[nabs-l] Question about Resumes

Greg Aikens gpaikens at gmail.com
Thu Feb 21 22:01:08 UTC 2013


Hi Greg and all,
Kaiti had some great advice.  I would like to add a bit of a different perspective.  

I respectfully disagree on the point of keeping the resume to one page.  Everything I have read and heard from professionals is that less is more when it comes to resumes.  Potential employers want to find the relevant info they are looking for quickly and easily.  Everything I have found indicates that unless you are a long term professional with several jobs under your belt, you need to keep the resume to one page.  This can be a challenge but it is very doable.  

This means that you cut out everything that isn't absolutely necessary.  In my opinion, the absolutely necessary info you must include are your contact info, your education, work/volunteer/professional experiences, and any professional memberships.  After that, if you have room you can go into honors and awards.  To save you the space from creating separate headings, you can combine work and volunteer experiences into one heading called "Experience." 

Some people like to include an objective on the resume but it seems like a waste of space to me.  It is often a vague statement that lacks meaning and you will cover this in your cover letter anyway.  Things like personality traits belong in the cover letter as well.  

I would also leave your references off of the resume.  If your employer wants them, you can submit a separate reference sheet.  This gives you more space on the actual resume.  

I like Kaiti's suggestions on how to format your headings/text.  The goal is clear and concise.  Keep it simple and clear.  Have a few friends/mentors look it over when you're done.  Ask them to help you eliminate any fluff you can get rid of.  

Hope this helps.  Best of luck with your position.

-Greg

On Feb 21, 2013, at 3:34 PM, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Greg,
> 
> Sorry for the blank post earlier; my internet went out when I hit send
> and the information didn't go through.  Hopefully what I was going to
> say will go through this time.
> 
> There are many different ways to format a resume, but I can tell you
> how I have been taught to do it.  If anyone else has suggestions which
> sound like they'll work better feel free to pacemail them together to
> get the best possible resume.  I'll show you how I've done it as well
> as provide examples.
> 
> First, start by putting your name at the top of the page.  Make the
> font bold and centered.  You can also make it larger by a few font
> sizes, but I'd say no more than 18 point.  I like to keep mine between
> 14 and 18 depending on how much information I have to put into the
> resume.  Below that, type some contact information.  The font for this
> should be shrunken back to 12 point, unbolded, and kept centered.
> Something like this would work, "Phone: (123)456-7890.  New line,
> Email: joe.schmow at gmail.com," should work.
> 
> Next, type the following headings left side justified and in bold 12
> point font.  There is some flexibility in this, but here is what I've
> used; Objective, Education, (optional, Personal Qualities),
> Activities, Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, Awards and Honors,
> and Recommendations/References.  These headings give you the skeleton
> for your resume.  If you don't have anything to put in any of these
> sections delete the heading and ignore it.
> 
> When you write the information under these headings, it is important
> to note that you do not write in complete, gramatically correct
> sentence.  By that I mean you should still check spelling and such,
> but these sentences will not follow the traditional form.  Most will
> be in past tense without a subject because they're all referring to
> you in the first place.  All font under these headings should also be
> left side justified and unbolded, 12 point.  Be sure to leave a blank
> line between each section.
> 
> Objective:  For this heading you write the position you're going for.
> Example, "To obtain a position as CEO of Joe Schmow Inc," or, "To
> obtain a position as a McDonalds manager."
> 
> Under education you'll put the schools you've attended, their
> addresses, and when your degree was received.  If you haven't received
> your degree yet say degree expected and give the date.  Put the most
> recent school or the one you're attending now first.  Example:
> Education:
> The University of Dayton.
> 300 College Park. Dayton Oh. 45469.
> Degree Expected: May 2016.
> Colerain High School.
> 8801 Cheviot Rd. Cincinnati Oh. 45251.
> 
> Next, if you like you can put a personal qualities section if you wish
> to mention that you have a "strong work ethic," "good communication
> skills," or "detail-oriented and thurrough with work."  List whatever
> qualities you like in a similar manner.
> 
> For the activities section list things you were involved in outside of
> school or work.  Mention them in most recent to least recent order and
> include dates.  Be sure to mention things such as if you held an
> officer position in a club or organization.
> 
> Work Experience: For work experience list your most recent job first
> and work backwards from there.  List the dates you held the job, then
> write what your responsibilities were using a past-tense style.  If
> you are still currently employed in the first job you list just say
> something like "May 2012-present."  Example:
> Work Experience:
> Joe Schmow Inc.  May 2012-Jan 2013.
> Assisted customers with... contributed to... recorded... etc.
> 
> Volunteer Experience is formatted the same way.  The thing you've
> volunteered for most recently goes first and you follow that same
> format.
> Volunteer Experience:
> Volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul.  Feb 2013.
> Assisted with... duties included... etc.
> 
> Awards and Honors is more like the activities heading in formatting.
> List the thing you've achieved most recently and work backwards.
> Remember that these are not just awards, but can also include
> memberships in prestigious groups or organizations which didn't quite
> fit into the activities section.  Fake example:
> Awards and Honors:
> Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Jan 2013.
> Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives.  Nov 2012.
> Inducted into the ... hall of fame.  Jul 2011.
> Nominated for a Grammy award.  Apr 2009.
> Accepted as a member of Mensa.  Jan 2007.
> 
> Last you have Recommendations or References, you can choose either
> title.  This is a list of people, usually no more than 2 or 3, who
> would be willing to recommend you to the potential employer.  These
> people should not be family.  Example:
> References:
> Kaiti Shelton
> Former Colleague at Joe Schmow Inc.
> Phone: (123)456-7890.
> Email: kaiti at email.com.
> It helps to list these references in order of who has known you
> longest or who would give you the best review.  If you don't want or
> need to list someone's contact information you could also do this:
> References:
> Available upon request.
> 
> Tip: Don't worry about keeping the resume at a page minimum.  That's
> something they always told me in high school but in reality employers
> would rather read one and a half pages of good information than a one
> page resume with some important details removed for space.  If you
> pack your resume with the right stuff and it goes over a little it's
> not a big deal.
> 
> This should give you a solid resume.  Hope this helps.
> 
> On 2/21/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On 2/21/13, Greg Wocher <icewolf2011 at gtwebdesign.us> wrote:
>>> Hello all,
>>> I am an Computer Information Systems major with a specialization in web
>>> development and administration.  I have the opportunity to apply for a
>>> job for the college I attend, DeVry University Online, as a website
>>> accessibility specialist.  I was wondering if anyone had any tips on
>>> creating a resume or could point me in the right direction for some
>>> online tips?
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> Greg Wocher
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Twitter name GWocher
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Kaiti
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Kaiti
> 
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