupational Information for the Job Seeker Summary

vi

74 75 76 77

Preface Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps was written for job seekers of all ages and stages from students and new graduates to dislocated workers and nontraditional students. The authors explain that changes in the workplace make it necessary to rethink how to write a resume that will generate employers’ interest and increase the rate of response. The central focus is to give the reader a better understanding of what employers in our new high-tech workplace want to know about applicants and how to develop effective resumes and cover letters that employers will read. The basic principle is the Three Easy Steps to Success method: Compile your information, Analyze your information, and Organize your information in a simple easy-to-read format that will encourage the employer to grant an interview. The book also explains the use of the SCANS report in developing better resumes. Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps contains only the fundamental information needed to improve your resumes and cover letters with examples of what to do and what not to do. It’s a companion book to Better Job Search in 3 Easy Steps and Better Job Skills in 3 Easy Steps.

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Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the many people who gave their time and expertise is producing this text. We also wish to thank the reviewers who provided many insightful suggestions for improving this book. We are indebted to them. Michael Mahoney Drake Business School Astoria, New York

Bill Hailey Madisonville Community College Madisonville, Kentucky

Carolyn Hagaman Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky

Connie Martin Tecumseh High School Lynnville, Indiana

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About the Authors of This Book . . . They founded Rightfield Business Publications in 1995 and write a weekly Job Search column for syndication.

Ben T. Field is a successful advertising executive with 35 years experience in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations, including supervisory experience with extensive training and development responsibilities. He has been Art Director at Bristol Myers, Eli Lilly, and CIBA/Geigy. Presently, he is a Professional Marketing Consultant under the name Field Design Group. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville and holds an MFA degree in Graphic Design from Yale University. He has taught creative art and graphic design at the University of Evansville and IVY Tech State College. He is presently teaching advertising at the University of Southern Indiana.

Paul K. Wright, retired bank vice-president (Industrial Relations), has 35 years experience in business development including 11 years as a Chamber of Commerce executive in economic development working with new and existing industry. For 14 years he was a bank executive responsible for industrial relations and 10 years plus as director of an employment and training center. Wright studied engineering at Akron University, and is a graduate of the Industrial Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and the Chamber of Commerce Management Institute at the University of Georgia. He has conducted numerous workshops, seminars, and sales training sessions.

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Chapter 1

A Resume in Today’s Workplace Objective To gain a better understanding of the changing workplace and a preview of employment outlook. The purpose is to emphasize the importance of developing a more effective resume in a simple format that is easy for the employer to read.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Define the purpose of a resume. • Discuss the importance of a dynamic resume. • Better understand today’s workplace.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

INTRODUCTION The authors recognize that there are many good books on the market about how to write resumes, and which show different types of resumes with virtually thousands of examples. They contain an incredible amount of information with many good points to help you in your job search. However, having so much information has caused some confusion among many applicants. This book was written to alleviate some of that confusion and make it easier to write an effective resume that the employer will read. Moreover, the workplace has changed drastically during the last decade. Hiring practices have also changed. Together, the authors have over fifty years’ experience dealing with company practices and have seen those changes taking place. We have reviewed numerous resumes in the past ten years, and many resume books during that time with examples of how to write resumes from the “outstanding” resume to the “best” resume that will get you the job you want. But that depends on the quality of your resume and whether the employer reads it. Well-known columnist Jim Pawlak said the most important part of your resume is the headline. “Like the newspaper headline, it must grab the readers’ attention.”* Surveys indicate that employers spend less than Twenty Seconds scanning a resume to determine whether or not to read it. Therefore, the most effective way to grab the readers’ attention is by means of a dynamic Profile that will sell your value to the new employer. But your entire resume must be outstanding in what it says and present a professional appearance. Remember the basic rule of advertising: attract attention, generate interest, create desire, establish memory, and stimulate action. But you must do this in Twenty Seconds! This book is written to show you how to make your resume more effective and how to get that attention in the first Twenty Seconds.

*Source: Indianapolis Star, December 14, 1997.

A Resume in Today’s Workplace

THE RESUME: ITS PURPOSE AND FORMAT What is a Resume? A resume is a document that shows the employer your assets, your strengths, what you have done, and what you can do. It is your personal sales presentation about you and your capabilities. Most of all, it is your personal advocate to gain you an interview. It will not get you the job, but a good resume will get your foot in the door. The rest is up to you. Therefore, it is extremely important for your resume to be factual and professional. It must accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative as much as possible. You will note that our resume examples show a professional Profile or summary rather than an objective. In some cases when applicable, you might use Special Qualifications. This emphasizes your strong points immediately and encourages the manager to read further, rather than limiting consideration to a specific job. However, a new graduate right out of college should combine a career objective with the Profile. Please pay careful attention to our instructions about how to write it. You usually mention your goal in your cover letter or your interest in the company’s job opening. If you feel you must document a particular objective, then add it to the Profile as shown in the following examples:

Extensive experience in human resources and administrative procedures, supporting top management. Looking for similar position in administrative or system capacity. or Ten years experience in computer programming, operations, and maintenance, including systems analysis and design. Looking for similar position in health care or related field.

How Long Should a Resume Be? A one-page resume is the best and the most acceptable. In most cases, you can get all the important information on one page. A survey last year of executives in the nation’s 1,000 largest firms reported that 73 percent preferred one page for staff-level positions but 64 percent preferred two pages for executive positions. However, in cases where you have so much experience (such as technical) that you must use two pages, it is mandatory to capture the readers’ interest on the first page to ensure he or she will read the second page. Therefore, we recommend that a two-page resume be presented as a double-page spread, printed on 11 x 17 paper, and folded to 81/2 x 11 so the reader is forced to see both pages when the resume is opened (see illustration on page 16). Put your name and address on the front in case the employer files your resume for future reference. If you use two pages instead of the double-page spread, staple them so they cannot be separated. Use only the straight style staples, not the undulated type.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

THE CHANGING WORKPLACE Today’s workplace is more competitive and complex than ever before. Companies continue to downsize their operations and reduce their workforce. Consequently, you must now compete with experienced workers looking for employment, as well as new college graduates. Even though workers have been considered to be the company’s most valuable resource, they become expendable when the company reduces operating costs. Therefore, when you apply for a position, the company wants to know what you have accomplished in an effort to determine your potential value. The recommendations in this book will help you fine-tune your resume to make it more professional, more dynamic, and more effective to compete in today’s market. Most managers use the process of elimination when looking at resumes, whether or not they realize or admit it. It is similar to a beauty contest, and you are one of the contestants. You must make a good impression immediately or you may be eliminated before they consider your experience. Remember what we said about the first Twenty Seconds. The first glance takes in the appearance or what makes your resume stand out from the rest. The second glance notices the content, your Profile, and your skills. The final glance considers the details to determine your potential with the company. In other words, you must attract the reader’s attention and generate his or her interest in Twenty Seconds or you will not have the opportunity to prove your intellect and abilities. On the following pages we will explain the use of key words, action verbs, and the most usable format with step-by-step instructions. Do not worry about the various types of resumes, such as functional or chronological. Simply follow our examples with the necessary variations to emphasize your strengths and make your resume more effective.

A Resume in Today’s Workplace

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK In 1991, the United States government published projections (1990–2005) for the fastest growing occupations requiring postsecondary education and declining occupations during that same period. A partial list is presented for your information, giving you an idea of the rapid changes occurring in the workplace. Fastest Growing Occupations Requiring a College Degree or Major Education (percent of growth)

Occupation Systems analysts Computer programmers Management analysts Marketing, Advertising/PR Teachers, preschool Teachers, special education Financial services sales Accountants and Auditors Social workers Engineering, Mathematics Teachers, secondary

Percent 79 56 52 47 41 40 40 34 34 34 34

Of the 20 fastest growing occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher education, the top seven are tied to the health services industry and computer technology. Fastest Growing Occupations Requiring Some Postsecondary Training or Extensive Employer Training (percent growth)*

Occupation Paralegals Medical assistants Radiologic technicians Data processing equipment repair Medical records technicians Electromedical equipment repair Legal secretaries Registered nurses Licensed practical nurses Dental hygienists

Percent 85 74 70 60 54 51 47 44 42 41

Health services occupations are a sizable proportion of the fastest growing occupations requiring some postsecondary training or extensive employer training. This book deals only with developing a dynamic conventional resume. The pros and cons of placing your resume on the Internet in the new electronic job search revolution are discussed in Better Job Search in 3 Easy Steps.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

Occupations with the Greatest Declines in Number of People (thousands)*

Occupation

Thousands

Bookkeeping, Accounting, Auditing clerks Sewing machine operators Electrical and Electronic assemblers Typists/Word processors Telephone/TV install/repair Statistical clerks Bank tellers Service station attendants Meter readers, Utilities

133 116 105 103 40 31 25 17 12

*Source: Occupational Outlook 1990–2005. U.S. Department of Labor, Fall 1991.

Occupations with the greatest declines in employment are tied to manufacturing or result from technological changes now going on in the workplace.

U.S. News & World Report (October 26, 1998) published a feature article about the 20 Hot Job Tracks, which confirms the Department of Labor projections. The following opportunities from the 1998 U.S. News report are on the list of fastest growing occupations: • • • • •

Accounting Education Finance Human services Social work

• • • • •

Advertising Engineering Health care Sales Technical

A Resume in Today’s Workplace

SUMMARY Chapter 1 is about getting started. Here you have learned the basic importance of a resume and how little time an employer spends scanning it to determine whether or not to read it. If your resume cannot pass the Twenty Second test, forget it. Remember that a resume must be factual and professional. A strong Profile gets you further than a trite objective. Note why executives want one-page resumes, and why a simple format gets more readership. Look at the complex matter of the changing workplace. Jobs are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Remembers how the first glance of an employer considers the resume appearance, the second glance considers the Profile and your qualifications, and the third glance considers the details. All this either weeds you out or determines your worth to the company. If you are thinking about a career or making a career change, check the fastest growing occupations and the declining occupations. Making the right career choice is one of the most important decisions of your life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What is the employer’s Twenty Second test?

2. What is the basic use of a resume?

3. Why is a strong Profile better than a job objective?

4. What is the most desired length of a resume?

5. Why do you need to know about the fastest growing occupations?

6. Why do you need to avoid the declining occupations?

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Chapter 2

How to Develop an Effective Resume Objective To define the key components of a resume that attract attention and encourage better readership. To emphasize the use of a basic outline that is easy to read and instructions on paper quality, typefaces, and layout necessary to develop an attractive resume that creates a good impression.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Understand the basic format for your resume. • Explain the key components that attract attention. • Discuss the importance of K.I.S.S. • Have a knowledge of papers and typefaces to use.

How to Develop an Effective Resume

KEY COMPONENTS THAT ATTRACT ATTENTION You will note that we recommend a simple, straightforward, eyecatching format with dynamic headings. This emphasizes the most important factors first. Therefore, begin with the Profile, Skills, and Accomplishments. Even if you are just out of college, you have skills and accomplishments from college that will generate the employer’s interest. It is true that some employers like to see a career objective. But remember, this may limit your being considered for various positions, because a Profile covers a broader range. You can add the objective to the Profile such as in the example below. We continue to stress the importance of a Profile followed by Skills and Accomplishments to enhance your value to the employer. Accomplishments impress people, and this is your opportunity to sell yourself. Use action words to your best advantage. Remember, you must make a good impression in Twenty Seconds. If you have special qualifications, by all means show them, especially if you cannot show accomplishments.

Basic Format • • • • • • •

Profile Skills and Abilities Accomplishments Work Experience Related Training Education Certification (or Affiliations)

Depending on the kind of position you are applying for, you may need to add a heading for Community (or Civic) Involvement. Many employers require middle-management personnel to be active in their communities and want to know if you worked on fund drives (hospitals, United Way), Chamber of Commerce committees, or served on boards of directors. They do not care about your hobbies, interests, or sports unless they are relevant.

Format for College Students or New Graduates You can still use the basic format, but it will have to be structured to emphasize your education and training, and any work experience or activities during college. For example, your Profile could read like this:

“Motivated college graduate with training in computer technology and above average math scores pursuing a career in systems analysis.” Do not embellish how much value you can be to the company right out of college with no experience. Do not antagonize the employer or insult his or her intelligence.

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Better Resumes in 3 Easy Steps

BASIC RESUME OUTLINE Name Address City Telephone

States

Zip

Profile (or Summary) This is your sales presentation. It outlines your experience in a nutshell. Remember, you are a sophisticated product that must be marketed. Skills and Abilities or Qualifications If applicable (see page 15). Accomplishments Be specific, such as you increased sales by 100 percent, reduced operation costs by 30 percent, and so forth (see p. 19 and 20). Work Experience employment.

Show company, location, title, and terms of

Related Training Any company or other training, location, brief explanation, and so forth. Education Postsecondary education with field of study, degree, or certificate. Community Involvement (whenever applicable) Fund drives, committees, boards of directors, and offices held. Certification (whenever applicable). Affiliations (whenever applicable). The popular phrase “References Furnished on Request” is not necessary.

How to Develop an Effective Resume

PAPER QUALITY, COLOR, TYPEFACES, AND MORE The appearance of your resume is critical. It must be pleasing to the eye to ensure the employer will read it. Pay attention to every detail: paper, quality, color, typeface, layout, and printing. Everything is important. We suggest that you have it printed at a commercial printer or use a computer. If you have a good master copy, use good quality paper and find access to a good copy machine. Those copies are usually acceptable. Paper should be of top quality: a good heavy bond paper, possibly with a linen finish and 25 percent rag content. Try to use 24-pound paper, but no lighter than 20 pound. It will not have the quality you need. Paper color should be pleasing to your eye. The best colors are white, ivory, buff, sand (tan), or gray. Never use harsh colors like red, blue, green, or other colors that make your resume difficult to read. Typefaces must be easy to read and Times Roman, Caslon, Baskerville, or Garamond are always in good taste. Should you want a more modern, contemporary look, choose Helvetica, Futura, Optima, or Univers. Old English, Brush, Script, or other fancy styles should never be used in your resume. Never mix your typefaces but it is acceptable to use regular, bold, and italics of the same face in different sizes for emphasis. Printing is best done at a commercial printer. Many independent printers are relatively inexpensive. If you have a master copy from a laser printer, they can use it as camera-ready copy or they can set your type and do the complete job. You must give them typewritten copy and then proofread it to make sure everything looks the way it should. Layout is very important. It must present your resume in the best possible way. White space at top, bottom, and both sides gives the best appearance and impression. Look closely at the resume examples in this book and you will see what we mean. Envelopes are an important part of your resume package. If you use a regular business size (No. 10) envelope for your resume and cover letter, make sure it matches as closely as possible in color and weight. However, to make a better impression, mail your resume and cover letter flat in a 9 x 12 booklet-style envelope. You must use the 9 x 12 envelope for the 11 x 17 double-page resume format (folded to 81/2 x 11). This way, neither the resume nor the cover letter have to be folded. They have a nicer appearance and make a better impression. Looks are critical!

If you are using a pin-dot printer, you will not get a choice of typefaces or letter quality output such as an ink-jet or laser printer gives you. Find a place that can print your resume so it will have the best appearance possible.

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Better Resumes in 3 Easy Steps

EXAMPLES OF ATTRACTIVE, EASY-TO-READ TYPEFACES FOR RESUMES Times or Times Roman Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation.

Bookman Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation.

Helvetica Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation.

Optima Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation.

Century Schoolbook Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation.

How to Develop an Effective Resume

SUMMARY Learn how a simple, easy-to-read format with dynamic headings emphasizes important factors first. Look at the basic resume format. Notice the importance of accomplishments and how you use them to sell yourself. See how you can fit all your work history into the simple format. Think about the paper you use for your resume. Light colors are best. White, tan, gray, or ivory all give a professional appearance. Think about the typeface and choose one that looks good but can be read quickly. Times Roman or Helvetica are excellent choices. Never use fancy scripts like Old English. Everything you do influences the outcome when employers look at your resume. If you do not have access to a computer, consider getting your resume typeset and printed. Remember, the layout is important and the envelope should match. Appearance is critical. Everything is important when you are trying to pass the Twenty Second test. You always want to make the best impression possible with a potential employer.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What impresses employers the most in a resume?

2. Discuss the headings in the basic resume format.

3. Why is resume appearance so important?

4. What kind of paper and paper color should you use?

5. What is the importance of “white space” on your resume?

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Chapter 3

What Employers Want Today Objective To understand the U.S. Department of Labor SCANS report that defines the skills employers want in today’s high-tech workplace. It also defines three critical factors that determine the kind of impression your resume will make.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Explain the importance of the SCANS report. • Discuss the critical factors for the resume. • Understand the necessity of personal marketing.

What Employers Want Today

THE SCANS REPORT AND SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE Today’s workplace is changing so rapidly that the authors feel it is necessary to explain the SCANS* report which deals with skills that employers look for in new employees. Both entry level and experienced job seekers are affected. Every recent survey emphasizes the importance of these skills so the SCANS report has a definite impact on how you write your resume, what you say, and how you say it. Even though you may have the basic foundation skills—reading, writing, math, listening, and speaking—employers want to know how well you can communicate, both orally and in writing. They want to know how well you organize information and respond to instructions, and how well you solve problems and work with others. In other words, in today’s workplace, you must demonstrate critical thinking, problemsolving, and the popular terms of interacting—being a team player or a team leader. The way you write your resume will show the employer how well you organize information, how well you think, and how responsible you are. The point here is to be very careful in what you say and how you say it. How you write your Profile, your Skills, Accomplishments, and your Work Experience will demonstrate these skills. The SCANS report lists five competencies as follows: 1. Resources—How well you organize your time, plan your work, and utilize available resources. 2. Information—How well you acquire, evaluate, organize, interpret, and communicate information. Are you computer literate? 3. Interpersonal—How well you work with others, serve clients, exercise leadership, and engage in teamwork. 4. Systems—How well you understand social, organizational, and technological systems. 5. Technology—How well you select and apply technology in your work. The three foundation skills are as follows: 1. Basic Skills—reading, writing, math, listening, and speaking. 2. Thinking Skills—creative thinking, decision-making, problemsolving, visualizing, knowing how to learn, and reasoning. 3. Personal Qualities—responsibility, socialability, self-management, integrity, and honesty. Keep these facts in mind when you describe your work experience, job responsibilities, and your accomplishments. Your resume must convince the employer that you have these important skills.

*Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, U.S. Department of Labor, April 1992.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

CRITICAL FACTORS AND PERSONAL MARKETING This is it! You have Twenty Seconds or less to make a good first impression. The first critical factor is appearance. If the resume appearance is not pleasing, you may be eliminated before the employer even reads your name. The second critical factor is your Profile. This is your sales presentation. You are marketing your experience and capabilities. Make it good but make it factual. It is a summary of your assets. The third critical factor for a good impression is your accomplishments (and/or skills) which prove what you said. We repeat that accomplishments impress people. They make the potential employer believe you are valuable to the company far more than by your stating how valuable you can be.

Effectiveness We recommend only two styles be used for an effective resume that the employer will read. One page is sufficient for most resumes, but if you must use two pages, use the double-page spread shown below. This ensures that the employer sees both pages on opening the resume, because the second page of a two-page resume is often overlooked.

K.I.S.S. Keep it Short and Simple so the employer reads your resume and grants you an interview, but be specific about what you can do and thorough about what you have done. Today’s employers receive hundreds and thousands of resumes. They do not have the time to read them all so they read the best and eliminate the rest. Remember the three most important factors to make that first impression good: 1. A pleasing appearance with a simple format that is easy to read. 2. Good qualifications (your Profile) that will attract the employer’s attention. 3. Proof of ability. Your accomplishments and/or skills. You said it and now you have to prove it.

But if you must have two pages, use the double-page spread with your name, address, and telephone number centered on the front.

Best way, one page.

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JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDO FUJFO DTHUA ONFAFAV FOUFFN FFF FOF FIUFF UUSDFKFLJRE URUF FAMF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDO FU JFO DTHUA ONFAFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFFA MF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDOFU

JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDO FU JFO DTHUA ONFAFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFFA MF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDOF

JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDO FU JFO DTHUA ONFAFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFFA MF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDOF

JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDO FU JFO DTHUA ONFAFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFFA MF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDOF

JUFUF DF UF FO DUF F UDO FU JFO DT HUA ONF AFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFF A MF UFF F JUF UFDF UF FODUF F UD OF

JUFUF DF UF FO DUF F UDO FU JFO DT HUA ONF AFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFF A MF UFF F JUF UFDF UF FODUF F UD OF

JUFUF DF UF FO DUF F UDO FU JFO DT HUA ONF AFAV FOUF FN FFF FOF FIUFF UUS DF KFLJREUR UFF A MF UFF F JUF UFDF UF FODUF F UD OF

UUSDFKFL JREURUFF AMF UFF F JUFUFDF UF FODUF F UDOFU JFODTHUAONFAFAV FOUFFN FFF FOF FIUFF UUSDFKFLJREURUFFAMF UFF F

JFODT HUA ONF AFAV FOUFFN FFF FOF FIUFF UUSDF KFL

11 x 17 folded to 81/2 x 11 with name and address on front. Mail with cover letter, flat in 9 x 12 heavy envelope.

What Employers Want Today

SUMMARY Note the importance of the SCANS skills in your resume and the fact that employers are searching for employees who have those particular skills. How you put your resume together shows the employer that you have utilized these skills in your work experience. Study the five competencies—resources, information, interpersonal, systems, and technology. Compare them to your job information. Do you have the foundation skills of reading, writing, and personal qualities? Do you have thinking skills? Can you solve problems? Make decisions? What are your personal qualities? Are you responsible? Sociable? Honest? Do you have integrity? Good work ethic? Your resume must convince the employer that you have these important skills for today’s high-tech workplace. Check your resume for the three critical factors—pleasing appearance, good qualifications, and proof of ability. Employers receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of resumes. They do not have time to read them all so they read the best and discard the rest.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why are the SCANS skills so important for you to include and prove in your resume?

2. What are the five competencies?

3. What are the three foundation skills?

4. What are the three critical factors?

5. Why are they so important to your resume?

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Chapter 4

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize Objective To explain the Three Easy Steps to develop better resumes, the use of action words and phrases, how to enhance your resume with the SCANS skills, and how to develop a dynamic Profile.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Discuss the Three Easy Steps to a better resume. • Know why action words work in your favor. • Discuss why a dramatic Profile is so important.

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

STEP ONE Compile Your Information and Define Your Strong Points You are now ready to evaluate and revise your current resume or to improve it or write a new one. The first step is to compile complete information about yourself, your skills, your training, your accomplishments, community involvement; everything you can think of. Begin with your work experience. List every company, location, and the dates of employment. For each company, note every job you held, everything you did, your duties and responsibilities, your accomplishments, and any awards. List all your skills, tools and equipment used, and all company training. List any outside activities the company required you to do, such as fund drives or serving on committees or boards of directors. Now, pick out your strong points that apply to the job group or job opening you are seeking so you can write an action-packed Profile. For example, you could say

Motivated computer professional with broad-based experience from data entry to financial reports and technical assistance including troubleshooting to resolving equipment problems. or Versatile designer of consumer products, experienced in injection-molded and vacuum-formed plastic parts, product packaging, displays, and in-plant fixtures. The Profile is the first item the employer reads after your name and address. It is the first part of your sales presentation. You must generate interest in the first few seconds so he or she will continue to read. Define your strong points to use in the Profile, but do not write it yet. Next, pick out your most impressive Accomplishments. This is the second part of your sales presentation to generate his or her interest. Be specific and use action words. For example:

Increased annual refrigerator sales by 100 percent from $500,000 to $1,000,000. or Reduced delinquent accounts by 35 percent in one year. Finally, review all training related to your work experience with emphasis on training that applies to the job opening or job group you are seeking. The SCANS Skills Foundation Skills • Basic Skills • Thinking Skills • Personal Qualities

• • • • •

Competencies Resources Information Interpersonal Systems Technology

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

STEP TWO Analyze Your Information and Evaluate Your Skills You have compiled information about each job you held, everything you did, and everything you accomplished. Now, you must evaluate the data to determine what is most valuable or useful to the employer who reads your resume. You must focus on what experiences would be most relevant and important to your new employer and emphasize them accordingly. You must also determine your most important accomplishments that show your potential value in your new position. Many of the things that you did during your work experience are no longer applicable, especially if you have advanced during your employment and are applying for a better position. You must summarize your experience in each job accordingly, as we show in the examples. Emphasize skills and experiences that are important to the new employer. Evaluate the information and its relevancy to the SCANS skills. Remember that accomplishments impress people. We mentioned previously that the employer wants to know what you did in order to determine your potential value to his or her company. Therefore, we must repeat that Accomplishments are a key part of your sales presentation to generate interest in you. Select your most impressive accomplishments and document them as much as possible with details such as

Increased sales by 50 percent from $100,000 to $150,000 or Reduced delinquent accounts by 35 percent in one year. The action words on page 24 will help you summarize your experiences and accomplishments. Many experts say it is not necessary to show experience over ten years old, but if it can be done without too much verbiage, we recommend that you compile your experience for a 20-year period and use whatever is applicable. In most cases, you can detail the recent 10 to 15 years and summarize the previous experiences as shown in the sample resumes later in the book.

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

STEP THREE Organize Your Information and Summarize the Facts You are now ready to write or rewrite your resume. Use the following outline as a worksheet, and make notations. Examples are on the following pages. We recommend that your name, address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number be centered at the top of the page. Put your name in bold. There is an acceptable alternate heading shown in the examples used when space is limited (see p. 42–43). Your Name Your Address Your City, State, and Zip Code Your Telephone Number Profile or Professional Profile (in case of new graduate, add Career Objective)

Skills and Abilities or Qualifications (if applicable)

Accomplishments or Selected Accomplishments

Work Experience or Professional Experience

Related Training

Education or Education and Training

Community Involvement (if applicable)

Certifications (if applicable)

Affiliations (if applicable, such as Engineering groups and the like)

If you cannot show any Accomplishments, show Special Skills or Qualifications.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

EVALUATE THE FACTS TO DEVELOP YOUR PROFILE Remember that you only have Twenty Seconds for your resume to make a good impression and generate enough interest so that the employer will read your entire document. The Profile is the most critical part of your resume. It is the opening statement of your sales presentation. It emphasizes your capabilities and experience so the employer can evaluate your potential value to the company. It should project you as the best applicant for the job. Writing an effective Profile is the most difficult part of developing a dynamic resume. So do not write your profile yet. First, organize your experience, analyze and evaluate your skills, and define your accomplishments. Then you can develop an effective Profile. Remember the Three Easy Steps—Compile your information and note your strong points; Analyze your information and evaluate your skills; and Organize your information and summarize the facts. Organize your work experience and summarize what you did in each job using action words. Do not write a job description with details about each task. Keep it short and simple. What were your job responsibilities? What did you accomplish? What skills did you use? The employer wants to know what you did in order to determine your potential value on the new job. Next, organize the information under the Skills and Abilities heading and the Accomplishments heading. Do not confuse skills or job requirements with accomplishments. If something is required on the job, it is not an accomplishment. Remember the SCANS report. If you have goood communication skills, say so, but be sure you can prove it in the interview. Use one-line sentences under the Skills and Accomplishments heading with bullets for emphasis. Now you are ready to develop your Profile. Are you a student, new graduate, production worker, office professional, supervisor, or secretary? What is your predominate occupation, and what do you do? Remember the Profile is your opening statement. Its sole purpose is to generate the employer’s interest to get your foot in the door. It must shout your abilities and sell your potential value to him or her. An effective Profile is the spearhead of a dynamic resume. For example,

Management professional with general office experience in auto repair business including secretarial, customer relations and parts inventory . . . or Office staff professional with managerial experience in auto repair business including . . . Note the difference in wording, depending on which experience you need to emphasize. The rest of the document is basically history and foundation facts. Be explanatory but be concise. Organize and summarize as shown on the sample resumes.

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

ENHANCE YOUR RESUME WITH SCAN SKILLS Remember that you are selling yourself to the employer, and the resume is your sales presentation stating that you have the job skills he or she wants. You also should enhance your resume with the SCANS skills. These are basic skills that employers expect every employee to have in addition to the specific skills relative to the job. The same Three Easy Steps used in writing a resume apply to using SCANS skills in your resume: 1. Compile all the skills you believe you have. 2. Analyze those skills for relative importance. 3. Organize them according to the order that it appears the new employer wants. You can then decide which skills should be woven into the Profile and which ones should dominate the section under Skills and Abilities, along with job specific skills. Study the SCANS skills on the preceding pages and note how they are presented in the following examples: In the Profile:

Degreed engineer with project management expertise in construction with proven experience in problem-solving and a track record of completing projects on time. And under Accomplishments:

Completed multimillion dollar 100-home subdivision 5 percent under budget in one year. Using SCANS skills in your resume makes it stand out above the rest. The employer will know that you have the foundation skills and the competencies mandatory in today’s workplace. Here are some examples of what you might emphasize under the Skills and Abilities heading: • excellent communication skills (oral and written) • excellent interpersonal skills (teamwork) • proven interpersonal skills (working with management/staff) • proven analytical and problem-solving skills and detail-oriented • proficient computer skills • ability to organize and implement projects • ability to interpret and implement federal regulations • self-starter, motivated and dedicated worker However, remember that if you say you have excellent communication skills or interpersonal skills in lieu of good or proficient skills, make sure you do and be prepared to demonstrate them in the interview. A study by (Michigan State University) College Employment Research Institute last year reported that good communication skills were among the most important attributes of successful applicants, and the most notable deficiencies among new college graduates. Before you begin to write your Profile and the rest of your resume, review the information on page 15 to determine your strong points that should be emphasized.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

USE ACTION VERBS AND PHRASES Now that you have compiled complete information about everything you ever did—your responsibilities and your achievements—you must summarize your experience under each of the headings (your Profile, your Accomplishments, Your Work Experience, and so forth). Use action words to emphasize what you accomplished, thereby indicating your capabilities. The following list will give you examples of words that can enhance your resume. All of these words denote action, but those preceded by an asterisk (*) denote accomplishment and should be used where they fit best. Many of them have been used in the sample resumes in Chapters 6 and 7.

*accomplished

generated

*prevented

*achieved

handled

*produced

implemented

*proved

administered analyzed

*improved

provided

approved

*increased

*rectified

assisted

initiated

*attained

instituted

*reduced

*completed

introduced

*replaced

recommended

conducted

*invented

reviewed

coordinated

*maintained

revised

*created

*managed

*saved

*negotiated

*simplified

operated

*succeeded

*organized

supported

*developed

*originated

*supervised

directed

planned

demonstrated *designed determined

*established evaluated

*prepared presented

trained validated verified

When applicable, you may want to use such phrases as “in charge of,” “responsible for,” “skilled in,” “proven accomplishments in,” “proven track record in,” “extensive experience in,” “broad-based experience in,” and so forth.

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

PROFILE OR FAUX PAS? Many things people put on resumes or leave off are not actually mistakes or errors, but could easily be called faux pas. They can affect your resume in a negative manner. Many of the Do’s and Don’ts are covered on page 26, but some of the most common errors are found in statements such as: “Seeking entry-level position”—Do not tell the employer you want an entry-level position. You are placing a limit on yourself and influencing his or her first impression. The employer may have other plans, such as management training, but you just blew it. “Seeking full-time employment”—This is superfluous and does not tell the employer anything. It is similar to the statement that you will take any job available. Employers want you to have some kind of direction. “Seeking position that will utilize my creative and promotional skills to improve the company’s operation.”—You are telling the employer that you know more about the company than he or she does. “Seeking entry-level position with established company which rewards hard work with increasing responsibilities and management roles.”— This is superfluous because employers normally reward (hard) work with responsibilities, provided the employee is capable and does a good job. “Seeking rewarding position that will fully utilize my personal and professional experience.”—This is completely superfluous because the employer will fully utilize your experience if you put forth the effort. “Seeking challenging position where I can use and contribute my education and job experience.”—The phrase “challenging position” is overworked and does not mean anything. The addition of contributing your education and job experience is something the employer already expects from you so you have not generated any interest on his or her part. “Seeking position that offers career potential.”—This phrase is also overworked, meaningless, and does not tell the employer anything. Another common error is the number of pages some people use for their resumes. We explained the use of one-page and two-page resumes, but invariably some applicants write several pages about work experiences, include a full page of references, copies of awards, transcripts, and other materials. Do not do it! If the employer wants a complete portfolio, he or she will ask for it. Also, do not include your salary history as part of your resume. It is a calculated risk even when the employer requests it. Suggestions on how to handle the request for salary history or salary requirements are included in our book Better Job Search In 3 Easy Steps.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

DO’S AND DON’TS THAT ARE CRITICAL Do’s • Make sure you have a nice, neat layout, one that is pleasing to the eye, with enough border and white space to emphasize your resume so it does not look like a newspaper ad. • Use a nice, neat, easy-to-read typeface on good quality bond paper, as discussed earlier. • Use matching envelopes if at all possible. • Use the strong outline format we suggest. This makes it easy for the employer to scan your resume quickly. Remember the critical first Twenty Seconds. In fact, some experts say you have only have seven to ten seconds. • Emphasize and document your accomplishments with specific results. • Use the most appropriate action words to emphasize your accomplishments. • Be sure to show college graduation date, location of school, and degree. • Always include a cover letter with your resume unless otherwise directed. • Make sure your cover letter is neatly typed or printed to match your resume. • Use your real name.

Don’ts • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Clutter the resume page to look like a newspaper ad Use too large a typeface. Use script or fancy, hard-to-read typefaces. Use cute or novel ways to organize your resume. Stay with the simple format recommended by experts. Leave gaps in your employment history. Include personal information about age, health, or marital status. It is not necessary and could be detrimental to you. Include anything about hobbies, sports, interests, or the like. Mention religious or political affiliations unless you are applying for those kinds of job. Refer to wages or salaries. Use terms like “fired,” “laid off,” or other derogatory words. Date your resume, but you should update it periodically. Hand-write your resume or cover letter. Use your nickname, such as Jimmy, Billy, Suzy, Joey, Billy Joe, and so forth.

Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize

SUMMARY Now you are ready to write a new resume or improve your old one. Remember the Three Easy Steps: Compile, Analyze, and Organize to develop an effective resume. Review the Do’s and Don’t for effective resumes. Eliminate the negatives or the employer will eliminate you. The first step is to compile complete information about your jobs, skills, education, and everything you can think of that can be used in your resume. Note your strong points and your accomplishments. Keep in mind the SCANS skills and how you can utilize them in your resume. Step two is to analyze your information and evaluate your skills. Focus on the most relevant experience to emphasize your potential value to the employer. Use action words to generate the employer’s interest and make him or her read the entire resume. Remember that you only have Twenty Seconds to make a good impression. Use the SCANS skills to enhance your resume. Step three is to organize your information and summarize the facts in an easy-to-read format beginning with a dynamic Profile that captures the employer’s attention. The Profile is the most critical part of your resume: it is the beginning of your sales presentation, your introduction. It is also the most difficult part to write, so organize your work experience first and pick out your skills, your strong points, and your accomplishments. Finally, develop a dynamic Profile summarizing your expertise and abilities.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What is the First Step in writing a resume?

2. Why is the Profile so important?

3. What good are accomplishments?

4. What is the Second Step in writing a resume?

5. How long do you have to make a good impression?

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

6. What is the Third Step in writing a resume?

7. What is the best way to enhance your resume?

8. Why should you use action words?

9. Why are Do’s and Don’ts so critical in a good resume?

Chapter 5

Worksheets Make It Easy For You Objective To encourage the reader to use worksheets for employment history, education and training, and skills and accomplishments. List as many skills, accomplishments, and kinds of training as possible for evaluation so you can determine which are most important for your resume.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Better define your skills and training. • Determine which skills are most important. • Realize the necessity of keeping work history records.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

EMPLOYMENT WORKSHEET List every company, location, job, and term of employment. On the following pages we will show you how to emphasize your major employers and accentuate that work experience to your best advantage. Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Job Description __________________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Job Description __________________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Job Description __________________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Job Description __________________________________________________________________

Worksheets Make It Easy For You

EDUCATION AND TRAINING WORKSHEET List every educational institution, location, studies, diplomas, certificates, degrees attained, and graduation date. High School ___________________________________ From _________ To ____________ City and State _________________________________ Graduation Date _____________ Diploma __________________________________________________________________________ Major Studies ____________________________________________________________________ Technical School _____________________________ From _________ To ____________ City and State _________________________________ Graduation Date _____________ Certificate ________________________________________________________________________ Major Studies ____________________________________________________________________ College/University ____________________________ From _________ To ____________ City and State _________________________________ Graduation Date _____________ Degree ____________________________________________________________________________ Major Studies ____________________________________________________________________ College/University ____________________________ From _________ To ____________ City and State _________________________________ Graduation Date _____________ Degree ____________________________________________________________________________ Major Studies ____________________________________________________________________ Additional training or college courses _______________________________________ School _________________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Subject _________________________________________ Certificate ____________________ Explain ___________________________________________________________________________ School _________________________________________ From _________ To ____________ Subject _________________________________________ Certificate ____________________ Explain ___________________________________________________________________________

Make a list of other work-related training or company-sponsored seminars, workshops, and the like. Show subject, sponsor, location, and dates. Use an additional sheet, if necessary.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WORKSHEET List all skills and accomplishments for each job held. Use extra paper if your need more space. Do not be bashful. List everything you can. Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ What You Did ____________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments _______________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ What You Did ____________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments _______________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ What You Did ____________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments _______________________________________________________________

Company _____________________________________________ City _____________________ Job Title _______________________________________ From _________ To ____________ What You Did ____________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments _______________________________________________________________

Worksheets Make It Easy For You

TRAINING WORKSHEET AND OTHER PERSONAL NOTES

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

SUMMARY These worksheets make it easy for you to compile the information you need to develop a dynamic resume. Begin with the Employment Worksheet and list every job with complete information about what you did and skills you used. The Education Worksheet is for colleges and any other education you have had. List technical schools and any additional company-sponsored seminars or other educational involvement you might have taken on your own. The Skills and Accomplishments Worksheet should include any special skills and accomplishments you have in your work history. Write down your computer skills, communication skills, customer relations skills, typing skills, problem-solving skills, and the like. Your accomplishments may include awards you have received or special projects you might have originated or managed, and any other business situations over and above job requirements. These special accomplishments help any potential employer realize you are the right person for the job.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is it necessary to keep an up-to-date list of your work history?

2. Review your work history and make sure you have included everything you have done in every job.

3. Review your education and training background. How does it fit into your career aspirations and is it relevant to the job you seek?

4. As you think of your skills and accomplishments, list them in order of importance and which are relevant to the job you seek.

5. Discuss how filling out these worksheets can help you develop a more dynamic and effective resume.

Chapter 6

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid Objective To present demonstrations of examples of effective one-page resumes and one two-page resume (double-page spread), along with two examples of what not to do in your resume.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Develop an effective resume that employers will read. • Discuss alternate headings and when they are useful. • Know what not to do when you write your resume.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

PROFILE EXAMPLES Students or New Graduates “Energetic high school student with proven organizational skills looking for summer employment of internship in business office.” “Energetic high school senior with proven organization skills plus a good work ethic pursuing career in psychology and/or specialty marketing.” Note: Same approach can be used for college person, either senior or new graduate. “Energetic high school senior with training in computer technology and above-average math scores pursuing career in health care field.” “New graduate with diversified experience in office operation, data processing, research, and customer service.” “Energetic (recent) college graduate with excellent people skills, trained in accounting and marketing, plus actual counseling and supervision experience.”

Experienced Workers “Versatile production worker trained in automotive mechanics with background in aircraft maintenance and experienced in operation of heavy equipment.” “Certified mechanic experienced in engine rebuilding, hydraulic systems, and brake systems with excellent welding skills and ability to diagnose mechanical problems.” “Technician with training and experience in electronics and computers, including program development, troubleshooting, and equipment maintenance.” “Office worker with training and experience in general clerical, accounts payable and receivable, purchasing, and customer relations.” “Office professional with managerial experience in automotive service operation including sales, accounting, purchasing, and computer operation.” “Computer operator with broad-based experience from data entry and verification to program development and equipment maintenance.”

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

IMAJEAN WADE 6720 SUNSET PIKE DENVER, COLORADO 51322 Phone: 601-473-6467 PROFILE Human Resources professional with extensive experience in administrative procedures, supporting top management. Looking for similar position in administrative or systems capacity SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication and customer relations skills • Team player with excellent interpersonal skills • Proven organizational, negotiation, and leadership skills • Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills • Motivated self-starter and detail-oriented • Proficient computer skills including mainframe manipulation PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1990 - 1998: ALCO INDUSTRIES Denver, Colorado EIS SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR MANAGED and CONTROLLED salary administration and personnel records for 1,100 salaried employees. ADMINISTERED supplementary pay for 400 production supervisors in addition to previous responsibilities listed below. 1980 - 1990: ALCO INDUSTRIES Denver, Colorado SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PREPARED salaried employees’ job descriptions and maintained salaried personnel performance audits, career paths, and professional profile information. PERFORMED administrative duties in labor relations, benefits, training, and employee assistance program. ADMINISTERED (25-year) awards program and made travel arrangements (including conference meeting rooms) for Human Resources Director and staff. EDUCATION & TRAINING Denver Business College, Denver, Colorado 1979 University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 1981 - 1985. (Evening classes, business law, BASIC programming)

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

Harold J. Morgan, P.E. 2400 Burkhardt Road Mt. Vernon, Washington 47716 360-478-5111 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Degreed engineer with project management expertise in engineering and light commercial or residential construction with extensive experience in problem-solving and a track record of completing projects on time within established budgets. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) • Skilled in strategic planning using analytical and technical skills. • Experienced in multimillion dollar construction projects • Experienced in use of Programmable Logic Controllers SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Tracked and coordinated materials for construction projects in excess of $10 million • Reduced cost $2 million annually by linking all remote locations to central office • Supervised major residential construction program completing 60 homes per year PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1980 - 1995 American Minerals Company Mt. Vernon, Washington Senior Project Engineer Tracked and coordinated cost and materials for multimillion dollar construction projects, worked on complex projects with limited placement areas, resources, and funding. Started as summer student, advancing to Engineering Data Specialist and then Project Engineer. 1974 - 1979

Valley Homes and Construction Construction Supervisor Construction work in light commercial and residential.

EDUCATION & TRAINING Oregon State University, 1986 North Portland, Oregon B.S.C.E. Civil Engineering

Portland, Oregon

University of Southern Oregon, 1978 Evansville, Oregon B.S. Economics and Political Science

Company-sponsored training in management skills, team building, TQM, etc. LICENSE & CERTIFICATION Professional Engineer State of Washington, 1994

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

Robert K. Wright 110 Balmoral Drive Henderson, Kentucky 50260 502-471 -3554 PROFILE Computer programmer with broad-based experience In program development, operations, maintenance, systems analysis and design, troubleshooting, and repair of equipment. SKILLS AND ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) • Team player and ability to work in a multicultural environment • Proven problem-solving and decision-making skills • Proven organizational skills and detail-oriented • Motivated, self-starter, and dependable ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Functional expansion of product-line maintenance, order processing, and sales history programs for 130 retail store chain operation. • Improved efficiency of circulation, advertising, and payroll programs for metropolitan newspaper WORK EXPERIENCE 1995 - 1998

Century Electronics Evansville, IN Computer Technician VCR and audio equipment, custom computer programming, and custom designed installations.

1991 - 1995

Waxworks/Video Works Owensboro, KY Computer Applications Manager Application development related to music industry products (CDs, cassettes, etc.), involving inventory maintenance, order processing, sales history, and merchandising for 130 stores.

1988 - 1990

Physicians Health Plan Evansville, lN Computer Systems Manager Responsible for scheduling, maintenance and coordination of user access, system security, system back-ups, and software modifications.

1979 - 1988

Evansville Newspapers Evansville, IN Computer Applications Manager Development, maintenance, enhancement of circulation, advertising, and payroll programs in regional newspaper. Involved in new file design, analysis and modification of run-time procedures, and disk file replacement to improve performance. Started as operator, advanced in two years to programmer, then applications manager.

EDUCATION & HONORS IVY Tech State College • Associate degree (Electronics Technology) HONORS - Outstanding Student / GPA 3.557 • Computer courses (night classes) • Electronics courses (night classes)

Evansville, IN 1992 1981 - 1982 1972 - 1974

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

James K. Rasey 115 Wabash Drive Lexington, Massachusetts 82901 508-749-2436 PROFILE Marketing professional with broad-based retail experience, including eight years in store management and two years handling merchant credit card contracts, with proficient computer skills, plus training in data management and accounting SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) • Team player with proven organizational skills • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Proficient computer skills (WordPerfect, etc.) WORK EXPERIENCE 1990 - 1998

Tandy Leather Company Lexington, Massachusetts Store Manager Responsible for overall operation of leather crafts supply store, including hiring and training staff, ordering stock, maintaining inventory, handling advertising and promotions, preparation of sales reports, and all financial records. Started in Concord, MA store, promoted to manager in one year, then transferred to Lexington in 1995.

1984 - 1990

Sears Roebuck & Co. Boston, Massachusetts Data Entry Clerk Handled telephone complaints and requests on maintenance agreements, entered data into computer terminal, prepared daily quota sheets for sales personnel, and prepared daily sales reports.

1982 - 1983

American Express Co. (part-time while in college) Lexington, Massachusetts Independent Representative (Lexington area) Signed new merchant credit card contracts, explained procedures, called on existing accounts and handled problems and complaints.

EDUCATION 1989 Boston Technical State College Boston, Massachusetts Certificate in Information and Data Management (with accounting courses) 1981 - 1984 University of Massachusetts Chemistry and computer science

Lexington, Massachusetts

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

Steven E. Wulf 1628 Forest Avenue St. Louis, MO 43 616-437-9751 PROFILE Finance professional with extensive experience in computer engineering and data control plus corporate accounting, administrative budgeting, project cost analysis, resource analysis, budget comparison, and contract management including regulatory compliance. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communications skills, both oral and written • Excellent interpersonal skills, team management and leadership • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Excellent computer skills, (Lotus 1,2,3, WordPerfect, and Windows 95) • Experienced in Critical Path Management and Cost Control Programs • Self-starter, dependable, performance and detail-oriented WORK EXPERIENCE 1988 - 1998 Mid-America Coal Company Henderson, KY Senior Accountant Started as Budget Analyst but was promoted to Accountant then Senior Accountant. Prepared financial statements, analyzed account balances for accuracy, developed reports for auditors, administered mainframe financial programs, prepared various monthly journal entries, and reviewed invoices with respect to state sales tax laws and audits. 1973 - 1987

Mid-America Coal Company St. Louis, MO Construction Accounting Analyst Started as Data Control Coordinator and then Engineering Technician, worked directly with Design Engineering and Construction, provided project cost analysis, resource analysis, and budget comparisons using Critical Cost Control programs. Designed and managed mainframe database programs to accumulate budget data, designed special reports, recorded acquisitions, liquidated assets, and provided administrative support.

EDUCATION & TRAINING 1996 Pinnacle Computer Services, Evansville, Indiana Novell - CNE Certificate 1996 University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana Master Microcomputer Certificate 1973 St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri Control Data Institute graduate

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David Morrison

1728 Bellemcade

Georgetown, Indiana 47802 601 - 782-9861

PROFILE Production Planner with extensive experience in forecasting, scheduling, inventory control, and quality assurance plus a solid background in departmental supervision and plant protection including company policy enforcement, fire protection and rescue service, hazardous material procedures, safety training, and fire prevention. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills - both written and oral • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Proven interpersonal skills and team leadership • Motivated, self-starter, and dependable • Proficient computer skills (LOTUS, Windows, etc.) ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Implemented system to reduce inventory process time by 75%; manpower by 50% • Redesigned Hot Mill scheduling system to reduce cycle time by 85% • Reduced Hot Mill flow time and operating inventory • Created Thermal Department LOTUS spreadsheet to computerize schedules WORK EXPERIENCE 1978 - 1996 ALCO Industries Louisville, Kentucky Production Planner (1986 - 1996) Projected production forecasts. Established and implemented production scheduling and inventory control procedures. Scheduled maintenance down-time and production crew overtime requirements. Plant Protection Officer (1978 - 1986, 1996) Maintained enforcement of company policies. Controlled ingress and egress. Provided fire protection and rescue service and investigated thefts/accidents/fires. Conducted safety training, fire prevention, and disaster preparedness program. Conducted plant safety inspection. 1973 - 1977 United States Air Force Homestead, Florida Captain (Security Police) security alert team leader, assistant flightline area supervisor, and trip coordinator/dispatcher. EDUCATION & TRAINING University of Southern Indiana B.S. in Business Administration, 1998

Evansville, Indiana

Company-Sponsored Training Time Management, Team Building, Personal Diversity, Effective Presentations, Work Relationships, Statistical Analysis, Hazardous Materials, Electrical Hazards, Fire Fighting, E.M.T., and CPR

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Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

David C. MacLeod

2335 Northwood Circle • Basking Ridge, NJ 47916 414-347-9821

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Designer with extensive experience in consumer product design including injectionmolded plastic parts, metal stampings, and die-cast parts. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) • Documented design expertise and capabilities • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills (detail-oriented) • Team player with exceptional interpersonal skills • Proficient computer expertise including CAD systems • Trained in manufacturing technology ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Designed modular display concept for (Indian) table tennis products • Designed custom displays for retail chain accounts (Sears stores) • Built architectural model of General Motors Research Center WORK EXPERIENCE 1992 - 1998

World Information Systems New York, NY Mechanical Designer Mechanical product design for automated banking machines including design changes and blueprint revisions.

1986 - 1992

Indian Industries Newark, NJ Product Designer Designed recreational products such as archery accessories, basketball equipment, pool tables, and table tennis tables. Also designed retail store displays, clamshell and blister packaging, and fixtures for inplant use. Represented the company at trade shows and made periodic trips overseas to help foreign vendors solve production problems.

1983 - 1986

Sunbeam Plastics Evansville, IN Designer Developed and designed injection-molded plastic closures (caps) and dispensers for consumer products such as over-the-counter medicines. Prepared correspondence with patent attorneys for designs. Worked at trade shows and supported vendors with technical assistance. Note - Previously worked for K-Mart as assistant manager in their management training program at stores in Nashville, Memphis, and Louisville following graduation from college.

EDUCATION & TRAINING University of Evansville B.A. Degree in Art Education Louisville Technical Institute Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Evansville, IN 1978 Louisville, KY 1982

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

Kay Johnson 220 River Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 42251 812-667-0342 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Management professional experienced in development and operation of employment and training programs in a multicounty area, including contract negotiations, program analysis, budgeting, operational procedures, monitoring and technical assistance, plus interpretation and implementation of federal and state government regulations. Secretarial and customer service background and accomplished speaker. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written • Proven interpersonal skills and team leadership • Excellent organization skills and detail-oriented • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Proficient computer skills, (WordPerfect, Lotus, Word, etc.) • Ability to interpret and implement government regulations SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS • Developed a contract monitoring and performance review system accepted as a model for the State of Indiana • Facilitated the start-up of computerized literacy laboratories in five county offices • Guided the development of a comprehensive customer assessment system which has improved the development of individualized training plans for customers EDUCATION & DEGREES 1995 - Masters Degree in Public Administration - Human Resources Development Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 1984 - Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing and Management Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES United Way of Central Indiana Member Allocations Committee (1995 and 1996) Outcomes Committee (1996) Girl Scouts of America (1991 - 1997) Junior Troop Leader, Brownie Troop Leader Step Ahead Council (1994- 1997)

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1988 - 1998

Private Industry Council of Central Indiana, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana

Contract Manager (1990 - 1998) Negotiate, write, and monitor contracts in five-county area. Developed contract monitoring and performance review system recognized as model for the state. Lead in development of innovative programming. Facilitated effective transition of service delivery revisions required by legislative mandates. Provided technical assistance, performed intensive monitoring and program analysis, and revised standard operating procedures that resulted in the organization achieving or exceeding all performance standards for three consecutive years. Work with a board of business and community leaders, lead meeting, and plan events. Coordinate business/education partnership activities. Employer Representative (Greenfield office 1988-1990) Promoted programs of the Marion County Job Center to employers, agencies, and potential customers. Developed and implemented public relations events and outreach programs. Organized and promoted training seminar. Met and exceeded all performance goals, increased exposure of the program by using innovative marketing techniques, designed monthly publication, wrote promotional material, made presentations, and worked with media. Interviewed customers to determine their skills and abilities to match personnel needs of employers. 1986 - 1988 Kelly Temporary Services and Manpower Terre Haute, Indiana Secretary assignments at Eli Lilly & Consolidated Grain & Barge Calculated sales reports, worked with government contracts, used Display Write and Lotus 1-2-3 software. Prepared daily position reports and worked with accounts payable, payroll, etc. 1985- 1986 CrediThriftCorp New Albany, lndiana Collection Specialist and Customer Service Representative. Answered inquiries, resolved credit card problems. Top performer in processing customer calls. Placed in charge of reorganizing the recoveries collection area. Implemented system to process bankrupt, deceased, and charged-off VISA accounts. RELATED TRAINING Numerous workshops, conferences, and seminars with continual training in case management, counseling, team building, functional/contextual instruction, job development, marketing, TQM, personal and corporate strategic planning, plus program design and management. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS National Association of Workforce Development Professionals American Society of Public Administrators

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William D. Brown 41 Westwood Drive Atlanta, GA 40296 609-453-3198 JOB OBJECTIVE Seeking full-time employment.

1980 1973 1970

EDUCATION Advanced degree in Counseling Georgia Tech University, Atlanta GA Masters Degree in Art Murray State University, Murray KY Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Murray State University, Murray KY SKILLS & ABILITIES

Leadership: Created innovative programs for youth and adults to help them make successful choices in education and/or careers, including counseling and guidance. Communication: Excellent oral and written communication skills reinforced by twenty years experience counseling students regarding scholarships, colleges, universities, technical schools, careers, and employment. Exemplified by school admissions and job placement. Artistic: Proven ability in commercial art backed up with both Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in art. • References available on request •

Effective Resumes and What to Avoid

Mike Wambach 526 Hillside Drive Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 412-653-4482

References available upon request.

Career Objective Professional career in the area of Administration, Purchasing, or Public Relations with an established firm who will utilize my positive attitude, leadership abilities, and communication skills.

Operations Management Electronic Alarms, Inc. May 1990 - February 1995: Office Manager Office manager for a corporation specializing in commercial grade closed-circuit audio/video systems, development, sales, and service. Oversaw the operation of the office and the installation/service departments. Responsibilities included Human Resources, accounting, product and job acquisitions, and systems development and design. Human Resource experience included recruitment, hiring, training, computerized New Hire paperwork processing, benefits setup and administration, policy formulation, and HR manuals with job descriptions. Accounting experience included supervising accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll clerks. Job Acquisition included supervising credit reporting and leasing department, installation department, and directly involved with job costing analysis. Product Acquisitions included inventory, product quality, delivery scheduling, new vendor recruitment, system design, and troubleshooting technical problems. Systems development and design Position required use of PC based computer system and software including a customer account information system and telemarketing information system of my own design.

Public Relations Pittsburgh Specialty Services October 1988 - May 1990: Public Relations and Outside Sales (Seniority based reorganization due to federal budget cutbacks impacting government supported nonprofit organizations.) Primary responsibility for the outside sales of the workshop’s client’’s services, job acquisition, pricing, costing, time and motion studies, supervision of progress and quality control, and customer relations. Secondary responsibilities included Public Relations, working with area businessmen and political leaders, and to be active in the Chamber of Commerce and other business/political organizations. In addition, I handled press conferences and worked with the marketing company. Position required strong leadership and communication skills.

Management McDuff Fast Foods April 1985 - October 1988: Assistant Manager Shift management, scheduling, paperwork. I was the store’s designated trainer for hourly employees and new management trainees. I completed 6 weeks management training in 3 weeks and was promoted to 1st assistant in less than 4 months and was training for General Manager.

Window Tinting Service May 1980 - April 1985: General Manager (College employment) Was responsible for all aspects of business dealing with window tinting and energy management systems and products. Duties included staffing, management, operations, sales, and inventory.

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SUMMARY This section contains resumes that have been effective in getting people good jobs. Every one is a true-to-life case history of someone who has used this simple Three Easy Steps formula for writing a dynamic resume. Look at each resume carefully and you will understand why that resume worked for that person. Each resume has certain underlying characteristics taken from the pages of this book. Important points like a strong Profile, and using the SCANS skills to the best advantage helps prove what they claimed in the Profile. The work history is presented in an easy-to-read summary. Education and training is specific. Names were changed for confidentiality. In other words, each resume was done in a simple, easy-to-understand, direct, and truthful manner. Remember the K.I.S.S. concept: Keep It Super Simple. These applicants have taken their work history which can be rather complicated, and summarized it for easy reading. By using the principles from each page in this book, you can develop a resume that will present your qualifications in the best possible light, a resume that is effective and dynamic at the same time; a resume that employers will read, and realize you are the best person for that particular job.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How do you think these resumes reflect the individuality of the writers?

2. Discuss how each person has utilized the SCANS skills in his or her resume.

3. How can you show your skills and abilities in their brightest light?

4. Practice writing your Profile to make the best presentation possible.

Chapter 7

Facts for High School and College Students Objective To demonstrate effective resumes and other pertinent facts and information for students and new graduates with examples of resumes.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Discuss why you should begin your resume while still in school. • Explain the necessity of a resume in the life of a new graduate. • Understand why a simple format is usually the most effective.

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

RESUMES AND FACTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Welcome to the Business World Sooner or later, you will need a resume. Now is the time for you to acquaint yourself with what it is, what it does, and how to prepare it. This book was written for high school and college graduates, or experienced workers who are changing careers or who have lost their jobs, but it can be very useful to help you develop your portfolio and write your first resume. You may need one sooner than you think. When you graduate, you will go to college (technical school or the like), enter the workforce, or maybe both. Therefore, you should develop a portfolio of your skills, work experience, and accomplishments during high school for the basis of your first resume.

Competition for Jobs The workplace is changing faster than ever. You need as much education and training as possible. If you enter the workforce after high school, you face competition from college graduates with more education and experienced workers with more training. There are many more applicants than there are jobs. Surveys show that employers spend less than Twenty Seconds scanning a resume to decide whether to read it, so your resume must generate interest at first glance. Review the Three Easy Steps to develop an effective resume: Compile your information, Analyze your information, and Organize your information using action words to sell your skills. Start now to compile information about your skills, capabilities, and accomplishments. Most of all, get as much education and training as possible to compete in the workplace.

What Employers Want! Sell Your Skills! Numerous surveys about what employers expect from employees have been published in the last few years. Virtually all of them reached similar conclusions. Employers want employees to have better skills to meet the demands of the high-performance, high-tech workplace. These skills were identified in the U.S. Department of Labor 1992 SCANS report as the Foundation Skills and the Five Workplace Competencies (see page 15). We place special emphasis on them for students and new graduates. They are the Basic Skills, the Thinking Skills, and Personal Qualities. Unfortunately, many applicants, including new graduates entering the workforce, do not possess these skills. Therefore, applicants who do possess them stand out way above the rest. Review the SCANS report to determine which skills you have and which ones need improvement. Then include them on your resume and sell yourself.

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Facts for High School and College Students

Matthew Smith 1201 First Street Niles, Michigan 47601 612-897-9881 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic high school student with training in computer technology and above-average math scores looking for summer employment or internship in health care field SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) • Proficient computer skills (WordPerfect, Windows, etc.) • Exceptional math skills (4.0 grade level) • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Self-starter, motivated, and dependable • Ability to organize and complete projects WORK EXPERIENCE 1997 - 1998 ABC Warehouse Niles, Michigan Warehouse Clerk (summer work) General warehouse duties including shipping and receiving, inventory, pricing, and stocking 1996 - 1997

Summit County Fair Niles, Michigan Field Crew, Admissions Took tickets, balanced monies, worked concession stands, etc. (as needed) EDUCATION & TRAINING Niles High School Major: Double major in science and math May 2000 - projected graduation date SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Niles Math Club Niles Science Club Niles Marching Band

Niles, Michigan

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

Angela Grant 1266 Pineapple Drive Ft. Wayne. Indiana 45261 602-879-4366 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic high school student with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills looking for part-time summer employment in office environment. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent planning and organizational skills • Proven interpersonal skills (team worker and team leadership) • Excellent problem-solving skills and detail-oriented • Eager to learn and follows instructions • Proficient computer skills (Windows 98, Word, etc.) ACCOMPLISHMENTS & HONORS • Recipient of the United States National Mathematics Award 1997 • Listed in the Who’s Who in American High Schools 1996-1997 • Class officer 1997-1998 • Vice-President of the Junior Classical League 1997-1998 WORK EXPERIENCE 1998 Anderson Development Corp. Ft. Wayne, Indiana Receptionist (temporary summer position) Answered telephone and greeted clients during consolidation of employment and training offices. Also typed resumes and cover letters for clients. 1997

Central Baptist Hospital Ft. Wayne, Indiana Hospital Volunteer (temporary summer position) Assisted with patient care, answered patient calls, and relayed messages to nurses, distributed drinking water, and changed beds. Processed and distributed hospital mail. Also made Xerox copies for hospital staff and other office duties as needed.

EDUCATION North High School Academic Honors (4.0 GPA)

Ft. Wayne, Indiana Graduation May 1999

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Facts for High School and College Students

Marlene Jefferson 1624 Westwood Drive Austin, Texas 40504 611-582-1118 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic high school graduate with excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills pursuing career in specialty or technical marketing SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) • Detail-oriented with proven organizational skills • Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills • Analytical and problem-solving skills • Self-starter, dependable and efficient ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Four years 4.0 GPA • First place in Reynolds Scholarship Contest • First place winner in Science Fair 1998 • President of Senior Class 1998 WORK EXPERIENCE (while attending school) 1996 - 1997 Jefferson School Corp. Office Austin, Texas (summers) Records Clerk (student employee) Organized data, processed paperwork, entered data into computer system, etc. 1996 - 1998 (weekends)

Hardee’s Restaurant Austin, Texas Cashier/Clerk Worked cash drawer, practiced suggestive sales, organized and cleaned work area, other duties as needed

1994 - 1996 (weekends)

Jefferson Cadet Austin, Texas Reporter Reported school news and wrote articles for school paper

EDUCATION & TRAINING Austin Central High School

Austin, Texas

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Better Resumes In 3 Easy Steps

Rachel McAllister 100 East Walnut Street Binghamton, New York 72481 812-978-6281 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic high school graduate with proven organization and communication skills plus good work ethic pursuing career in specialty marketing. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Proficient communication skills (verbal and written) • Excellent people skills and customer-centered • Proven organization skills and detail-oriented • Dependable, motivated, and goal-oriented • Proven ability to organize and complete projects • Trained in computer technology (WordPerfect, Windows, etc.) WORK EXPERIENCE 1996 - 1998 Warren County Training Center Binghamton, NY Summer Project Team member working in summer youth projects beginning with the 1996 Occupational Survey of jobs in Warren County, the 1997 Import-Export study of products shipped out of Warren County and materials shipped into the county, and finally the 1998 Business Analysis survey to determine what foundation skills local employers want in applicants, how they assess applicants, and the problems they face finding new employees. Met with employers to research information on each project, and summarized the information. Designed the brochures, contacted printers, and negotiated the printing costs. EDUCATION & TRAINING • Central High School Diploma (3.5 GPA) COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES • Girls Varsity Softball Team • Member Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America • Member Warren County Drug-free Council • Youth Staff Teen Power (drug and alcohol-free camp) • President-Junior Mental Health Association of Binghamton

Binghamton, NY May 1999

1996 - 1998

Facts for High School and College Students

RESUMES AND FACTS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS If you did not start your portfolio in high school, do it now. You need as much information as possible about your skills, work experience, and accomplishments to prepare an effective resume. The following suggestions will help you. 1. Review Employment Opportunities. Think about your occupational interests, your capabilities, your likes and dislikes, and then research the employment opportunities in the fields of your choice. The books listed below contain detailed information about virtually all industries, the employment outlook, and more. Your college Career/Placement Office can also give you guidance. 2. Learn Business Terminology. Review the information in these books to familiarize yourself with business terminology used in job descriptions. Study them. They will help you when writing your resume and during interviews with employers. 3. Build Experience. If possible, involve yourself in college activities related to your career choice such as the college newspaper, radio station, business office, or departmental affairs to gain experience. Contact local businesses such as banks or retail stores regarding part-time employment. You can also contact the Chamber of Commerce for a list of voluntary organizations, many of which are glad to have college students help out. 4. Keep Good Records. Keep a running log of your activities and accomplishments with thorough explanations so you can use this information when you prepare your resume. 5. Review. This book contains virtually all the information you need to prepare an effective resume along with excellent examples to follow. Your work experience and accomplishments in college will make your resume stand out above the rest. Career Guide to America’s Top Industries. Covers trends and opportunities in 450 major industries with details about types of jobs available. America’s Top Jobs for College Graduates. Contains descriptions of 60 of the top jobs held by college graduates with summary information on an additional 500 jobs. America’s 50 Fastest Growing Jobs. Provides descriptions of jobs with the fastest growth rate. America’s Top 300 Jobs. Contains descriptions of 250 occupations with earnings potential, future outlook, and related occupations. America’s Top Technical and Trade Jobs. Contains descriptions of more than 50 of the top technical and trade jobs with summary information on more than 500 jobs that require technical skills but do not require a college degree. The references mentioned above may be available at your public library, or can be purchased from JIST Works, Inc., 720 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Telephone: 317-264-3720.

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Stephanie Smith R.R. 1, Box 22 Orlando, Florida 45802 407-236-7328 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic college senior with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills pursuing career in research and development, quality assurance, and/or statistical process control fields. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) • Excellent planning and organizational skills • Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills • Excellent problem-solving skills, detail-oriented WORK EXPERIENCE 1994 - 1997 (Fall/Spring)

Central Florida University Police Dept. Records Clerk (student employee)

Orlando, FL

Organized data and entered in computer system, filed hard copies, processed paperwork, and collected money for citations and reports. Handled conflicts with customers plus participated in public relations program including a film production. Spring 1996

Mediplex Rehabilitation Center Recreational Volunteer

Orlando, FL

Assisted patients with activities, motivated unwilling and reluctant patients to participate. Also listened to patient needs and concerns and communicated problems to Center staff. Received Volunteer of Month recognition. 1993 - 1997 (Summers)

Hardee’s Restaurant Cashier/Clerk

Orlando, FL

Worked cash drawer during opening shift, organized and cleaned work area, other duties as needed. EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION Central Florida University Bachelor of Science May 1998 Major Biology Minor: Chemistry/Psychology • CPR Certified • Basic First Aid Knowledge

Orlando, FL

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Facts for High School and College Students

Mary Ann Whitfield 1625 Kentucky Avenue Paducah, Kentucky 57126 812-685-4389 PROFILE AND OBJECTIVE Energetic college senior with excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills pursuing career in accounting or related position in a financial environment. SKILLS AND ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) • Detail-oriented with proven organization skills • Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills • Self-starter, dependable, and efficient ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS • West Kentucky Tech Deans List (4 years) • Registered in National Deans List of outstanding students • West Kentucky Bank Award for outstanding class work • Member of Alpha Chi Honor Society WORK EXPERIENCE (while attending school) Williams Drug Store Paducah, Kentucky 1997 - 1998 Cashier Performed cashier duties including balancing of daily drawer, assisted customers as needed, and practiced suggestive selling Schreibels Drugstore Paducah, Kentucky Delivery Person Delivered prescriptions and completed transactions CIVIC INVOLVEMENT President - Paducah girl’s softball league Coach - Paducah girl’s softball league EDUCATION West Kentucky Tech Paducah, Kentucky B.S. Degree in accounting with business minor

1995 - 1996

1996 1993 - 1996

December 1998

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Karen Satterwood 601 Northwest Parkway Savannah, Georgia 46231 506-477-1111 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Motivated new college graduate with office management/organizational ability and experience, excellent computer skills, and customer relations pursuing career in office management. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) • Proven interpersonal skills (team player) • Excellent organization skills (team building) • Proven problem-solving skills • Multifaceted computer skills and office management • Fast learner and excellent people skills ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Designed and developed the Silver Key web site • Designed new customer database for Environmental Recovery Systems to improve customer tracking efficiency WORK EXPERIENCE (while attending school) 1998 - 1999 Re/Max of Savannah Savannah, Georgia Real Estate Associate Responsible for office management and information systems, coordinated activities related to listings, closings, and customer relations. Also assisted in marketing. 1996 - 1997

Silver Key NHS Savannah, Georgia Information Systems Intern Served as Silver Key web master. Responsible for PC maintenance and upgrades plus applications support.

1995 - 1996

Environmental Recovery Systems Administrative Assistant Provided support to company president and five sales personnel. General office procedures and customer relations.

EDUCATION & AFFILIATION • South Georgia University B.S. degree in Psychology / cum laude • Advanced coursework in information systems • Member Silver Key National Honor Society

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia May 1999

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Facts for High School and College Students

Elizabeth J. Young 2263 East Riverside Sandusky, Ohio 68213 419-869-4523 PROFILE & OBJECTIVE Energetic college graduate with banking experience and training in advertising. Pursuing career in marketing, public relations, or related work in a financial institution. SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (oral and written) • Proven interpersonal skills (teamwork) • Ability to work in a multicultural environment • Detail-oriented and good organizational skills • Proficient computer skills (Lotus, Windows 95, etc.) ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS • Participated in National Advertising Contest Competition with 20 other colleges. Ball State team placed 2nd in overall competition. First time Ball State had ever taken part in this national competition. • Muncie Advertising Club Scholarship Recipient 1995 -1998 • Rotary Club Scholarship Recipient 1995 - 1998 • Dean’s List 1995 -1998 • Graduated summa cum laude WORK EXPERIENCE MUNCIE STATE BANK MUNCIE, INDIANA Bank Teller 1998 (part-time while in college) Part-time teller at the east side branch. Handled deposits, withdrawals, and cashing checks. Balanced drawer daily. BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA Student Secretary - Admissions Office - 1997 Processed applications for admission and did general clerical work for departmental Vice-President. BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA Student Intern 1996 - 1998 Compiled research information for various projects and entered data into computer. EDUCATION Ball State University. B.S. Degree in Marketing & Business Administration Minors in Psychology and Advertising

Muncie, Indiana 1998

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SUMMARY High school and college graduates need resumes when entering the workforce. Since there are usually more applicants than good jobs, it becomes quickly apparent that they need a dynamic resume. As you have gone from grade to grade, hopefully you have compiled a list of skills and accomplishments you can use to create your resume. Other chapters in this book have discussed the SCANS skills every employer wants and expects you to have. Remember, you must sell yourself. Here are a few suggestions to help you develop your resume. Review employment opportunities. Think about what you like to do and have studied. Look at the pages of growing occupations to see where you fit best. Learn business terminology. Get to know the lingo of business. Use some of those words in your resume. Build your work experience. Get involved in activities where you can develop expertise and experience. Keep good records of your activities during school, and especially note your accomplishments. Review what you have done and use the resume samples shown in this book as the basis for your resume. Look at the books listed in this section for guidance in pursuing job opportunities. Become familiar with these references in the library. They will be a great help as you decide on your work career.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How long do most employers spend scanning a resume before deciding to read it?

2. What do employers want and look for in a resume?

3. Why is it important to keep a portfolio of everything you do?

4. Discuss the reference books that will be of assistance to you when you begin your career search or change careers.

5. Why should you learn business terminology?

Chapter 8

Facts for Women Objective To understand how women who were temporarily out of the workforce due to family problems, children, more education, and the like can explain that gap in their employment history.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Understand how women can develop an effective resume. • Explain how to evaluate your skills. • Discuss the importance of the right kind of Profile.

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FOR WOMEN ONLY . . . From Family Management to Career Management Many women have a serious problem when trying to enter or re-enter the workforce after raising a family. The employer thinks you did not do anything as a housewife, that you have been out of touch too long, or that you do not have any skills that are usable. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you managed the family finances, worked in the PTA and Girl Scouts, taught in the Sunday School, counseled your teenagers, worked on fund drives, did all kinds of volunteer work, tried to look like a movie star for your husband, and cleaned the house, all under the heading of housewife, without any skills. What you say and how you say it determines whether you get past the scrutiny of that employer who thinks you do not have any skills or not enough experience. Review the SCANS skills (page 15) and the resume on the next page. Think about how many skills you used in home management that are used in the workplace, and include them in your resume, but do it so they enhance your experience. Many employers have a tendency to overlook skills used in volunteer organization work when the applicant has limited work history in the private sector. The best way to overcome this situation is to emphasize the importance of those organization skills relative to the workplace. Remember, many of those skills are identical to skills used in the workplace. Evaluate all the skills you used in volunteer organizations, fund drives, PTA, Girl Scouts, and so forth, and build a section for organization work showing offices held, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Include this information when you summarize your experience in your Profile. Give your Profile a new perspective and convince the employer that you do have the qualifications and experience for the job. The following resume actually resulted in an interview and employment because the Profile enhanced the applicant’s experience by combining the time spent in volunteer organization work with the time spent in the workplace.

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Facts for Women

Bonnie Harmon 5026 Washington Avenue Evansville, IN 47715 812-977-1275 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Management professional with extensive experience working with youth and adults in counseling, individual assessment, career development, and organization work including five years experience helping dislocated workers with retraining and placement assistance. Rapid advancement to supervision of $1.3 million training project plus fifteen years community organization work. Interested in college level career counseling or similar position in private sector. ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS & ABILITIES • Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills (critical thinking) • Outstanding organizational skills and detail-oriented • Ability to develop and implement marketing and recruitment programs • Proven track record in career counseling and job placement • Excellent interpersonal skills, team player, and diplomatic ability • Excellent computer skills including DOS, Windows, WordPerfect, Lotus 123 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1991 - 1998

Private Industry Council/Job Training Center Boonville and Supervisor - Clean Air Project (1994 - 1998) Evansville, IN Organized and implemented $1.3 million program to retrain workers in the coal mining industry who were terminated because of the federal Clean Air Act. Responsible for recruitment, career counseling, retraining, and placement of miners including eligibility requirements and documentation according to federal and state regulations. Previously worked as Job Developer to counsel dislocated workers, conduct assessment and evaluation, determine occupational interests and potential in order to develop employability plan and arrange training. Also worked as youth counselor in summer program.

1976 - 1991

Organization Experience

Evansville, IN

Coach - Soccer & Tennis (1976-1989). Coached teen girls’ soccer and tennis teams in two city leagues. Responsible for organizing, scheduling, counseling, solving problems, motivating players, and crisis intervention. Program Chairman - Medical Society Auxiliary - Planned, organized, and arranged monthly meetings. Responsible for programs. Note - also worked on fund drives for social agencies, managed household affairs, and raised family, served as Brownie Leader, Den Mother (Girl Scouts)

EDUCATION & TRAINING Dale Carnegie Training Western Kentucky University Master of Arts in Education University of Evansville Bachelor of Liberal Studies

1995 1994 1991

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SUMMARY Often, women who have been out of the workforce for several years, face a serious problem when searching for a job. Even women who go back to school face resistance from employers who do not take them seriously. Employers think women have nonusable skills or have been out of touch too long. Women must prove to a potential employer that homemaker skills are transferable to the workplace. Make a list of all the activities you have been involved in while raising your family. You might have worked in the PTA or the Girl Scouts, managed the family finances, worked on fund drives, and participated in numerous other tasks that required skills similar to those utilized in the workplace. Review the SCANS skills mentioned previously. See which of your skills are relative to the workplace. Make sure your Profile is dynamic and emphasizes your expertise.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why do women returning to the workforce often have a difficult time finding a good job?

2. Discuss how homemaker skills are relative to the workplace.

3. Discuss the value of showing volunteer work in your resume.

4. What are SCANS skills and how can they be shown in your resume?

5. Why is the Profile so important in your resume?

Chapter 9

Better Cover Letters Objective To be able to write better cover letters to encourage more employer response.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Understand the importance of an effective cover letter. • Explain the Do’s and Don’ts for cover letters. • Write an effective cover letter for your resume.

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HOW TO WRITE YOUR COVER LETTER You must send a cover letter with every resume. The way you write your cover letter is just as important as the way you write your resume. Think of your cover letter as your introduction to the employer and the impact it will have on his first impression of you. It will either enhance the first Twenty Seconds or it will detract from the first Twenty Seconds. Cover letters should be exactly that: a one-page letter introducing your resume. Most job search consultants agree that the ideal cover letter should have three paragraphs and no more. Paragraph One. The first paragraph should explain why you are sending a resume, what ad you are answering, who referred you to the company, how you knew the company was expanding, and any other reason you might have to send your resume to that particular company. Paragraph Two Explain why the company should hire you by emphasizing how your experience meets the job requirements, your training is transferable to the company’s needs, and how your accomplishments have potential value to the company. Refer to your resume but do not repeat your job description. This is your chance to emphasize why you are the right applicant for the job. Sell yourself! Paragraph Three Ask for a response. No sales presentation is complete and no sale is ever made unless the sales person asks for the order. This is the most sophisticated sale you will ever make, so use finesse in what you say and how you say it. And you must ask! The cover letter samples included in this chapter show how to express an interest in a personal interview followed with a question about when it would be possible, in an attempt to solicit an answer. The employer has to at least think about it. Finalize the letter with a comment about how you will make the next contact. The above instructions show you what most experts agree is the best way to write a cover letter. Since each cover letter is written for a specific job opening, each should be individualized for that purpose. However, you can prepare a basic core of information as shown in the samples. You won’t have to start at the beginning each time. Vary the letters by emphasizing what is most applicable in each case. This makes it easier when you are sending out a number of resumes. Remember, every resume must have a cover letter unless the employer states otherwise. A similar situation applies to resumes. When you consider employment in two different fields, you may need two versions of your resume. This is easily accomplished by changing the emphasis in your Profile, Accomplishments, Training, and Work Experience accordingly, so you do not have to write a complete new resume each time.

Better Cover Letters

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR COVER LETTERS Many of the Do’s and Don’ts for cover letters are the same or similar to those for resumes. However, because they are so important, we will list them again.

Do’s • Make sure your cover letter is neat and pleasing to the eye with enough border and white space so it is similar to your resume. • Use paper that matches your resume if possible. Or use a high quality bond typing paper. • Be sure to type your cover letter, or do it on a computer if your resume is computer done. • Keep your cover letter brief and on one page. Include enough information in the second paragraph about why the employer should hire you so he or she will be sure to read your resume. • Take the initiative! Tell the employer you will call him or her for an interview appointment. If you say Tuesday, make sure you make that call on Tuesday, not on Wednesday or Thursday.

Don’ts • Clutter the page. Keep plenty of white space around the body of the cover letter. • Use inferior paper that detracts from your cover letter and your resume. • Write your cover letter in longhand. Find someone with either a typewriter or a computer. • Use a typewriter with a script typeface. Keep the executive look. • Expect the employer to call you. He or she will not. The employer may have 200 resumes to sift through for the same job and he or she does not have time to acknowledge every resume received. The employer will only contact the ones that are of interest. • Write two-page cover letters. They are too long, too wordy, and too much trouble to read. Remember the Twenty Second rule. • Use a P.O. Box unless you also include your address. When you write cover letters and resumes, be sure to proofread them and correct any errors. And there is more: read them and review them, again, again, again, and again to make sure they look professional, are accurate, are factual, and convey exactly what you mean to the employer. It is your future that is on the line. Address your cover letter to a specific individual if possible. If you do not have a name, send them to specific management personnel such as President, Vice-President of Engineering, and the like.

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EXAMPLE OF COVER LETTER RESPONDING TO AN AD

2625 Northwoods Court Cincinnati,Ohio 21662 October 10, 1998 Mr. Robert H. Miller Vice-President of Engineering American Information Systems Newark, New Jersey 10631 Dear Mr. Miller, I am very much interested in the Manufacturing Engineer position in your advertisement in today’s issue of the Wall Street Journal. A copy of my resume is enclosed. Please note that I have eleven years experience using AutoCAD to design injection-molded and vacuum-formed plastic parts which are comparable to AIS products. Since your company does business overseas, also note that I have made several trips to vendors in the Pacific Rim to offer technical assistance. Enclosed is my salary history but that is not the primary consideration. I am sure your salary structure is commensurate with the job responsibilities and I would appreciate a personal interview to discuss the job opening in detail. Would it be possible to meet with you next week? I will call you to find out if this is convenient, and to establish a time. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, David Morrison

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Better Cover Letters

EXAMPLE OF COVER LETTER FROM PERSONAL REFERRAL

2625 Northwoods Court Cincinnati, Ohio 21662 October 10, 1998 Mr. Robert Miller Vice-President of Engineering American Information Systems Newark, New Jersey 10631 Dear Mr. Miller, Mr. Charles Sawyer of Angst Anvil said you were looking for a Manufacturing Engineer with my experience and suggested I send you my resume. Please note that I have eleven years experience in designing injection-molded and vacuum-formed plastic parts similar to products that your company manufactures. In addition, I am proficient in the use of AutoCad. I would appreciate a personal interview to discuss potential employment with your firm. Would it be possible to meet with you next week? I will call to see if this would be agreeable with you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, David Morrison

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EXAMPLE OF COVER LETTER FOR DIRECT CONTACT AFTER RESEARCH ABOUT COMPANY

2625 Northwoods Court Cincinnati, Ohio 21662 October 10, 1998 Mr. Robert H. Miller Vice-President of Engineering American Information Systems Newark, New Jersey 10631 Dear Mr. Miller, I have been researching plastics manufacturing firms and noticed that your company announced a five-year expansion program. I am interested in a position in your design department and have enclosed my resume. Please note that I have eleven years experience in designing injection-molded and vacuum-formed plastic parts similar to those produced by your company. In addition, I am proficient in the use of AutoCad. I would appreciate a personal interview to discuss potential employment with your firm. I have enclosed a Quik-Response form with a self addressed, stamped envelope for your convenience. Would it be possible to meet with you next week? I will call your secretary to see if this would be agreeable. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, David Morrison

Better Cover Letters

EXAMPLE OF COVER LETTER FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADUATE

2263 East Riverside Sandusky, Ohio 682 13 October 11, 1998 Mr. Charles Worth Vice-President, Marketing & Public Relations Hoosier Financial Services 2000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Dear Mr. Worth, Your annual report shows a consistent growth during the past five years with the addition of ten new branches. I am interested in a position in your marketing department and have enclosed a copy of my resume. I have just graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Marketing and Business Administration. I have worked part-time during my senior year as a bank teller to gain valuable experience, as noted on my resume. In addition, my special training includes psychology, advertising, and computer technology. I would be willing and pleased to go through any training programs your company offers. I would appreciate a personal interview to discuss my qualifications and potential employment. Would it be possible to meet with you next week to discuss my situation? I will call to see if this would be convenient for you. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, Elizabeth Young

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SUMMARY A cover letter must be sent with each resume unless the employer specifically says otherwise. It creates a favorable first impression and will enhance the first Twenty Seconds if done correctly. Cover letters should be one page and normally can be written in just three paragraphs. The first paragraph should explain why you are sending a resume. Are you answering an ad, have a referral, or did you do research on the company? The second paragraph explains why the company should hire you. Briefly explain how your experience or education makes you the right person for the job. This is your opportunity to emphasize skills or accomplishments that prove you are the best applicant. The third paragraph asks for a response. Or better still, tell the employer you will call for an appointment. You can have a core cover letter, but each one must be customized for the job you seek. The same concept works for your resume. If you are considering employment in two different fields, you may need two versions of your resume. This is easily done by changing the emphasis in your Profile, Accomplishments, Training, and Work Experience so you do not have to write a completely new resume each time. Make sure your cover letter has a similar appearance to your resume. Use the same kind of paper, the same typeface, and the same placement on the page with adequate border space. Take the initiative. Tell the employer you are going to call for an appointment. Then make sure you do! Proofread everything. Nothing is worse than misspelled words. Even if you use the spell-checker on your computer, make sure you have the right word in the right context. A simple typographical error can eliminate your resume from consideration.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why do you need to send a cover letter with each resume?

2. Discuss writing an effective cover letter in three paragraphs.

3. What if you are applying for jobs in different fields? How can you make the same resume work for all situations?

4. Discuss Do’s and Dont’s for cover letters.

5. Why should you proofread the cover letter and the resume?

Chapter 10

Information to Help You Write Better Resumes Objective To show you what employers expect in today’s workplace with a review of the Critical Factors test, the Workplace Competencies test, and the appearance of your resume.

After studying this section, you should be able to: • Understand what employers expect of new hires. • Explain what it means to be creative on your resume. • Know the critical Do’s and Don’ts. • Describe where to go for important resource information.

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WHAT DO EMPLOYERS EXPECT? Does Your Resume Sell Your Skills and Will it Pass the Tests? A Quick Review. Numerous surveys about what employers expect of employees have been published in the last few years. Virtually all of them reached similar conclusions. Employers today want employees to have better skills to meet the demands of the high-performance technological workplace. These skills were identified in the U.S. Department of Labor 1992 SCANS report as the Foundation Skills and the five Workplace Competencies (see page 15). Unfortunately, many applicants, including young people entering the workforce, do not possess these skills. Therefore, applicants that do possess these skills stand out way above the rest. It is important for you to show them on your resume to impress the employer. You can easily prove you have Basic Skills and Thinking Skills by the appearance and content of your resume. What you say reflects Personal Qualities. And how you explain your work experience and job responsibilities reflect your workplace Competencies. Employers expect you to have the Foundation Skills and as many Competencies as relevant, so make your resume reflect them. Remember, if you impress the employers, they will read your resume. If they see your skills, they will call you in for an interview. Test #1: Critical Factors. Will your resume pass the three critical factors test to achieve a good impression? Does it have (1) a pleasing appearance (easy to read); (2) good qualifications (your Profile); and (3) proof of ability (your skills and accomplishments)? Test #2: Workplace Competencies. Will your resume pass the Competencies test? First, check the appearance factor. This identifies your Basic Skills of reading, writing, and speaking, and your Information competency of organizing data. Second, check your Profile factor. This identifies many qualifications including Basic Skills in writing, Thinking Skills, Personal Qualities, and several competencies including interpersonal skills, information skills, and technology skills. Third, check your proof of ability factor. This is critical because it may or may not prove that you have the qualifications you say you have. Factual accomplishments and/or skills prove that you have all the Basic Skills, all the Thinking Skills, the Personal Qualities, and most of the Competencies.

The Michigan State University Study (page 00) reported that good communication skills were among the most important attributes of new employees.

Information to Help You Write Better Resumes

BE CREATIVE BUT NOT STUPID Most resume books on the market tell you to be creative. This is true to a certain extent and you must use your initiative. But do not be stupid and make a bad impression in the first Twenty Seconds. The first impression is like a parachute jump. You only have one chance to survive. Paper. Many authors tell you to use colors that stand out. Good idea, but think first. We received about one hundred resumes recently in response to an ad and several stood out. One was on red paper. We could hardly see the printing. One was on beautiful parchment and printed in Old English typeface. Another was on a cheap paper in script that we could not read at all. In fact, we didn’t! Type. As we pointed out earlier, resumes must be neat and readable. If you were applying to a particular artistic company that dealt with that kind of design work, then maybe something like Old English on parchment might be appropriate. But never, under normal circumstances, should you use a typeface that is difficult to read. Objectives. One of the most blatant mistakes made on resumes is for the applicant to assume his or her value to the employer under an Objective heading with statements like “looking for a rewarding position that will use my management/administrative skills for the benefit of the company,” “progressive organization that will utilize my experience while offering opportunity for advancement,” “use my interpersonal skills and education in a professional setting,” or “utilize my talents and management skills to improve company operations.” Be creative in selling your capabilities but do not be stupid in telling the employer about your value to him or her. Overselling can be as detrimental as underselling. Emphasize your accomplishments so the employer can determine your value to the firm and how you may become an asset. Format. Start with the simple format explained on pages 9 and 10 if you want to generate interest A.S.A.P. That means Appearance Structure Accomplishments Proof The rest is history.

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SUGGESTED SOURCES OF OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE JOB SEEKER Information about most occupations with job descriptions, employment outlook, and the like, is available in virtually all public libraries in their reference sections. Copies of some references may be ordered from the U.S. Government Printing Office or from other suppliers. A partial list of the most popular books includes the following: Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Possibly the best general reference available, it contains descriptions of the 250 occupations in which most Americans are employed. Updated every two years, the descriptions include nature of work, earnings, employment projections, and more. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. A quarterly publication with informative articles about changes in the labor market and updated employment projections for many occupations. Dictionary of Occupational Titles, also published by the U.S. Department of Labor. The DOT lists and classifies about 12,741 occupations. The descriptions are very specific and the book includes many jobs that very few people hold. This book is best used by job seekers and career changers in tandem with the next two books on this list. Complete Guide for Occupational Exploration, published by JIST Works, Inc. Includes and cross-references all 12,741 job titles from the DOT (above), but the titles are clustered into twelve, easy-to-understand interest areas. These interest areas are further divided in such a way that job seekers and career changers can start with their personal interests and find lists of jobs they should explore. Enhanced Guide for Occupational Exploration, published by JIST Works, Inc. Includes and cross-references the 2,500 most important job titles from the DOT, also organized in twelve, easy-to-understand interest areas. Each listing includes a specific description along with codes that yield insights into work environment, stress factors, aptitudes, physical demands, and much more. Also available from JIST Works, Inc. is a series of nine targeted career reference books including America’s Top 300 Jobs, America’s Fifty Fastest Growing Jobs, America’s Top Trade and Technical Jobs, and more. All the references mentioned here may be available at your public library, or can be purchased from JIST Works, Inc., 720 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Telephone: 317-264-3720.

Information to Help You Write Better Resumes

SUMMARY Employers want people who have the necessary skills to compete in today’s high-tech workplace. Refer to the SCANS skills on page 15. You must prove in your resume that you possess these important skills in addition to the job skills. If you impress the employer in the first Twenty Seconds, he or she will read your resume. Remember the critical factors: pleasing appearance, dynamic Profile, and proof of ability. Make sure your resume shows that you have foundation skills and workplace competencies: Basic Skills, Thinking Skills, Personal Qualities, Interpersonal, Information, and Technology. Make sure you show proof of ability. Communication skills always rate at the top of employer requirements. You must make a good first impression. Do not make the mistake of using the wrong paper or typeface. Make your Profile strong and dynamic to get the employer’s attention. Sell yourself but do not oversell. Keep your resume simple. Use the simple format shown on pages 9 and 10. Look at the job-getting resumes shown in this book and follow their example to success!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why are the SCANS skills so valuable?

2. What skills do employers expect you to have, and which skill is probably the most important to all employers?

3. What are the critical factors for your resume?

4. What are the Foundation Skills and Workplace Competencies?

5. Why is the first impression so important?

6. Discuss paper and typefaces to use for your resume.

7. Discuss potential problems that might occur if you use a job objective rather than a Profile.

8. Why are reference books important in your career search?

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