Resumes:
How to make yours work for you
Lynn Walsh, Career Advisor
Purpose of a Résumé
• To market and sell yourself as the best candidate for
the job
• This is your marketing brochure
• Research has shown that most resumes are looked at
for 10 seconds or less so it has to make a good first
impression
• Your resume is your career on paper; it is worth
doing right!
Step 1: Choosing a Format
Chronological
• No major gaps in your employment history
• Work history is related and it reflects growth in the field
•
The chronological resume is primarily comprised of work experience with a couple of
other major headings indicating achievements, education, etc.
Functional
• Have skills that were not attained through your work experience or are not highlighted by
using the traditional format
• Entering the job market
• Re-entering the workforce
• Career change and your experience does not relate to your new job objective
Choosing a Format cont…
Combination (Chrono-functional)
•
To include a combination of work and volunteer experience as well as education,
achievements and special skills
Step 2: Personal Information
• Use your full name, never a nickname
(an initial is optional)
• Name should be bolded, centered or to the right or left
(top of page) and larger font
• Include:
contact number
current mailing address
e-mail address if you check it regularly
Step 3: Job Objective
Indicates:
• Position of interest
• Relevant information to position
• Try and be as specific as possible
• Can also be called Career Focus
Step 4: Highlight of Qualifications
• Highlights and summarizes your top selling points (should be tailored
to each position)
• Highlight the skills and accomplishments the employer is looking for
• Avoid using general statements. Instead provide pertinent facts
about your experience and skills
• Usually 4-6 bullet points
Example
Highlights of Qualifications
• Possess over two years experience organizing fundraising events
• Successfully marketed programs through public service
announcements, advertisements and educational newsletters
• Knowledge in program evaluation and providing
recommendations for improvement
• Obtained extensive training in marketing and promotions
• Recognized for my talent and ability to build rapport and trust
with clients and stakeholders
Step 5: Educational Background
• Refer to your education in reverse chronological order
• Bold the name of your degree (s)
• All education and training is important and should be
included on the resume. It may be listed in another
section called Additional Training or Professional
Development
• Only include your GPA if it will help (and specify if
your GPA is out of 3 or 4)
• Can include Master’s thesis here
Education Example
Education
Masters of Business Administration
Memorial University of Newfoundland
• GPA 3.75/4.0
Bachelor of Commerce Degree
Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS
• GPA 3.85/4.0
2004-2007
St. John’s, NL
June 2002
Step 6: Work Experience
• List in reverse chronological order and list: year, job
title, name of employer (organization / company), city
and country
• Focus on skills, leadership roles and accomplishments
• Bold job titles & start each phrase with an action word
• E.g. Coordinated the CACEE Conference 2005 vs.
Individual responsible for coordinating the…..
• If you have a lot of short term work then group them
together if possible
• i.e.. Bartending, waitressing, etc…
Work Experience Example
Employment Experience
Marketing Assistant
Target Marketing, St. John’s, NL
• Promoted….
• Organized
2002-2004
Lifeguard
Boys and Girls Club, St. John’s, NL
• Monitoring…
• Guarding….
1998-2004
Step 7: Optional Sections
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Volunteer Experience
Awards and Accomplishments
Research
Conference Attendance
Professional Affiliations
Interests
Presentations
Publications
Additional Training
Tips on References
• Seek approval beforehand
• Give references a copy of resume and job
description of position (s) sought
• References are not required on your resume
but if not included you should indicate
“references available upon request” at the end
• If included, list on a separate page with same
header as on resume
Additional Resume Hints
Include name and page number on each page
Always have someone proof read for errors
Use action verbs to highlight responsibilities and accomplishments
Try not to exceed two pages (excluding references)
Leave some white space
Customize each resume for every employer
Additional Resume Hints
Do not include: - age, height, weight, religious/political
affiliations, or social insurance number
Avoid paragraphs, use bullet statements
Use bolded headings and consistent spacing and formatting
If you include your email make sure you check the account often and that
the address is professional
Invest in an answering machine
Reminders….
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Target the position and employer you are interested in pursuing
Make sure to critique the cover letter & résumé before sending it out
• No spelling errors
• Bold your degree and job title
• Keep your cover letter to one page and write about your skills and qualifications
for the job; give specific examples. Resume shouldn’t be any longer than 2 pages
• Do not include personal information on the résumé or cover letter
• Focus on your school, previous work experience, skills and interests
•
In North America, a résumé and curriculum vitae (CV) are different.
• A résumé is used for job search
• A CV presents a complete picture of the breadth and depth of academic
experiences you have accumulated.
Contact: International Student Career Advisor
Lynn Walsh
Centre for Career Development/International Student Advising
p: 709-737-8167 or 737-8895
lwalsh@mun.ca
Office Hours:
Mon., Tues. & Fri. (9am – 5pm): Centre for Career Development
(CCD), 4th floor of UC
Wed. & Thurs. (9am – 4:45pm): ISA Office, Corte Real