The Best Person for the Job—Getting an Interview with a Skills-Based Resume
By Jeanni Urbahns, Community Liaison for Indiana Business College
[email protected]

 
What is a resume? Simply put, a resume is an introduction of yourself and often the very first impression the employer has of you. Even employers who don’t require resumes often appreciate the added insight into a prospective employee.

Types of Resumes
Skills-Based—A skills-based resume may be a good option for someone who does not have a great deal of experience, varied experience, or someone who is looking to change career fields all together. The skills-based resume allows a person to highlight the many skills they can bring to the employer regardless of where they developed those skills.

Employment-Based—An employment-based resume highlights WHERE you have worked and WHERE you learned the skills you have to offer the employer. This works well for those who are staying in their current field or who have worked for well known employers in that given field.

Education-Based—The education-based resume can be useful to recent college graduates or those who hold specific degrees that are a requirement for the job. 
 
All types of resumes need to include a carefully thought out section that will highlight the specific skills that will make you the most attractive to the employer. Research industry standards by viewing job descriptions to help identify those hard skills you already possess. Take a simple, free online personality assessment to help identify personal traits that will benefit you in the performance of the job. Include these traits and experiences regardless of what type of resume you choose.
 
The Parts of the Resume
Your Name—Make it large enough that it stands out and is easy to read.
Your Contact Information—This too should be easy to read. All parts of your contact information should be professional. Consider modifying your voice mail and answering machine to something simple and professional that will let the employer know that they have reached the right person. If you choose to include an email address as a form of contact, make sure it too is professional. Keep in mind that employers may disregard your resume or application based on an unprofessional, juvenile, or crude email address.
The Objective—Traditionally, the objective is the first thing the employer reads when reviewing your resume.  Do not feel that you must include an objective if you cannot come up with a good one. To hold a job you like, work for a reputable company, or earn a good paycheck are all unspoken objectives of anyone looking for a job—do not include these topics in your objective. Ask yourself if your objective is just a bunch of hot air—remember, this is that first impression—don’t start with a line of boloney.
Skills Statements—Take note of the skills that employers require. Inventory your skills and select those that are the strongest. Use power verbs to start each skills statement, use your dictionary or thesaurus to eliminate using the same verbs over and over, and be prepared to discuss your skills statements in the interview. Strong skills statements make answering interview questions easier and can often make giving examples from your past experience much easier. Types of skills can vary and often overlap. Here are some skill types that will be important when writing your resume.

Soft Skills—Soft skills are those qualities and traits that you probably didn’t learn in a classroom. Examples of soft skills would be logical, efficient, value diversity, adapt easily, creative, takes ownership of projects and problems.
       
Transferable Skills—These are general skills that can be useful in a wide variety of jobs. Good communication skills, writing skills, organizational skills are just a few examples of transferable skills employers often look for when hiring new members of their team.

Job-Related Skills—These are skills that you have used in past jobs or skills you have acquired through training or education. 

Education—List your educational accomplishments in reverse chronological order.  This means that you want to list the most recent first and work your way back.  If you are a student, be sure to include your expected graduation date. It is important not to mislead the employer by allowing them to believe that you have already earned a diploma or degree. If you are attending college, don’t feel that you need to list your high school information. You will provide a detailed list of your educational history on your application so it is okay to keep this brief on your resume.
Additional Training or Certifications—Mention additional training you have taken as a way to set yourself apart from other applicants. CPR or first aid certifications, CDL licensing, and even workplace training in safety or diversity can be included too.
Volunteerism and/or “Character-Building” Activities—Employers often like to know that the people they hire understand that they are part of a community.  Briefly include volunteer activities or other activities that have helped you build your personal character. You can also include any recognition you have received as an individual or part of a group.
 Employment History—Again, list this information in reverse chronological order. Since you have likely highlighted your skills already, it is okay to keep this brief.  It will not be necessary to include a detailed description of each and every job you have held unless you have chosen to create an employment-based resume.  Often including your job title, the employer name, city and state location, and the dates of your employment is enough.

Keep your resume to one page and consider purchasing a quality resume paper in a neutral shade of white, ivory, gray, or tan. Resume paper can be somewhat expensive when purchased by the box, but most office supply stores have a wide selection of resume paper available for single sheet purchase, making it quite affordable for the average person.

 

Want more information on creating an effective resume? See below a list of suggested reading materials on the topic of resumes and job searching provided for us by Denise Wirrig from the Bartholomew County Library.

 Cover Letters and Resumes

650.14 Hin           The Ferguson Guide to Resumes and Job Hunting Skills:  a Step-By-Step Guide to Preparing For your Job Search.  Maurene J. Hinds. 

Authoritative, up-to-date information suitable for recent graduates, first-time job seekers, or those embarking on a new career.

650.14 Nob         Gallery of Best Cover Letters:  A Collection of Quality Cover Letters by Professional Resume Writers.  David F. Noble. 

Includes more than 300 cover letters and 23 resumes!

650.14 Sch           The Complete Book of Resumes:  Simple Steps for Writing a Successful Resume.  Karen Schaffer.   

285 actual resumes (both good & bad).

Job Searching

650.14 Bea          The Ultimate Job Search:  Intelligent Strategies to Get the Right Job Fast. Richard H. Beatty. 

A proven plan to shorten your job search by 50 to 75 percent!

650.14 Dik            Guide to Internet Job Searching.  Margaret Riley Dikel.  

Target the most interesting jobs at the best companies.

Interviewing

650.14 Job           Job Interviews That Get You Hired. 

                                Preparing yourself for the interview,  tricky questions,  top 25 interview mistakes,  and the 50 most  common interview questions.

Audio Book CD 650.14 Eig

                                Eight Steps to a Successful Job Interview.   

The interview is the most important 60 minutes in the job search.

Audio Book CD 650.14 Haw

                                25 Things to Say to the Interviewer, to Get the Job You Want:  Being Qualified Isn’t Enough.  Dexter Hawk.   

If you’re looking for a job that lets you do what you’re good at, and pays you what you’re worth, listen to this book.

DVD 650.14 Vir

Virtual job interview : practice & preparation for getting thejob you deserve!   

Assists students with the job interview process and help them prepare by practicing basic interviewing questions.



A Job Seekers Guide to the OTHER First Impressions

 By Jeanni Urbahns, Community Liaison for Indiana Business College
Jeanni.Urbahns@ibcschools.edu

For those seeking employment, making that good first impression is very important. Many job seekers tend to think that the true first impression they make on a potential employer is that moment they meet for an interview.  This is not true. Most often that first impression is formed when the employer contacts the applicant to schedule an interview.  With that being said, when a potential employer attempts to contact you, are you leaving him or her with the right impression?  

Here are just a few tips on making a great impression.
 
Telephone Etiquette

A simple telephone call is the most common way prospective employers contact potential employees.  Be ready for that call by thinking ahead and making a few simple changes.
 
If callers to your cell phone are asked to “enjoy the music” while the call is connected, consider changing this option to a standard ring tone.  Your taste in music may not be shared by the prospective employer.  Suggestive lyrics or loud music may subconsciously lead the caller to make assumptions about who you are as a person and how you might fit into their current work environment.
 
Avoid “funny” voice mail greetings.  “This is John. You know what to do at the beep” is just one example of a message that may be funny to your friends, but could be interpreted as rude, immature, or unprofessional by an employer.No matter how cute your children may sound on your answering machine, opt for the professional approach while searching for a job. Remove “family” greetings and keep it professional.
 
Record a professional greeting on your voice mail or answering machine.  It is frustrating to any caller to get the prerecorded, robotic voice informing them that “No one is available to take your call right now…” message. Let prospective employers know that they have reached you by clearly stating your name and phone number.  Clearly stating your name is especially important if you know you have a name that is regularly mispronounced.  It is helpful to prospective employers to hear your name said correctly so that they can pronounce it when you do finally talk to schedule your interview. If you do not feel comfortable recording your name on your message, be sure to clearly state your phone number so that the employer knows that they have reached the right person.
 
If there is a chance that anyone else might answer the phone when a prospective employer calls, discuss with them the importance of proper telephone etiquette.  A new job is important to you and it is important that you get a detailed message so you can contact the employer promptly. 
 
When speaking with an employer, try to remove yourself from an environment full of distractions. Take the call in a room away from your friends or family. Pull into a parking lot and turn off your car if you receive a call while driving. You do not want to have to be shushing others in the background, disciplining your children, or worrying about traffic while scheduling an interview. Give the caller your full attention to truly make a great first impression.

Email Etiquette

If you have listed an email address on your resume or application, you have made a commitment to use your email as an accepted form of communication. Keep these points in mind when communicating with a prospective employer via email.

Professional email address.  What you choose for your email address might say something about you. Sometimes what it is saying may be enough to discourage an employer from considering you. Addresses like [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] will not present you in a professional light.  Consider setting up an email account that you use only for your job search or other professional correspondence. [email protected] is often the easiest and most professional address to select and can act as an easy identifier to the prospective employer.
 
Check your email often.  If you have provided your email address as a form of contact, check it several times a day while you are searching for a new job. Don’t miss out on your opportunity because you neglected to check your email.
 
Email content.  Respond to any job-related emails by using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. NEVER use “text talk” in your professional emails.

Free Money for College Not a Myth
By Jeanni Urbahns, Community Liaison for Indiana Business College  [email protected]

Scholarships are free money awarded to students. Scholarships are not just based on academic or athletic ability. There are scholarships available to almost anyone. The trick for most is finding them and then following through with the application process.

There are many sources for scholarships: local and national organizations and foundations, churches, colleges, large corporations, local employers, and private citizens. One of the most popular ways to search for scholarships is the Internet. Search engines and databases have made locating scholarships easier than ever. Check out sites like www.brokescholar.com, www.FastWeb.com, and www.collegeboard.com for access to a wide variety of scholarships. 

Here are some tips to make the scholarship search and application process easier and more effective.

$        Work the scholarship search like a job. Set aside time each week to review possible scholarship opportunities, respond to correspondence, complete applications, and write essays.

$        Set up a dedicated email account and check it often. You will receive a lot of email—a dedicated email account will reduce the clutter in your personal email account.

$        Many scholarships require some sort of essay. Do not let this scare you off—instead, work smarter not harder and look for those scholarships that ask for essays on the same topic and get twice the action out of one essay.

$        Proofread your essay and then ask someone you trust to proofread it too! Teachers, past or present, are always a good source for high quality proofreading. If they are willing to help, take them up on it. Remember, this is for free money for college so you want all the help that you can get!

$        Read the application carefully and leave no question unanswered. It is surprising how many people miss out on the opportunity to receive a scholarship just because they left one line blank or forgot to include a required document.

$        Search the internet for more tips on securing scholarships. People who have been successful are often happy to share their knowledge with you.

$        Watch for scams. Real scholarships NEVER require that you pay money to them in order to be considered for the scholarship. 

$        Keep track of scholarships that you may qualify for a second time around. There is a good chance that if you received that scholarship once, you could receive it again.