How to Prepare an Effective Resume Darin Ford, MA, LPC Director Hegi Family Career Development Center www.smu.edu/career
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
• Great multi-asking ability • Atenttion to Detail • Able to compete difficult tasks • Collaborated independently on projects • Approved of my wage increases • Performed teamwork Independently
D’oh!
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
BEST STUFF NEAR THE TOP • Eye-tracking studies (not to mention common sense and experience) tell us people always start at the top of a page • Summarize your most important accomplishments and qualifications
KEYWORDS
30 Seconds
• Resumes, in many cases, are not even read • Scanned (either by a machine or by someone who is not the hiring manager) Not sure what keywords to put in your resume?? • Read the job description and target companies' web sites • Certain words and phrases will come up again and again – those are keywords
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
SUMMARIZE UNIQUE-NESS • A resume should begin with a Summary (or, if you're a student, new grad, or career changer, an Objective). • Use this space to tell employers who you are and how your skills and qualifications meet their needs
WELL ORGANIZED • Make it an eye-catching and user-friendly tool
ERROR FREE
1 Page
• No mistakes…Bill Gates
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
COMMUNICATE CONFIDENCE • This is not the time to be humble or modest, or to assume the employer will read between the lines
CONCISE • Tell the potential employer what you've accomplished in your current and previous roles to show how you made a difference
QUANTIFY STATEMENTS • #’s, %, VIPS
Just the Facts
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
Final Components • Related Experience • Campus and Community Involvement • Skills • References available upon request
Icing on the Cake
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
E-MAIL badboybob@bobsbadboys.com • Great job, Bob! Every company needs a Bad Boy as a new professional
all caps • YOU ASSERTED YOUR AUTHORITY BY SHOUTING AT THE HIRING MANAGER
CRAMMED TOO MUCH • Brilliant!WhatEmployerWouldn'tWantToreadyouresumeandtrytod
COPIED…VERBATIM!
Common Errors
• Awesome. A detailed list of past job duties that looks exactly like another will help you stand out
How to Prepare an Effective Resume
Recap: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
30 Seconds 1 Page Just the Facts Icing on the cake Avoid Common Errors
Questions ? Darin Ford, MA, LPC Director Hegi Family Career Development Center www.smu.edu/career