Read Chapter Eight.

The goals for this class session are:

• To recognize the importance of resumes
• To understand what content is important for your profession
• To recognize styles of resumes
• To complete a resume tailored to your career field and background

You have researched many employers, visiting their websites and reading their vacancy notices. In addition, you have talked with several professionals in your field about employment. Based on what you have learned, what do employers in your profession look for when hiring entry-level employees? Specific educational credentials, internship experience, personality traits, and certain critical skills such as interpersonal competence or writing ability – all of these might be important in your field. 

Summarize in one paragraph what you believe employers value when filling positions in your field. If you do not feel confident that you have read enough or talked to enough professionals to answer that question, go back and do more research online and/or network with additional contacts until you feel you can answer this question. The answer will determine how you complete the next Activity.

First, view the Career Center presentation on resume writing. This presentation stresses several key points about resume writing:

• Resumes should be targeted to employer needs. Research helps you determine what employers in your profession value.
• The format you choose should emphasize your strongest qualifications.
• Stressing your transferable skills is a critical part of resume writing.

Many other experts have written about resume writing. Explore using sites we have used (see Resources if you forget) and read the opinions of at least three other resume "experts" before you begin your rough draft or redesign the resume you now use. 

  8-15.  What are the five points most experts stress?   Add to your Portfolio.

8-16. Finally, develop a draft of your resume and email it to me at craigkm@hiram.edu as an attachment in the body of the email. We will learn other ways to transmit resumes electronically next!

A Note on Resume Feedback: While this document is yours and must represent the person you want to present to employers, it is my responsibility to give professional feedback based on my judgment and experience, and your responsibility, in the context of this class, to redraft your resume, taking my comments into account.

However, there are many ways to write an effective resume, and many criteria employers use as they evaluate them, some valid, some idiosyncratic. In addition to my feedback, your friends and family, former employers, and roommates will all express opinions about your resume.

Therefore, if you disagree with my feedback and can make a good case based on recognized resume sources or good ideas others present to you – not "My brother did his this way!" – then I will discuss other approaches with you and may be convinced to concede. In the end, after this course is over, you are free to design your resume as you wish. My goal is for you to develop during this class a filter to evaluate resume comments and make an informed decision about to write an effective resume.

eResumes in today’s job search

While you were reading vacancy notices or employer websites in the previous classes, you may have noticed some special requests for electronic resume submissions. Options such as scannable resumes, resumes transmitted in ASCII text or resume forms completed online are only a few of the many means employers are using to deal with large numbers of candidates electronically and efficiently. 

For this last resume activity, please check out these links to Electronic Resumes and complete this project and add it to your portfolio.

8-17.  Based on your reading, design an alternative electronic resume you might be asked to submit.  When you add it to your portfolio for me to read, please attach a paragraph explaining why you choose to revise it in this particular way.

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Class Session Nine