Developing Your Resume
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This module consists of three
individual parts:
Part 1: Understanding the
Resume
Part 2: Creating Your
Resume
Part 3: Locating Additional
Resources
Developing Your Resume
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Learning Objectives
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Understand the main areas
of resumes
Identify and correct errors
in your resume
Commit to re-doing your
resume
Locate at least five different
local resources or
reference books
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Part 1: Understanding the Resume
Job Applicant
Contact
Information
Common Errors in Resumes
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Spelling errors, e.g., “Costumer Service”
Formatting issues, e.g., inconsistent
information/columns do not line up
Missing or incorrect telephone number, e.g., wrong
area code in
(730) 555-1212 instead of (703)
Missing information in job description, e.g., “helped
customers”
Dates out of sequence, e.g., most recent job not
listed first
Wrong dates, e.g., list 1898 as HS graduation date
instead of 1998
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Common Errors in
Resumes cont.
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Crazy email address, e.g., LazyGuy@slowmail.com
Irrelevant experience, e.g., highlight an astronaut
seeking a job as a florist
Capitalization problems, e.g., non-capitalized proper
nouns, 123 elm street or mcdonalds
Too many pages (have a small book)
Not enough information, e.g., listing just job titles with no
details
Repeated information, possibly resulting from “cut and
paste”
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Customize resume for each job opening
Sample Job Opening -- Help Wanted Ad:
Customer Service Representative
Do you speak with a smile? We are looking for
talented Customer Service Professionals for entrylevel positions with a rapidly growing firm located in
Alexandria, VA. If you are team-oriented,
enthusiastic, have a talent for customer interaction,
and speak a second language, this may be the right
job for you.
Qualified applicants will be team players that thrive
in a fast-paced environment, with excellent problemsolving, multi-tasking, communication, and
organizational skills. Basic computer skills and
additional language skills are a plus!
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Analyze what you can/can’t do
List Employer’s
Requirements
Can I meet this
requirement?
Speak with a smile
 Yes
 No
Talented Customer
Service Professionals
 Yes
 No
Entry-level positions
 Yes
 No
Team-oriented
 Yes
 No
Enthusiastic
 Yes
 No
Developing Your Resume
Notes
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Part 2: Creating Your Resume
Personal Information
Career Summary and
Objective Statement
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Career Summary and Objective
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“An outgoing, bilingual (English/Spanish) Customer Service
professional with 3 years of retail experience seeking an
Assistant Manager position to utilize XXX skills.”
“A reliable, certified HVAC Technician with 2 years of XXX
experience seeking a Lead Technician position to XXXX.”
“A detail-oriented Accountant with 2 years of AP/AR
experience seeking an Accounts Payable position that
capitalizes on outstanding Excel and QuickBooks skills.”
“A compassionate CNA with 5 years work experience in a
retirement home setting seeking XXXX position to make the
most of recent XXX training.”
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Indicate relevant skills and work history
Skills
Employment History
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Present or Past Tense
Present Tense
Past Tense
If you currently work as a
If you used to work as a
Landscaper, you may write: Landscaper, you would write:
Follow planting diagrams, dig
holes, and properly place
plants, flowers, bushes,
and trees
Followed planting diagrams, dug
holes, and properly placed
plants, flowers, bushes and
trees.
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Employment History (I)
Employment History
Hecht’s/Macy’s
Alexandria, VA
07/05-Present
Sales Associate/Cashier
 Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions,
and assist them to find desired merchandise
 Promote store credit card and specials to customers
 Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift
Marriott Hotel
Greenbelt, MD
04/00-06/01
Waitress
 Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests
 Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them
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Employment History (II)
Employment History
Hecht’s/Macy’s
Alexandria, VA
07/05-Present
Sales Associate/Cashier
 Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist them
to find desired merchandise
 Promote store credit card and specials to customers
 Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift
WHAT DID THIS PERSON DO FOR 4 YEARS? WHAT’S UP WITH THIS GAP?
Marriott Hotel
Greenbelt, MD
04/00-06/01
Waitress
 Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests
 Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them
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Employment History (III)
Employment History
Hecht’s/Macy’s
Alexandria, VA
07/05-Present
Sales Associate/Cashier
 Greet customers, ask questions to determine needs, make suggestions, and assist
them to find desired merchandise
 Promote store credit card and specials to customers
 Process cash and credit transactions, and balance drawer at end of shift
Greenbelt High School Greenbelt, MD
• Served as Board Member for the PTS
• Managed school project budget
07/01-06/05
Marriott Hotel
Greenbelt, MD
04/00-06/01
Waitress
 Worked as member of team to efficiently serve guests
 Accommodated guests and cheerfully served and tended to them
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Part 3: Additional Resume Resources
Tips and Advice
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http://www.how-to-write-a-resume.org/
http://www.howtowritearesume.net/
http://www.myfuture.com/toolbox/createresu
me_all.html
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Resume Templates
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http://www.myresumeonline.org/resumetemplates/
http://www.resumetemplates.org
http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickst
art/
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Community Centers
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Falls Church SkillSource Center
Lake Anne SkillSource Center
South County SkillSource Center
Cherokee Avenue Workforce Center
City of Alexandria Joblink
Arlington Employment Center
Loudoun Employment Resource Center
Prince William Workforce Center
Developing Your Resume
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Books
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Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer
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The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write and Use an Effective
Resume In Only One Day
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Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work
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Expert Resumes for Career Changers
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Resume Writer's Workbook
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Winning Resumes
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The Resume Handbook
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Resumes for Re-Entering the Job Market
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Resumes for Dummies
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Action Verbs on Resumes
A–D
E–H
I–L
M–P
Q–T
U–Z
A
Achieve
Acquire
Adapt
Address
Anticipate
Assist
E
Establish
Expand
I
Implement
Improve
Insure
M
Maintain
Market
Motivate
Q
U
Use
B
F
Form
J
N
R
V
C
Calculate
Centralize
Change
Collaborate
Conduct
Construct
Coordinate
Create
Cultivate
G
Generate
Guide
K
O
Obtain
Operate
Organize
Originate
S
Set up
Simplify
Solve
Survey
W
D
Develop
Devise
Discover
H
L
Launch
P
Plan
Produce
Promote
Provide
T
Teach
Test
Train
XYZ
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Closing Remarks
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Creating a resume that is
customized for a specific
job; accurate; attractive;
error-free; and reflects
your skills and abilities
will provide a chance to
get an interview – which
is its primary purpose!
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