Transcript Document 7162562

RESUME WRITING
CERRITOS COLLEGE
Career Services
Created by:
Traci Ukita, Career Counselor
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The Resume
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What is it?
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Why is it important?
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A snapshot of your experience & qualifications
A job-hunting tool that serves the purpose of
securing an interview
Helps your organize your job search
Helps prepare you for the interview
Employers expect one
Components of a Resume
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Heading
Objective Statement (optional)
Summary of Qualifications
Education
Experience
Affiliations/Activities
Honors/Awards/Accomplishments
Types of Resumes
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Chronological
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Functional
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Emphasizes qualifications & skills
Combination
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Emphasizes work experience, titles, & dates
Emphasizes experience & skills for particular
positions
Chronological
Advantages
•Employers are familiar w/ it
•Employers often prefer
•Easier to prepare
•Highlights steady employment
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•Reveals employment gaps
•Difficult to spot skills
•May place undesired emphasis
on certain experiences
Best to use if:
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Disadvantages
Staying in same field
Have steady employment history
Want to emphasize job titles
Functional
Advantages
•Emphasizes select skills &
qualifications
•De-emphasizes titles & dates
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•Employers not familiar
•Doesn’t satisfy employer’s need
to know your work history
Best to use if:
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Disadvantages
Changing careers
If have little, spotty, or unconnected experience
If held a number of similar positions
Combination
Advantages
•Emphasizes relevant equals
•Provides info expected by
employers (chronology &
functional descriptions)
•Is unique
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•Harder to write
•Many employers do not like
•Takes longer to read
Best to use if:
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Disadvantages
Targeting specific positions
Looking for an alternative to Functional
Resume Rules
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Do:
Do not:
• Keep it neat & clean
• Keep it simple & clear
• Keep it brief
• Base it on provable facts
• Target your audience
• Use action words, power
words, & descriptive
phrases
• Use personal pronouns &
articles
• Include personal or
irrelevant info
• Have typos or spelling
errors
• Have inconsistency of
content
Other Tips
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Use light colored (white or ivory), 8 1/2 x 11
inch, high quality bond paper
Have plenty of white space (1 inch margins)
Nothing handwritten
List education & work experience in reverse
chronological order
Use high school exp. & education w/ discretion
Indicate years (exclude day & month)
References
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Separate from resume
“References available upon request”
Minimum of three (3)
Professional/business/educational references
Inform your references
Scannable Resumes
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Differences from paper resumes:
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Noun-driven (vs. verb-driven)
Focus on content & keywords
Do:
Do not:
•Keep it crisp & sharp
•Use white (light) paper
•Use keywords
•Use bold & caps
•Use 10 or 12 font size
•Use graphics (no frills)
•Use textured paper
•Have poor quality copies
•Fold or staple resume
•Include columns
Cover Letters
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3 components:
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Opening
Main Body
Closing
Emphasize accomplishments
Individualize
Keep it brief & concise
Close w/ request for interview