Writing a Winning Resume
Tips for Writing a Winning Resume:
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A resume is used to describe yourself to potential employers or schools. It paints a picture of who you are including - your education, experiences, leadership abilities, skills and accomplishments. Your resume needs to speak for you until you can get an interview!
It is important that you take some time to reflect before writing a resume so that it best represents who you are and states a clear goal. There are several styles of resume development depending on the purpose of the resume. In this website we focus on a business resume.
Above all else, make sure that when writing a resume you think about your audience.
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​Answer these questions:
1) What does the employer need to know about me?
2) How can you best present the information?
3) How can I distinguish myself?
Important Tips
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Use a professional easy to read template/format, keep fonts basic and consistant.
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Do not give out a resume without checking spelling and grammar
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Do not use I, me or my in a resume
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Up-to-date professional contact information
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Resumes for high school and college students as well as newly graduated professionals should be no longer than one page
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References are not listed on the resume itself, instead list this statement on the bottom of your resume "References Available Upon Request". Before you send your resume out, contact 2-3 people (teachers, former employers, religious leaders, etc.) and ask them to be a reference for your resume.
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If sending your resume electronically, do not send a Word document (especially if using tables to format your document). Instead, save your file in .pdf format, which will retain the format of the original document and look clean.
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Keep it to one page- only include things that are relevant to the job you are applying for
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Information should be as descriptive, impactful and action/results oriented
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Don’t forget to include any volunteer, part-time, or freelance work you have done
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GPA not up to snuff - Simply leave it out, and concentrate on your workplace accomplishments
Review this file to get an overview of how to write a resume:
Write a Resume PowerPoint
Use these files to help you develop a list of items to include in your resume:
Resume Worksheet
Use these files to help you develop a great resume
​Resume Interests
Resume Dos and Don'ts
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Sample Resumes
Interviewing for Success
Preparing for Your Interview:
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Research about the company you are interviewing for
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Chose an outfit that is professional and you feel comfortable and confident in
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Look up the address and determine how long of a drive it will be to ensure you will be on time
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Get a good night of sleep the day before
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Print out copies of your resume to bring in
How to Dress for Your Interview:
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Figure out the culture of the company so you can dress accordingly- however it’s always better to be overdressed than under-dressed
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Make sure that your clothing fits you properly
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Avoid wearing anything that is distracting like too much jewelry- you want them to remember your personality, not just your outfit
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You want to be professional
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Click here to see how to dress for success
Interview Question Tips:
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Have a good answer prepared to “tell us about yourself”
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Think about relevant scenarios that have happened at past jobs that you can talk about
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Don’t be afraid of “what’s your biggest weakness” question, think about something you are trying to improve, and explain how you are working to improve it
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Avoid awkward silences if you gather your thoughts by saying something like “Now that’s a great question. I think I would have to say….”
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Don’t forget to have thoughtful questions prepared to ask them at the end of the interview
Additional Ressources
Click here to see Ms. Ward's Interviewing Tips Presentation
