CareerBabe Resume Tutorial

*Your Name*	Sam Jones
Address	2 Winthrop Way #785
City, State, Zip	Bethesda, MD 20813
Phone Message Phone, Fax	301-xxx-xxxx 301-yyy-yyyy
E-Mail	sjones@msn.com

Not what you want to get out of the experience - but on what you can do for a company. Keep it simple and specific! Many people think the reader wants to look at tons of information and pick and choose what will fit. This notion is erroneous. Resume readers are looking for matching: if they are mathematicians with potential openings in quadratic equations, they are looking for a quadratic equation expert. If they are seismologists, they want someone who knows about earthquakes. If they sell software, they want someone who knows (or can learn) how to sell software. So expect to have multiple versions of your resume that you are always tailoring to a specific job.

OBJECTIVE: To utilize my computer science degree with a leading edge software company.

OBJECTIVE: To utilize my degree in psychology and my volunteer experience working with children in a pediatric trauma unit.

OBJECTIVE: To combine my degree in psychology and experience in sales to launch my career in software sales.

Note: If you do not know what you want to do, sit down with someone and talk until you arrive at a few simple objectives that will focus your search.

Provide highlights of your background from the sole perspective of the company you are targeting (2-3 sentences). If you have worked for leading edge firms or on projects that are important, put these right here.

Summary: Political Science major with summer internships working for NY Senator Carolyn Macarthy and former Mayor Ed Koch. Vice-President of Student Government and Program Chair of Taylor University's undergraduate Debate Society. Member of Alpha Omega Fraternity.

If you have a technical background and know how to use a computer, put these skills right up front.

Technical Skills: Extensive MAC, PC, word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, financial reporting and database skills.

SECOND SECTION-TAKE YOUR CHOICE OF THE FOLLOWING STYLES:

I. Bullets with 5-6 Accomplishments: plus Brief Reverse Chronology of Your Background - Overview Format

II. Traditional Chronological Style

This might be an excellent style for first time job seekers because it emphasizes accomplishments, achievements and goals.

Pick 5-6 specific achievements you have already accomplished. Pick and choose, mix and match from several of your experiences. Keep focusing on the needs of the company you are targeting so they interview you. Concentrate on presenting what you have done so it links your specific contributions to the business of the companies you are targeting.

Hint: Get ideas about what accomplishments to list from ads for this kind of job or by talking to people who are already doing this kind of work.

SAMPLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Since Freshman year in college, have been entirely self-supporting. Worked as waiter in fast food restaurant and now am the night manager supervising a staff of 3.
Selected political science major after working on local assembly woman's campaign. Raise funds, coordinate appearances, prepare speeches.
Was student tutor in local elementary school reading program.
Achieved a 3.7 grade point average out of a possible 4.0.
For senior project, focused on researching local bond issues for new housing. Paper was published in XYZ journal.
Assisted professor with research project on the language patterns of 16^th century Spanish explorers to the New World.

*Follow These Accomplishments with Brief Chronological Background*

CHRONOLOGICAL BACKGROUND:

-1994 - Present,

Jack In The Box, Albuquerque, NM,

Night Manager

Note: This might be a better choice once you have a few years of work experience in your newly chosen field.
Telemarketing Sales Representative 1994- Present

Celestial Multimedia Co. San Francisco, CA

(Include a short description of your responsibilities, promotions and growth within the company. Discuss what you have done with a friend or a small group of people until you can answer the following questions about each of your resume entries. Remember to quantify your results.)

What did you accomplish?
What was the impact on the company?
What quantifiable result(s) can you describe?
Whom did it affect?
Why did your employer benefit?

Next Employer Dates

Title Location

Next Employer Dates

Title Location

III. FOR BOTH STYLES: End with Section Called "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION"

After all your entries, end your resume with some additional, interesting information about you. Please do not say: "References available on request." Also, exclude your marital status, number of children, etc. Never include salary information on resumes! INCLUDE Professional Associations, Offices Held, Volunteer Work in Your Profession, any Hobbies, Sports, Championships, Professional Awards, etc.

	People do not read resumes, so yours must be very clear.
	Use bullets and a large enough type face so your document is easy to read.
	Be sure to use the key buzz words of your profession in case your resume gets scanned into a database.
	Please do not create resumes over 2 pages. Nobody reads them!
	Keep your focus on where you want to go, not on where you have been.
	Always show how your experience can make you a valuable contributor at your new company.

CareerBabe's Resume Writing Tutorial

5 OVERALL RULES

FIRST SECTION-MAKE YOUR RESUME ATTRACTIVE!

SECOND SECTION-TAKE YOUR CHOICE OF THE FOLLOWING STYLES:

I. Bullets with 5-6 Accomplishments: plus Brief Reverse Chronology of Your Background - Overview Format

II. Traditional Chronological Style

III. FOR BOTH STYLES: End with Section Called "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION"

IV. What If I'm Just Out of School?

V. What If I'm Leaving One Field and Going To Another?

With my very best wishes for your career success!