Last Lesson , Pro Maurice

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Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

7. Construct a resume package that demonstrates methods for highlighting job-related skills.

Reading Assignment Chapter 14: Résumé Package Click here to access the Chapter 14 PowerPoint Presentation. (Click here to access the PDF version of the presentation.)

Unit Lesson To wrap up this course, the final unit addresses the details to consider while preparing a resume and the items that should accompany a resume. By compiling these items, you end up with resume packet. Delivering a quality resume is so very vital in today’s competitive marketplace. The remainder of this unit lesson contains important details to consider while preparing a resume, a cover letter, as well as performing a professional, self-reflecting SWOT analysis. First, we begin with why a resume is important. Job recruiters receive literally thousands of resumes every day. Some are hard copies while others are electronic. Regardless, your resume needs to stand out from all others yet not be unprofessional, exaggerated, nor elaborate. A resume is like a road map that personalizes each route you have taken with the most important stops bulleted with preference. A resume should be detailed while also containing the characteristics that quickly catch the eye of a potential employer. Typically, employers want to be impressed within approximately three to five seconds of viewing a resume. Hard copy resumes need to be created on a weighted paper with clear font and projection size. Electronic resumes should be created with Microsoft Word, which allows you to select an appropriate font, font size, arrange the sequence of material, and align the material within the page(s). Whether delivered as a hard copy or an electronic copy, resumes should either be arranged to support chronological information or functional information. Chronological resumes include a steady and stable work history. Any time of unemployment needs to be explained in detail with a rationale. Chronological resumes typically remain within the same career field and display promotions and lateral moves that benefit one’s career. Additionally, chronological resumes include past and current titles or positions and their correlation to specific job requirements. On the other hand, a- functional resume includes similar details yet focuses more on elaborating on specific skills, achievements, experiences, and accomplishments. Previously (Unit VII), the lesson focused on career changes. A functional resume is best suited for individuals making career changes and/or new graduates working on building their resumes with a variety of unrelated work experience with gaps in the history. Both the chronological and functional resume are pertinent and a must for potential job seekers. In building your resume package, Anderson and Bolt (2016) suggest following five steps toward building a winning resume:

1. gathering information; 2. creating an information heading and utilizing proper layout; 3. writing a skills summary or personal profile; 4. inserting skills, accomplishments, and experience; and 5. reviewing the completed resume (p. 206).

UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE

Resume Package

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A great working draft is logical and should assist in reducing the time spent going from job-to-job. The first step in building your resume is to always start with a rough draft. Education should be near the top and include all degrees, certificates, certifications, credentials, licenses, military experience, and/or skills. Additionally, during the gathering step, list all skills and accomplishments. Next, list your most recent employment with dates, including titles and responsibilities. If you are fluent with a foreign language, a- recipient of honors or awards, or have served as a volunteer, be sure to insert it onto your resume. The next step is deciding on the best layout for your resume. As mentioned above, choose between a- functional or chronological order. For those that have an advanced skill set, include a personal profile emphasizing key skills in the sub headers. List any specialized skills desired by the potential employer, and include activities and significant accomplishments. Step three is writing a skills summary and/or personal profile. Keep in mind a skills summary statement is used on a functional resume and best assists those with little to no work experience. A personal profile is an- introductory statement with professional experience related to one’s goals and/or targeted positions. Step four includes an elaboration of specific skills and your proficiency level. You may include past work, history of volunteer work, community services, and include duties that explain each one. You may also include transferrable skills along with an elaboration of your soft skills. Transferable skills are the type of skills that can be transferred form one job to the next, and soft skills include being a great communicator, excellent team player, and people oriented. Step five is simple, yet the most important. A thorough review of your resume should include checking each section for accuracy, flow, information, grammar, and logical structure. Finally, share your resume to request feedback from others. Requesting feedback from others is a great way to ensure that you are communicating what you intend to communicate to others. Again, you want the potential employers to see your best within those first three to five seconds. Then, once your resume is ready, distribute it to all of those jobs that capture your interest. The general rule is that you will apply to several jobs, while only hearing back from a few, and when they contact you, be sure you are ready for them. A resume is vital for potential employment, and it can be just as important as a cover letter. Literally, the cover letter is the prelude to a resume. Many employers will read through a cover letter before skimming over the resume. Typically, a cover letter consists of three paragraphs, the first being the purpose, specific position, and how you became aware of the position (How did you find the job posting?). The second paragraph makes reference to the resume by highlighting skills and qualifications that match the job. The third and final paragraph is to request a meeting, interview, and/or some form of welcoming communication. Ironically, a- cover letter is a great advantage to your resume packet but one that is often overlooked as trivial instead of substance. An additional item to accompany a resume packet is a personal SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym commonly found within the business industry that represents four areas: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. While professionals have often performed a SWOT analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of a business, a SWOT analysis can also be a valuable way for professionals to reflect on their own skills. In other words, a SWOT analysis is an exercise where you can evaluate your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. One of the best ways to approach a self-reflecting SWOT analysis is by treating it as a moving target that has continuous updates and/or revisions. As you gain experience and develop your skills over time, the results of your self-reflecting SWOT analysis will evolve. Begin the SWOT by making a list of all your strengths, knowledge, and experience that make you stand out from others. Include technical skills, soft skills, and relationship strengths. Next, take a hard look at your areas to improve; remember your weaknesses, which are the areas that may not be easily recognizable but are just as important due to the skills you are lacking. The opportunities available are endless possibilities awaiting your discovery that you might not have considered. Finally, under the threat section, consider those career changes that are both foreseen and also unforeseen such as terminations, layoffs, and resignations. The total package includes a resume, a cover letter, as well as performing a self-reflecting SWOT analysis. Be honest and consistent throughout your resume package as you want each item to support the others. In a- sense, the complete package should effectively “tell the story” about your professional life and qualifications. By including all of the correct details, you will be providing recruiters and potential employers with the details that they are seeking. Just like most professionals in the world, recruiters and potential

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employers are very busy. If you can provide the desired details on your resume, then you are very likely to be effectively communicating to the recruiters. Since making the first impression occurs within the first few seconds, having the appropriate details in place at an opportune time can make all the difference. Learning Activities (Non-Graded): A Worksheet to Practice Critical Thinking As you work through the material for this unit, consider completing a worksheet that contains valuable activities for practicing critical thinking toward preparing a resume and cover letter. Click here to access the worksheet. This is a non-graded activity, so there is no need to submit it. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.

Reference Anderson, L. E., & Bolt, S. B. (2016). Professionalism: Skills for workplace success (4th ed.). Boston,

MA: Pearson.

Suggested Reading The following sources provide helpful tips for preparing a professional resume that captures the attention of potential employers: AboutCareers.com. (n.d.). Resumes and cover letters. Retrieved from

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/u/resumesandletters.htm Bersoza, J. (2010 April 1). The importance of writing a good resume. Retrieved from

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-importance-of-writing-a-good-resume Daniels, C. (n.d.). How to add a SWOT analysis to a resume. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/add-swot-

analysis-resume-11078.html Martin, E. (2014 September 22). Why one executive says your cover letter is more important than your

résumé. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/why-cover-letters-are-important-2014-9 Quast, L. (2013 April 15). How to conduct a personal SWOT analysis. Retrieved from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/04/15/how-to-conduct-a-personal-s-w-o-t-analysis/