How to Write a Resume

How to Write a Resume Presented by: Northrop Grumman Corporation

Updated 1/3/12

Why all the fuss about resumes? What Is a Resume? A resume is your commercial ad Job hunting tool to network and get interviews Provides opportunity for you to showcase your strengths A way to direct the interviewer’s attention to specific accomplishments and experiences Impact of a Resume Makes the first impression, but doesn’t guarantee the job May prevent you from getting the job if not done right Who Reviews Your Resume? Recruiters Hiring Managers

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What is the MAIN PURPOSE of a Resume?

To get an Interview

Resumes help secure interviews Interviews help secure jobs

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Quick Facts

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Recruiters typically spend 30 seconds or less reviewing each resume they receive – If it is not well formatted or too wordy it may be discarded

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Why?... Time! – A typical job opening within Northrop Grumman can attract between 50 to 300 resumes – The average Recruiter has 30 open requisitions (1,500 – 9,000 resumes) – The average Hiring Manager has 5 open requisitions (250 – 1,500 resumes)

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Quick Facts (Continued) Recruiters look first for ways to exclude resumes, then for ways to rank the remaining resumes by qualification.

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50 to 300 resumes/position 1st Review

» 1 in 10 survive

2nd

What Does This Mean For ME?

Review

» 1 in 3 survive to Interview

Your resume must be on target and demonstrate that you are qualified!

Interview

»

1 in 3 receive an offer

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What Do Employers Want?

Accomplishments Thinkers & Problem Solvers Leaders vs. Managers Confidence Cultural Fit Communication – Both Written and Oral Technical Skills

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3 Tips to Start the Process 

Conduct a Self/Job-Assessment

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Draft using the three C’s  Clear, Concise, Consistent

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Request a Resume Review/Critique

Good resumes take work! They are rarely perfect the first time around!

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Conduct a Self/Job Assessment - Do Your Homework!

Do a sample job search – Evaluate job descriptions and qualities of a “successful candidate”. – How does that relate to your own capabilities?

Be honest in your self assessment – Can you do the job? – Are you qualified for the job?

Take the time to know and understand your credentials and overall job objective and goal

Use this information to help center the focus of your resume

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Use the 3 C’s

Clear message with clean and simple language Concise statements allowing readers to quickly identify knowledge, skills and abilities

Consistent easy to read format General Document Formatting Tips • Use an easily read font/pitch • Times New Roman or Arial • No smaller than 10 pitch font • Keep page borders at 1 inch • No less than .5 inches at the bottom • Use bold typeface, underlining, CAPITALIZATION, and/or italics sparingly

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Request a Resume Critique

Don’t be too proud to ask for help! – Ask to have people review & critique your resume – Multiple sets of eyes allow for multiple perspectives/insight – Resources Available: • Career Services • Faculty • RA • Internship Supervisor • Friends • Family

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Getting Started: Resume Organization The 30 seconds Recruiters spend reviewing a resume is on the top 5” of the first page)

Contact Information Objective (optional) Education Experience/Skills Recognitions/Awards Leadership/Organizations

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Contact Information

Name: include preferred name Address: both school and permanent • Don’t forget City, State and Zip Code

Phone number: primary contact number with area code • Make sure voice message greeting is appropriate

Email address: avoid inappropriate words Website (optional): make sure content is professional or at least appropriate John Q. Adams 1234 America Way Nutley, NJ 23431 (555) 123-5234 (home) (555) 234-9393 (work) [email protected]

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Using an Objective Statement

Pro’s

Con’s

Clarifies what you want -- position and goal

Can close doors, rather than open them by sending the wrong message or unnecessarily narrowing your options

Can be tailored to fit the position you are applying for

Recommendation Use only if it clearly and succinctly meets your career needs Everything in your resume should support your objective

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Using an Objective Statement (Continued)

If you are going to use an objective: – – – –

Be clear and concise Be specific about what you’re looking for Summarize professional goal Don’t be too general Examples: To obtain a challenging engineering position where I can utilize my design, analysis and programming skills. To obtain a full time engineering position involving RF/Microwave design testing.

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Education

List most recent education first – List all PhD, Masters, Bachelors

List school, degree and major List all degrees achieved – Example, double major and minors

List expected graduation date List GPA (always) Currently working towards a degree? Example: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA MS, Computer Science Expected 2013 GPA: 3.2

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Experience/Skills

List employer, location, responsibilities – Internships – Related work experience – Other work experience • If possible, show relevancy to position applying to

Relevant coursework – Classes, projects, labs, etc. • Don’t list GE courses or course numbers

Experience Must Include:  Job Title

Use action or power words

 Company Name & Location (City, State)

Emphasize any leadership roles

 Dates of Employment

List computer skills

 Responsibilities with Accomplishments

– Languages, OS, software, etc.

Hardware skills – Logic analyzer, soldering, oscilloscope, etc. 16

Experience/Skills (Continued) Making Tasks into Accomplishments

Expectations/Tasks – – – –

Monitor inventory levels Tested software code Responsible for surveying orders Led Robotics team

PAR

PAR Statements Describe Accomplishments P = The Problem, challenge, situation, or task you faced A = Specific Actions taken to resolve or improve the situation R = The end Results of your actions (quantify with numbers, percentages, or dollars when possible)

Example: Redesigned service processes, increasing responsiveness 50% and reducing queues 50%

Accomplishments – Re-designed inventory tracking process. Lowered inventory levels by 20% – Successfully completed testing of code for phases 1 and 2 allowing for timely delivery of product to customer – Surveyed orders and made sure all repairs are done on schedule which resulted in 98% of repairs completed on schedule – Led team of 5 in Robotics competition, placed 3 of 20 teams

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Accomplishments & Awards

Academic Distinctions – Cum Laude and above Honor Rolls – President’s List, Dean’s List, etc. Scholarships and Recognition – Presidential scholars, merit scholars, etc. Honor Societies – Eta Kappa Nu, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, etc. Class Ranking – 1st in class, top 10 students, etc. Competitions – Best design project, school competitions, etc. Publications

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Leadership & Organizations

Engineering Societies – SWE, ASME, IEEE, ASCE, SHPE, NSBE, etc.

Community Services Religious Groups Tutoring Students Clubs and

Organizations

– Robotics, Amateur Radio, marching band, etc.

Intramural Sports Get involved! These things can really set you apart – add uniqueness! 19

Summary: Things to Remember on your Resume

Contact Information should be correct and complete Use Clear Fonts – 10-12pt for body – Sans Serif or Clear Type Fonts

Print on plain white bond paper Use a bullet format listing the most important points first Begin with action words and keep tenses consistent Accomplishments over responsibilities or duties Numbers and quantifiers help showcase your accomplishments Mimic company language – Use keywords from the job description 20

Summary: Things to Avoid on your Resume

Fancy Paper or Fonts – Bold, Italics, Underlining

More than 2 Pages, if possible Typos and Grammar Errors Graphics and Photos Missing dates or information Passive Verbs Do not stress the obvious, stress the unique Buzz words, slang, acronyms Avoid embellishing or exaggerating work experience 21

Formatting Examples: Bad Resume

Resume is too lengthy, wordy and the formatting is hard to follow! 22

Formatting Examples: Bad Resume

Complex formatting will be problematic when scanning into applicant tracking systems 23

Formatting Examples: Good Resume

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Formatting Examples: Good Resume

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Bringing It All Together! Vocabulary • • • •

Avoid slang Keep it simple Spell out acronyms Avoid repetition

Voice • •

Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation Short, crisp statements Error free Bulleted lists Consistent tenses/formats

• • • •

Common Action Verbs Achieved Demonstrated Executed Identified Implemented Motivated Organized Pioneered Revamped Revived Revolutionized Started Volunteered

Appearance/Design • • • •

Avoid using “I” or referring to yourself as “Mrs. Jones” Use active voice to express accomplishments

Most relevant information on top Easy to read font Clearly labeled sections Ample white space

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Cover Letter

Address the receiving person properly – Spell the name correctly

Talk about Yourself Don’t be too lengthy – 2, 3 paragraphs max – 1st Paragraph-Purpose Statement – 2nd Paragraph-What sets you apart – 3rd Paragraph-Close

Can be in email format Check spelling and grammar Apply to jobs 27

Good Luck! www.northropgrumman.com Email: [email protected]

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