OCD WORKSHOP SERIES
OBJECTIVE: LEARN TO THINK STRATEGICALLY
ABOUT YOUR RESUME
• Skimmers & Readers: How do recruiters
evaluate resumes? What hints does your
resume give?
• Targeting Your Resume
• Building Out A-C-R Bullets
• Q&A
• Cover Letter (not included in 4/29 workshop)
Opportunities for Resume Critique
• OCD Resume Review appointment (30 min & 15
min)
• Walk-ins (5-15 min) – Sept thru April
• Club-related resume reviews
DEFAULT RESUME DEADLINE – Watch for email
with specific date!
After this date, resume database will go live to recruiters
Role of the iMpact Resume
Resumes used for on-campus recruiting must be in iMpact
format
Two uses of the iMpact resume:
• Students “drop” resumes and cover letters for positions
for on-campus interviews. Any version of your iMpact
resume can be dropped.
• Companies view Default resumes of graduating
students in August and may make cold contacts to
candidates they feel are good a fit.
~ Via an electronic resume database frequently
referred to as the “resume book”
Formats for Off-campus Searches
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An iMpact resume is not necessary, though some use it
Can be up to two pages long
See Off-Campus Resume Guide for examples
Attend an Off-Campus Resume Workshop for tips
Two Audiences: Skimmer and Reader
The Skimmer
• Observes major themes, keywords
(strategy, GMAT 7xx)
• Looking for some sort of focus
• Variety of action verbs that correspond
to required skills
• Anything that stands out (for better or
worse)
– Shared experiences
– Results
– Spelling/grammatical errors
• May read only part of resume or bullets
• Needs to make quick decisions and
move on
The Reader
In addition to the skimmer:
• Observes details
• Looking for congruent
“story,” career progression
• Ample evidence to
support your features and
benefits
(achievements/#s)
• May develop interview
small talk or questions
based on specific bullets
Experienced hiring professionals
can “read” a resume
in the time that most people “skim.”
Can you?
You will have 20
seconds to “read”
this MBA1 resume
Recruiter
Insights –
SAM (video)
(
Recruiter
Insights –
JORDAN
(video)
Recruiter
Insights –
SONAL
(video)
Your Resume Provides Hints About You
EDUCATION
• Emphasis (primary skill for future job function)
• Club/Officer Title (ways you get involved)
• GMAT/GPA/Distinction (performance/intelligence)
EXPERIENCE
• Organization name, size, industry, location (preferences)
• Job title, function, progression, timeline (focus/performance)
• Action verbs, business case, results (favorite skills/performance)
ADDITIONAL
• Hobbies and volunteerism (personality/interests)
• Special skills or experiences (uniqueness)
What does your
resume ‘hint’
about you?
Form groups of 3-4 and review one resume at a time:
• What stands out (skills, qualities, etc.)?
• What questions (or reservations) might you have before
hiring this person?
• What might this person’s career target be?
Resume Philosophy: A Paradigm Shift
From, “Here’s everything (or a random assortment of
things) I’ve done”
To, “Here’s the ideal career for me, now, what from
my past should I highlight to present this image to
target companies?”
Strategically align your hints to make the recruiter’s decision easy
Determining Your Fit;
Targeting Your Resume
• Gather information about desired skills, qualities that make
successful employees in your target function/industry … what
matters to the company?
– Job descriptions – e.g., Microsoft Finance Manager Intern
– Informational interviews with current/former employees
– Language and branding used in company website, corporate presentations
• Within this list, identify your best fitting stories/examples
• Build out bullets that show transferable skills and a business case
– “Core 4”
• Identify a problem/opportunity / Attention to detail
• Research the problem/opportunity / Analytical skills
• Develop a solution / Creativity and innovation
• Present or implement the solution / Organization, project management and drive
– “Plus 3” – Leadership, Teamwork, Communication
Building Out A-C-R Format
Writing An ACR Bullet (Action)
• Begin with an action verb or two that conveys a skill (Led,
Implemented, Analyzed, Created, Collaborated,…)
• Avoid beginning with a ‘result’ verb (Improved, Reduced,
Increased, Resulted in…) - save it for the latter part of the
bullet
• Normally use past tense, but OK to use present tense for
current tasks
Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food
towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in
food distribution in 2007 for the organization.
Writing An ACR Bullet (Context)
• The ‘Context’ portion is to provide the reader with an
adequate sense of the following for the task:
~ The Business Reason (improve satisfaction, reduce
cost…)
~ The Scope (how big? how many people? cost?)
~ The Significance (who cares?)
• Assume the reader is completely unfamiliar with your
industry and provide context accordingly
Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food
towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in
food distribution in 2007 for the organization.
Writing An ACR Bullet (Result)
• Two types of Results:
~ Quantitative (reduced cost by $X, increased sales by
X%, launched product X months ahead of schedule)
~ Qualitative (enabled client to do X, presented findings to
CEO, awarded X prize)
• For current tasks, ‘expected results’ will often suffice
• Result could be ‘big picture’ or simply your
deliverable
Negotiated with six local area schools to donate food
towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25% increase in
food distribution in 2007 for the organization.
ACR – Result
Hierarchy of results
– Quantitative (saved $X in
scrap, increased sales by X%)
– Qualitative (presented
findings to CFO, developed
understanding of debt
markets, improved workplace
efficiency)
– Omit rather than exaggerate!
Complete “ACR” Example
• Negotiated with six local area schools to donate
food towards local soup kitchen resulting in 25%
increase in food distribution in 2007 for the
organization.
Action – Context – Result
More examples
• Collaborated with team of five to construct investment
portfolio based on client’s risk tolerance and objectives,
achieving second place in investment portfolio
competition.
• Led volunteer recruitment by creating and executing
promotional plan to reach potential volunteers through new
and existing channels, resulting in nearly 30% increase in
volunteers.
• Performed break-even analysis of local food business and
designed surveys to evaluate customer satisfaction,
resulting in elimination of unprofitable items.
Action – Context – Result
Peer ACR Analysis
• Trade resumes with a partner
• Select 2 Experience bullets for review
– Use different colored highlighters to identify A-C-R
– Advise partner on building out areas that are lacking
or trimming unnecessary information
• Time permitting: compare composition of all
action verbs to desired skills for job target
– Analysis? Teamwork? Leadership? Management?
Creativity? Initiative? Communication?
Potential Pitfalls
• Resume not in iMpact format for on-campus
• Resume before self-assessment / unfocused
• Spelling and grammar
• Over-scrutiny of small items
• Over-reliance on the resume to get the interview
• Including information on (health, marital status, etc.)
• Misrepresenting work, education, abilities
Resume Checklist
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Proper degree and graduation date
Proper school name
Proper academic emphasis/emphases (not too many)
Bullet length (2-3 lines)
Active verbs (proper tense)
Correct spelling / grammar
Articles & pronouns (unnecessary), periods (Experience)
Proper length (1 – page optimal, 2 is okay for off-campus)
Gaps in work history (minimize)
Proper space allocation (more important experience =
more space allocated)
Resources
• Step 2 of Career Tracker (see Career tab on iMpact)
• OCD MBA Resume Guide; Action Words
• OCD Guide to Entering Your Résumé on iMpact
• Technical help on iMpact: contact Ross Career
Counseling in OCD rosscareercounseling@umich.edu
• Ross Career Counseling, E2420, 734-764-1373
• Review resumes of previous students – Resume books
available in E2420 (M-F, 8a-5p) at Kresge Library
circulation desk
Role of the Cover Letter
• Use it to indicate
– the job you are looking to fill
– why you are interested and
– why you are qualified
• High risk – Low reward
– Don’t get fancy
– Proof for errors
– Be careful when copying cover letters
• More important for the off-campus job search
Structure of the Cover Letter
• First Paragraph
– Who are you
– Why are you interested in the job (research & names)
– What are you requesting
Structure of the Cover Letter
• Second Paragraph
– Short summary of your background specifically as it relates
to the skills the recruiter is looking for
• Where to find skills? Look at the job description!
– 1 to 3 points about your qualifications
• Give specific, concrete professional examples
Structure of the Cover Letter
• Third Paragraph
– Conclusion and next steps
• Re-state your interest in the position
• Give contact information
QUESTIONS?