Building Careers and Writing Rsums Copyright 2010 Pearson

Building Careers and Writing Résumés Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 -

Learning Objectives • Describe the approach most employers take to find new employees • Explain the importance of networking in your career search • Discuss how to choose the appropriate résumé organization and list advantages and disadvantages of the three common options Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 2

Learning Objectives • List the major sections of a traditional résumé • Identify six formats in which you can produce a résumé • Describe what you should do to adapt your résumé to a scannable format Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 3

Securing Employment in Today’s Job Market • Understanding employer’s approach • Organizing your approach

The Job Search Process 1. Build toward a career 2. Prepare the résumé 3. Understand the interview process 4. Prepare for the interview 5. Complete the interview 6. Follow up and accept the offer Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 5

How Employers Approach the Recruiting Process • Look inside the company • Networking and personal references • Employment agency or search firm • Unsolicited résumés • Solicited résumés via advertising Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 6

Organizing Your Approach • Monitor business news • Researching specific firms • Building a

Three-Step Résumé Process Planning Analyze Situation Gather Information Select Medium Get Organized Writing Adapt to the Audience Compose the Message Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Completing Revise Résumé Produce Résumé Proofread Résumé Distribute Résumé Chapter 18 - 8

Planning Your Résumé • The “Story of You” – Audience and purpose – Relevant

Analyze Audience and Purpose • The résumé – Target company – Hiring manager Copyright

Gather Information • Employment history • Education background • Personal Experience Copyright © 2010

Choose the Medium • Word document • Plain-text • Power. Point • Multimedia •

Organize the Résumé • • Think in terms of results Know how to get things done Well rounded Career progress and development Standards of excellence Flexible and willing to try new things Communicate effectively Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 13

“Red Flags” for Employers • Frequent job changes • Gaps in work history • Inexperience or over-qualification • Long-term with one company • For-cause job termination • Criminal or arrest record Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 14

Typical Résumé Formats • Chronological • Functional • Combination Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education

Writing Your Résumé • Respect your résumé • Take your time • Review good

Keep the Résumé Honest • Workplace references • Background checks • Credit histories Copyright

Adapting to the Audience • Consider the employer’s perspective • Link accomplishments to potential • Translate skills and experience • Clarify educational achievements Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 18

Composing Your Résumé • Contact information • Introductory statement • Educational background • Employment history • Activities and achievements • Relevant personal data Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 19

Completing Your Résumé • Revising • Producing • Proofreading Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education

Common Résumé Problems • Length issues • Hard to read • Amateurish • Poorly produced • Writing problems • Boastful tone • Generic quality • Gimmicky design Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 21

Producing Your Résumé • Printed traditional résumé • Printed scannable résumé • Electronic plain text file • MS Word file • HTML format • Electronic PDF file Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 22

Traditional Printed Résumé • High-quality paper • Professional image Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education

Printed Scannable Résumé • OCR software • Résumé length • Keyword summary Copyright ©

Digital Résumé Formats • Plain text file • MS Word file • HTML version

Proofreading the Résumé • Headings and lists • Grammar and punctuation • Spelling and

Distributing Your Résumé • Postal mail • Fax machine • Email Copyright © 2010

Posting Résumés Online • Personal e-portfolio • Personal website • Social networking • General job sites • Specialized websites • Staffing services Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education International Chapter 18 - 28