NE seminar gives advice on building good resumes

By Clark Mills/ reporter

Student resumes for job interviews should be chronological, functional or a combination of the two, according to speakers at a NE workshop Nov. 2.

Career services administrative assistant Vicki McCleery explained the three types of resumes. Chronological is the format most commonly used, she said, helpful for people looking to stay in the same field of work.

However if that style hasn’t worked for someone in the past, McCleery suggested trying a different format.

“If you’re not getting a bite, try different bait,” she said.

A functional resume works best for someone looking to switch fields as it better demonstrates transferable skills and qualifications in various settings.

McCleery said resumes should be brief and concise. Students should use quality paper and choose a font that is easy to read. When building a resume, students should steer clear of resume wizards or free templates.

“Resume wizards do not copy well and leave little to no room to add information,” she said.

Students should be professional when applying for a job, McCleery said.

“Do not have a funny voicemail or email,” she said.

Email usernames should be professional, such as trying to use one’s first and last names.

A cover letter, another important aspect of job hunting, is designed to inform and interest an employer to read a resume. It gives people another chance to emphasize what they can contribute to a company. When doing a cover letter, McCleery recommended taking the time to address the person or company one is writing.

“Show appreciation to them for taking the time to look at your resume,” she said.

A cover letter should be kept to one page and should be attractive and easy to read, McCleery said. Students received cover letter worksheets as practice for constructing their own letters.

Students should do what works for them, McCleery said. They should not lie or withhold information from an employer but instead use strong positive statements to talk about themselves. McCleery reminded students to proofread their resumes and to have a friend read it as well.

“If you show five people your resume, you will get back five different answers,” she said.