OWl resume

Skills and Abilities cont

For your Skills and Abilities heading, use the information you gleaned when you planned your résumé to determine relevant information (the first portion of this module). Skills that help you stand out, such as language or computer skills should be listed. Below are two examples:

Name and Contact Information

For your name, use a font that is one size larger than the rest of your résumé. For your contact information, include information such as your home address, telephone number(s), and email and website addresses. If you have a home and school telephone, include both.

All résumés contain headings to separate sections and organize data, making your résumé easier to read. Some examples of section headings are:

Name and Contact Information Career Objective or Summary of Qualifications Education Work Experience and Responsibilities, Skills and Abilities, and Accomplishments Activities and Achievements Personal Information

Educational Experiences - Degrees held, skills certificates and academic awards achieved, scholarships awarded, and specific classes taken.

Note that educational information is not limited to college experiences and can include work training and seminars. A way to enhance this area is to list classes that directly relate to the position for which you are applying.

Writing your résumé includes two steps:

Organizing your ideas around your strengths. Composing your first draft by adapting your style

The heading you use is determined by which type of résumé you will be writing. For example, if you have a heading called Skills,

you will most likely be writing a functional or combination résumé. All résumés, regardless of type, will include Work Experiences and Education headings.

focus

What key qualifications is this employer seeking? What strengths, experiences, and qualities do I have that meet these qualifications? What will set me apart from other candidates?

Skills and Abilities

Whether you are using a Work Experience or Skills and Abilities heading, the goal is the same: demonstrate the relationship between your skills, responsibilities, and titles and the position for which you are submitting your résumé.

action words

erformed coordinated initiated accomplished participated set up achieved supervised assumed succeeded praised established proposed joined budgeted recommended maintained explored launched assisted strengthened operated identified chaired targeted reorganized motivated generated administered presented streamlined systematized improved oversaw reduced upgraded installed planned approved managed created produced resolved trained compiled implemented organized saved transformed completed simplified directed arranged changed investigated initiated demonstrated sparked developed forecasted introduced directed served

Objective Statement cont.

long this line, it is imperative that you make your objective statement as specific as possible. It's a good idea to change your objective statement each time you submit your résumé, including the exact job title for which you are applying. Notice that the example is short and to the point, stating the position title and requirements.

Chronological Résumé

A recent college graduate can adapt this type of résumé by placing education before work experiences. The advantages of the chronological type include: It allows employers to easily find the information they seek. Plus, employers are familiar with this format. It highlights career advancement and growth. It highlights employment stability and continuity. If you have work experience in the field in which you are applying, this would most likely be the type of résumé you would choose. Below is an example of a chronological résumé:

Résumé Action Word

Action words state your information as forcefully as possible. This helps the reader quickly understand your strengths, abilities, and qualifications. You will want to start each sentence or bullet with an action word. Therefore, using " I " or writing complete sentences when describing your responsibilities should be avoided.

Objective Statement

An Objective Statement states your goal and tells your potential employer the position for which you are applying. For many recent college graduates, an objective statement is imperative. If you are applying at a large company, it may have multiple job openings. If the reader of your résumé is unsure for which job you are applying, he or she may categorize you incorrectly or ignore your résumé all together.

Summary of Qualification

An alternative to the objective statement is the Summary of Qualifications, which is a brief statement that summarizes your strengths, experiences, and qualifications. Using this instead of an Objective Statement is a good idea if you have a strong work background in the field you are applying. Here is an example:

Planning your résumé includes three steps:

Analyzing your purpose and audience, Investigating relevant information, and Adapting your résumé to your audience.

There are three types of résumés:

Chronological Functional Combination

Summary of Qualification cont

If you are using a Skills and Abilities section in your résumé, a Summary of Qualifications may be redundant. Note: Your Objective Statement or Summary of Qualifications may be the only section fully read by your résumé's reader as they sort through résumés received. Therefore, make your statement reflective of your experience, concise, and convincing.

Personal Endeavors - Volunteer work or organizational memberships. Include specific dates, duties, and titles. Use this information in the same way you are using the other two sections. Focus on responsibilities and accomplishments that enhance your value based upon the position for which you are applying. If you lack work experience, volunteering is a great way to beef up your résumé.

Keep all information business relevant. Your age, gender, or family information is not relevant.

Work Experiences - Specific dates, duties, titles, and accomplishments of jobs you've held or hold. Use the information you gleaned about the position for which you are applying to review your current and past experiences for matching responsibilities or characteristics. Success requires that you break down each position you've held into basic duties.

Remember, you do not have to list every work experience on your résumé. You will want to list only those work experiences that are relevant to the job you are seeking. Review each basic duty and look for aspects that enhance your value in light of the position for which you are applying.

what to use?

Templates of the chronological and combination types of résumés will be provided at the end of this module to assist you in writing your résumé. The functional type of résumé is not recommended for most business graduates, for it is not well received by many recruiting professionals.

Functional Résumé

The functional résumé is especially beneficial if you are just entering the job market or changing careers. Three additional advantages of the functional résumé include: Employers can easily see what you can do for them, without having to read through your work history. You can emphasize job experiences of an earlier date. You can de-emphasize lack of career progress and/or inconsistent employment.

Combination Résumé

This format integrates the best features of the chronological and functional résumés. For instance, it allows you to list chronological work experiences, which employers prefer, yet allows you to begin with a list of your strengths, abilities, and accomplishments.