Your Career Alternatives
Welcome to
The Powerful Resume Workshop
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Targeting Your Career & Audience
Formatting For Maximum Impact
 Marketing Your Resume
 Scan Technology
 Cover Letters
“IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, HOW WILL YOU
KNOW WHEN YOU GET THERE?”
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Resume Tips
A resume is defined as a “recapitulation or a
summary
In the business world, a resume is a
document that is scanned, not read, and is
used to either create interest or screen out
candidates
The purpose of a resume is to get an
interview
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Targeting Your Career & Audience
Pinpoint Your Goal
Before you begin, ask yourself these questions:
1.
Are you making a lateral move?
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Are you seeking a promotion?
3.
Are you career transitioning
The most effective way to begin targeting your resume is to
search openings that appeal to you on job boards,
internal company postings, and newspaper classifieds.
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Targeting Your Career & Audience
Match Yourself to the Job
•When you look at a job listing, highlight the qualifications that are
required and the duties that you would be expected to assume.
•Every match in terms of required qualifications and your experience
should serve as a keyword in your resume.
•The more closely the content of your resume matches the content
of these postings, the more likely you will be asked to interview.
•Be careful, though, not to simply repeat phrases found in a job
listing. Your goal is to demonstrate your understanding of the role
and your applicable experience.
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Targeting Your Career & Audience
Keywords
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Keywords can include industry-specific jargon or acronyms, such
as the following:
You should employ other nouns or phrases that indicate your
qualifications and knowledge of required tasks.
Companies that employ scanners require a set
number of hits on keywords before the hiring
manager will personally review a resume. For that
reason, it is always wise to incorporate as many
keywords as possible into your resume.
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Formatting for Maximum Impact
When your resume is reviewed, it must be appealing,
while accurately reflecting your industry or career goal. If
it’s not — no matter how brilliantly it is written — it will
likely be added to the rejection stack.
To ensure that your resume receives the attention it
deserves, it’s important to adhere to certain formatting
guidelines, which address:
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Template and font choice
Effective use of white space
Prioritization of data
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Formatting for Maximum Impact
Template & Font Choice
In all cases, templates and font choice should:
•Be easy to follow
•Accurately reflect your career or goal
•Be easy to read
When in doubt about font choice, always err on the
conservative side. Two good choices are Times New
Roman or Arial in 11 points — no smaller, or the text will
be difficult to read.
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Formatting for Maximum Impact
Effective Use of White Space
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There’s no quicker way to get your resume ignored than
to use narrow margins, or block after block of
uninterrupted text. No one wants to read a text-heavy
document with sentences that run on and on.
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The goal is to get your point across quickly, with a
minimum of words. Use bulleted sentences within
special sections (Experience, Qualifications, etc.),
separated by well-placed white space.
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Qualifications Summary & Skill Set
What is a Qualifications Summary?
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It’s a brief paragraph that showcases your most
effective skills and experience.
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It’s your chance to convince a hiring manager of the
skills you can bring to the position. This is essential
— hiring managers generally afford no more than 10
seconds to your resume, unless they’re compelled to
read further.
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Note that personal pronouns are not used here. In
business writing, which includes resumes, personal
pronouns such as I, me, or my are never used.
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Qualifications Summary & Skill Set
What is a Skill Set?
It's a list of your core competencies, as they
relate to your career goal.
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Accomplishments & Special Skills
There is nothing on your resume more important
than your Accomplishments. Why?
Think of it this way: you’re a hiring manager with one
position to fill and 10 qualified candidates. Each
candidate has the same basic educational and
professional background. So, who gets the job?
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Accomplishments & Special Skills
What is a Quantified Accomplishment?
A quantified Accomplishment should
percentages, and time periods.
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include
dollar
figures,
For example: An accountant has streamlined procedures, realizing a
$2,500 monthly savings for his company. A dollar figure quantifies
the accomplishment, while noting "streamlined procedures" explains
how he did it. If he achieved those savings within three months of
hire, it might be written this way:
Achieved a $2,500 monthly savings for XYZ Company within three
months of hire by streamlining procedures.
Imagine the hiring manager’s reaction to the above, as opposed to
this entry: “Streamlined procedures for XYZ Company.” Doesn’t say
much, does it?
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Accomplishments & Special Skills
Special Skills
Special Skills should be presented up front so that a hiring
manager knows what you can do. In some instances, a special
section (i.e. Computer Skills, Languages, Office Procedures,
etc.) should be created to showcase these Special Skills.
Special Skills include:
 Computer proficiencies
 Office procedures such as answering multi-lined phone systems,
taking dictation (include speed), transcription, typing (include
speed), 10-key, etc.
 Linguistic capabilities (fluency in a foreign language, ability to
translate, etc.)
 Any skill that’s industry-specific
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Education & Training
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The Impact of Experience
If you’re an entry-level candidate with little or no professional
experience, your education should be presented immediately after
the Qualifications Summary and/or skills area. The reasoning for this
is that education is currently your most marketable asset. Here, you
would include:
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GPA (if 3.5 or above)
Awards/scholarships
Dean’s list
Coursework relevant to job search
If you’re a professional with five or more years of experience,
Education should be listed last on your resume. GPAs, awards or
scholarships, and mention of dean’s lists are not generally provided
in a professional or executive resume, except for those used for
entrance into graduate school programs.
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Education & Experience
Training
Include all specialized training that is transferable to your
new job target. If you have not attended college,
definitely include all specialized training in your target
field. Hiring managers generally prefer to see some postsecondary education.
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Scannable Resume Design
Part One: The Basics
 When you send your resume to the HR department of
major corporations (and even some smaller companies)
they employ special software to scan applicants.
Because many candidates apply for one opening, this
software is used to “weed out” those who don’t match
the job criteria.
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To make the most of your job search, it’s essential for
your resume to be in a format that can be read by
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
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Scannable Resume Design
OCR Technology
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With OCR, it’s a computer, not a human being,
which will be scanning your resume for appropriate
content. Since machines are not impressed by font
styles and other formatting enhancements, content
is all-important, as is the presentation of your
document in a scanner-friendly manner.
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Scannable Resume Design
Name
It’s wise to put your name on each page of
your scannable resume. Why?
If one of the pages gets separated, it will be
nearly impossible to know where it might
belong. It’s best to avoid this situation by
putting your name at the top of each page,
along with a page number.
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Scannable Resume Design
Contact Information
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In addition to your street address, include an e-mail address. Choose an address
that’s businesslike in tone, rather that one reflecting a special interest or a nickname.
For example, the following are inappropriate:
savethewhales@net.net
pinballchamp@net.net
overthehillgal@net.net
Always be professional — and avoid using work e-mail addresses. Hiring managers
are rarely interested in interviewing someone who is using their current employer’s
time to look for another job.
It’s wise to include a cell-phone number along with your home number, especially if
that’s your easiest point of contact. However, be certain of the quality of your phone
and service before offering it. Nothing is more frustrating to a hiring manager than to
conduct a conversation through static and breaks in conversation.
In modern resumes, fax numbers are rarely provided. Also, never include current
work numbers.
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Scannable Resume Design
Scanner-Friendly Fonts
Since scanning equipment may differ from company to
company, it’s best to err on the conservative side
when choosing fonts. Avoid all "designer" fonts and
stick with classics like Arial or Times New Roman.
Other good choices are Garamond, Bookman,
Courier New, and Century Schoolbook.
Don’t make the software work extra hard to read all the
characters in your resume, as this may lead to
mistakes and missed keywords. It’s best to use a
font size between 9 and 12.
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Scannable Resume Design
Formats
Unlike resumes being read by a human audience,
scannable resumes must be easy to read by
computer software. Stick to basics and avoid
formatting headaches. Your best choice is to:
 Be certain all type is flush left.
 Separate sections with white spaces, rather than
dashes, dots, or tildes.
 Not use tables or graphics.
 Put section headers in ALL CAPS.
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Scannable Resume Design
Part Two: Keywords
 Keywords are nouns or noun phrases
indicating your skill set or qualifications. For
some federal job openings, a resume must
have a 95 percent or higher hit rate for a
candidate to be given serious consideration.
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Scannable Resume Design
Working Keywords In
 To work keywords into your scannable
resume, you have two options. You can
create a list at the beginning of your resume,
or you can sprinkle them throughout.
 Remember, the more closely your
background matches the qualifications of the
new job, the more likely it is that you’ll be
invited to interview.
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Keyword Optimization
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Please. Hire. Me.
Keyword-Optimized Resumes
Those in the Web business know that optimizing a
site page is essential to getting it on the searchresults lists of major search engines like Google.
Nowadays, with the combined impact of online
resume-posting and the increasingly prevalent use
of scanning technology, even by small companies,
the same principle applies to your resume:
optimization is essential!
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Market Your Resume
Target Your Resume
 Determine which jobs you're interested in and target
your resume to each one.
 Don't submit the same version of it for every job you
apply for — change words and move things around so
your resume uses some of the same lingo as the job
descriptions.
 Use keywords to highlight your experience and
accomplishments that best match those sought for each
job. Your goal should be to match the content of your
resume as much as possible to the qualifications and
duties described in each job notice.
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Market Your Resume
Make It Stand Out
 A visually appealing and easy-to-read resume gets
attention.
 Skip the fancy fonts, long paragraphs, and flowered
stationary.
 Use as few words as possible and make creative
use of white space, bold letters, sectioning, and
bullets.
 A potential employer should be able to scan over
your resume quickly to determine if it deserves a
longer look. You want them to notice what's great
about your resume, not the color of the paper.
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Market Your Resume
Shift Your Priorities
 For each job you apply to, shift items around on
your resume so that the first thing any potential
employer sees is exactly what they're looking for. If
they're specifically looking for someone who speaks
Swahili, put it at or near the beginning of your
resume (as long as you actually speak it, of course!)
It's a simple strategy — the things they want go first,
the things that are less appealing or less important
to the job go last.
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An Updated Resume
The Importance of Keeping Your Resume
Updated
 Whether or not you're on the hunt for a new
job, keeping your resume up-to-date is
important. There's nothing worse than
scrambling to come up with an accurate and
interesting resume when you have two days
to make the submission deadline for a job
opening.
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Design Techniques
Power Verb List
 Though keywords may impress a computer
enough to get your resume to the hiring
manager's desk, you still have to impress that
live human being enough to keep it out of the
trash. As any writer will tell you, the key to
compelling prose lies in the action words:
verbs.
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Resume Tips
Your resume should catch the attention of the
employer within the first 20 seconds or you may lose
that opportunity
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Your resume is the most important bit of information about you.
List your quantifiable accomplishments up front, and relate
them to the position you are applying for.
List your accomplishments in bullet form and include facts,
numbers, percents, rankings, dollars that make you stand out.
Make certain everything in your resume relates to the position
you are applying for. If not, consider leaving them out.
Do not include salary, references or reasons for leaving.
You do not have to go back more than 15 to 20 years unless the
information is used in your accomplishments or objectives.
Use one page if possible but never more than two.
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Resume Tips
Showcase your competencies and quantifiable accomplishments
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A resume should be no more than 2 pages – preferably 1
Tailor your resume to the position you are seeking
You have 20 to 30 seconds to create interest with the reader, so list
your accomplishments and qualifications first
Be brief and quantify each accomplishment – preferably in bullet
form
Your resume should be `what your employer wants to read’ – not
`what you want to write’
Use 11 or 12 point font – Times New Roman or equivalent
Make certain everything in your resume supports your future focus.
If there is a question about relevancy, leave it out
Use action verbs to create vivid, favorable impressions, such as:
“improved, exceeded, streamlined, attained, saved” etc
Begin with a draft and continually revise it until your resume
contains the essence of “who you are” and “what you can do for the
company”
Proof read, proof read and proof read until there are no flaws
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Cover Letters
Cover Letter
 First impressions count.
 Your cover letter sets the tone for your entire
application package.
 Get it right and your resume will be given the
attention it deserves. Submit a cover letter
that’s not compelling and your chances of
getting an interview could be affected.
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Cover Letters
The Art of the Cover Letter
 Hiring managers often receive hundreds, or
even thousands, of applications for a given
job. To avoid having your resume sink in a
sea of paper or electronic files, it’s essential
to write a cover letter that stands out and
makes a great first impression.
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Cover Letters
Rule #1: Keep Up Appearances
 Your resume and cover letter must be aesthetically
pleasing and consistent in appearance. This
includes formatting with the same heading and fonts
in each and using a high-quality printer and paper, if
documents are being "snail mailed."
 Also, keep it tasteful and save the designer
stationery and stylish fonts for writing letters to
friends. A professional employment package never
sets a casual tone.
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Cover Letters
Rule #2: Target Your Audience
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Always use the hiring manager’s name in the
salutation.
If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job
posting, a bit of Internet research or a wellstructured phone call can produce results.
In using the contact’s name, the cover letter is
personalized, while also showing your interest in the
company.
Remember, a letter addressed "Dear Sir or Madam"
or worse, "To Whom It May Concern," has the same
impact as one addressed "Dear Occupant."
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Cover Letters
Rule #3: Craft a Strong Opening Statement
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A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture
and retain a hiring manager’s interest.
For a quick and effective read, it should include a
reference to the position sought and a brief
statement as to why you are qualified to fill the job.
Emphasis should be placed on what you can do for
the company, while also providing quantifiable proof.
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Cover Letters
Rule #4: Showcase Your Accomplishments
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Include a bulleted area to emphasize
accomplishments pertinent to your targeted
job.
Not only does this break up large blocks of
text that can be daunting to read, but it also
draws the eye toward the most important part
of the cover letter — what you have to offer.
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Cover Letters
Rule #5: Create a Proactive Closing
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Always initiate further action at the end of a cover
letter.
A proactive closing indicates that you will call within
a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to
meet.
To wait for a hiring manager to take that first step is
to risk losing the opportunity to another candidate.
If a job description asks that you not call, however,
it’s in your best interest to respect their wishes.
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Cover Letters
Types of Cover Letters
 Depending on the type of job posting to which you
are responding, there are generally three types of
cover letters: those sent to a specified person (i.e.
the hiring manager), those sent in response to a
"blind" advertisement (i.e. only a P.O. Box or a jobreference number is provided), and those sent to
recruiters.
 Depending on the situation, there are certain things
you can do to increase the effectiveness of your
letter.
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Cover Letters
Cover Letters Sent to a Specific Person
 Use the information you have to your best advantage.
 When you have the hiring manager's name, use it in the
salutation — without exception. This personalizes the
letter and shows attention to detail on your part.
 In the opening paragraph, be sure to state the job for
which you're applying, as a hiring manager may post
numerous openings in a given week.
 In the body of your cover letter, detail all of the
qualifications and skills you have that relate to this new
job opening.
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Cover Letters
Cover Letters Sent in Response to a "Blind" Posting
 Newspaper ads often request that you send resumes
and cover letters to a P.O. Box, with no indication of the
company's name or hiring manager's identity. Similarly,
job reference numbers are often the only identification
provided in an online posting. When this is the case,
keep the following in mind:
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Showcase your experience and qualification as they relate to
the new position.
Rather than using "Dear Sir or Madam," or even worse, "To
Whom It May Concern" — drop the salutation altogether.
Instead, write: “Re: Job Reference #” or Re: “Assistant Store
Manager Position.”
After that reference, leave a blank line, and then begin the
cover letter's first paragraph.
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Cover Letters
Cover Letters Sent to Recruiters
 Companies hire recruiters to find the appropriate
employee for a certain position. Because of this, your
cover letter must be clear about your preferred industry
and position, your travel or relocation preferences, and
your salary considerations (if they’re negotiable, include
this information).
 The remainder of your cover letter will contain the same
data as a cover letter you would send to a hiring
manager or a "blind" posting — that is, you should
include your skills and qualifications as they relate to
your preferred industry and position. In this case, though,
you will be selling yourself to a recruiter, rather than to a
hiring manager.
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Professional Resume Editing
The competition for a professional position can
be fierce and the candidate who lands the
interview has the most impressive professional
resume and professional cover letter.
You need a well-crafted document that
communicates the qualities companies look
for: experience, leadership ability, and
character.
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Workshops & Other Services
Visit our web site for other services to aid
your job search.
www.yourcareeralternatives.com
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Resume development (written and oral)
Work behavior profile
Time Management and Organizational
Development Tips
Interviewing techniques (preparation and control)
Networking
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