Resume Writing Workshop

Welcome to the Career Centers resume writing workshop. This section is to help you prepare
your resume, one of the most difficult parts in applying for a job. The resume is a key part of
the process because this is what will often get you an interview for a job. It is a statement of
what you have done, what you can do and why you consider yourself to be a strong candidate
for the job.
Preparing your resume
The most important and basic tool in your job search is the resume. It is also the first step on
the road to finding a new job.

Thinking through your resume will help you to establish the important facts about what you
have done so far in your career and what you can say about yourself to potential departments.

It is a marketing tool that is used to :

highlight your qualifications, skills, experience and significant accomplishments

communicate how you can contribute to a new department
distinguish you from others by showing your uniqueness
General Guidelines
It is important that you think carefully about your career, with regard to your experience and
skills and also the type of job you would like to do. Make sure that you describe your work
experience, skills and job knowledge, highlighting those things that you do well. It is also
important to be realistic and flexible when looking for another job and do not expect an
immediate promotion. Promotions will have to be earned in your new department.

Be precise :
Concentrate on what your actual responsibilities have been in each of the jobs you have held.
Be concise :
Only write specifically what the reader needs to know to appreciate the relevant facts about
each job. Use brief notes and descriptions.
Be candid :
Do not afraid to be frank and candid.
Be consistent :
Structure your resume in a way that is easy for the reader to follow.
Be comprehensive :
Do not leave any significant periods of time unaccounted for.
Format & Content
The following points are a suggested format and content for your resume:

Name, address and contact data

Personal data:
Badge No, payroll, marital status.
Career Objectives:
reason for wanting to change jobs.
what type of work / job are you seeking. Try to describe the job or type of
work you would like to do.
if you have an interest in a career that is different from your existing job.
indicate your preferred work location(s).
if you are applying for a specific job, please indicate the job title and any
reference information.
 Education / Training:
Indicate only the highest level of study or achievement.
Employment History:
This is the most important part of your resume, so spend most of your time on this section.

Begin with your current job and work back through your career. Concentrate on actual
experience gained and skills you have learned. Try to avoid describing what your department
does or merely giving a list of responsibilities from your present or previous Job Descriptions.
Be positive and emphasize what you are good at and your achievements.

For each job, try to list and describe the most important tasks and responsibilities.
Concentrate on your experience in the last 10 years as this will be the most relevant. Where
you have progressed through several ladder jobs e.g. engineer IV, Engineer III and so on, it
may help you to group them together, if the type of work and responsibilities are largely the
same in each job.
Action verbs:
The following list of 'action' verbs may be helpful to you as you write your resume . Use them
when describing your skills, accomplishments and work experience :
Accelerated Counseled Improved Operated Revised

Achieved Dealt with Improvised Organized Selected

Administered Defined Increased Perceived Solved

Analyzed Delegated Initiated Persuaded Staffed

Applied Designed Instituted Planned Stimulated

Brought Developed Instructed Produced Summarized

Calculated Empowered Interpreted Programmed Terminated

Chaired Encouraged Introduced Promoted Trained

Coached Enlisted Invoked Recommended Translated

Communicated Estimated Led Reevaluated Transferred

Competency Evaluated Managed Renegotiated Uncovered

Conceived Expedited Molded Reorganized Utilized

 Conserved Forecasted Motivated Reported Withdrew

Coordinated Implemented Negotiated Researched Wrote

Checklist for an Effective Resume

Appearance
pleasing to the eye
is reader friendly
looks like a professional document ; orderly presentation.
Personal Information
is at top of first page
includes current work address
includes telephone and fax numbers, E-mail address
Career Objective
includes type of job you seek
emphasize your strongest skills
Education / Training
lists most recent / highest level qualifications, education and training
Skills / Accomplishments
are consistent with objective
matches job requirements
are supported by experience / education
highlight your best attributes
Experience
include job titles , department name etc
include dates, positions held
highlight skills and relevant accomplishments