Interview and Resume Skills
Resumes
A resume is usually only one to two pages in length and used in job or career settings. A resume lets employers know your work experience, accomplishments, skills, and credentials.
Resume Building
The first step of creating a resume is compiling any relevant information you might have. Keep this information in a document separate from your actual resume. When applying for jobs, you can easily tailor your resume to best represent your skill set for that specific position while also keeping it at the 1-2 page limit.
A good resume is:
Clear: My resume is easy for everyone to read and understand.
Concise: My resume does not exceed two pages.
Credible: My resume contains accurate information.
Your resume should reflect your unique education, experience and relevant skills. You might consider having multiple versions of your resume tailored to the jobs you’re applying for. As you apply for different jobs, you should study each job description for keywords that show what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. Include those keywords in your resume where relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a medical billing coder, an employer might list keywords like “coding,” “claims submission,” “compliance” or “AR management” in the job description. Pay particular attention to anything listed in the sections labeled “Requirements” or “Qualifications.” If you have the skills that employers are looking for, you can add these same terms to your resume in the experience or skills sections.
Be concise. Some recruiters look at as many as 500 resumes to fill one position, they want to see your accomplishments, skills, and experiences in as few words as possible. Bullet points and concise language can showcase your communication skills while highlighting your areas of expertise.
Resume Writing
Use websites like Canva, Freesumes, Cultivated Culture, or Indeed to easily create interesting resumes.
Express yourself creatively...but make sure the content is the main highlight
The content of your resume includes all the text information on the page. For some jobs, such as the arts and design fields, it may be advantageous to present a colorful, design-heavy resume. For others, one might opt for a simpler outline. Either way, the text should be easily readable and the viewer shouldn’t feel overly distracted by the design elements.
Use a simple, easy to read font style, 10-14 point. Be consistent with how you use different font sizes. For example, all headers should be the same size, as should all body text.
The type of role you’re applying for should influence your resume design.
Resumes tell the employer about your experiences, skills and work history. Use your resume to highlight items that indicate you are a good worker, are qualified for the position and bring desirable skills to the job. If you are a student and have little or no previous job experiences, enhance information about your school and community activities.
Every resume should have at least these key parts:
Personal Information
Name Current and Permanent address (may be omitted from a resume posted on the web)
Telephone number
E-mail address
Objective
In one short sentence summarize your goal for your job search.
The goal statement should be related to the specific position for which you are applying. It is also effective to highlight your skills in the goal statement.
Examples:
Seeking a position as a social worker providing service to the aged.
Seeking a position that utilizes my skills in counseling, research, and proposal writing.
Education
High school name
City and State
Date of graduation
Course Highlights (courses directly related to the job or your career field and special abilities)
Certificates
Work and Related Experience
Summer jobs, Internships, Volunteer work (Include position title, company/organization, city/state, dates and a brief list of the job duties)
Awards and Honors
Academic, musical, athletic and or other recognition. (Include name of the award/honor, who awarded it, and when it was awarded.)
Activities/Hobbies
Include your role in the position, the organization, and the dates.
Example: Captain, Shorewood High School, Volley Ball Team, 1999-2001
Skills
Soft skills: (being responsible, loyal, hardworking, energetic, outgoing.)
Hard skills: (research and writing, Microsoft word 98, Microsoft Publisher 2000, Public speaking.)
References (3-5 people)
Teacher/Professor
Work supervisor (current or past)
Character reference (Pastor, Headmaster, youth group leader or someone who knows you well)
Include the name, relationship to you, organization, contact phone numbers.
Other Considerations
Limit your resume to one or two pages.
Do not include birth date, health status or social security number.
Limit the use of personal pronouns such as "I”. Begin sentences with action verbs.
Be honest but avoid writing anything negative in your resume.
Make your resume error-free. Have someone proofread it for you.
Use a simple, easy-to-read font style, 10-14 point.
A ‘good’ interview will look different in every culture. Cultural norms drive which behaviors are considered essential to a successful interview.
Research more:
