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Karen McClughanmyCareer Centre– A218-15Lambton College519 542 7751 Ext. 3386karen.mcclughan@lambtoncollege.ca

Resume Workshop

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Objectives

• Resumes• Optimal Resume• How to create your resume using

Optimal Resume• Cover Letters

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RESUMES

• How many of you have created a resume?

• How many of those resumes are currently up-to-date?

• How many of those resumes are up-to-date & absolutely perfect? 3

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CHRONOLOGICAL

• Organized according to time in reverse order

• Most recent education/experience first

• Focuses on dates and job experiences• Most widely used type of resume• Most suitable for students and recent

grads 4

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FUNCTIONAL RESUME

• Organized according to types of experiences or functions you have performed

• Spotlights key traits or qualities• Provides details & examples of above

qualities• Requires more thought & planning• Most useful if you do not have continual

employment/experience • Focuses the reader onto what you’ve done

rather than where or when you did it 5

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TARGET YOUR RESUME

Targeted toward:• Job objective • Position applying for• Program• Industry key words• Relevant skills

• May need to be tweaked for every position you apply for.

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ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

• Resumes scanned by a computer • Very focused• Basic• Key words

• Resumes posted on the internet• Refer to the individual website instructions

provided by the employer• Txt resume or MSWord• Email attachments• PDF’s- combined 7

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GUIDELINES• Resume is a sales tool – YOU are the product!• Crucial that your sales tool be the BEST it can be• Particular attention to content and layout• Blend of good content and attractive format• Easy to follow & consistent• Attract immediate attention (5 – 10 seconds)• 1 – 2 pages in length• DO NOT use complete sentences & lengthy paragraphs• USE sentence fragments to express complete thoughts

(Bullets; No Periods)

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GUIDELINES CON’T.

• Appropriate past and present tense • Never use the word “I” in your resume• Be accurate (do not estimate or guess on

details)• Proofread meticulously (Spelling;

Grammar; Typos)

• NO MISTAKES!• Professional paper choices – if required• No graphics/photographs 9

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ACTION VERBS

•Action verbs help to build

complete thoughts out of sentence fragments

•Word pictures

•Build confidence in the reader10

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•achieved •acquired •adapted •addressed •administered •analyzed •anticipated •assembled •assisted •audited •budgeted •calculated •centralized •changed •collaborated •composed •condensed

•conducted •constructed •contracted •converted •coordinated •created •cultivated •demonstrated •designed •developed •devised •discovered •doubled •drafted •edited •eliminated •enforced •established

•evaluated •expanded •explained •forecasted •formed •founded •generated •guided •hired •implemented •improved •informed •Insured• interpreted •interviewed •launched •maintained•produced

•programmed •promoted •provided •publicized •published •recruited •managed •marketed •minimized •motivated •negotiated •obtained •operated •organized •originated •oversaw •performed •planned

•prevented•reorganized •reported •researched •resolved •reviewed •selected •separated •set up •simplified •solved •surveyed •staffed •supervise •taught •tested •trained •used

ACTION VERBS

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SCOPE & ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS

• Demonstrate the scope of responsibility and accomplishments on the job

Duty Statement: • Handled cash (too brief…doesn’t sell you!)

Scope Statement: • Accurately handled in excess of $5000 cash per shift

Achievement Statement: • Accurately handled and balanced in excess of $5000 cash per

shift • Posted all debit and credit card transactions for 2 years 12

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“Sell It to Me…Don’t Tell It to Me”

• TELL IT• Simply states facts• BORING!!

• SELL IT• Promotes• Advertises• Draws Attention To• Impacts Virtually Every Single Word on Your

Resume• Adds Value 13

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It is easier for an employer to “ELIMINATE” than to hire

JANE DOE1400 London Road, Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4

519 542 7771c000111@mylambton.ca

Jonathan B. Doe1400 London Road, Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4 519 542-7771

jdoe@mylambton.ca

JANE DOE 519

542-7771

1400 London Road, Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4 jdoe@live.ca 15

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Objective A clear and concise statement of the specific position or career area you are seeking.

Co-op accounting assistant at ABC Corporation

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Branding Statement

An introductory written statement for individuals with professional experience related to their targeted career.

Recent graduate eager to provide strong interpersonal, organizational and problem solving ability along with exceptional computer skills to your organization in a front line customer support role

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EDUCATION

• Reverse Chronological Order • (Most recent first)

• Program name Bold• Make sure you have the proper name of

your program!!!• SCHOOL NAME, City, Province• Dates

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EDUCATION:2014 – present Business Management International Business

LAMBTON COLLEGE, Sarnia, ON• G.P.A. – 3.7/4.0

2013Ontario Secondary School DiplomaNORTHERN COLLEGIATE, Sarnia, ON

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SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

SELL YOURSELF!• Use bullets (not ticks)• Proof statements for transferable skills• PROGRAM SPECIFIC TECHNICAL SKILLS• Specific computer skills (i.e. MS Word)• Skills most relevant to your objective

should appear first20

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SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Certifications• Awards/scholarships• Achievements• Outstanding personal characteristics• Languages• WARNING: BE PREPARED TO BACK UP ANY STATEMENT

OR CLAIM YOU MAKE ON YOUR RESUME IN YOUR INTERVIEW!

SELL! SELL! SELL!21

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WORK EXPERIENCE

• Job Title • Proper Company Name• City, Province• Dates• Relevant job descriptions• Highlight transferable skills• Use action verbs• Use scope/achievement statements

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EXPERIENCE

• Put most important FIRST• Relevant Experience • (anything related to your objective)

• Co-op/ Internships• Work• Volunteer

• Other Experience• Volunteer Experience • (Current & Ongoing)

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EXPERIENCE:

2014 – presentServerBOSTON PIZZA, Sarnia, ON

• Awarded “Employee of the Month” 3 times • Provide friendly and efficient customer service• Demonstrate strong multi-tasking skills to efficiently handle

multiple tables in a fast paced environment • Excellent knowledge of all 110 menu items which enables

me to answer customer questions• Motivated team player• Accurately handle cash, debit and credit card transactions24

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VOLUNTEER/INTERESTS

• Demonstrate physical activity both solo and team• Active in team sports including soccer and baseball• Active perennial gardener

• Demonstrate use of skills that you are training for outside of school • Prepared tax returns for seniors at XYZ retirement home

• Volunteer• Should be recent or current and active

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REFERENCES

• 3 references• Faculty, Employers preferred• with complete mailing address • Phone # with area code• E-mail address

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Any Student1450 London Road, Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4 519 542-7771

REFERENCES:

John Smith, InstructorLAMBTON COLLEGE1457 London Road, Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4519 542-7751 ext. 4567jsmith@lambton.on.ca

Dianne Holdaway, ManagerBOSTON PIZZA1400 Exmouth Street, Sarnia, ON N7S 1W9519 542-7500holdaway@bostonpizza.com

Brett Marsh, OwnerTHE HELPFUL GUYS COMPLETE COMPUTER SYSTEMS & MORE1123 Lakeshore Road, Brights Grove, ON N0N 1C0519 869-2532brettmarsh@helpfulguys.ca

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Optimal Resume

• Create a professional and attractive resume• You create the content; Optimal Resume assists in

the formatting and styling of resume• Step by step instructions• Provides examples in each resume section• Internet based, available to you 24/7• Offers a variety of style options• Transfers your resume into MS Word for further

manipulation• https://www.mylambton.ca/mycareer/Home/

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https://lambton.optimalresume.ca/

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Click Here

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Must be your Lambton College e-mail

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Scroll down or click html to get your code

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NOTE:

• Take your time here and check out all of the pre-styled options before you download into Word.

• 90 percent of students will choose the first one – do you really want it look like everyone else's?

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• Download to Word

• Modify in Word• Print from Word

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HELPFUL TIPS

• Stylize your header• School address only applies to those living here

from out of town• Recommended font size for body of resume is 11• Keep job together on page 1 or 2 but don’t split it –

use a page break• NOTE: double check section heading and dates to

ensure consistency

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QUESTIONS?

Cover Letters

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COVER LETTER CHARACTERISTICS

• Introduces you to the potential employer• Makes a good first impression• Original and specific to each job application situation• Direct and to the point• 1 page or less• Paper, Font & Style match your resume• Sets the tone for your resume• Can contain information not included on your resume

ANSWERS “WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU?”52

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COMMON PITFALLS

• Overuse of “I” statements• Suggesting that the employer should hire you so that

YOU gain experience • Failure to market yourself according to the job

requirements• Lack of technical skills that relate to the job

requirements • Improper spelling/sentence/paragraph structure

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COVER LETTER STRUCTURE

• Your Address• Date• Contact Name & Company Address• Salutation• Paragraph Structure• Closing

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MARKETING YOURSELF

• Focus on the employers JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrate how YOUR education, experience & skills make you a QUALIFIED CANDIDATE for the job

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INTRODUCTION(1ST Paragraph)

• This is the purpose of your letter. What position are you applying for? How did you find out about the opening?

Example: “Please consider my application for the position of____________ advertised at ___________on September 15, 2014.”

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EDUCATION (2nd paragraph)

• Discuss what have you gained from your post secondary education that qualifies you for the position.

Example: “Currently I am enrolled in the Child and Youth Worker program at Lambton College through which I have gained a solid working knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act ”…

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BE SPECIFIC!

• Provide specific details and examples of your qualifications, training and experience

• Include skills you are currently learning in your program

• Include specific employment information and skills/accomplishments

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EXPERIENCE & SKILLS(3rd paragraph)

• What specific experience and skills have you gained from work, volunteering, recreational activities etc. that qualify you for the position?

Example: “ While working as a Customer Service Representative at Marriott, I developed excellent interpersonal skills and was able to manage customers’ problems and offer effective solutions”…

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CLOSING(4TH Paragraph)

• Thank the reader, request an interview and include contact information.

Example:“Thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to further discussion of my qualifications at an interview. I can be reached at 519 555 2222.”

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QUESTIONS?

Thank You!!!