Building Careers and

Writing Rsums

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Learning Objectives
Describe the approach most employers take
to finding potential new employees
Explain the importance of networking in your
career search
Discuss how to choose the appropriate
rsum organization and list advantages and
disadvantages of the three common options
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Learning Objectives
List the major sections of a traditional
rsum
Identify six formats in which you can
produce a rsum
Describe what you should do to adapt your
rsum to a scannable format

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Securing Employment in
Todays Job Market
Understanding employers approach
Organizing your approach

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

The Job Search Process

1. Build toward a career
2. Prepare the rsum
3. Understand the interview process
4. Prepare for the interview
5. Complete the interview
6. Follow up and accept the job
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

How Employers
Approach the Recruiting
Process
Look inside the company

Networking and personal references

Employment agency or search firm
Unsolicited rsums
Solicited rsums via advertising
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Organizing Your
Approach
Monitoring business news
Researching specific firms
Building a network
Seeking career counseling

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Three-Step Rsum
Process
Planning
Analyze Situation
Gather Information
Select Medium
Get Organized

Writing

Adapt to
the Audience

Compose
the Message

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Completing
Revise
Produce
Proofread
Distribute
Chapter 15 -

Planning Your Rsum

Audience and purpose
Relevant information
The best medium
Organization

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Analyze Audience and

Purpose
The rsum
Target company
Hiring manager

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Gather Information
Employment history
Education background
Personal experience

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Choose the Medium

Word document
Plain-text
PowerPoint
Multimedia
Plain paper

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Organize the Rsum

Think in terms of results

Know how to get things done
Career progress and development
Standards of excellence
Flexible and willing to try new things
Communicate effectively
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Common Rsum Issues

Frequent job changes
Gaps in work history
Inexperience or over-qualification
Long-term with one company
For-cause job termination
Criminal or arrest record
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Typical Rsum Formats

Chronological
Functional
Combination

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Writing Your Rsum

Respect your rsum
Take your time
Review good models
Minimize frustration

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Keep the Rsum Honest

Workplace references
Background checks
Credit histories

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Adapting to the
Audience
Consider the employers perspective
Link accomplishments to potential
Translate skills and experience
Clarify educational achievements

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Composing Your Rsum

Contact information
Introductory statement
Educational background
Employment history
Activities and achievements
Relevant personal data
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Completing Your Rsum

Revising
Producing
Proofreading

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Typical Rsum Problems

Long or wordy

Short or sketchy

Hard to read

Amateurish

Poorly produced

Writing problems

Boastful tone

Gimmicky design

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Producing Your Rsum

Printed traditional rsum
Printed scannable rsum
Electronic plain text file
MS Word file
HTML format
Electronic PDF file
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Traditional Printed
Rsum
High-quality paper
Professional image

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Printed Scannable
Rsum
OCR software
Rsum length
Keyword summary

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Digital Rsum Formats

Plain-text file
MS Word file
HTML version
PDF format

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Proofreading the
Rsum
Headings and lists
Grammar and punctuation
Spelling and word choice
Paper and digital formats

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Distributing Your
Rsum
Postal mail
Fax machine
E-mail

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -

Posting Rsums Online

Personal e-portfolio
Personal website
Social networking
General job websites
Specialized websites
Staffing services
Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 15 -