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Resume Hints
Can't think of anything
to write down about what you do in your job?
A resume should summarize for
each company and position the following critical points:
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Company name, location and brief description (a
$100MM manufacturer of stainless steel widgets)
-
Your specific title
-
Your exact responsibilities (sales, P&L, # of
direct employees, margins, # of new products, cost reductions, error
rates or whatever.. specifically, what did YOU influence)
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Your accomplishments against those responsibilities.
Be specific! Use numbers! (increased sales 18%, decreased expenses
14%, improved operating efficiency 11%, reduced turnover 7%, etc)
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
We guarantee that you will come up with some new ideas about your job
responsibilities and skills.
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What
experience, skills, aptitudes, or traits do you have that could be of
some use to some employer?
-
 Do
others, at work or elsewhere, come to you for any particular kind of
help? What kind?
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Do
you have military experience (include Coast Guard and merchant
marine)? Branch, grade, Specialty? Active duty, reserves, national
guard? Discharge? Duties? Accomplishments? Medals, citations,
commendations? Promotions ahead of schedule? You can treat military
experience either here, as general background, or list each position
as an employer in the Resume Questionnaire. Don't forget, military
training can be particularly useful in private industry if it is
relevant to your objective.
-
Have
you ever published an article, report, or anything, even as a
volunteer, even in your company professional association newsletter?
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Have
you ever given a talk, speech, or presentation, or provided training
to anyone at work or elsewhere? Give the specifics.
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Computer
literacy and related skills: What platforms can you use (PC, Apple,
etc.)? Which one are you most comfortable with? What operating systems
and programs you are familiar with (Windows XP, EXCEL, AutoCAD,
other)?
-
What
foreign languages do you know at least somewhat, and what is your
level of skill in each. I.e. native speaker; fluent; moderate;
phrase-book; write easily for professional purposes?
-
What
planning or analytical tools are you familiar with?
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What
experience have you had as a manager?
RESPONSIBILITIES:
ACHIEVEMENTS,
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
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How
much reduction in costs or increase in profits did you contribute to?
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What
did you do?
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Any
concrete or specific signs of the gain you achieved?
-
Did
you propose, suggest, or initiate any programs, changes, or
improvements that were implemented at least partly because of your
initiative?
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What
positive results occurred?
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What
did you do as a volunteer, beyond the regular duties of your position?
-
Whether
you were paid for it or not, what were you particularly good at that
made a difference in how the office (job, project, assignment)
progressed from day to day?
EDUCATION:
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Education?
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Licenses?
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Designations?
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Foreign
languages?
AWARDS, RECOGNITION:
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Were
you praised, recognized, or given a pat on the back for
anything-Production, a particular assignment, a method of working, a
trait of character? How? By whom? (ie President Circle, Rookie of the
Year…)
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Were
you promoted ahead of schedule?
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Selected
for any special responsibilities or programs?
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