Transcript Resume Writing 101 - York College, City University of New York

The Basics
General resume writing rules
 Section-by-section
 Limited information conundrum
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Standard length= 1 page
 Exceptions: extensive, career related
information
Be clear, concise
Tailor to your major / career / job applying to
Can have different types of resumes for
different types of jobs:
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Career-related jobs
“I-just-need-money” jobs
Internships
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‘References’ line un-necessary unless do
not have enough info
No ‘I’ anywhere in resume
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No-no’s: “To secure a position where I can utilize…;
I demonstrated my leadership qualities by; I
resolved customer complaints…”
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Use the same font & size throughout your
document
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between 10 and 12 size
Suggested fonts:
 Garamond
 Georgia
 Arial
 Times New Roman
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Name should be bigger than rest of text
 Size 14 or so
 Bold the name
Actors’ resumes- name should be very big
Un-necessary to write ‘email’
De-activate hyperlink
[email protected]
put cursor at end of
link and hit backspace one time to undo
hyperlink line
CARLOS SINGH
42 Book Road ▪ Long Island City, NY 10016
[email protected]
C. (347) 930.4112 ▪ H. (718) 262.2000
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No high school data unless very
pertinent or you’re low on information
 Ex.: attended aviation h.s., did some
flight hours, and pursuing Aviation
Management degree
Highlight text with bold, underscore,
italics, bullets
 No arrows / asterisks
 Square bullets clever, modern
Identify strongest qualities that
company is looking for
 Include only the top qualities that
company is looking for in objective
 Highlight qualities throughout
your resume
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The job description = the answer key to the
test.
“We are looking for someone who is able
to follow instructions, detail oriented, and
results driven. Also, able to….”
Objective
To secure a position with your
company by utilizing my
unmatched ability to
understand and adhere to
details and instructions,
while delivering concrete
results.
Skills
Goal oriented
Meticulous
Able to follow instructions
Efficient communicator
Multilingual: Creole, Spanish,
Chinese
Objective’: What you will give, not get
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Bad objective: To secure a position that will
allow me to gain experience and grow
professionally.
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Good objective: To secure a position that will
allow me to apply my organizational skills,
my work ethic, and my academic training, to
benefit your company.
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The purpose of the objective:
 To catch attention of prospective
employer
 To demonstrate that you have
perused the job description /
researched the company
 To incite employer to read resume
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Pros: More thorough description of
your strengths than an ‘objective’
Cons: Does not mention specific
position, as an ‘objective’ does
 Profile
(Professional Profile)
 Qualifications
 Qualifications Summary
 Skills Summary
 (Et cetera)
(“A rose by any other name is still a rose” [Hamlet, by Shakespeare])
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A competent individual with experience in
office / medical settings and procedures; Able
to communicate professionally, multi-task, and
handle detailed duties without losing the
bigger picture. Hands-on knowledge of
popular office equipment and software;
Punctual and dedicated employee.
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‘Education’: right after ‘Objective’ while
pursuing any degree
B.A./B.S.
 Masters
 Ph.D.
 Post doctorate
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After any of these degrees, can send
‘Education’ anywhere on page
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Spell out CUNY the 1st time it appears
Name of degree spelled out
Month & year of estimated graduation
Example:
_______________________________________________
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EDUCATION
The City University of New York (CUNY), York College
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, June 2012
Concentration in Human Resources
Major GPA: 3.14
Jamaica, NY
EDUCATION
The City University of New York (CUNY), York College
Jamaica, NY
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, anticipated June 2014
Major: Human Resources
GPA: 3.0
CUNY, LaGuardia Community College
Long Island City, NY
Associates Degree in Business Administration, December 2011
GPA: 3.0
‘Experience’ listed in
chronological order:
 Most recent experience listed
first at the top
 Use professional vocabulary
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“Responded to inbound / outbound calls “ VS
“Answered phones”
Customize answers to the job
description
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Borough, State
Queens: list the neighborhood
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Jamaica, NY
Woodside, NY
no periods needed- N.Y.
Manhattan: appears as New York, NY
_______________________________________________
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EXPERIENCE
V.I.T.A (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) January 2012– Present
Assistant Manager, Human Resources
Jamaica, NY
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Visitor Services Representative
April 2010 – Present
New York, NY
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Not more than 4 bullets per job description
Can combine sentences to make a small paragraph
per bullet.
 Ex.: Recognized for strong work ethic and made responsible
for providing detailed information to staff; Processed
identification documents for a 7,200 person workforce.
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No asterisks, no arrows
Small bullets
Square bullets clever
Quantify: numbers impress
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“Responded to an estimated 200 inbound calls per week.”
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List internships- under ‘Internships’ section or
‘Experience’.
List exactly as you would a job
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Example:
Health Promotion Center, York College
Jamaica, NY
Student Health Advisor Internship
January 2011 – May 2011
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Recorded body-mass indexes & blood pressure to assess general health
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Provided solid advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle based on test results &
personal goals
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Handled 200 outbound calls weekly to various departments; Assisted students
with computer-related issues
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Especially good for results-oriented resumes
Sales positions
Mention %’s (percentages)
Measureable results/targets
“Increased customer base by 7% per year with
unique marketing strategies.”
 “Eased workload of staff by creating a database
system to handle 200 additional data files.”
 “Coached 50 tennis amateurs per season.”
 “Distributed diabetes information to approximately
100 community residents.”
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can also go in ‘Education’ section
HONORS & AWARDS
 Dean’s List, 2012
 Member, AICPA
 Secretary, Accounting & Finance Club, York
College
 Recipient, $2,200 TMCF scholarship
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Can be bolded, underscored, italicized (don’t
overdo)
Conundrum: 2. anything that puzzles (noun)
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When you are strapped for information,
insert / amplify these sections:
Related coursework section
Skills
Activities (as relevant as possible to job / major)
High school information (as relevant as possible to job / major)
RELATED COURSEWORK
Principles of Accounting
Finance & Management
Management Theory
Accounting I&II
SKILLS
Organization
Interpersonal
Microsoft Word
Efficiency & Accuracy
Detail-oriented
Bilingual, Spanish
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On-campus / Off-campus:
Clubs/Associations
 Sports teams
 Leading study groups
 Tutoring
 Walk-a-thons
 Competitions
 Initiatives/Projects: fund raising (QUANTIFY)
 Religious instructor
 Treasurer for church
 Organize exercise group
 Assist elderly neighbor, et cetera
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ACTIVITIES
For this section, do not list details of your responsibilities unless you need to fill
Space. (Accounting example: no details; Health Promotion: includes details)
Accounting Club- York College, Secretary
Pandora’s Box Official College Newspaper, York College
Spring 2012
Jamaica, NY
Health Promotion Center Health Day, York College
April 2011
▪ Individually responsible for organizing and manning several
information tables on major illnesses. Interfaced with large sector of
student population.
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If you do not have any of these
activities to include…
 Get involved in something this
week/weekend.
York.cuny.edu/student-development/careerservices
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Youtubes:
 Resume Writing 101
 OptimalResume: create a resume
Downloads:
 Resume Check-off
 Sample resumes
 Cover letters, interviewing, career prep
Access your Cardinal Careers Account:
 Upload your resume for professional review
 Resume Books: be viewable to employers
3M01:
 Hard copies:
 Consult with a career counselor
“A diploma alone is not a career strategy.”
Career Services, York College
718. 262. 2282
3M01
(Division of Student Development)