Resume writing

TECHNICAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS
A resume is a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials, and accomplishments that is used to apply for job. It is one of the most important pieces of any job application.

1. TECHNICAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS MA EDUCATION SEMESTER 4

2. A resume is a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials, and accomplishments that is used to apply for job. It is one of the most important pieces of any job application. A resume should be as concise as possible. Typically, a resume is one page long, although sometimes it can be as long as two pages. Often resumes include bulleted lists to keep information concise. What Is Resume?

3. The purpose of resume is to provide a summary of your skills, abilities and accomplishments. It is a quick advertisement of who you are. It is a snapshot of you with the intent of capturing and emphasizing interests and secure you an interview. What is the purpose of Resume

4. Resume can be divided into three types: Chronological Functional Combination Types of Resume

5. A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first. Below your most recent job, you list your other jobs in reverse chronological order. Use when you have a continuous employment history and you want to call attention to your stable work history. Focus on activities that are similar to what you want to do in your new job. Chronological Resume

6. A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. List to highlight your skills and accomplishments. Effective when you are switching fields or your job title do not do justice to your abilities. Focus on the skills that support your new job goal. Functional Resume

7. Uses both aspects from both the chronological and functional formats. List your job from most recent to earliest, then highlights responsibilities and accomplishments within each job listed. Effective when you have held several jobs with significant responsibilities and accomplishments. This kind of resume helps you to highlight the skills that are relevant to the new job. It makes you the best fit for the job. Combination Resume

8. In order to convey your strengths, you must do a self assessment Begin with a list of your greatest accomplishments and personal qualities. Describe your skills and accomplishments with employer by using action words, List only the skills that you would like to use on a new job. Write a chronological history of your employment, training, volunteer work and extra curricular activities. Compare the skills with your background and indicate how you have demonstrated these skills. How does Resume begin

9. Step One: Brainstorm: Begin by brainstorming a list of experiences and skills that you might want to include in a resume. Consider your academic background, paid and volunteer work or internships, research projects, extracurricular activities, awards, and special skills. Once you have compiled your list, you can start organizing this information into the appropriate categories and focus on tailoring the information you include to the industry that you are targeting. How to develop your Resume

10. There are three main resume formats, each emphasizing different strengths. Choose the one which best highlights the experiences you want the employer to notice. Avoid using resume templates that come with word processing applications they are often difficult to customize and are recognizable to employers. Step Two: Choose a Format

11. Chronological format Functional format Combine format Choose a Format

12. Heading This section includes: your name, street address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Your name should be at the top center of the page in bold print and a slightly larger font than the other text in your resume. Use formal names and avoid the use of abbreviations. You may wish to include both your school address (in the upper left) and permanent address (upper right). Step Three: What to Include in Your Resume

13. Objective Statement The objective statement is optional and is used to provide the reader with an idea of your career interests. It can be useful if you are targeting a specific position or if your career goal is not obvious from the content of your resume. If you choose to include an objective statement, it needs to be beneficial to the person looking at your resume. Make sure that it is specific but brief and that the body of your resume supports this goal. What to Include in Your Resume cont…

14. Education: The education section is usually of particular importance for university students with limited work experience and others who want to highlight their degrees. Present your education in reverse chronological order. List your most recent degree first. Include Institutions you have attended their location, the degree(s) you received, the date (or expected date) of graduation. You may also include your GPA Thesis and dissertation topics Study abroad experience What to Include in Your Resume cont…

15. Work/Experience: you can include relevant experience gained through: temporary jobs work-study internships Volunteering military experience significant academic assignments, or extracurricular activities. What to Include in Your Resume cont…

16. Each entry should state the name of the employer or organization, the location, dates of employment or involvement, the position title, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments If your experience is not directly relevant to the field to which you are applying, emphasize those duties or responsibilities that demonstrate transferrable skills such as: leadership, initiative, teamwork, adherence to deadlines, creativity, or special knowledge and specific skills (e.g., technical writing/research, statistical analysis, public relations, project management). Work/Experience:

17. Other Sections: Depending on the length of your resume and whether you have any additional information to present that is relevant. These sections provide a place for you to highlight community activities, leadership roles, public service, publications, research, special training, languages in which you are proficient, hobbies, and other activities that support your objective. What to Include in Your Resume cont…

18. References It is not necessary to include the statement “references available upon request” on your resume. You should prepare a separate document to list your references, using the same heading and paper as your resume. Include their name, title, work address and phone number, email address, and a brief statement on how you know them. What to Include in Your Resume cont…

19. Like a resume, a curriculum vitae provides a summary of one’s experience and skills. Typically CVs are longer than resumes- at least two or three pages. CV includes one’s academic background, including teaching experience, degrees, research, awards, publications, presentations and other achievements. What is curriculum vitae

20. To inform the employer about your education, work experience, skills and interests To ‘sell’ these qualities and to persuade the employer to invite you to interview Purpose of curriculum vitae

21. When an employer asks for an application in that format When an employer states ‘apply to’ without specifying the format When making speculative applications When should a CV be used?

22. There are four main things employers will look at in CVs: Education - ability to think clearly, analyze and assess information, draw conclusions, work independently, research Work experience - ability to get on with people, work under pressure, meet deadlines Leisure interests - ability to plan and organize, co-operate with others, compete, lead, work hard to achieve results Specific skills – e.g. driving license, computer skills, foreign languages, artistic skills What to include in CV?

23. Chronological In date order (starting with the most recent first) e.g. EMPLOYMENT April – December 2011: Venture – Editing Assistant Working with Photoshop, I have learnt various editing styles. I have gained customer service experience and understand the importance of listening to what customers want in order to achieve high sales. Types of CV

24. Skills based Focusing on skills e.g. SKILLS Attention to detail – as an Editing Assistant at Venture, I needed to prove that I could spot any mistakes or flaws in the photographs, as well as being attentive to the requests of the customers Computer skills – I regularly used Photoshop during my time at Venture. I am also a competent user of Microsoft Office, which I proved throughout my time as a Retail Assistant at Top shop, where I was often required to produce reports on our sales Types of CV

25. Skills based conti ... Customer service – in all of my roles, customer service has been of key importance. I have experience of dealing with difficult customers, and try to ensure that every customer is satisfied with the service they have received. Types of CV

26. Contact information Professional objective Professional licenses and certifications Education Work experience Clinical rotation experiences Presentations Publications Scholarly activities Research experience Awards and honors Grants Professional memberships Community service activities References Contents of a Standard CV

27. Complete contact information Use permanent mailing address Consider including campus address, but indicate which is permanent mailing address Include your email address Professional objective The more specific the better Taylor to each position you target Residency versus clinical position Contents of a Standard CV

28. Professional licenses/certifications Include licensure/certification numbers Education Degree completion dates Major Institution attended Work experience Title of position, dates of employment Name of institution, location Description of experience, responsibilities, and achievements Contents of a Standard CV

29. Clinical rotation experiences As student list clerkship experiences similar to work experiences List rotation site, preceptor, short description of activities Presentations List titles, audience, dates Include academic presentations to highlight communication skills Contents of a Standard CV

30. Publications/Posters List all publications in AMA style Include newsletters, case reports, original research Research experiences List any research experiences (lab technician, data collection experience) Describe research skills developed Scholarly activities List involvement in special projects and activities Examples: DUE projects, data collection role in study, experiences in projects on rotations Contents of a Standard CV

31. Awards and honors List specific awards, scholarships, recognitions Grants List grant (submitted and funded), funding source, amount, dates Professional memberships List membership in organizations Leadership positions held and committee involvement (dates) Contents of a Standard CV

32. Community service activities List/describe volunteer and community service activities Activities with student organizations CAP projects References Generally provided separately Ask before listing someone as reference Available upon request Contents of a Standard CV

33. Difference between Resume and CV RESUME CURRICULUM VITAE Emphasizes skills Used when applying for a position in industry, non profit and public sector. It is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications/presentation or poster if highly relevant to a job Emphasizes academic accomplishments. Used when applying for the position in academia, fellowships and grants. Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters and presentation.

34. Difference between Resume and CV RESUME CURRICULUM VITAE After one year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at or near the end, depending upon qualification Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary. Also used for merit/tenure review.