A Chronological resume presents an employment history by listing previous positions, starting with the most recent and working backwards in reverse chronological order.

The Chronological Format is usually most effective when a candidate has a solid background in support of the current job objective and a strong history of career growth.

The Functional resume presents experience in terms of transferable or functional skill categories with employment history de-emphasized and placed near the end.

The Functional Format is most effective when one is changing career direction.

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RESUME CONTENT
As an advertisement of your qualifications, you want your resume to attract the attention of people who have the authority to offer you a position and to interest them enough to invite you for an interview. In many cases, the first impression of you is based on the appearance of your resume.

To get your message across most effectively:

• Use headlines and short descriptive phrases
• Incorporate action verbs as much as possible
• Highlight with bullets or boldface type for emphasis
• Allow plenty of white space
• Avoid unconventional type styles and formats that may direct attention away from the most important aspects of your message
• Keep the resume to a maximum of two pages in length
• Eliminate extraneous and/or repetitive information

Objective Statements
An objective statement at the beginning of your resume tells the reader immediately what type of position you are seeking. If you have several objectives, you have the choice of developing a separate resume for each one or omitting the objective from your resume entirely and incorporating it into a cover letter that can be adapted to fit each situation.It is important to remember that the objective, almost more than any other section of the resume, is a “double-edged sword.” That is, the objective is often used to screen you out, especially if it is written too narrowly. On the other hand, a well-written objective can help the resume reader “think you in” to an open position.The following are some examples of objective statements:

Example 1   Project manager for computer hardware manufacturer.

Example 2   Financial analyst in a mid-sized research and development organization.

Example 3   Senior executive position in operations with profit and loss responsibility.

Example 4   Administrative assistant using strong organizational abilities.

Career Summary
A career summary at the beginning of the resume briefly highlights past experience and credentials and can be very effective when written to support the new objective. In situations when you do not wish to use an objective because it would be too restricting, it is useful to write a summary to promote your experience for a wider range of career opportunities.

Examples of Summary Statements:

• Extensive experience in the design and delivery of technical training programs.
• Well-developed technical writing skills with solid proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• A systems thinker with strong managerial and team leadership skills

Six years of diversified administrative support experience with special skills in customer relations and computer operations. Able to complete variety of tasks quickly and accurately due to strong organizational skills and thorough knowledge of office work flow procedures. Proficient in Word for Windows and Excel.

• Twenty years of information systems management experience in manufacturing retail and distribution environment.
• Demonstrated performance in solving complicated business problems utilizing cutting edge communications and computer technologies.
• Experience in managing assets and multi-million dollar capital and operating budgets.
• Proved ability to mobilize people and resources to build high performance work teams.

Eight years of customer service and administrative support experience in both corporate and small business environments. Highly organized with a strong work ethic and reputation for doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to resolve customer problems with tact and diplomacy.

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An enthusiastic manufacturing professional with 17 years of diverse experience in operations and quality management and manufacturing engineering positions. A demonstrated capability in achieving business goals through innovative approaches. In-depth knowledge of Statistical Process Control techniques and ISO-9000 requirements.

Results-oriented, high energy executive with over 20 years of engineering and product planning experience in both domestic and international arenas. Proven track record of organization development, business team leadership, research and development, new product design, and the integration of diverse resources and technologies.

Experienced traffic manager with a creative, forward-thinking customer service approach to inter-national transportation. Knowledge of manufacturing processes, customs regulations, import/export operations, and international freight claims. A team player with strong analytical and organizational skills.

Experience
Your work history should follow and should be written in reverse chronological order with your most recent position first and working backwards to prior positions. Remember, the reader is most interested in your recent experience so this is where your emphasis should be placed.

Under the name of the company, give a brief description of the company unless it is very well known. Under the company give your job title and a brief description of your job responsibilities. Accomplishments
List key accomplishments for each job whenever possible. The exercise on Page 30 will help you identify accomplishments.

Education
This section should be used to describe any post-high school education including such things as technical schooling, college degrees, training courses or seminars you may have attended. The educational data you include in this section should support your career goals.

Optional Categories
Near the bottom of the resume you may include a category to highlight additional relevant information such as Skills, Professional Development, Honors, Community Activities, or Military.

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ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR RESUME WRITING

• Use high quality paper in white or off-white
• Give recent (past ten years) positions the most detail
• Do not use personal pronouns such as “I” and “My”
• Do not use “was responsible for” too often
• Do not include salary requirements, references or photographs
• Avoid discriminatory information such as age, race, religion, height, weight, handicaps, etc
• Put education data at the end, unless it is recent and/or a vital factor for the type of position being sought
• List hobbies or social interests only if they support the career objective
• Do not attempt to explain reasons for changes in employment
• List military service and honors, especially if these can be related to a business career
• Proficiency in a foreign language can be mentioned, but only if you can comfortably demonstrate it
• Memberships in professional organizations, with offices held and awards received, may be included if they enhance your career goal (this holds true for articles published, other business honors, and community service as well)
• Personal data such as marital status and number of children should be omitted
• Consider eliminating positions of short duration unless the job title or experience was particularly important
• Use only years (1994 - 1997) to indicate dates of employment - not the months

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COVER LETTERS
Presenting yourself effectively to prospective employers on paper is one of the challenges of every job campaign. A well-planned letter can stir interest, arrange meetings, and ensure that you will be remembered.

Two general types of job campaign letters are:

• Approach
  · Requests for information meetings
  · Requests for interview
         - in response to ad
         - direct to company
         - employment agencies
  

• Thank You
  · Following an information meeting
  · Following an interview
  · In response to a turndown
  · To accept or decline an offer

General Guidelines

1. Use good quality paper. A local printing shop can print letterhead paper with your name, address, and telephone number. We suggest you use the same paper for letters as is used to print your resume.
2. Type neatly using good business form. If you don’t have typing skills or a word processor, arrange for someone to perform this service for you. Erasures and misspellings create a poor first impression.
3. Always address your letter to a specific person. Check with the company switchboard operator to verify correct spelling and title.
4. Your letter should answer the question, “Why should I see you?” Emphasize in some way how you can be valuable to them. Show how you can make a contribution. Remember, people who do the hiring for companies are interested in what you can do for the company. They are not interested in what you want.
5. Keep your letters brief and your sentences short. Focus on the purpose of the correspondence, make your points clear and the required action evident.
6. Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
7. Keep a copy of every letter you write and on file in the appropriate category. You may wish to use these copies to note follow-up action.

LETTER STRUCTURE

Approach Letters
In an approach letter, follow this four-part structure:

• Connection Connect yourself to the reader by mentioning a name, a mutual interest, similar background, or other appropriate information.
  
• Interest Builder Develop interest by citing your background and experience concisely, choosing information most suited to the specific reader.
• Selling Lead to what action you wish to have take place.
• Next Step Take the responsibility for the follow up. State your next step - how and when you plan to contact the recipient.

Thank You Letters
The format for thank you letters should include:

• Recap of Meeting Highlights Specifics of discussion, information gained, helpful advice given, interview highlights, etc.
• Referrals Express appreciation for referrals and describe your intended action if this was a networking meeting.
• Sell Yourself If the thank you letter is to someone who has interviewed you for a position, take this opportunity to sell yourself again by confirming your interest in the company and the position and highlighting how you can help the company.
• Next Step Let them know how you intend to stay in touch.
  

CECILE LATOUR
77 Williams Lane
Castro Valley, CA 94546
(415) 663-9144

August 14, 2001

Mr. R. L. Montrose
Department K
Glick, Schilling & Martin Co.
1934 Drawbridge Road
McLean, VA 22102

Dear Mr. Montrose:
In response to your ad in the San Francisco Examiner on August 14, I am enclosing my resume for your consideration.

I was particularly attracted to your position because of my interest in international affairs and travel and the opportunity to use my language skills and international working experience in developing a more broadly based career.

As you will notice on my resume, I have an excellent command of both the French and English languages as well as international exposure through my career, travels, and self-education.
I believe I would be a good candidate for your position as translator and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Cecile LaTour

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THE JOB INTERVIEW
The stage in your search that actually puts you in front of prospective employers causes more sweaty palms, rapid heartbeats, and dry throats than any other.

The best way to combat interviewing jitters is through preparation. Planning your responses to frequently asked questions is very helpful. No one should put answers to memory, but deciding in advance what you wish to communicate will greatly increase your comfort level.

General Interviewing Guidelines

1. Prepare thoroughly. Know everything you can about the company, its products or service, its competitors.
2. Dress appropriately, neatly, and conservatively. Don’t wear anything that will distract the interviewer from what you are saying. Let your words make the statement, not your attire. Look like you are worth the money.
3. Arrive on time—or a little early (no more than 10 minutes). If you are travelling to an unfamiliar area, make a trial run a day or two beforehand. NEVER BE LATE. Use the time before the interview to review your accomplishments list, and to relax.
4. Be personal and polite to everyone you meet. You may be working with these people one-day and a good first impression really counts.
5. Know the name of the interviewer, his or her title, and the correct spelling of the name in advance. It is also helpful to find out how much time has been allotted for the interview so you can pace yourself accordingly.
6. Listen carefully to each question asked and don’t rush to answer immediately. Some responses require more thought than others.
7. Project enthusiasm, interest, and optimism. People, not companies, make job offers and they don’t relish rejection any more than you do.
8. Never talk to an interviewer about personal problems, nor criticize your former company or supervisor. Instead, concentrate on the contribution you will be able to make.
9. Avoid premature pay discussions. You can negotiate most effectively when there is a clear indication of interest.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
There are different types of interviews that you may encounter in your search:

• Screening
• Initial Interview
• Follow-up

Screening Interview
Screening interviews are used to narrow the field of qualified applicants for a particular opening. You are usually being measured against a predetermined set of job specifications by a person who often has limited functional knowledge of the job. He or she looks for candidates who match the requirements in front of them without much deviation.

Your task in this type of interview is to find out as much as you can about the specifications and then show how you meet them. This type of interview is often done by telephone prior to inviting candidates to the company for a first interview.

Initial Interview
The interviewer’s purpose is to validate your credentials to determine if you should be given serious consideration. At the same time you will be given information about the job so that you can decide if the position matches your goals and objectives.

Some suggestions:

1. Ask for information about the position early in the interview to help make your responses relative.
2. You can help the interviewer match you to the position by giving concise and illustrative answers. Cite specific examples whenever you can.
   
3. Do not focus on pay or benefits at this stage of the interview. Instead, discuss the contributions you will be able to make.
4. If the position seems interesting to you, make sure you communicate this interest as well as your confidence in being successful and your wish to return for further discussion.
5. Before leaving, ALWAYS clarify what the next step in the process will be. If you feel it is appropriate, ask if you can call them if you haven’t heard by a certain date.

Follow-up Interview
If you are invited back to meet with other company personnel, you have clearly generated interest. Your objective is to confirm an already good impression and/or resolve any issues of concern to you or the company.

Follow-up interviews may be scheduled with a superior, human resource manager, or a peer who would interact with you if you took the job. It is your responsibility to help them imagine you in the open position by carefully planning and answering each question. In this interview the main focus is likely to be how you will fit into the organization’s work group.

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QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK
Every interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions regarding the position and the company. The questions you choose to ask can emphasize your interest in understanding the responsibilities of the job and the organization’s expectations of the person they hire. At the same time, your questions will ensure that you will find the work interesting and challenging.

• What are the main responsibilities of the position? What am I being hired to do?
• What is the structure of the job?
• Where does the position fit into the structure of the organization?
  · To whom do I report?
  · Who evaluates my performance?
  · What are the criteria of performance?
  · What are the main problem areas that need attention in the new position?
• What work is most pressing? What would you like to see done in the next two or three months?
• Why is this position open?
• What particular qualifications are you looking for in the person you hire?
• How would you describe your (or my future manager’s) management style?® Is there anything else you need to know about my qualifications?
• What might be the career path of a person starting in this position?

NEGOTIATING THE OFFER
Many candidates for employment approach the subject of negotiating an offer of employment with a fatalistic attitude. Because they are unemployed and looking for work or do not feel they are at a “high enough level,” they believe they cannot do any negotiating.

In fact, quite the contrary is true. Everyone, regardless of job level or employment status, has some ability to negotiate.

Three critical pieces of information are necessary for you to know when you enter into the offer negotiations with any organization. They are:

1. You must know what you need in an offer.
2. You must know what you want in an offer.
3. You should have at least a sense of what the company is willing to offer.

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NEGOTIATING STRATEGIES
Negotiating doesn’t begin until the offer is extended.

You will never be in a better bargaining position than when the company has made a decision that you are the top candidate and offers you the job. Any discussions about compensation before that time are not likely to be in your best interests.

• Make sure you recognize what comprises a genuine offer.
• A clear statement, “We are offering you the position.”
• Definition of responsibilities and position title.
• Identification of reporting relationships/immediate supervisor.
• Starting salary.
• Description of benefits.
• Date and time to report to work.

First Steps

1. Hear the entire offer before accepting; ask for clarification if necessary.
2. Express appreciation at receiving the offer.
3. You will probably accept the offer on the spot if it is “on target” with your expectations. However, you have every right to ask for a minimum of 24 hours before accepting the offer/discuss with family—and more if circumstances dictate (e.g., offer is significantly lower than expected, you are anticipating another offer, or you have other interviews scheduled).
4. Even if you plan to think it over, do give some indication of your level of enthusiasm for the offer, e.g., “I am very pleased. It’s in line with what I was hoping you’d offer.” or “The salary figure is lower than I had hoped for. Is there some flexibility there?”
5. Ask for benefits information so you can review this before negotiating or accepting.
6. Expedite other possible offers; let other interested companies know that you are considering an offer.
7. After negotiating, accept or reject the offer. Do this both verbally and in writing.

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WHAT IS IN AN OFFER?
Before we can determine what we need or want, or what the company is willing to offer, it is important to understand what might be included in an offer. Too often, candidates for employment think that an offer is only the wage or salary that they are to be paid. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Listed below are just a few of the items that can make up an offer of employment besides pay:

As you can see from the above listed items, the offer contains significantly more than just wage and salary.

What You Need to Know
Now that you know what might be included in an offer, let’s go back and see what you need to know to be effective in your negotiations:

1. Your total prior compensation package.
2. Your “rock bottom” financial need.
   
3. The industry average for your type and level of job.
   
4. The company’s reputation on wage/salary and benefits.
   
5. What you want in an offer package.
   
6. The company’s urgency to fill the position.
   
7. The company’s increase review policy.
   
8. How you fit the company’s needs.
9. The scarcity of your talent.
   
10. Your urgency.
    
11. The company’s business picture.

All of the above points to one inescapable fact: You must do your research. Not to do this puts you at a severe disadvantage in negotiation.

Negotiation is the art of trying to find common ground. How can you do that if you don’t even know where the ground is?

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NEGOTIATING TIPS

• Negotiate salary first.
  · Make sure you understand the specific amount offered.
  · Try to find out their working range.
• If salary offer doesn’t meet your objectives, consider other negotiable items:
  · expanded title or job content
  · accelerated performance/salary review (e.g., in six months)
  · Signing bonus
  · vacation time
  · relocation expense
• Focus on your worth and expected contributions, not your needs.
• Restate specific competencies and areas of expertise that qualify you for the higher salary figure.
• Keep negotiations in a win-win mode.
• Know when to make concessions and compromise.
• Get the newly negotiated offer (or confirm it) in writing.

Helpful Phrases
“I am very interested in this opportunity but the salary figure is less than I was expecting. Is there some flexibility here?”

“I have talked with quite a few companies (or people) in this area during my job search and it seems that the salary I mentioned is realistic for someone with my experience. Is that possible in this case?”

“I’ve worked hard to get to this level and I hesitate to take a step backwards salary-wise. With my experience I know I could contribute quickly. Do you have any thoughts as to how we could get closer together?”

“Would you consider...
- a salary review in six months?”
- a signing bonus?”
- giving me an extra week of vacation?”

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