Page 42 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

Your Resume: A Powerful Marketing Tool
Your resume is one of the main tools you will use to market yourself to potential employers. A solid, effective resume is your first impression on the employer. A resume must be concise and succinct because, on average, a prospective employer will spend no more than 30 seconds reviewing it. The following information will help you format and develop content for a resume capable of grabbing an employer's attention.
RESUMES
Resume Format
Students should follow a one-page “reverse chronological” resume format, which walks an employer step-by-step through your educational, work, and other experiences starting with the most recent first. This is the format you are required to use for TalentLink, and is the most familiar format to many employers. In response to employer feedback, the GBCC has developed an effective and visually appealing template for you to use. You can find more information on how to create your resume by visiting z.umn.edu/gbcc.
When applying for jobs outside of on-campus recruiting and all other Carlson School recruiting events, particularly if you are a job-changer, you may consider some alternate formats; however, for all positions advertised through the school, you must use the Carlson School template.
Building Your Resume General Format
A strong resume has a clean and concise look and starts with a great format.
• One page for each eight to 10 years of work experience
• One inch margin all the way around the page
• Consistent header on all pages with current
contact information
• Use standard fonts such as Times, Arial, or Calibri and avoid images or shading
Resume Content Considerations
A resume is not a laundry list of everything you have done in every job. Rather, it is a marketing document that highlights your key skills and accomplishments to your target employer. Build bullet points that:
• Show a specific key skill or accomplishment
• Demonstrate results you have achieved, and quantify results whenever possible (use metrics such as %, time saved, $)
• Use high-impact phrases that begin with strong action verbs • Put the most relevant bullet points at the top of your list
Identifying Skills, Accomplishments, and Results for Your Resume
• When getting started review several job descriptions in your desired function in order to identify common skills themes that you can weave into your own resume. Look for specific skills and broader competencies such as those listed in the graphic on the next page.
• Read through the job description for the position to which you are applying and notice the required skills and experiences. Aim to mimic the language used in the position description.
• Where you can, tailor your resume and infuse language to match the general skills and broader competencies of the role.
The following are some general skills categories that employers have stated are important to obtaining and succeeding in a job. Therefore, these represent important experiences you should consider highlighting on your resume.
ADDITIONAL TIP
Resumes are often first scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To mimic what an ATS does, first use an online Word Cloud generator tool such as Tag Crowd. Copy and paste your entire resume content into the tool and you will see the keywords that stand out. Next, complete the same steps with the position posting you are applying for. Your goal is to make sure your resume keywords are matching up with the keywords used in the description.
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