TECHNICAL WRITING
October 6, 2014
Today
Job Applications: Résumés
Should
Contact info - NAME
Certification (e.g. test scores)
Education info
Work experience
* Family information*
Objective
Shouldn’t
Wage/salary expectations
Private info (e.g. marital status)
Slang and emoticon
Outdated information (e.g. elementary school education)
** Hobbies
Family history *
Photo
- LG Electronics, Sales Manager
2003 – 2007
- Fluent in English (spoken and written)
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
- Kia Motors Company, Sales Assistant
2000 – 2001
- Master’s of Business Administration, HEC Paris
2001-2003
- SPSS
- Upper-intermediate French (spoken and written)
- Seeking a regional sales representative using my proven skills in e-commerce and
communication to develop and expand a company base.
- Bachelor’s of Commerce, University of Southern California
1995 – 1999
- David Davidson
1234 Dave St. Burbank California 95401 daved@gmail.com 707-555-6390
Résumé
- A résumé may be the most important document for your
job search.
- It proves 3 things to potential employers:
1. Proves you are qualified
2. Proves you care about the job
3. Proves you understand the working world
Résumé – What is it?
A résumé is not:
- Your life story.
- Your emotional autobiography
- A college transcript.
Résumé - – What is it?
- A résumé is a factual and concise summary of your
qualifications.
- A résumé shows prospective employers that you have the
education and experience for the job you are applying for.
Think of it like a persuasive advertisement about yourself.
- It’s your billboard
Résumé - What employers like to see
1. Honesty
- Be truthful about your qualifications:
- education
- experience
- skills
i.e., if you were the manager’s assistant, don’t say you were the
assistant manager.
i.e., # 2: professor’s assistant vs. assistant professor
Résumé - What employers like to see
2. Attractiveness
- The document should be “pleasing to the eye.”
- Appropriate spacing
- font
- use of boldface
This tells the employer that you are visually intelligent.
Résumé - What employers like to see
3. Organization
- Careful organization of information is:
- easy to follow
- logical
- consistent
This shows your ability to process information.
Résumé - What employers like to see
4. Concise
- Keep to your purpose (get the job).
- Generally, your résumé should be 1 page (2 at the most).
- Résumés are written in SHORT sentences
- They do not use the word “I”
- Use “action-packed” verbs.
Action-oriented language - Examples
Duties at my last job:
I made the company website
 Designed the company website.
I helped with lab reports
 Assisted lab report composition.
I changed programs to suit each customer
 Customized programs for customers.
Résumé - What employers like to see
5. Accuracy
- Make sure:
- grammar
- spelling
- dates
- names
-titles
-programs
Are ERROR-FREE
credit: thechive.com
Inconsistencies and errors say: “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Real résumé lines
Graduated in the top 66% of my class.
Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you
shorty!
I am very detail-oreinted.
Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.
Education: College, August 1880 - May 1984.
Résumé - What employers like to see
6. Currency (current)
- Make sure that ALL information is up-to-date.
e.g.
Winner: ARRA Middle School speech contest, 1995
Résumé - What employers like to see
7. Relevant
- Make sure the information is appropriate for the job.
Employers are looking for necessary education and
experience.
Résumé - What employers like to see
1. Honesty – no false is misrepresented information
2. Attractiveness – proper font and layout
3. Organization – proper format
4. Conciseness – brief, and to the point (descriptive)
5. Accuracy – error-free
6. Currency – all information should be up-to-date
7. Relevance – Information should be relevant to the position
Résumé - What employers like to see
Which of these do you have?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
1. What classes did you excel in?
2. What papers, reports, or presentations earned you your highest
grades?
3. What computer skills have you mastered?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
4. What technical skills (other than computer skills) have you acquired?
5. What jobs have you had?
6. Have you ever been promoted or chosen for special duty or tasks?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
7. Do you work well with people?
8. Can you organize complicated tasks or identify and solve problems
quickly?
9. Have you had experiences/responsibilities managing money?
10. Have you won any awards or scholarships or received a raise,
bonus, commendation, and/or promotion at work?
Parts of a résumé
Do not include:
- Salary demands or expectations.
- Work schedule preferences, days off, overtime
- Travel restrictions
- Your citizen’s number
- Height, weight, hair color
- Religion, political affiliations
- Hobbies, interests (unless they are relevant)