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Jamie Larsen, Instructor

Resumes

I am calling Assignment 2 your Career Management Portfolio just because I you need to think about your resume as an evolving document that you will use throughout your professional career. Your resume is important initially in locating a job - it's basically your "ticket to the game." But as you progress in your career, your resume will take on even more importance as it will be influential in documenting your experiences, and moving you to new opportunities within a company.

I like to preface this assignment by saying that my advice may contradict something you have heard from someone else about preparing resumes. In my opinion, you can benefit from different points of view. My opinions are gathered from various leading texts on this subject, personal experience in going through the application process, and management experience in hiring employees. Again, follow the motto "take the best and leave the rest." You will be looking at a lot of examples and different ways of thinking about resumes so be open-minded and strive to make your resume help you "stand out" from the crowd, but also "fit in" to a company's culture.

These topics are covered in the following notes:

Resume Myths

Before talking about specifics regarding creating a resume, I like to first dispel four Resume Myths.

  1. Resumes should use the format specified by the Placement Office or Company.

    If there is a prescribed format for your resume, then it is not for you benefit. It is to benefit the potential employer. Standard formats enable interviewers to compare resumes and weed out people quickly by scanning certain areas on the sheet (e.g., GPA, courses, computer experience, etc.). My advice is to create one resume that meets the stated format requirements, BUT also create a second resume that showcases your credentials and agenda. Format your resume with the most impressive information first. If it's your education, fine. But if you have work or co-op experience that is related to the job you are seeking, then you might want to list that first. Six months on the job as a professional, your Education will drop down in priority since your professional experiences will become more relevant. The good news is that your GPA becomes meaningless once you are in the "real world."

  2. Resumes must contain a Career Objective.

    A Career Objective statements are hard to write. General statements with no specifics are useless, and they create a first impression of someone who is unfocused, and, worse, unfamiliar with an organization's needs. This is the one text heavy spot on your resume and if you include one, make it relevant, and "reader centered." Tell the potential employer what you will do for him/her.

    A poor example of a career objective would be An entry level position that offers a challenge and a chance for advancement. This is writer-centered.

    A better example is A position that allows me to use my computer sciences training to solve engineering problems. This is reader-centered and focuses on what you will do for a potential employer - solve their problems!

    Check out Career Objectives - What not to do for a few more examples. These are ones I actually received and even though a few are funny, be sure to read why they are so off the mark.

  3. Resumes should say "References Available on Request."

    In my opinion, this is wasted space. No one will refuse to provide references. You should think about making everything on your resume useful for the interview. Better to state "References - See Attached List," or include an "Interests" or "Activities" line where you can show physical fitness through sports, and diversity.

  4. Resume should be limited to one page.

    Always use one full page - you can always flesh out a resume by listing References on that page if you are working to fill this up. If you have extensive credentials, do not be afraid to use two full pages. Employers will read a second page if the information is relevant to the job. Remember to number the pages (e.g., 1 of 2, 2 of 2), and include your name at the top of each page. More information allows you to be more persuasive.

You will be reading a lot more related to resumes in the activities for this assignment. One foremost thought to always keep in mind is that you want to make your resume uniquely yours. NEVER USE A TEMPLATE. There is nothing more boring for a manager than to look at the same format 50 times. Visually, your resume creates a first impression. We will get to the content issues shortly.

Creating Resumes that "Stand Out" but "Fit In"


Resumes are your "ticket to the game." You get the job during the interview process. A well written and organized resume can do several things:
  • Create a positive first impression
  • Get you the interview
  • Provide information that the interviewer can use to ask questions and help you emphasize your assets

A resume is a fact sheet of what you have done. It is somewhat like a marketing brochure in that it is usually scanned, and it can be used as a predictor of what you can do.

Standard approaches to organizing information are:

  • Chronological (list information by order of time - most used)
  • Functional (categories include your skills and achievements)
  • Targeted (information is related to the stated job objective)

Whichever approach you take, you need to include some or all of the following conventional elements that employers expect to see on a resume:

  1. Heading - This demographic information (e.g., name, address, phone number, email address, fax number) allows a potential employer to get in touch with you, and to file your resume. Design this part of your resume to attract attention, highlight your name, and set your style. You might consider including a date at either the top or bottom to show its currency to the potential employer - and to you.
  2. Key Words - This is a fairly new convention to use. With the increased use of electronic resumes, key words can help a scanned resume get chosen from a database. You need to develop a list of key words that center on your skills. You want the key words to match the terms an employer uses to describe an online search. Here are some examples of key words:
    • Information systems
    • Information technology
    • Ability to learn quickly
    • Handle complex conceptual problems
    • Effective team player
    • Strategic planning
    • Proven track record in [name of software or method]
    • Key areas of responsibility [managing, reviewing, monitoring, ...]
    Of course, the more you know about the requirements for a job position, the more focused and specfic your key words will be.
  3. Career Objective - Be concrete in the wording of an objective statement. Note what you seek to do , not want you want to be . Avoid using complete sentences in stating the objective. Use only two (maximum of three) lines or else this will not be read during the thirty second scan that most recruiters give to individual resumes.
  4. Education - Be thorough in describing your education. List colleges attended, beginning with the most current, and degrees expected or attained. Generally, high school experience is assumed, and not stated. Other items that you may include are:
    • List of important, relevant courses (use title, and only list course numbers if you know a local recruitor is aware of your university's internal codes)
    • Grade point average (in major if it is higher)
    • Scholarship aid (not including dollar amount)
    • Self-financing (in percentage of expenses earned, not dollar amounts)
    • Special awards (dean's list, honorary societies, etc.)
    • Computer or language skills
    • Undergraduate research experience
    • Peer tutoring

    Use this information to help you "stand out" from the pack. Indicate activites and knowledge. For example,instead of noting that you took six semesters of French, indicate fluency level in French.

  5. Experience - Describe your work experience in detail, and be specific. Note any increased responsibility, or promotions, that will show success on-the-job. Where possible, quantify the results of your work (e.g., an increase in sales, a decrease in organization paperwork, an increase in productivity). Even if the content of the jobs you have held does not resemble what you want to do in your career, your ability to work effectively within an organizational context is relevant, and is something employers want to see.
  6. Interests and Activities - Interests in sports can show physical fitness. Travel interests can also help show your willingness to relocate. Do not include age, marital status, race, or religious preferences since under U.S. affirmative action guidelines employers are prevented from asking for this information. Include items that can be used by an interviewer as an ice breaker at the beginning of an interview.

Style

Since you want to "fit in" to a company's culture, check out the company's website to see what kinds of fonts and lettering they use. Also, proofread for correctness. There is nothing worse than misspelled words in a resume.

Scannable

Here are a few guidelines for preparing a scannable resume for electronic processing:

  • Under keywords, include job titles, skills, and maximize the use of your industry's jargon and acronyms
  • Emphasize nouns (not verbs)
  • Use a standard type face and size (e.g., Times Roman, 12 point)
  • Avoid borders and graphics
  • Use white paper (colored papers provide less contrast with type)
  • Use one column (scanners can scramble tabular material and columns)
  • Separate elements with white space
  • Send the resume unfolded to avoid losing text in the fold
  • Use as many pages as you need, but print on only one side

The best advice is to contact potential employers and find out their preferences for scannable resumes.

Additional Notes on Electronic Reserve

Access the following useful information using NC State's Electronic Reserves:
  1. Type in larsen for the search by instructor's name.
  2. Click on LARSEN, JAMIE
  3. Click on ENG333 - NOTE: You are selecting a different course than you did before - do NOTclick on ENG331.
  4. Select item #3 listed as ENG333 Larsen Class Assignment Sheets and In-Class Worksheets .
  • Read the following helpful hints. Quick Guide to Resume Writing, page 13.
  • Checklist of Potentially Useful Verbs for the Writer of Resumes, pages 14-15.
  • International Business Communication: The Job Search in Foreign Countries, pages 16-17. Notice that on the first table that in Great Britain phone numbers are NEVER included on a resume. If you are applying for a job in England, and include all kinds of contact numbers, you will definitely not "fit in." This is a cultural expectation that is very different from the American culture. Why? Well, probably because in Great Britain, the applicant is expected to contact the potential employer after submitting a resume, which is different from the American mindset.