2. To receive the full benefit of this course, the staff
of the Montgomery County Public Library strongly
recommends attending in person. Individual
assistance with each exercise is provided in class as
well as a Question & Answer session with our
instructors.
3. Objectives
• Review the purpose of a
resume
• Learn the types of resumes
• Demonstrate how to create
a chronological resume
• Discuss the importance of
keywords
4. What Is a Resume?
• Personal summary of your professional history
• Includes anything a person wants to express
about:
– Career Goals
– Education
– Experience
– Activities
– Honors
5. General Guidelines
• Length: Limit resume to
one typed page
• Font: Arial or Times New
Roman
– Between 10 – 12 point font
• Paper: Use 8 1/2 inch x
11 inch paper
– White, light cream or grey
6. Preliminary Research
• Find Out:
– General job information
– Desired qualifications and skills
– Key values and key words
• Look on:
– Company website
– Job advertisement
– Any publications about the company
(magazines, articles, etc.)
7. Types of Resumes
• There are three types of resumes:
– Chronological
– Functional
– Combination
We will demonstrate how to create a
chronological resume in this class.
8. The Chronological Resume
• The most commonly used resume format is the
chronological resume. On a chronological
resume, your work history is listed by job title
beginning with your current or most recent job.
• The chronological resume works best for job
seekers who:
– Want to showcase a steady employment history
– Are looking for a position that matches or logically
progresses from previous jobs
– Are seeking a conventional position, such as an office
clerk, accountant, or teacher
10. The Functional Resume
• The functional resume highlights your skills without
revealing the dates associated with your job history.
The functional resume minimizes specific job titles and
eliminates dates of employment, while emphasizing
your abilities and skills.
• The functional resume works well if you:
– Have worked many different jobs or possess very diverse
skills
– Have skills that relate to the position, but not a lot of
previous work experience in the field
– Have gaps in employment history, are a recent graduate or
are changing careers
– Are a mature worker who wants to de-emphasize your age
12. The Combination Resume
• The combination resume format combines the
functional and chronological formats. It includes
functional skill categories, but also lists
employment dates.
• This format works well for job seekers who:
– May have obtained the required skills from seemingly
unrelated industries or jobs
– Are trying to change careers and want to emphasize
transferable skills
– Have had a steady work history
14. SECTIONS
Your Resume
Contact Information
Objective
Experience
Education
Interests
15. Contact Information
• Include:
– Name
– Permanent and/or campus addresses
– Permanent and/or campus phone numbers
– Email address
If you do not include contact information
(how to reach you), your resume will most
probably be thrown in the trash.
16. Contact Information
Joe Smith
241 West Locust Street
Mount Sterling, KY 40353
(859) 999-9999
email@gmail.com
____________________________
17. Objective Statements
• Two different approaches to objective
statements
– Brief and to the point
– Detailed description of desired position and
qualifications
You must decide which
approach is best!
18. First Approach: Brief
To seek the position of factory worker
Seeking to obtain a position of administrative
support
To obtain position as a waitress
19. Second Approach: Descriptive
To work in an organization where my technical skills will
be best utilized and provide my career a rapid and good
growth
A data entry clerk position where I can utilize my skills
and work experience to improve efficiency and
profitability of company
To obtain a waitress position in the Food and Beverage
Industry with a challenging company that offers me the
possibility of professional growth and career
advancement opportunities
20. Work Experience
• Include positions you have held which are
related, in some way, to the job you are
seeking.
– Can be both paid and volunteer positions
• Be creative with this section of your resume
by describing and emphasizing your
experiences in the most relevant way
possible.
21. Work Experience
Server May 2003 – June 2006
Applebees, Mount Sterling, Kentucky
-Provided customers with superior service and
ensure their comfort in an upscale restaurant
environment
Swim Coach Summers 2004 – 2005
Montgomery County Swim Team, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
-Improved the swimming skills of children ages 4-
18 while encouraging the children to stay on task
-Constructed line-ups for a competitive
advantage at swim meets
22. Education
• Beginning with the highest level of
educational achievement, include:
– University attended
– Majors/Minors
– Date of program completion information
23. Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts May 2006
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
Minor: Psychology
Greenup County High School
Greenup County, Kentucky
24. Action Verb List
• Action phrases will help you avoid being too
brief and from understanding your
qualifications. See the handout for a chart of
action words.
• Example:
– Before: Was involved in modernization
– After: Modernized
25. Activities, Honors, Volunteer Experience
Sterling Equestrian Team Women In Business
Delta Gamma Mt. Sterling Library
Saint Joseph Hospital Humane Society
• Include relevant activities, honors, and volunteer
experiences
• Any special certifications you have
- First Aid Certification
- Heavy Equipment Operation
26. Extra Tips
• Ultimate goal is to get an interview.
• Employer will only take 15 seconds to glance at a
resume.
• Most resumes are scanned by a computer for
keywords, so match the words in advertisement
in your resume.
• Have a copy of your resume in plain text to email
to employer. To save in plain text:
In Microsoft Word, go to Save As and
save the file in text only format.
27. Extra Tips
• Have someone read over your resume for
errors that spellcheck doesn’t find.
Ex: Using their instead of there
Confusing two & too
• Microsoft Word has several resume templates.
- We are using Chronological Resume –CV (Modern)
• Have white space in the resume so its not
overwhelming to the reader.
29. Important Tip!
Bad grammar is a terrible issue in many resumes. Here is one
of the most frequently misused word combinations.
AN – The form of “a” used before words that begin with a vowel or an u
unpronounced consonant such as “h” in some cases.
Example: We had lunch an hour ago.
I saw an ostrich at the zoo.
AND – This word is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses; to create the
meaning of together with, along with, as well as, or in addition to.
Example: I stuffed envelopes and answered the phones.
We fed the dog and the cats.
Used together appropriately:
An ostrich answered the phones and fed the dog an hour ago.
30. Where Can You Go For Advice About
Your Resume?
• Electronic Resumes
Santa Clara University
http://www.scu.edu/careercenter/students/prepare/resumes/electronicres.cfm
• Career OneStop Resume Guide
http://www.careeronestop.org/ResumeGuide/Introduction.aspx
• Resume Builder
http://www.howtowritearesume.net/
• Free online resume class
http://www.blueskyresumes.com/free-resume-help/
