Resume Writing Flashcards
7 Principles of Resume Writing
- There are no rules, only preferences
- Resumes are advertisements, not obituaries
- You are what you emphasize
- Everything in the job search is an argument
- Tell us what we dont know
- A shallow selection process requires firm attention to shallow details
- The rhetoric of resumes often lies in order and presentation
10 Steps to Writing Your Resume
- Identify Your Job Target
- Discern the Keywords
- Establish your Selling Points
- Pick Your Strategy
- Write your header
- Write your Summary Section
- Write your Proficiencies
Identify Your Job Target
a. Company overview
b. Position overview
c. Position dates
d. Qualifications
e. Job perks/benefits
Discern the Keywords
a. Keywords
b. Application Tracking Systems (ATS)
Keywords
Nouns or noun phases used to search databases for resumes that match the requirements for a posting
Most common kinds of key words (most to least)
- Position title
- Noun phrases common to the position
- Location
- Employer Names
- Degrees
Establishing your selling points
a. USP
b. Success Formula: Attributes
c. Success Formula: Experience
USP
Key reasons for why an employer should hire you
Unique
Selling
Points
Success Formula: Attributes
Formula: Headline + Story
Success Formula: Experience
Formula: Years’ Success + Delivering X, Y, Z results
Formula: Years’ Success + Results
Pick Your Strategy
Three general formats
Three Sectional Formats
Three general formats
Chronological Format
Functional Format
Combination Format
Chronological Format
Highlights work history duties and accomplishments
Used When: You have relevant experience and You have accomplished work history
Functional Format
Minimize emphasis on work history, emphasizes accomplishments
Used When: Problematic work history and No relevant experience
Combination Format
Emphasizes a skills section and work history
Used When: You’re applying for hard-skill jobs and Accomplished candidates
Three Sectional Formats
Paragraph
Bullet Point
Combination
Write your header
Header/Contact Information
Header/Contact Information
Name
Professional email
State and ZipCode
Cell Phone Number
Linkedin
Abbreviated Header
Write your Summary Section
Summary/Profile
Summary/Profile
Begin by stating your value, summarizing your candidacy
Summary = Selling Points in Resume Speak
Write your Proficiencies
Key Proficiencies
Work Experience
Key Proficiencies
Java, Python
Work Experience
Job Information
Position Title
Resume Speak 101
Don’t use “I”. Use third person tense without pronouns
Use action verbs, adverbs, and adjectives to begin sentences
Eliminate articles (“a”, “an”, “the”)
Past tense for prior jobs
Present tense for current jobs (the stem verb form)
Use numeral for numbers
Reverse chronological order
