Resume Building
Your resume and its optional, accompanying, cover letter are marketing tools that present your most relevant
skills to recruiters and hiring managers. Therefore, writing an effective resume and cover letter (if needed) is
key in securing an employment interview.
Resumes are designed to convince the reader that you are a solution to his or her problem. It should attract
attention, create interest and achieve the ultimate objective, an interview. Cover letters should be used when a
story is needed to be told that the resume would not accurately convey (career change, relocation, employment
gaps, etc.).
Furthermore, recruiters use these documents to narrow the candidate pool to those who possess the best
qualifications for the posted opportunity.
Therefore, the layout of your credentials is vital.
Each time you apply for a job you should change or modify your resume to reflect the most relevant
experiences, qualifications and skills applicable to the job for which you are applying.
TYPES OF RESUMES
Reverse Chronological Resumes
A reverse chronological resume is the most universally accepted format and most readers are comfortable with
its traditional layout. It presents your background clearly in a straightforward manner and enables the reader to
quickly review and analyze the material.
It presents the individual's experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with the current, or most recent
position and moving backward in time. The focus is on "when and where" you worked and what you did during
specific timeframes; describes your duties and accomplishments for each position; highlights the most
significant 4-5 responsibilities and/or accomplishments; and should illustrate progressive increases in
responsibility, where possible.
Chronological resumes are expected to be a complete chronology of your career. To maintain conciseness and
brevity, jobs earliest in your career may be summarized with dates, employer, and title.
This is a good format when you:
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are pursuing the same type of position
want to move either laterally or advance
enjoy your current position and take pride in your work
have an excellent work history with no major employment gaps
can show promotions
had past jobs, especially the more recent ones, which relate strongly to your job objective.
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Functional Resumes
Resume Building
The functional resume is a more recent format and is the most effective format when changing career fields or
functional areas within the same career field. This format allows the presentation of experience without the risk
of biasing the reader with titles or employers. The functional format also allows the presentation of specific
expertise and accomplishments of functions most appropriate to the situation being explored. Its disadvantages
include: 1) most employers want to see a full work history including names, companies or organizations who
employed you, and 2) recruiters and hiring managers may find it difficult to piece together your experience.
Who should consider a functional format?
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those with very diverse experiences that don't add up to a clear-cut career path
career-changers who wish to enter a field very different from all their previous experience
those who performed very similar activities throughout their past jobs who want to avoid repeating those
activities in a chronological job listing
job-seekers looking for a position for which a chronological listing would make them look
"overqualified"
older workers seeking to de-emphasize a lengthy job history
workers with hard-to-explain gaps in their employment history
candidates who are reentering the work force after a prolonged absence
folks who need to bring focus to skills or experience from a significantly earlier time in their career
Combination Resumes
Fast becoming a favorite format in the employment world, the combination resume uses aspects of both of the
previous styles and is an excellent format for truly targeting individual positions. In this format, immediately
following the contact information, the next section is functional in nature and is used to highlight the
qualifications/skills requested in the job posting as the minimum and preferred requirements. This section can
be titled as the Summary, Qualifications, or Relevant Skills section (or something similar). The remainder of the
resume is then set up in a reverse chronological format which expands on roles that are pertinent to the desired
position, while minimizing unrelated positions. An advantage of this type of resume is that it quickly shows the
reviewer that you meet the requirements for the targeted position. A disadvantage is that the resume does not go
into as much detail as either of the previous types.
Who should consider using the combination format?
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individuals who are intent on a focused resume to pass initial screening for a particular targeted position
those making a career change who want to emphasize their transferable skills
candidates who want to advance in their current field or industry
workers whose job titles do not fully describe their level of responsibility
folks with employment gaps who need to address unpaid or volunteer work which is relevant to the
position being applied for
5 C’s of the Resume Message
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Resume Building
No matter what format your resume takes, your message must have:
Clarity
Create a clear and understandable message with lean and simple language. Be precise. A resume is
normally scanned in 30 seconds; if it’s confusing, it may be discarded immediately.
Consistency
An inconsistent format and poor appearance sends a message of carelessness. A resume can be written
in one of many different styles, but it must follow a consistent format. If the resume does not follow an
accepted and familiar style, it will confuse the reader.
Conciseness
If the resume is too long and/or contains too much detail, the reader may not find the significant
information necessary to make a decision. Brief and concise statements give the reader a quick and easy
orientation to your qualifications. As a general rule, your resume should not exceed two pages unless
absolutely necessary.
Correctness
Since employers assume that a resume represents your best work, it must be accurate and free of
typographical errors. In addition, all information must be accurate and verifiable.
Competency
Your resume summarizes your most significant accomplishments and areas of responsibility. Represent
your accomplishments in measurable terms, i.e. financial, cycle time, number of personnel, etc.
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Resume Building
RESUME COMPONENTS AND ORGANIZATION
Contact Information
The Heading is centered at the top of the first page and consists of:
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Name (first, middle initial, and last name)
Address (street address, city, state, and zip code)
Telephone numbers with area codes (include all that you are willing to be contacted on)
Email addresses (include all that you are willing to be contacted on)
NOTE: Make sure when a manager wants to call you that the phone number(s) you have provided are correct.
Also ensure that they are greeted professionally and you receive your messages in a timely manner. Check your
phone and email messages frequently. Your responsiveness to their messages can say a lot about you, positively
or negatively.
Example:
John Q. Public
1234 Deep Sea Drive Newport News, VA. 23607
Phone: Phone: (757) 380-0987
E-mail: John.Q.Public@cox.net
Objective
An Objective component is optional. If the resume is properly targeted for a position, the space may be better
used for pertinent information. It is understood that the position being applied for is the objective of any
application. Although optional, a job objective statement shows employers the direction you want to go, your
work preferences, and serves as a focal point for employers to review and analyze your resume. It allows
employers to immediately identify the kind of position you want if not applying for a specific position. Focus
on what you can do for the employer, not what you expect them to do for you.
Example:
Learning and Performance Professional experienced in the Instructional Systems Design
and Human Performance Improvement desires to lead a team of professionals in
designing and deploying tools and opportunities that enable employees to deliver
outstanding results for the future success of a medium to large manufacturing company.
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Resume Building
Summary
The Summary component is again optional, particularly since it takes up valuable space on a resume. However,
if time does not permit you submitting an accompanying cover letter (see appendix D) or you are broadcasting
your resume, summary information is better placed on a cover letter. Summaries are designed to pique the
reader's attention enough so that he or she will want to read the work history section. It is the work experience
section that will do most of the selling. Summaries can either be paragraph in form or arranged as a bulleted
summary (which is becoming more popular, especially in the Combination style resume)
Example:
Poorly phrased summary: Seeks challenging position within a growth-oriented company in
order to develop my management skills
Well phrased summary: Learning and Performance Professional experienced in the
Instructional Systems Design and Human Performance Improvement with a proven track record
in designing and deploying training and human performance solutions that have increased
effectiveness and/or efficiency between twelve and twenty-five percent. Background
encompasses training design, delivery, evaluation and human performance improvement
methodologies in a heavy manufacturing industry. SECURITY CLEARANCE: DOD Secret.
Work Experience
In the Reverse Chronological and Combination resumes, this section may begin with your current or previous
employer, followed by current position title, accomplishment statement(s), and brief statements of your
responsibilities. In the Combination resume, ensure to minimize emphasis in positions you may have held that
are not relevant to the position being applied for, while expanding on the roles in the positions that are relevant.
Example:
Work Experience
November 2003 to September 2015
ABC Manufacturing, Newport News, VA; Senior Training Program Developer
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Facilitated organization development initiatives including: data collection, analysis, evaluating, and
implementing solutions that increased organization effectiveness by 12%.
Reduced skills development cycle time by approximately 25% by initiating photographed and
videotaped detailed task analysis on job.
Managed program budget of approximately $500,000 annually to design and deploy learning and
performance solutions to meet and/or exceed business targets.
Applied Instructional Systems Design process to assigned development projects: conducted
needs/task analysis, determined design strategy, developed course materials, implemented training
and evaluated effectiveness of training materials and delivery.
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Resume Building
Managed projects for vendor-developed CBT training courses valued at $25,000 per course.
With the Functional resume, the Work Experience section takes on an entirely different format. As its title
suggests, rather than presenting experience in reverse chronology, the experience is grouped into specific areas
of strength such as Management, Leadership, Planning, Training, Administration, Human Resources, Finance,
etc. Three or four functional areas of strength and skill are selected and these are sequenced based on both
competence (i.e., strongest functional areas first), and appropriate consideration of the identified needs in the
organization receiving the resume. Be sure to use the job posting and description to properly align your
strengths and skills. With the Functional resume, there are no dates in the work experience component.
However, the dates are at the end of each job listing in the work history. With the exception of location of
employment dates, the same information is listed in the experience components of both functional and reverse
chronological resumes. The work experience component of the resume must provide specific examples giving
evidence of the facts provided in the cover letter. This must be reflected in all resume formats.
Work History
Work history is used only with a functional resume. It is here that the employer(s) is identified, with job titles
included, followed by dates of service.
Example:
Work History
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ABC Manufacturing, Newport News; Newport News, VA; Senior Training Program
Developer; November 2003 to November 2010
Steele Shipyard, Inc., Newport News, VA; Nuclear Skills Instructor; March 1989 to
November 2003
Naval Shipworks, Inc., Hampton, VA; August 1980 to March 1989
o Foreman, Machinery Installation; June 1985 to March 1989
o Apprentice and Make-up Foreman; August 1980 to June 1985
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Resume Building
Education
The Education section is the last essential component of the resume (can also be titled Education/Training).
Here the academic credentials need to be presented, with the highest degree presented first, going backwards in
time. List only the coursework that is germane to the job candidacy. Furthermore, coursework need not be
listed if you have work experience in that specific area. Other special schooling and training may be listed, as
appropriate. Publications may be presented here or in a separate component following Education.
Example:
Education
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Master of Arts, Human Resource Development, George Washington University,
Newport News, VA; 2003
Bachelor of Arts, Education – cum Laude, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, Blacksburg, VA; 1995
• Outside Machinist, Naval Shipworks Apprentice School, Hampton, VA; 1984
Accreditation, Awards and Professional Associations
Another section may be used if relevant to the position: Accreditation/Certifications, Awards, and Professional
Associations. Be sure to do your research on the position to ensure applicability. This is also where you
should list any active clearances.
Example:
Accreditation, Awards and Professional Associations
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Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) by American Society
for Training and Development; 2006
Award for Quality Improvement, Increased Customer Satisfaction, and Product
Delivery; 2004
Certificate of Lean Practice, Old Dominion University; 2004
American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), National and Local
Chapter Membership
Journeyman Outside Machinist specializing in Naval Construction and Repair, State
of Virginia; 1984
Active DOD (level??) Clearance
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Proficiencies and Technical Skills
Resume Building
Use this section to list specific proficiencies and/or technical skills, such as interpersonal skills, computer
software and hardware or machinery skills. This category is useful if you want to highlight specific knowledge
or experience that would otherwise be lost amidst other data
Example:
Proficiencies and Technical Skills
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Microsoft Office—Word, Power Point and Excel
Web Design—MS FrontPage
Process Improvement methodologies
Exclusions
The following should not be on your resume:
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Hobbies (unless directly relevant to job qualifications)
Extracurricular activities (unless directly relevant to job qualifications)
Salary history (best discussed during screening/interviewing)
Religious affiliations
Political affiliations
Racially-oriented affiliations
Personal data (i.e., age, height, weight, marital status, medical data, etc.)
References - "References on Request" is not needed. It is understood that if requested you will provide
references. It is a good idea, however, to update your reference list, confirm that each person will be a
reference, and be prepared to bring a copy of your reference list to an interview.
Recruiters are simply not interested in extraneous data that has little or no relevance to the position for
which you are applying, so the best advice is to exclude these items from your resume entirely! They
serve no practical purpose and may, in fact, distract from your overall qualifications, reducing or
eliminating further interest in your employment candidacy.
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RESUME PRE-WORK
Resume Building
To get the process started, review the following suggestions:
Conduct a personal assessment: As you explore options for career changes/transition, you should analyze your
job skills, along with a candid look at your professional and personal objectives, interests and goals. As a
necessary part of this process, you will also need to consider your financial needs.
1. Self-Assessment
To send a persuasive message to your reader, start by knowing and understanding your knowledge, skills and
abilities. Performing a self-assessment can be tedious but is important. Writing a resume without completing a
self-assessment first can be disadvantageous because you may omit helpful information and risk not standing
out. Therefore, it is important to take the time to conduct a self-assessment, analyze the content, and use it to
develop a detailed resume that distinguishes you from other candidates.
Begin by defining your skills and accomplishments. The following accomplishments worksheet can help you
build an effective and useful self-assessment.
2. Develop Accomplishments Statements
Accomplishments are achievements "beyond the norm" that solve a problem or improve the work environment,
organization or process. This is important. They illustrate your skills, knowledge and experience, and how you
use them to be a problem-solver. List anything you did alone or as part of a team that would help to prove your
value. Cite data if possible. Assess your accomplishments using the following guidelines to analyze each
position:
Situation or Task that required a high level of performance to solve it.
Action taken to solve or improve the situation.
Result obtained. When possible, state the result in quantitative amounts.
Many people do not realize their accomplishments and underestimate themselves in this area. Take time to ask
yourself the questions on the following pages, and write down all of your accomplishments no matter how
insignificant they may seem.
You should consider an activity an accomplishment if you:
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achieved more with the same resources, such as increasing production and/or decreasing waste
resolved problems with minimum increase in time, effort, expense, personnel, etc.
increased profit, sales and/or market share
reduced costs
improved productivity and team work
designed, implemented and developed a program from start to finish
improved safety and work conditions
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Resume Building
As you think about your career accomplishments, keep the following in mind:
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accomplishments are specific and measurable
quantify your accomplishment whenever possible (for example - Increased sales by 50 percent over the
previous year)
use superlatives and "firsts" - use words such as "first," "only," "best," "most" and "highest"
consider the "so-what factor." For every accomplishment you list, ask yourself, "so what?" Does the
item you have listed truly characterize your abilities and your potential for contributing to your next
employer's success?
make sure each accomplishment is relevant to the job you seek
Example:
Reduced skills development cycle time by approximately 25% by initiating photographed and
videotaped detailed task analysis of job.
Assessing Accomplishments:
Go through these questions for each job you have held or at least solely for those jobs directly related to your
current career path. You do not need to answer all of these questions for each job – choose the ones that make
the most sense.
1. What special things do you do to set yourself apart? How do you perform your job better than anyone else
did or than anyone else could have done?
2. What have you done to make your job your own? How do you take initiative? How do you go beyond what
is asked of you in your job description?
3. What awards have you won (Employee Awards, etc.)?
4. Consider conversations from past performance reviews. Are there any glowing or complimentary statements
from your reviews of which you are especially proud?
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Resume Building
5. Have you received any complimentary memos or letters from your managers or customers? Pull some
quotes that support your accomplishments from these letters.
6. How have you contributed to operational efficiency in your job? How have you helped your project or
organization save money, save time or make work easier?
7. How have you contributed to productivity, i.e., through successfully motivating your team?
8. How have you built relationships with internal and/or external customers? How have you attracted new
customers or retained existing ones?
9. How have you solved one or more specific problems in your job? What were the problems or challenges
that you or the organization faced? What did you do to overcome the problems? What were the results of
your efforts? Hint: Use the STAR technique, in which you describe a Situation or Task that existed,
describe what Action you took to fix the problem or challenge and what the Result was.
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Resume Building
10. Did a supervisor handpick you for additional responsibilities or special project(s) based on special skills you
possess?
11. For what kinds of things have people always asked you for help and advice? What are your areas of
expertise?
12. Have you trained, taught or oriented new team members?
13. List situations in which you were required to juggle many projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
Transferable Skills
Next, capture skills you have attained from any aspect of your life that are transferable and applicable to the job
you are seeking. Consider skills used in jobs, volunteer/community-service work, travel, projects, parenting,
hobbies, sports and more.
As you work through this section, think about how you have used each skill, focusing specifically on how you
have shined using the skill:
Start with the five skills that almost all Hiring Managers seek:
1. Communication skills:
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2. Interpersonal skills:
Resume Building
3. Teamwork skills:
4. Leadership skills:
5. Computer/Information technology skills:
Now, identify your skills in the second tier of most-in-demand skills:
1. Adaptability/flexibility skills:
2. Problem-solving skills:
3. Organizational skills:
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4. Analytical skills:
Resume Building
5. Quantitative skills:
Skills Required for Desired Job
Now, what are the required skills for the job or type of job you want? You can get specific by pulling this
information from job postings.
Skill:
What are some examples of how you have excelled using these skills?
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Resume Building
Now, use the template below to synthesize the responses you listed in this section to create your accomplishment
statements that will be used when writing your resume. See appendix A for a sheet to photo copy as needed.
Action Word
Situation / Task
Result(s) including Measure
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RESUME WRITING
Resume Building
The purpose of a resume is to get you an interview. Take the time to develop a well-written resume. A poorlyconstructed resume can often be the reason why an otherwise qualified candidate is not invited for an interview.
Consider the following tips for writing your resume to ensure its effectiveness.
Giving your resume a professional look
Now you fine-tune your message to create a professional resume designed to sell you to Hiring Managers and
Recruiters.
Some important tips to remember in resume writing are:
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use resume designs that grab attention
attempt to keep resume to one to two pages using an 11 or 12 point font
provide information that relates directly to the job objective
connect the job description to the resume information
be precise, use correct spelling and grammar and proofread
organize the layout in line with the sample provided
use an action-oriented, persuasive tone
To begin refining your resume, first revisit your objective. In order for a resume to have focus, a job objective is
the starting point (whether it is written on the resume or not – you should always have an objective). This
focal point is what you will turn to in selecting information from the self-assessment, choosing action words to
describe your background and deciding how to highlight your background.
Phrasing − Establishing a Persuasive Tone
The resume's purpose is to establish a friendly relationship and persuade the reader to interview you. You
establish this relationship through the tone of your writing, which reveals your attitude. This is accomplished
through persuasive phrasing. Because the reader has no knowledge of your skills and experience, you must
quickly appeal to his or her emotions. Do this by using concrete action words. Structure sentences to develop a
persuasive tone while reducing the volume of information.
Your finished resume should be about one to two pages long -- enough to concisely highlight your knowledge,
skills and abilities. Resume sentences begin with action words. Review the action words on the next page and
incorporate them into your resume using the following guidelines:
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As the resume subject, you can delete the pronoun "I" or other pronouns to identify yourself.
Begin sentences with action verbs. Portray yourself as someone who is active, uses their brain, and gets
things done.
Develop an active tone which projects initiative rather than participation. This is achieved by using either
the present or past tense for action words. Do not begin statements with words ending in "ing," which
denote participation.
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Resume Building
Use a higher level of diction, if appropriate. For example, it may be more effective to say "authored" instead
of "wrote."
Keep phrases in a bulleted section parallel. You should begin phrases with action words and all of the
phrases should begin the same way. Do not mix phrases starting with action words and nouns. See page A-1
for a list of action words.
Keep tenses consistent. When writing a chronological resume, duties for a current position should be in the
present tense and previous positions in the past tense. However, if you have completed an accomplishment
listed under your current position, it is appropriate to use past tense.
Additional Writing Tips
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Use titles or headings that match the job posting.
Analyze the job description and identify its key words. Use these keywords in your resume.
Identify the organization’s hidden needs through website reviews or informational interviews. Solve these
hidden needs in your resume.
You can generate many more interviews by tweaking your resume so that it aligns with the skills of each
specific job posting.
Quantify your experience wherever possible. Cite numerical figures, such as monetary budgets/funds saved,
time periods/efficiency improved, lines of code written/debugged, numbers of machines administered/fixed,
etc., which demonstrate progress or accomplishments due directly to your work.
Minimize usage of articles (the, an, a).
There is a possibility for the applicant to be ruled out just for leaving dates off.
Spell out acronyms and abbreviations that are not clearly understood by the general population. If in doubt,
use the acronym and spell it out in parentheses the first time you use it; use acronym alone if repeated.
Recruiters search the resume database using keyword searches — make sure your resume contains
keywords that outline the type of position you are looking for. Abbreviating keywords may keep the
searching mechanism from recognizing your resume.
Do not set up columns in your resume. They do not convert well once pasted into Excel or Job Search
Engines.
Do not password-protect your resume.
When bringing hard copies of your resume to an interview use plain, white paper (bonded paper if
available).
Be cautious with strange fonts and graphics. Often, they may not convert well if sending your resume
electronically (Arial, Helvetica and Times Roman are easiest to read).
When emailing a resume, email as an attachment unless instructed to do otherwise.
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REVIEWING YOUR RESUME
Resume Building
Now that your resume is complete, review it critically. Ask a trusted friend or family member to look it over,
too. Check for the following:
Truth
Did you exaggerate or falsify any information?
Accuracy
Are dates, addresses, and phone numbers correct?
Completeness
Did you forget anything? Avoid unexplained time lapses in your job history.
Length
Is your finished version about one to two pages (three if absolutely necessary)? Keep it focused and
targeted to the desired position. Weed out extra words and unnecessary information.
Tone
Does it sound positive?
Focus
Does it play up your strong points and highlight things that relate to your job objective?
Note: Use the checklist in Appendix C as a final review before providing to an employer.
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Resume Building
What will an employment recruiter look for?
When you share your resume with your TA Redeployment POC, a Professional Development Center Counselor
or someone else for an additional review, that person will address each section of your resume individually. The
reviewer will typically assess the following:
Contact Information:
The reviewer will ensure that this section is complete and correct.
Summary (if included):
The reviewer will determine whether this snapshot of your qualifications meets the following criteria:
• One paragraph with 3 to 4 sentences.
• Emphasizes experience/skills and proven results related to the objective.
• The summary is supported by more detailed information in the resume.
Work Experience/Accomplishments:
The reviewer will look for consistency and clarity in format and content. He or she will also:
• Analyze the objective together with experience to determine whether the resume markets your
credentials to their best advantage.
• Validate whether your experience and accomplishments highlight your objective.
• Ensure that the resume is positively focused.
Education:
The reviewer will look for consistency and clarity in format and content. In addition, he or she will make
sure the dates listed make sense and ensure that the highest level of education is listed first.
Optional Information:
The reviewer will assess the pertinence of the additional information you have provided to ensure that it
should be included in your final document.
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Resume Building
Appendices
Resume Building
ACTION WORDS
Action words powerfully convey skills, experience, and education. The following list of action words can help
you develop concise, descriptive sentences.
accelerate
accomplished
achieved
acquired
adapted
administered
adjusted
altered
analyzed
approved
assembled
assessed
balanced
began
budgeted
built
changed
collected
communicated
compared
compiled
completed
composed
computed
conceived
conducted
consolidated
constructed
contacted
contributed
controlled
converted
coordinated
corresponded
created
counseled
cut
defined
delegated
driven
demonstrated
designed
developed
devised
directed
dispensed
distributed
doubled
drafted
driven
earned
edited
eliminated
enabled
encouraged
entertained
established
estimated
evaluated
executed
expanded
fabricated
facilitated
figured
filed
forecasted
formed
formulated
founded
generated
guided
handled
headed
identified
illustrated
implemented
improved
improvised
increased
initiated
innovated
inspected
installed
instituted
introduced
invented
inventoried
investigated
launched
led
lifted
made
maintained
managed
marketed
measured
mediated
monitored
motivated
moved
negotiated
obtained
operated
ordered
organized
originated
outlined
oversaw
participated
persuaded
planned
prepared
presented
processed
produced
programmed
proofread
proposed
protected
provided
publicized
published
purchased
raised
rated
recommended
recorded
recruited
redesigned
reduced
referred
regulated
reinforced
reorganized
repaired
reported
represented
reproduced
researched
resolved
retrained
retrieved
reviewed
revised
scheduled
selected
served
set-up
shaped
shared
simplified
sold
solicited
solved
staffed
started
streamlined
strengthened
structured
studied
succeeded
suggested
summarized
supervised
systematized
synthesized
taught
theorized
tested
traced
tracked
trained
transformed
translated
trimmed
tutored
united
updated
utilized
verified
volunteered
widened
written
wrote
Page A-1
Resume Building
Use the template below to synthesize the responses you listed on pages 9-14 to create your accomplishment
statements that you will use when writing your resume.
Action Word
Situation / Task
Result(s) including measure
Page A-2
Resume Building
Reverse Chronological Resume Template
First Name _____________ MI____ Last Name_________________
Street Address____________________________ City________________________, State____. Zip Code_______
Phone: (_____) _____________
E-mail: ___________________
OBJECTIVE (if
included)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY (if
included)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
W O R K
E X P E R I E N C E
Month___ Year____
to
Month___ Year____
(Most Recent Job)
Company Name_______________________; City____________, State____;
Job Title____________
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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Page A-3
Month___ Year____
to
Month___ Year____
Month___ Year____
to
Month___ Year____
Resume Building
(Previous Job)
Company Name_______________________; City____________, State____;
Job Title____________
•
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•
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(Previous Job)
Company Name_______________________; City____________, State____;
Job Title____________
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Page A-4
EDUCATION
Resume Building
Type of Degree ______ Degree Major _________________
Date Completed (Month/Year) ________ Location _________________
Relevant Coursework if no experience in content area:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Type of Degree ______ Degree Major _________________
Date Completed (Month/Year) ________ Location _________________
Relevant Coursework if no experience in content area:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Type of Degree ______ Degree Major _________________
Date Completed (Month/Year) ________ Location _________________
Relevant Coursework if no experience in content area:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
ACCREDITATION, • Name of Professional Certification: ____________________________________________
Accrediting Organization: ____________________________________________________
AWARDS AND
Date of Certification: ________________________________________________________
PROFESSIONAL
• Employee Award(s): Name or Type of Award: ____________________________________
ASSOCIATIONS
Date Awarded: _________________
PROFICIENCIES
•
Name of Professional Association(s): __________________________________________
Date(s) of Membership: _____________________________________________________
•
Name of Proficiency: _______________________________________________________
Date Awarded (if know): ________________
•
Name of Proficiency: _______________________________________________________
Date Awarded (if know): ________________
•
Name of Proficiency: _______________________________________________________
Date Awarded (if know): ________________
•
Name of Proficiency: _______________________________________________________
Date Awarded (if know): ________________
Page A-5
Resume Building
REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
John Q. Public
4101 Deep Sea Drive Newport News, VA. 23607
Phone: (757) 380-0987
E-mail: John.Q.Public@cox.net
OBJECTIVE: Learning and Performance Professional experienced in Instructional Systems Design and Human
Performance Improvement desires to lead a team of professionals in designing and deploying tools
and opportunities that enable employees to deliver outstanding results for the future success of a
medium to large manufacturing company.
SUMMARY: Learning and Performance Professional experienced in Instructional Systems Design and Human
Performance Improvement with a proven track record in designing and deploying training and human
performance solutions that have increased effectiveness and/or efficiency between twelve and
twenty-five percent. Background encompasses training design, delivery, evaluation and human
performance improvement methodologies in a heavy manufacturing industry. SECURITY
CLEARANCE: DOD Secret.
WORK EXPERIENCE
November 2003
to
2015
ABC Manufacturing, Newport News, VA; Senior Training Program Developer
•
•
•
•
•
March 1989
to
November 2003
Facilitated organization development initiatives including: data collection, analysis, evaluating,
and implementing solutions that increased organization effectiveness by 12%
Reduced skills development cycle time by approximately 25% by initiating photographed and
videotaped detailed task analysis of job
Managed program budget of approximately $500,000 annually to design and deploy learning
and performance solutions to meet and/or exceed business targets
Applied Instructional Systems Design process to assigned development projects: Conducted
needs/task analysis, determined design strategy, developed course materials, implemented
training and evaluated effectiveness of training materials and delivery
Managed projects for vendor-developed CBT training courses valued at $25,000 per course
Steele Shipyard, Inc., Newport News, VA; Nuclear Skills Instructor
•
Coordinated/conducted classroom, laboratory and/or field instruction of complex technologies
and business/production/design processes emphasizing trade skills, management skills, and
quality and radiological controls for Naval Nuclear work within budget and schedule
•
Supervised and evaluated assigned hourly employees including employee disciplinary actions
•
Managed trades training program conducted by adjunct instructors
•
Ordered/maintained material and equipment for associated training programs valued at
approximately $27,000 per year
Page C-1
August 1980
to
March 1989
EDUCATION
Resume Building
Naval Shipworks, Inc., Hampton, VA
•
Foreman, Machinery Installation (June 1985 to March 1989): Responsibilities included
supervising up to 25 production trades personnel to accomplish construction and overhaul of
nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers within budget and schedule. Planned and coordinated
interdepartmental activities for the above production needs.
•
Apprentice and Make-up Foreman (August 1980 to June 1985): Applied outside machinery
skills to build and overhaul nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. Performed duties of
immediate foreman in his/her absence.
B.A. in Business Administration w/specialization in Industrial / Technology Management and
minor in Human Resource Administration
St. Leo University, Langley Center, Langley AFB, VA.; 2003; GPA: 3.99/4.0
Coursework included:
Human Resource Management
Business Communication Skills
Strategic Management
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Outside Machinist, Naval Shipworks Apprentice School, Hampton, VA; 1984
ACCREDITATION, • Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) by American Society for
Training and Development; 2006
AWARDS AND
PROFESSIONAL • TAP Award for Quality Improvement, Increased Customer Satisfaction, and Product
Delivery; 2004
ASSOCIATIONS
PROFICIENCIES
•
Certificate of Lean Practice, Old Dominion University; 2004
•
American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), National and Local Chapter
Membership
•
Journeyman Outside Machinist specializing in Naval Construction and Repair, State of
Virginia; 1984
•
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
•
Microsoft Office—Word, Power Point and Excel
•
Web Design—MS FrontPage
•
Process Improvement methodologies
Page C-2
Resume Building
REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
JOHN DOE
000 Main Lane, Newport News, VA 23607
Phone: (757) 555-1234
Email: john.doe@cox.net
SUMMARY
Finance/Business Professional experienced in analysis and review of financial statements with proficiency in
tracking project milestones and updating schedules. Proven results in development of accurate budgets,
enabling projects to consistently meet schedules, and utilizing strong interpersonal and communication skills to
work effectively with project leaders to address variances to meet cost restraints. Background encompasses
aerospace, energy trading and research and development firms. SECURITY CLEARANCE: (DOD?) Top
Secret.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NORTHROP GRUMMAN Shipbuilding- Newport News, Newport News, VA
2004 – Present
Business Administrator/Senior Project Control Analyst
2006 - Present
Track costs and evaluate results utilizing trend and variance analysis associated with manufacturing programs
ranging from $5M to $20M.
• Prepared program-level budgets and forecasts, earned-value assessments, schedule networks,
summary of actual costs and forecasts of project resources, providing variance explanations in support
of technology development program valued at $20M
• Generated accurate monthly project forecasts in a timely manner to reflect changes in resources and
requirement utilizing knowledge in rate analysis, schedule, support-to-bench ratios, resource
applications and program requirements
• Reviewed weekly analyses of project resources, including trends, variances and potential problems and
execute corrective actions to resolve issues
Project Control Analyst
2004 - 2006
Reviewed costs, identified trends and performed variance analysis on multiple programs, reporting findings to
Senior Project Control Analyst for direction or further action.
• Reviewed budgets and forecasts against actual costs to identify trends and potential issues and made
recommendations for exploration by Senior Analyst
• Created weekly project forecasts, identifying necessary resources and requirements, and generating
reports for monthly review and consolidation
• Analyzed variances and potential problems to identify trends and made recommendations to Senior
Analyst for further review
EXXON OIL TRADING AND TRANSPORTATION CORP., Long Beach, CA
2001 – 2004
Senior Financial Analyst
Generated daily position reports to track trading, market pricing, refinery processing and financial position.
Performed statistical analysis to determine cause of profit or loss variances.
• Created database to collect historical pricing information for inventory valuation and trend analysis,
streamlining monthly inventory reconciliation process, resulting in a 50% reduction in time to resolve issues
• Developed daily reports summarizing status of crude and product business operations and
implemented trading controls to ensure compliance with policy
• Resolved discrepancies between account adjustments and financial reporting and liaised with
professional staff to improve accuracy of disclosure on refinery activities
Page C-3
Resume Building
TRW/DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY, Redondo Beach, CA
1995 – 2001
Business Administrator/Analyst
Developed, controlled and reported on $2M annual budget for department. Analyzed and reported on variance
to budget and recommended corrective action.
• Performed bi-weekly analyses of research and development and other indirect activities valued at
$3.5M
• Managed monthly variance analysis process, reviewed departmental submissions for validity, followed
up with managers on outstanding issues and prepared department-level variance analysis for senior
management review
• Created and implemented cost database system, resulting in a 50% reduction in time to write proposals
• Coordinated with engineering staff on capital purchases and interfaced with vendors in purchase of and
maintenance of capital items
• Applied total quality management principles to reduce cycle and process times, resulting in a 20%
decrease in test equipment rental costs
• Instructed managers, business staff and technical personnel in continuous process improvement (CPI)
methods to promote efficiency and reduce costs
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
•
IBM TELECOMMUNIATIONS, Marketing Division, Denver, CO
Financial Analyst, Special Assignment
•
HYATT CORORATION, Los Angeles, CA
Assistant Financial Specialist
EDUCATION
•
Master of Business Administration, Major in Finance – University of Denver, Denver, CO
(year?)
•
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – cum Laude – California State University,
Pomona (year?)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•
Government Contract Management Certificate – UCLA Extension Program
ASSOCIATIONS/AFFILIATONS
National Association of Financial Analysts
•
MBA Finance Managers’ Association of Los Angeles
TECHNICAL SKILLS
•
Microsoft Office: Excel, Project, Word, PowerPoint
PUBLICATIONS
•
Doe, John – “Financial Projections for Manufacturing Operations,” Finance Magazine, September 1,
2008, pgs. 22 – 23
Page C-4
Resume Building
FUNCTIONAL RESUME
John Q. Public
4101 Deep Sea Drive Newport News, VA. 23607
Phone: (757) 380-0987
E-mail: John.Q.Public@cox.net
WORK EXPERIENCE
Training Design, Development and Delivery
•
Applying Instructional Systems Design process to assigned development projects: Conducting needs/task
analysis, determining design strategy, developing course materials, implementing training and evaluating
effectiveness of training materials and delivery
•
Leading cross-functional Training Development Teams, up to 20 people, to develop content in accordance
with established processes, technical procedures, budgets and schedules
•
Evaluating training programs and facilities to implement innovations that enhance training efficiency and
effectiveness
•
Coordinating/conducting classroom, laboratory, and/or field instruction of complex technologies and
business/production/design processes emphasizing trade skills, management skills, and quality and
radiological controls for Naval Nuclear work within budget and schedule
Management
•
Project Manager for vendor-developed CBT training courses valued at $25,000 per course
•
Supervising and evaluating assigned hourly employees including employee disciplinary actions
•
Managing trades training program conducted by adjunct instructors
•
Ordering/maintaining material and equipment for associated training programs valued at approximately
$27,000 per year
•
Supervision of up to 25 production trades personnel to accomplish construction and overhaul of nuclear
submarines and aircraft carriers within budget and schedule. Planning and coordinating interdepartmental
activities for the above production needs.
Financial
•
Established Naval Nuclear Corporate Model for Nuclear Skills Curriculum which solidified common
methodology for each skill and reduced Corporate training development costs by 15%
•
Reduced Nuclear Skills development cycle time by approximately 25% by initiating photographed and
videotaped detailed task analysis on job
Page C-5
WORK HISTORY
Resume Building
•
ABC Manufacturing-Newport News; Newport News, VA; Senior Training Program Developer;
November 2003 to September 2015
•
Steele Shipyard, Inc.; Newport News, VA; Nuclear Skills Instructor; March 1989 to November 2003
•
Naval Shipworks, Inc.; Hampton, VA; August 1980 to March 1989
•
Foreman, Machinery Installation; June 1985 to March 1989
•
Apprentice and Make-up Foreman; August 1980 to June 1985
EDUCATION
B.A. in Business Administration w/specialization in Industrial / Technology Management and minor in
Human Resource Administration; St. Leo University, Langley Center, Langley AFB, VA; 2003
Outside Machinist, Naval Shipworks Apprentice School, Hampton, VA; 1984
ACCREDITATION, AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
•
Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) by American Society for Training and
Development; 2006
•
TAP Award for Quality Improvement, Increased Customer Satisfaction, and Product Delivery; 2004
•
Certificate of Lean Practice, Old Dominion University; 2004
•
American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), National and Local Chapter Membership
•
Journeyman Outside Machinist specializing in Naval Construction and Repair, State of Virginia; 1984
PROFICIENCIES
•
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
•
Microsoft Office—Word, Power Point and Excel
•
Web Design—MS FrontPage
•
Process Improvement methodologies
Page C-6
Resume Building
COMBINATION RESUME
John Q. Public
4101 Deep Sea Drive Newport News, VA. 23607
Phone: (757) 380-0987
E-mail: John.Q.Public@cox.net
(Unstated Objective: To obtain the Training Developer position listed in Job posting)
QUALIFICATIONS (target the minimum and preferred job requirements as listed in the Job Description)
 Twelve years experience as a Training Developer
 Fourteen years experience delivering Nuclear Skills training
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills
 Microsoft Office—Word, Power Point and Excel
 Possess an active DOD clearance
 B.A. in Business Administration w/specialization in Industrial/Technology Management and minor in Human
Resource Administration, St. Leo University; 2003; GPA: 3.99/4.0
WORK EXPERIENCE
November 2003
to
2015
ABC Manufacturing, Newport News, VA; Senior Training Program Developer
•
•
•
•
•
March 1989
to
November 2003
Facilitated organization development initiatives including: data collection, analysis, evaluating,
and implementing solutions that increased organization effectiveness by 12%
Reduced skills development cycle time by approximately 25% by initiating photographed and
videotaped detailed task analysis of job
Managed program budget of approximately $500,000 annually to design and deploy learning
and performance solutions to meet and/or exceed business targets
Applied Instructional Systems Design process to assigned development projects: Conducted
needs/task analysis, determined design strategy, developed course materials, implemented
training and evaluated effectiveness of training materials and delivery
Managed projects for vendor-developed CBT training courses valued at $25,000 per course
Steele Shipyard, Inc., Newport News, VA; Nuclear Skills Instructor
•
Coordinated/conducted classroom, laboratory and/or field instruction of complex technologies
and business/production/design processes emphasizing trade skills, management skills, and
quality and radiological controls for Naval Nuclear work within budget and schedule
•
Supervised and evaluated assigned hourly employees including employee disciplinary actions
Page C-7
Resume Building
•
Managed trades training program conducted by adjunct instructors
•
Ordered/maintained material and equipment for associated training programs valued at
approximately $27,000 per year
June 1985
to
March 1989
Naval Shipworks, Inc.; Hampton, VA; Foreman, Machinery Installation
August 1980
to
June 1985
Naval Shipworks, Inc.; Hampton, VA; Apprentice and Make-up Foreman
ADDITIONAL
EDUCATION
Outside Machinist, Naval Shipworks Apprentice School, Hampton, VA; 1984
ACCREDITATION, • Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) by American Society for
Training and Development; 2006
AWARDS AND
PROFESSIONAL • American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), National and Local Chapter
Membership
ASSOCIATIONS
Page C-8
Resume Building
RESUME CRITIQUE SHEET
Yes
No
Not Sure
Appearance/Style
Is your resume visually appealing?
Completeness/Length
Is your resume complete, but not too long?
Content/Layout
Does your resume contain all the relevant information?
Focus
Is your resume sharply focused to your job objective?
Format/Approach
Are you using the proper format -- and do you need more than one
format -- for your situation?
Perspective
Does your resume have what it takes to get noticed by hiring a
professional?
Professionalism/Integrity
Is your resume free of errors?
Use of Accomplishments
Have you identified one or more accomplishments for each
experience?
Use of Action Verbs or skill words
Have you included action verbs or skill words in your resume?
Versions
Do you have both print and electronic versions of your resume?
Page C-9
COVER LETTERS:
Resume Building
Tips and Samples
A cover letter typically accompanies a resume when a story needs to be related (that cannot be easily interpreted
from reviewing the resume). Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and
having your resume ignored, so it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective
cover letters when needed.
A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resume. Its purpose is to expand on a situation or
condition (not fully conveyed in the resume) and add a personal touch. A cover letter can often be your earliest
written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.
As with a resume, the cover letter should be succinct.
If sending or attaching (to an application) a cover letter electronically with a resume, be sure to save the
resume and the cover letter together as a single document. This will help to ensure that the cover letter will
be viewed when the resume is.
Clarity
Create a clear and understandable message with lean and simple language. Be precise. A cover letter is normally
scanned in 30 seconds; if it is confusing, it may be discarded immediately.
Consistency
An inconsistent format and poor appearance sends a message of carelessness. A cover letter should always be
written following the basic business letter format. If the cover letter does not follow an accepted business letter
style, it will confuse the reader.
Conciseness
If the cover letter is too long and/or contains too much detail, the reader may not find the significant information
necessary to make a decision. Brief and concise statements give the reader a quick and easy orientation to your
qualifications. As a general rule, your cover letter should not exceed one to two pages.
Correctness
Since employers assume that a cover letter represents your best work, it must be accurate and free of typographical
errors.
Competency
Ensure your cover letter delivers the intended explanation or message.
Page C-3
Resume Building
Cover Letter Format
To be effective, your cover letter should follow the basic format of a typical business letter and should address
three general issues:
1. First Paragraph - Why you are writing
2. Middle Paragraphs - What you have to offer
3. Concluding Paragraph - How you will follow-up
Why you are writing
State the particular job that you are interested in interviewing. Express your enthusiasm and the likely match
between your credentials and the position’s qualifications. Explain the situation triggering the need for the letter
(relocation, career change, reason for sabbatical, etc.)
What you have to offer
This is your chance to show off the research you have done on the particular position by offering a solution to
the department's specific need. Describe how you will meet their specific need. Be sure to use the job ad as the
basis for this information.
How you will follow-up
In this paragraph, you ask for the interview. You want to state something like, "I enclose my resume as the first
step towards interviewing for the (specific position). I am available for contact and interview at your earliest
convenience. I look forward to our communication."
Cover Letter DOs and DON'Ts
Cover Letter DOs
Be real, be interesting, be creative
Send your cover letter when your resume doesn’t fully explain your situation
Use paper that matches your resume
Keep it employer-centered
Cover Letter DON'Ts
Be arrogant, boring or stuffy
Use the same letter for every position you apply for
Hand-write your cover letter
Have too short or long of a cover letter
Sound self-centered
Page C-4