Creating an Effective ResumeLibrary Association of Brevard

Presented by:Dona Gaynor

Director, Career Management Servicesdgaynor@fit.edu

Overview• Purpose of a resume• Resume vs CV• Preparing to write your resume• Resume content areas• Resume format• What to include and exclude• Cover letters

What is a Resume?

• Necessary to apply for jobs• Summary of education, skills, experience and

accomplishments• Introduction to the employer• Self marketing tool

A resume gets you the interview so you can get the job!

Resume vs CV?

Resume• Summary of qualifications • Concise – usually no more than 1-2 pages, 3 at most• Used to apply for corporate library positions, public schools and

libraries and for non-faculty positions at universities

CV – Curriculum Vitae • Course of Life – a more detailed and complete history of your

education, career, volunteer and professional activities• Can be any length• Used to apply for academic and research library positions

Preparing to Write Your Resume

Conduct self-assessment• Why do you need a resume?• What is your geographic preference?• What is your industry preference?• What is your job preference?

Preparing to Write Your Resume

Conduct Self Assessment• Outline experience, skills, and abilities

• Write down all your jobs, volunteer work, involvement in professional associations, etc.

• Focus on accomplishments, achievements, success stories• Try to provide concrete, quantifiable data when possible

• Conduct research on available opportunities and review qualifications

• Find matches between your skills and interests and available

CV Content – Basic Section Titles

1. Contact information2. Education3. Professional(Library) Experience4. Publications5. Presentations at Conferences6. Teaching Experience7. Skills – technology, languages8. Volunteer Experience9. Grant Writing10. Professional Affiliations

Resume Content – Basic Sections

1. Contact Information2. Professional Summary or Objective3. Professional Experience4. Skills – technology, language, “soft” skills5. Education6. Professional Affiliations7. Volunteer or Community Service

Professional Summary

• A section at the beginning of your resume used to summarize your experience, skills, and special qualifications targeted to the position

• Can be one paragraph or a series of bulleted statements• Focus on the key qualifications of the job – keywords!• Most appropriate for experienced individuals or those

who are transitioning careers

Professional Summary

Sample• Assist in the planning, implementation, coordination, evaluation and

promotion of the library’s instructional and information competency programs.

• Provide direction to library staff and students.• Collaborate with other faculty to increase students’ knowledge of library

resources.• Experience in providing reference service and bibliographic instruction in an

academic environment, including teaching library research strategies and presenting workshops.

• Strong interest in developing information competency/literacy programs.

Professional Summary

Sample• Librarian and Information Specialist with concentrated studies in reference &

user services and information science & technology.• Seasoned information analyst with 20 years of experience in IT and

accounting environments.• Skilled in research, Internet searching, database tools, instruction, fact

checking, and user-centered design.• Detail oriented with the ability to work independently or as part of a team,

and to deliver on time. • Dedicated to information literacy and life-long learning through library

services and community collaboration.

ExperienceResumes• List in reverse chronological order• Include only most recent and most relevant if you have a

lot of experience• Bulleted lists that begin with action words and are not

complete sentences• Focus on achievements and accomplishments, not just job

descriptions

ExperienceCV• List most recent/relevant experience section first and then

list descriptions within the section in reverse chronological order

• Include all experiences• Focus on activities and experiences that advance the

profession• Can be listed in paragraph format with more complete

descriptions

Experience

Sample for Online Reference Librarian:• Locate and communicate information, articles, and books to adults, professionals,

children, teens, and college students within a real-time 24/7 chat environment.• Conduct online reference interviews using strategies that result in connecting

customers with reliable sources best fitting their research, homework, and life-long learning information needs.

• Access information using advanced online search techniques, Internet sites, and research databases; and educating information-seekers with adhoc tips and on-screen instruction for independent research.

• Evaluate information sources for authority and appropriateness, working under limited time constraints, and helping users of varying knowledge levels and computer abilities.

• Research and create topical pathfinders and research guides in response to reference inquiries requiring a broader or deeper selection of information source recommendations.

Experience

Sample for School Librarian:• Supervise OCS library maintaining and developing the library

collection and facilities. • Administer a library literature and skills curriculum, collaborating with

teachers on school & library activities, supervising library personnel & volunteers, research & purchasing of library acquisitions, collection development, & budget management.

• Work collaboratively with other faculty in developing bibliographic instruction programs across the curriculum.

Other Content Areas

• List other sections in order of importance or relevance to the position

• Education: List in reverse chronological order with most recent degree first

• Skills: A technology skills section may be very important for technical librarian positions and should be prominent and possibly listed before experience

• Professional Affiliations: Don’t forget to include accomplishments, achievements and awards

Online Resumes

• Resumes submitted through online applications process• Selections are often made by keyword searches from

electronic applicant tracking software packages so matching keywords is very important

• Carefully review job requirements for keywords• Avoid bold, italics, and graphics as well as creative formats

that use columns and tabs

Resume Tips• Engage the reader right away – the first few lines of your

resume may be the most important!• Show the clear match between your qualifications and the

requirements of the position• Descriptions should be concise – use action words with

impact and show achievements• Target your resume for each application• No spelling errors, typos, grammatical errors or

inconsistent format

CV Tips – Academic Institutions• Appeal to the academic side when applying to a research

university• Show all experience and involvement in the profession• Experience in assessment is important – highlight skills in

collecting and analyzing data• Technology skills – show how you used it in past

experiences• No spelling errors, typos, grammatical errors or

inconsistent format

Do’s & Don’ts

• Do use a legible font face and size• Do include enough white space to allow for skimming• Do use bulleted lists• Do use a consistent format

• Don’t include your SSN, Photo, Marital Status, or other personal information

• Don’t use more than two fonts• Don’t put references on the resume – create a separate document• Don’t use excessive bold face/italics, graphics • Don’t use an ink color other than black

Cover Letters• Should always accompany a resume/CV

• Opportunity to introduce yourself to the employer

• Provide enhanced details about your qualifications, especially soft skills

• Point out specific experiences which make you an excellent fit for the position

• A cover letter does not need to be lengthy and should not exceed one page

Cover Letters• Paragraph #1: How did you learn about the job?

Identifying your source of information about the job.• Paragraph #2: Why you are interested?

Address your knowledge of the employer and your interest in the position.

• Paragraph #3: How you are qualified?Opportunity to relate your qualifications to the various skills the employer has outlined in the position description.

• Paragraph #4: What steps you plan to take to be considered?Summarize your interest in the position, show appreciation, indicate contact information for further information, and take responsibility for following up.

Resources

American Library Association http://joblist.ala.org

LIS Jobs – many good resources and articleshttp://www.lisjobs.com/