Writing
a
Winning Resume!
Holly Heilberg – Career Development Specialist
UHR Faculty & Staff Career Services
914 Emmet St., Room 225
924-4343
Hollyh@virginia.edu
http:www.hrs.virginia.edu/career
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Agenda
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Introductions
Myths and Realities
Constructing a Winning Resume
Types of Resumes
Resume “Do’s” and “Don’ts”
Complete a resume template
Q&A
Action Plan….what can you do next?!
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Let me know what you need
3
No question is unimportant
and there are no mistakes
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Mind absorbs as much as…..
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Confidentiality
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Introductions:
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Connect with a partner and
find out:
– Their name
– What would be their
“ideal job” to apply for
(or send a resume in
for)
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Report back about your
partner to the large group
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The best jobs go to the best applicants
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REALITY:
The best jobs typically go to those who know:
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What they want
How to summarize it in the “30 second elevator speech”
How to target their resume for what they want
How to market themselves in the interview!
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What is a 30 second
Elevator speech?
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The most important word in the job search is “YES”
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REALITY:
Before you hear “Yes”, you probably need to hear “No”, “No”,
“No”, “No”, and “NO”. Each NO is one step closer to YES!
• This means you are making an effort, communicating what you want,
making calls, sending emails, doing informational interviews,
networking and asking for information and advice (not sitting by the
phone
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The best way to look for another job is the newspaper, web, or job
placement agencies
REALITY:
– 80% of good jobs are found through contacts, referrals and networking. So,
spend 80% of your job search time making connections!
– Focus on what someone else might benefit from….not what will benefit for
you.
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The best way to look for another job is the newspaper, web, or job
placement agencies
REALITY:
– 80% of good jobs are found through contacts, referrals and networking. So,
spend 80% of your job search time making connections!
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Neighbors
Previous co-workers
Dr., Dentist, Lawyer
Friends
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The resume will get you the job.
REALITY:
– The goal of a good resume is to help you:
• Focus your goals
• Attract attention
• GET YOU an Interview!
– NOTE: The best time to leave a resume is after you’ve
connected with someone (it’s like a business card)
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Myths & Realities
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MYTH:
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The job search must be a solitary activity
REALITY:
– The best job search is one often conducted with another person.
This helps provide:
• Support
• Encouragement
• New ideas
• Accountability
• Commitment!
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How is a Resume “screened”
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What is a Resume?
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A Marketing Tool .. Individually
designed
Summarizes and highlights your
background
Shows employers how you have
contributed ….and how you’ve made a
difference!
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What is a Resume?
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Serves as a screening device
Can guide the interview
Should be targeted to each specific job
Is just ONE piece of the job search
processl
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What is a Resume?
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Should be crisp and focused
Should be written in the language of the
industry or department
Should be truthfully slanted to your goal
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What do you include on your
resume?
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The initial Heading:
Objective, skills summary or profile
Work experience
Education and/or other training
information
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What do you include on your
resume?
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Other information:
– Other skills (typing, computer, etc)
– Licenses
– Certificates
– Awards
– Professional affiliations
– Language proficiencies
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Finder’s Sheet
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A Worksheet to get you started:
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The Heading
(Use the “header” formatting)
• Include:
– Name
• If you have a name you
prefer to be called you
can place this is ( )
• Example – Margaret
(Peggy) Smith
– Address
– Phone number
– Email address
Sample Headings:
(page 4)
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Objective:
(page 5)
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Should be written specifically for the
position you are applying for:
– What you want to do
– Where you want to perform it
– At what level of responsibility
– With what goal in mind and/or
– And/or utilizing what skills
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Other possible categories:
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A “Skills Summary”
A “Summary of Qualifications” or
“Qualifications Summary”
Highlights
Profile
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Skills Summary or Profile:
(for Ernie the Alley Cat – pg 6)
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Excellent nonverbal communication
skills.
Highly developed purring ability.
Affectionate. Adaptable. Rare feline
willingness to follow established
guidelines.
Omnivorous. Strong rodent-control
capabilities.
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Experience Heading:
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Reverse chronological order (most
recent experience first)
Include:
– Name of organization
– Location
– Job Title
– Dates of employment (or to “present”)
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The most important section!
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Describe your job duties:
– ACTION VERBS! (pg 17-18)
– Describe accomplishments over duties
• Not just a job description
– Use present or past tense
– Let’s try one! (write down a sentence
about something you currently do on your
job)
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Experience Section:
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Quantify information:
– Number of employees you supervised
– Amount of money you handled
– Percentage increase in participation
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Indicate positive outcomes!
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Problem
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Action
Result!
Initiated a program to place students in
professional position. Interviewed,
screened and placed students in 150
positions and increased the placement
rate by 25% in the first year.
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Positive Outcomes:
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Reduced turnover
Save money
Increased efficiency
Contributed to departmental goals
Demonstrated ability to …..
Recognized for…..
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Experience examples:
Page 8
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Education Heading:
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List the most recent schooling (reverse
chronological)
Do not include High School if you have
a college degree
Don’t always need to put the dates
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Education: (page 9)
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The education information should
include:
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Name of the school or institution
Location
Date graduated (or anticipated date)
Major/minor
GPA (or major GPA)
Honors can also be added here (Dean's List...)
Related courses (that pertain to the position)
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Other Possible Headings: (pg 10)
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TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Proficient in:
– Microsoft Office 2005 (Work, Excel,
PowerPoint) Harvard Graphics (DOS and
Windows) Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft DOS 6.2 Alpha4
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Familiar with:
– Lotus 1-2-3 Microsoft Word for Windows
Video Show/Picture it
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Language Skills:
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Fluent in French
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Conversational Spanish
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Basic Chinese
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Other Possible Headings: (pg 10)
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Honors and Awards:
Future Business Leaders of America,
President
Professional Assistants International
Scholarship
Berkley Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Business Education
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Professional Affiliations:
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American Institute of Professional
Accountants
Arizona Society of Certified Public
Accountants
VP of Membership – The American
Society for Training and Development
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Types of Resumes:
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Chronological:
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Functional:
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A few Samples:
(pages 11 – 16)
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What a recent survey reported:
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Do’s and Don’ts
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S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Specific
 Measurable
 Acceptable
 Realistic
 Timely
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Your Individual Plan
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Write down these goals:
– When will you complete a first draft of your resume:
• DATE:________________________________________
– Who are three people who will look it over:
• _____________________________________________
• _____________________________________________
• _____________________________________________
– When will these people have finished looking it over:
• DATE:__________________________________________
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The Good Life
“Living in the place you belong,
with the people you love, doing
the what you love, on purpose”
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Richard Leider, Repacking your bags, 1995
Small Group Discussion
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Get with your small
group
Are you Plateaued?
– What are the
“symptoms”?
– What are some
issues or obstacles
you’re facing?
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