HOW TO LOOK FOR A JOB

1

RESUMES

1. A resume is a concise written summary of your education, work experience, and skills, abilities, and awards.

Your resume should represent you as a target, focused and well-rounded individual. An effective resume

that markets you with your skills and qualifications will open the door to an interview and the subsequent job

offer. The resume is a written advertisement of you!

2. The goal of your resume is to assist employers in understanding your potential as an employee and to

elicit and invitation for an interview. An employer may spend only 10 to 20 seconds looking at your

resume. Therefore, it is important to make sure yours is superb. In order to catch an employer's eye, be sure

to clearly demonstrate all of your important and relevant skill sets. Review job descriptions since they are

helpful in describing skills, experience and personal attributes desired by the employer.

3. Living in an electronic age makes resume writing even more unique. Job search experts recommend that

you maintain duplicate copies of your resume in each of the following formats:

 A Print Version, designed with bulleted lists, italicized text, and other highlights that you have

accessible to print in hard copy for mailing to a prospective employer or to hand to potential contacts or

interviewers. Always take at least two hard copies of your resume to an interview on resume paper.

 A Scannable Version which is a resume without the fancy design highlights. Bulleted lists are fine,

but other creative efforts do not scan.

 An Electronic Resume is designed specifically for use on a computer. An electronic resume can be

read and save/retrieved from a computer, transmitted over the Internet, located and used by search

engines, reviewed and scanned for keywords and be inputted into electronic files including resume

databases and printed to paper for a "hard-copy" version.

4. Resume layout formats vary tremendously. Review a number of formats after collecting the

information for the content of your resume. Keep your resume NEAT and easy to read.

Your resume creates a VISUAL, as well as a factual first impression. These impressions are very important.

Four techniques are easily electronically transmitted: white space, CAPITAL LETTERS, asterisks or bullets)

and -- dashes or underlining. Avoid using bold and italics -- convert the text to a plain text format.

 Use action-oriented phrases to write about yourself. Do not use "I". Your resume is all about you!

 Use all CAPITAL LETTERS for word that need special emphasis in your resume; use capitals sparingly

and effectively for what you want to have "STAND OUT" in your e-mailed document.

 Replace  bullet points with a standard keyboard symbol, such as dashes (--), plus signs (+), or

single or double asterisks (*) or (**). These symbols transmit easily via the Internet.

 Align your skill sets to the LEFT margin. Do not make columns of your skills sets.

 Preferred font size is 12 point, your name should appear larger (14-16 point.) in a standard font such as

Helvetica, Times Roman, Arial, or Palatino. Use a font without embellishments at the end of letters.

 Use the Space Bar, not the tab key to place single space after each symbol you decide to use. Only

use the Return or Enter key when you want to have a space at the end of a statement.

 Your name should go at the top of the page on a line by itself.

 Type your telephone number using dashes to separate the number, i.e. 313-555-1212. Do not use

parentheses ( ) or brackets [ ] which can be misread by computer scanners.

 Make careful and liberal use of white space.

 Carefully utilize the entire page and align your margins carefully. (Do not run off the side...)

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RESUMES (continued)

5. Tell the truth about what you HAVE accomplished. Do not exaggerate or include false information about

your skills, experiences, or education. No advertising agent succeeds who promises, but cannot deliver.

- Demonstrate your strengths and your accomplishments through levels of responsibility you have held,

skills acquired, honors/awards received, or volunteer service performed.

-- Use keywords and skills sets that specifically demonstrate your abilities and experiences. (If you do not

like using some of these skills and do not wish to "market" them, leave them off your resume.)

- When writing phrases that use action verbs, an accomplishment, explain using a number such as a

dollar amount of funds raised ($3,000), a length of time participating in a project or on a team

(3 months),the number of people you supervised or coordinated (10 team members).

Employers like demonstrated proof that you can fit into their organization by using past accomplishments

you describe as experience and can immediately “hit the ground running” with your background in a

new organization.

6. Be brief, but not at the expense of accuracy and completeness. Your resume should be well organized and

preferably confined to one page in length.

 Use PRESENT tense for current responsibilities, use past tense for prior activities.

 Do not use abbreviations for the names of clubs or organizations -- spell them out, especially if the

name is connected to your school or organization. The employer is not a mind-reader.

7. CHECK EACH DRAFT of your resume for ACCURATE SPELLING, GRAMMAR AND OMISSIONS.

 Typos are HR managers' chief complaint; therefore, your resume must be flawless with no typos!

8. Create an e-mail account JUST for your job search. Before you "send" a resume and cover letter to

a prospective employer, do a "test run" and e-mail the resume and cover letter e-mail to yourself.

Before sending your cover letter and resume to the employer or online database, e-mail yourself a copy of

the documents you created and give yourself plenty of time to review the document. After you see the file

in your Inbox, print out a copy to proofread it, review how it looks when an employer sees it on hard copy

on his or her computer screen.

Check EACH word on every line to make sure that everything is spelled correctly and there are no funny

looking line wraps, empty spaces or words scrunched together -- jot your notes on your hard copy and

review how the resume looks "on the screen." Make your adjustments carefully to insure your

corrections do not compound the problems. You may need to insert commas between items that you

typed in columns, but which now appear in paragraph format. Tabs and tables may disappear when

you convert the document to "Text Only." Saving your resume as an RTF file in MS Word or as a PDF

file has a better chance of retaining the format that you created, but it is not an absolute.

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RESUME STYLES

There are three basic approaches to organizing your resume:

1. The Combination Chronological/Functional style emphasizes qualifications and skills obtained through

work, school, activities or volunteer experience. Dates, locations, and employers are listed further down

the resume. This type of resume is ideal for someone who has demonstrated talents in both on-the-job

experience and in supporting activities. A section of the resume may be devoted to explaining two or three

functional areas and accomplishment citing skills sets in detail relating to specific areas of employment.

The first section of this resume contains statements identifying specific skills. Typical headings might

include marketing, supervision, research, communications, administration, leadership, or organization. This

type of resume is useful when a chronological format emphasizes gaps in employment, frequent job

changes or narrow industry experience.

2. The Historical/Chronological style is the traditional and most common format, however, this format is not

the most “marketable” visual representation of your experience. All of the information listed in this style is

listed in reverse chronological order. Your most recent accomplishments are listed first. This format works

for people whose careers are continuous and demonstrate a succession of increasingly responsible

positions in one field.

3. The Imaginative or Creative resume is the least common style as it is typically used for employment in

art, public relations and advertising. Literary or artistic talent can be featured, but should not overshadow

your other qualifications.

4. An infogram is a new design trend that has evolved incorporating digital information about yourself based

on your skill-set (information used in a traditional resume) and presented in a creative and attractive visual

format.

The Twenty-First Century has social media generating quite a buzz. Social Media Resumes are starting to

make an impact. Paper resumes are still a staple, but according to Monster,com, you may have to combine your

paper approach with a video-resume, use of Twitter, Linked-In, Facebook and other social media vehicles to

create an advertising gimmick to gain attention of those people who have the power to hire you in the arenas of

your dreams.. Research your targeted market carefully to insure your approach is professional and gets the

right people’s attention. Do your research, read the blogs in the career fields of your interest to find out what is

trending, and start following a few people.

KEY RESUME WORDS

Make your resume come alive by describing your accomplishments with "action" phrases. Use of these words

as the first word of your phrase (not a sentence) may help you!

Accomplished Conducted Eliminated Implemented Planned Researched

Accelerated Controlled Enlarged Increased Programmed Responsible

Achieved Coordinated Established Interpreted Proposed Revised

Adapted Created Expanded Improved Provided Reviewed

Administered Delegated Expedited Initiated Proficient at Scheduled

Analyzed Demonstrated Evaluated Launched Profitable Simplified

Built Designed Facilitated Led Recommended Solved

Compiled Developed Formulated Maintained Reduced Supervised

Completed Directed Generated Negotiated Reinforced Strengthened

Composed Effected Guided Organized Reorganized

Include a numerical quantifier in your action phrase to support your accomplishment.

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TYPICAL RESUME INFORMATION

(Paper copy and electronic hints)

These categories are suggested areas. If you do not have information to fit, feel free to skip it!

Identifying Data: include your name, address and telephone number, cell number and e-mail address at which

you can be reached during normal business hours.

** Cyber Safety: Limit access to your personal contact information on the web. Options range from

blocking access to just the contact information to keeping your resume completely out of the database

searched by employers. Select the option you feel most comfortable with when you post your resume. If

you select full confidentiality, it is up to you to remember to delete contact information from your

resume! Modify your "cyberspace resume" by removing all of the standard contact information, name

address and telephone numbers, and replace your personal e-mail address with an e-mail address set up

specifically for your job search. Use an appropriate e-mail name to demonstrate you are a serious job

seeker.

Summary of Qualifications/Professional Highlights: A Summary of Qualifications specifically summarizes

your skills and accomplishments or lists your "Skills Set". Many resumes are scanned by computer to do an

initial screening in a large database.

Education: List the high school, colleges or universities that you have attended in reverse chronological order.

Include the degrees or anticipated degrees with a date (exclude the date if you are posting a resume in a

cyberspace database.) Include your most recent educational experience first. Include any certifications you

have received. If you have been awarded academic honors, you may include this information in this area of

your resume. If you have a good grade point average (over a 3.5/4.0), you may wish to include it. If you have a

significant number of honors, you may create a separate category on your resume.

Work Experience: Include a brief summary of your previous employment listed in reverse chronological order

(most recent experience to oldest). Include the Title of your position, Name of the employer, and City, State

location, include time frame of employment (from month date to end date or present) and a brief action oriented

description of your accomplishments. Begin phrases with action verbs (see Skills Identification Activity or Key

Resume Words list) to help generate active phrases that describe what you did. I.e., "Posted and audited books

of original entry for division generating $1 Million dollars in sales annually." If you were involved in an internship,

state the dates, type of internship, organization, geographical location and your position accomplishments.

** Cyber Safety: Modify your employment history. Remove all dates from your resume. Then, remove the

names of all employers and replace them with accurate, but generic descriptions, instead of General

Motors Corporation, use a descriptor, such as international automotive manufacturer. Use a generic title for

your position title as well. If you post your resume, make sure you check on its status frequently. Renew

your resume posting at least every two weeks (14 days). If you have not received any feedback from your

resume posting in 30 days, then remove it from the database and post it elsewhere.

Skills/Accomplishments: Describe your accomplishments and skills through specific terminology for your

field. Many resumes are pre-screened through computer databases looking for special combinations of words

that bring your resume to the top of the pile. Evaluate all of your past experience and define it in terms of what

you have accomplished and what you want to "market" to your prospective employer. If there are tasks and

functions that you absolutely do not want to do, eliminate them from your resume. You determine what you are

selecting to "market" and select those functions that you are happy to sell. Use action verbs, accomplishments

and numbers to help define your successes. Include your proficiency on the computer with PC and Mac

platforms and which software packages you are familiar and knowledgeable using in an employment situation.

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RESUME INFORMATION (Continued)

Extracurricular, Civic and Community Volunteer Work: Include activities in which you participated during

your college years if this is still appropriate, including positions of leadership within the activities or

organizations. Volunteer work or community service may be more appropriate if you have several years of work

experience.

Professional Affiliations: Include memberships that you hold in organizations related to your career field;

e.g. National Education Association, American Management Association.

Special Abilities: Include fluency in a foreign language, certifications or licenses to operate special equipment.

Certifications related to your area of expertise should be included in either your qualifications, education or

previous employment situation. If you have written and published articles and papers, bibliographic information

should be included.

Interests: Include hobbies, leisure time activities and travel experience, if it is relevant and if you have space on

your resume.

References: Prepare a list of references on a separate page from your resume. To accomplish this important

task, create a new page that matches the heading on your resume. (See a sample Reference page below)

 Request permission to list the name of EACH PERSON whom you wish to serve as a reference;

ask him or her if they are willing to serve as a positive reference for you. (This is very important!)

A minimum of three (3) is recommended and it is suggested you give your references a copy of your

resume and keep them apprised of your success in your job search..

 After you receive positive confirmation from 3-5 people that they are each willing to serve as a good

reference, create a page that matches your resume including your name, address, telephone/cell

number, and e-mail address. For each entry, List the name of each reference person (with their name

spelled correctly), the capacity in which he or she knew/knows you, such as "supervisor," "colleague,"

"friend"; his or her official title, "such as "Office Manager," "Class Professor," "Team Leader,";

the name of the organization, street address, city, state, zip code, telephone number and e-mail

address.

Sample Reference Information

Reference’s Name (Include the capacity in which reference knew you)

Title

Company Name

Street Address

City, State, Zip Code

(area code) Work Telephone Number

(area code) Cell Telephone Number (if offered)

Valid e-mail address - double check to make sure the name of your reference is spelled exactly right

and the extension is correct, i.e., is the e-mail a .com, .net., .edu., .org?

 Submit your list of references ONLY when asked to do so by the prospective employer. Discrimination

on your part will be appreciated by your references. The people serving as references are very busy

people and they want to help you, but please be fair to them.

DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal information such as age, height, weight, sex, health status,

marital status or personal photograph.

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INFOGRAMS – the latest trend in Visual Resumes

(Sample Infographic with text large enough to read. This infographic did get this individual a job.

The years are used as a metric with connections to critical supporting information.)

An infogram is a new design trend that has evolved incorporating digital information about yourself

based on your skill-set (information used in a traditional resume) and presented in a creative and

attractive visual format. The information represented in this graphic one-page presentation should

integrate your education, experience and sometimes non-work or school time, if it is relevant to your

job search (blogging, creating apps, etc.) Include easily read fonts that can be viewed online. Think

about how to represent your strengths using earily understood metrics, for example, if using years

(2010, 2011, 2012) create a graph, critical point for each relevant accomplishment, such as, what

year did you graduate from high school and/or college.

A well-constructed infogram is a great resource. It is definitely an excellent way to stand out from the

crowd and make a lasting impression if your infogram showcases your relevant information in a

memorable and easy to digest format. Include a link on your infogram to a traditional format resume

explaining your skills and accomplishments referred to in your infogram. There is work involved in

both visual presentations and this is your time to “shine.” Save your Infogram in a pdf format, so it

is easily transmitted using electronic media.

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YOUR RESUME CRITIQUE

Before you send your resume to a prospective employer, review this checklist and share your

masterpiece with at least five other people to review it carefully for content, context, and

spelling mistakes.

Yes No

____ ____ Have you chosen the best action verbs that most accurately describe what you have

done?

____ ____ Have you been precise and concise in selling yourself - did you sell yourself in ONE

page? (As you gain more experience, it may go onto two pages.)

____ ____ Did you include everything with POSITIVE words to support your candidacy?

____ ____ Have you demonstrated your past accomplishments to your best advantage?

____ ____ Did you review your resume from the other side of the desk? "Why should I hire this

candidate?"

____ ____ Do your accomplishments support your stated objective/qualifications statement?

____ ____ Have you checked your draft for correct spelling, grammatical accuracy and

omissions?

____ ____ Have you e-mailed your resume to yourself to check for accuracy in electronic

transmission?

____ ____ Have 5 other people proofread your resume for typos? Have you e-mailed your

resume to any of your friends who have different computer platforms/software from

you to see if the resume reads well?

____ ____ Are you proud of your masterpiece?

If you have positively answered the questions listed above, you are ready to write a stellar

cover letter to support your resume and finally apply for a position with a prospective

employer. Keep an electronic copy of your resume in MS Word or a PDF file in your e-mail file – mail

it to yourself, save it on a flash drive, and save it on your computer. An e-mail note to yourself with

your resume as an attachment insures you can access your resume on the computer from anywhere

the Internet is available.

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ELECTRONIC RESUMES

As a job seeker in the 21st Century, you must have an electronic resume ready to send at the click of a

mouse. While not all employers rely on electronic methods to conduct their searches, the majority do rely on

e-mail, web-forms, on-line applications, and scanning systems to help efficiently screen resumes.

Here are a few tips on how to convert your resume from a beautiful word processed document to an

effective electronic resume:

 Prepare your word-processed resume created in MS Word, WordPerfect, or pdf etc. and prepare it

for saving as word document, .doc or preferably as a pdf:

- Most employers and databases recognize and use MS Word, not MS Works. Watch the graphics

and use of different fonts. The most important point of your resume is to have it read.

- A person may look at it for 10-20 seconds, a computer for a fraction of that time.

1) Remove any designs you may have created including lines, boxes, Bold, Italics or underlining.

2) Change the font to a terminal-type font with proportional spacing such as Arial or Courier size 12.

 Practice e-mailing your resume! Make sure it is e-friendly.

1) Send your electronic resume and cover letter to yourself. Open a NEW e-mail account to use

JUST for your job search. Make sure the name is professional and appropriate for this purpose.

A g-mail account is good for this purpose.

** Did your resume and cover letter transmit correctly as your designed it?

2) E-mail your resume and cover letter to a friend who may use a different Internet provider to insure

you have completed your "clean-up process" and it looks professional.

3) When you e-mail your resume, include your newly formatted text version of your resume and cover

letter in the BODY of an e-mail. This is the preferred method of sending your resume rather

than "attaching" it. (Only send it as an attachment if that is how the employer has requested it.)

4) Make any adjustments to your resume that you deem appropriate after reviewing it from someone

else's computer. You may need to visit your local library and open the resume there just to

check that it meets your "transmitting expectations."

 Social Media

With the advent of social media – Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Pinterest, you need to be especially

cognizant of your postings. Employers do look at your Facebook pages, so make sure all of your

postings are “employer friendly.”

If you are savvy on the internet and can creatively use social media tools to your benefit, your talents

will speak positively for you if you advertise yourself to the target markets that fit your goals, interests,

experience and education. Start a Linked-In profile to enhance your marketability. Join some

professional groups online to “meet” others who have similar interests to you.

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POSTING YOUR RESUME TO A DATABASE

(Note: Job Seeker BEWARE!)

Resume databases are electronic "file cabinets." The value of a resume database is to store entered data

and then search large quantities of resumes quickly, efficiently and with reliability to the outcome. Some

databases collect Identifying contact information including the source of the resume [how the candidate found

out about the position(s)], name, mailing address, city, state, zip code, e-mail address and education. As you

are posting your information, please keep it general and use generic terminology to explain your expertise. Only

after you are contacted by a specific employer do you want to release private information.

Another search that employers find quite useful are "Keywords." Keywords are very important for you to

include if you plan to post your resume on a database. A keyword search might seek resumes that include a

skill and knowledge base designed by the recruiter or hiring manager. Keywords are NOUNS that should be

well integrated into your resume should be used to explain your:

1) Technical Expertise 4) Education and Training

2) Management Skills 5) Geographic Preferences and Current Residence

3) Industrial Knowledge, OJT Training 6) Employment History

When documenting your accomplishments, list both the acronyms (abbreviations) understood within the

industry as well as including the "spelled-out" version. You do not want the computer to ignore you and your

expertise if the hiring manager neglected to ask the search engine he or she is using to find either the acronym

or the complete title of the acronym. For example, you would not want to be "screened out" of the search

process since you wrote only GM instead of General Motors Corporation.

As you write your qualifications summary and your supporting accomplishment statements, cite your skills in

the summary and expand upon those very same skills in your experience or skill description, using a position

listing as a guideline. Remember, your electronic resume is the "first" introduction to a prospective employer. If

you know which employer you are communicating with and feel more comfortable presenting a hard copy of

your resume and cover letter, feel free to follow up with hard copy of your masterpiece.

Keep meticulous and accurate records about which databases you submitted your resume. Check the

databases at least weekly to see if your resume has generated any interest among the employers for that

particular site. If there is no action, remove your resume (read the policy about removing it) and confirm that

your resume is removed. Your new employer does not want to think you are still “job hunting.”

Did you succeed in your job search? When your job search is over, remove your resume from ALL

databases. Some job seekers are adding a "posted date" on the bottom of their resume when they post on-line.

Make sure you remove your resume quickly and completely from ALL of the databases from which you posted

so your new employer does not see you still as job hunting. When you post your resume to a database,

maintain an accurate file of when and where you posted your resume. Make sure you are periodically checking

the database to see if your resume is "active" and if you are successful in being considered.

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Anne B. Case

1234 Sample Lane

Clinton Township, MI 48000

(123) 987-6543

e-mail: abcasesample@gmail.com

EDUCATION

Diploma, Chippewa Valley High School, Clinton Township, MI

Anticipated Graduation: May 2013 G.P.A. 3.8/4.0

Enrolled in Teacher Cadet program, senior year, providing hands-on classroom experience

Completing Chippewa Valley High School College Prep curriculum with 3 AP courses

TEACHER CADET EXPERIENCE

Teacher Cadet, Erie Elementary School, Chippewa Valley Schools, Clinton Twp, MI

9/2011-5/2012

Worked one-on-one with groups of five students 2-5 days a week for 6 months reviewing

lessons taught by the classroom teacher.

Created a bulletin board on the Planets to coordinate with an Astronomy science unit.

Used the SmartBoard to tutor students in learning about the Human Heart using 3D

modeling.

Worked one-on-one with five students 2-5 days a week for 6 months reviewing and

reinforcing lessons taught by the classroom teacher in math, reading, science and social

studies.

Observed the teacher instructing students in reading, spelling, and math to effectively

tutor students needing additional support.

Assisted students with exploring research options for an Environmental Studies project on

the impact of Fresh Water on the world.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Participated in educational conferences and workshops sponsored by Chippewa Valley

Schools

Co-Captain Varsity Swim Team (12) team member (9-12), Chippewa Valley HS Big Reds

Swim and Dive Team

Competed as an age-group swimmer on Summer Club Team for 8 years

Student leader for High School chapter of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive

Decisions)

Participated in school-sponsored Forensics/Debate tournaments after school.

Key Club Executive Board member (10-12), participated in 8 community service events.

TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE

Earned Microsoft Office Expert Certificates in Word 2007, Excel 2007, and PowerPoint

2007

Knowledgeable in the use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; Apple and PC Platforms.

Adept at navigating the Internet with ease and to use search engines as well as

incorporate the Internet for creative in-class lessons;

Knowledgeable in use of Microsoft Webmail/Outlook, gmail.

WORK EXPERIENCE

9/12 to present Associate, Coldstone Creamery, Clinton Township, MI

9/11 to present Lifeguard, Chippewa Valley Schools, Clinton Township, MI.

Provided excellent customer service at pools insuring a safe swimming experience.

6/12 to 8/12 Lifeguard and Swim Team Coach, Sunshine Swim Club, Macomb, MI.

6/11 to 8/11 Coached 8-10 year old swimmers for two years

11

REFERENCES

for

Anne B. Case

1234 Sample Lane

Clinton Township, MI 48000

(123) 987-6543

e-mail: abcasesample@gmail.com

Mr. Michael Teacher

Pre-school Supervisor

Playing to Learn Nursery School

Happy Township, MI 48000

Contact Information:

888 Playing to Learn Lane

Happy Township, MI 48000

School: (123) 777-1111

e-mail: michaelteacher@nurseryschool.edu

Mrs. Gwendolyn Baker

Educational Consulting Services

25 Cork Board Road

Teaching, Michigan 48000

School: (123) 444-4444

Mobile: (123) 111-1111

e-mail: gbaker@consultingservices.org

Mrs. Sally L. Smith

Cooperating Teacher for CVHS Teacher Cadet Program

Master Teacher Elementary School

8000 Flower Lane

Happy Township, MI 48000

Contact Information:

12345 Home Lane

Happy Township, MI. 48000

Home: (123) 876-1234

School: (123) 888-1234

e-mail: sallysmithsample@gmail.com