Resume writing and interview preparation

Resume Writing and Interview Preparation

The School-to-Career Transition programs would like to recognize and thank the following business partners for their input in the preparation of this handbook:

Allied Health Group Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development

Eastpoint Chick-fil-A Pivot 3

Timonium Linens, Inc. Virro Consulting, LLC

Office of Career and Technology Education School-to-Career Transition Dr. Michael Grubbs Coordinator

Career and Technology Education Mrs. Alicia D. N. Fales Supervisor

School-to-Career Transition Mrs. Jessica Carlson

Work-Based Learning Coordinator Dulaney High School Ms. Erin Ray

Work-Based Learning Coordinator Kenwood High School

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Table of Contents

Developing Your Resume Resume Guidelines Formatting Profile or Summary Core Knowledge and Skill Areas Education Experience Resume Action Words References Resume Tips Resume Template Sample Resumes

Completing Your Job Application Application Tips Sample Application

Writing Your Cover Letter Cover Letter Guidelines Formatting Greeting Content Closing Cover Letter Tips Cover Letter Template Sample Cover Letter

Dressing for Success

Acing the Interview What is an Interview? Before the Interview During the Interview Answering Common Interview Questions Behavioral Questions Questions You Can Ask During the Interview Ending the Interview Interview Tips After the Interview Sample Thank You Note Thank You Note Tips

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September 14, 2018

Developing Your Resume

What is a Resume? A resume is a one-page advertisement of you as an aspiring professional. It is a concise snapshot of your education, work experience, skills, and achievements. It must be error-free. Resumes should include the following parts, at minimum: contact information, education, and experience. Additional sections are left to the discretion of the author.

Resume Guidelines Formatting:

Create a resume header with your contact information. Your name should be the focus. Use a larger font or bold to emphasize your name. Include your city and state, email address, and a phone number where you can be contacted or receive a message. Be sure both email address and voicemail message are professional.

Profile or summary:

Below your resume header, write a brief summary of 3-4 sentences describing some of your best qualities, work skills, and your past accomplishments. This is your 'elevator pitch,' another opportunity to sell yourself! Give the employer a reason to keep reading. Employers want to hire people who exhibit professional qualities and characteristics to be successful in the workplace; people who are:

Motivated Mature Personable Reliable Ethical Loyal Positive

Punctual Visionary Organized Enthusiastic Decisive Cooperative Quick Learner

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Example: A high school junior with a passion for science, planning to pursue a career in nursing. Experience working with an aging population at a local retirement community. Enthusiastic, reliable, quick learner with a strong work ethic.

Core Knowledge and Skill Areas: This section provides an opportunity to emphasize skills that are not obvious from your education and work experience listed later on your resume. Highlight things that may separate you from other candidates. Employers want to be able to quickly scan your resume for significant skills. Use key words from the job posting to guide your list. Be sure to include technical skills. This section should be brief and use bullet points. If you have a specific career in mind, visit the O*Net for additional resources: .

Example:

? Positive work ethic ? Reliable and punctual ? Professional manner ? OSHA 10 certified ? Efficient team member Education: List your education in reverse chronological order (most recent on top), including the name of your current high school, and its address. Do not list anything prior to high school. Include expected graduation date (month, year) and GPA if above a 3.0. If you have taken classes that directly pertain to the interest area of the position for which you are applying or to a specific program of study, list them below the school information as `related coursework.' Example: HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA | PROJECTED: JUNE, 2019 | KENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Baltimore, MD

? CTE Program of Study: Career Research and Development Related coursework: o Introduction to Career Research and Development o Paramedical Biology o Psychology

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Experience: List your experience in reverse chronological order (most recent on top), including the position you held, the name of the company, and the dates you were employed (month, year). Include the responsibilities of that position bulleted below. When listing your experience include on-going volunteer experience, paid work experience, internship experience, summer work experience, etc. Singular volunteer opportunities (tree planting on Earth Day, one day at Food Bank, etc.) should not be listed. This section may also include activities (band, sports, scouts, etc.), awards, and leadership experiences.

How to describe the responsibilities of your work experience: Use action words when describing your work experience to highlight or describe your job duties. Your resume should not contain sentences but phrases.

? Begin with an action word. ? Describe the object of your action using numbers, amounts and other

adjectives whenever possible. ? Add the outcome of your action to emphasize its impact or results.

Examples: Action Word Object of the Action Outcome ? Filed medical records to streamline billing procedures ? Supervised a basketball camp for 11-13 year old students to develop future high school athletes

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Resume Action Words:

Avoid overly used words like 'responsible for' or 'helped'

Organizational Creative

Helping

Research

Classified Collected Compiled Filed Inventoried Maintained Operated Ordered Organized Retrieved Scheduled

Acted Arranged Created Customized Designed Developed Directed Generated Invented Performed Sketched

Assisted Coached Counseled Demonstrated Educated Encouraged Facilitated Guided Motivated Supported Volunteered

Analyzed Compiled Determined Developed Evaluated Examined Investigated Recognized Researched Reviewed Summarized

Teaching Clarified Coached Devised Encouraged Evaluated Facilitated Guided Instructed Presented Trained Tutored

Financial Appraised Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Collected Computed Earned Generated Negotiated Priced

Management Administered Assigned Chaired Coordinated Directed Implemented Improved Managed Organized Planned

Supervision Assessed Demonstrated Influenced Monitored Oversaw Recruited Reported Supervised Tested

Communication

Answered Contacted Communicated Corresponded Displayed Edited Exhibited Interpreted Negotiated Presented Translated

Technical Adapted Assembled Built Computed Designed Operated Maintained Programmed Repaired Upgraded

Example:

Experience

WAITSTAFF | OAKCREST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY | MARCH, 2016-PRESENT ? Greet guests promptly in a friendly manner to create a positive dining experience. ? Record accurate food and beverage orders and input into the POS system to meet dietary needs. ? Complete bussing, running, meal plating, and catering duties to expedite service. ? Communicate appropriately with supervisors and dining room staff to improve efficiency.

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