264 Moraine Pointe Plaza
Butler, PA 16001
724-285-6612
Monday - Friday
Butler, PA 16001
Monday - Friday
How many pages should my resume be?
Keep your resume to 1 or 2 pages in length. Be concise. Be brief, but powerful. Break up information with bullets to highlight responsibilities and accomplishments.
No matter what the length, resumes must capture the reader’s attentionon the 1 st page – preferably the 1 st 1/3 of the page. Resumes are not read;they are scanned for 2 ½ seconds to 20 seconds. Put action verbs and descriptive words throughout the whole document that sell your qualities and abilities.
What should my resume include?
Header
List your full name, address, phone number(s) and email address. Be sure to keep your contact information updated at all times.
Summary/Profile
Stay away from objectives, as they can limit the range of positions in which you may be considered. It is most effective to customize the summary with the skills, experience and education that fit their needs.
Education
List the most recent education first and work your way back. Include your degree, major, minor, dates of attendance and name of school. List GPA if it is 3.0 or higher. Include high school information only if you do not have college or university credit.
Work Experience
List the most recent position first, working your way back chronologically. Include the employer’s name, address, and dates of employment. List your job title and main responsibility. Outline your daily job duties and accomplishments, highlighting the most important. Bulleting duties make reading easier and more interesting.
Skills & Expertise
List your technical and computer skills, programming languages, software programs, and operating systems, as well as certifications you’ve earned. Also highlight “soft skills” such as foreign languages.
– It is a good idea to list memberships in professional organizations.
– It is not a good idea to list personal information and hobbies.
References
Do not take up valuable space with references. If there is room at the bottom, add “Excellent references are available upon request.” Prepare a separate sheet of paper with 3 to 5 references, but hold it until you are asked to provide them.
Resume Tips
Be sure to be consistent. Above all, never lie or falsify any information on your resume.
Use phrases rather than full sentences. Resumes are written in the third person. Never use the word I, he or she.
Absolutely no typographical, spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.
Make it look great.
Remember a resume is a tool to win interviews. Create a resume that makes you standout as a superb candidate.
Do Not Put In A Resume
The word Resume at the top
Flowery and rambling objectives
Salary information and requirements
Full addresses of former employers
Reason for leaving jobs
A personal section or personal statistics
Names of supervisors
References
Cover letters are as important as your resume. They give you an opportunity to spark the employer’s interest, and to associate your unique skills, education and work history, to the position they are seeking to fill. Write your cover letter in personal, business letter format, address your cover letter to the person making the hiring decision, and keep your cover letter short: 3 – 4 paragraphs, with 1 – 3 sentences per paragraph.
First Paragraph – Don’t waste this paragraph! Be sure to identify yourself with the desired position, and use it to attract the employer’s interest by providing:
Second Paragraph – Provide more information, relating to the needs required by the available position.
Third Paragraph – Give details as to why you should be considered for the position.
Fourth Paragraph – The final paragraph should request action.
It is important to always dress appropriately for any interview we send you on, or for the position you are assigned to work. Refer to the guidelines below.
Professional Dress – Women: Suits – Jacket, skirt or slacks, blouse/sweater, stockings and close-toed shoes – Men: Suits – Jacket, slacks and button-down shirt and tie. Your recruiter will tell you if a jacket is not required
Business Casual – Women: Slacks and blouse or dress – Men: Slacks/khakis and shirt with a collar
Casual – Women and Men: Jeans may be acceptable; your recruiter can confirm this with you. Never wear short or cut off shirts with bare midriffs, torn jeans or tee shirts with inappropriate words or pictures on them (i.e. beer ads)
Do your homework ahead of time. Know what the company does, where it is located, what is their financial stability. Information helps you sound knowledgeable in your interview, as well as helping you to decipher whether it is a company where you want to work.
Know what your resume says. Always be prepared to recite your background and experience from memory. Be able to describe reasons for leaving a previous position, and to explain gaps in employment.
First Impressions are crucial and lasting! The interview is your only opportunity to make a good first impression.
Always dress in appropriate attire for the position or business setting where you are interviewing.
Personal grooming is essential: clean, neat, pressed, teeth brushed, hair combed, etc.
Avoid excessive perfume and/or cologne, and too many accessories (i.e., jewelry).
Avoid smoking or drinking coffee before an interview – the smell can be distracting.
Be on time. Being late for an interview creates doubts as to your interest in the position, and may cause the interviewer to wonder if you will be late for work. Suggested arrival time is 10 minutes before your interview.
Arrive alone. Taking another person with you on an interview is unnecessary and not recommended. Another person could be an unwelcome distraction.
Receptionists are important! The receptionist is a bridge between you and the interviewer, and can make the difference in you getting the job. Be friendly and courteous. It is common for any negatives on the phone or in the lobby to be passed on to the person making the hiring decision.
Be prepared to complete an application. Applications are a standard, legal document. Fill out your application neatly and accurately. Never lie or falsify any information on your application. Be prepared to fill in all sections thoroughly, even when you have a resume.
Shake hands when you meet the interviewer. This indicates self confidence. Use a firm, but not overpowering handshake.
Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Eye contact is a sign of honesty and self confidence. Appear interested and enthusiastic.
Sit up in your chair. Avoid slang and expressions that the interviewer may dislike or misunderstand. i.e. “to be honest”, could be interpreted that you are not always honest.
Control any nervous behavior. Tapping your foot or “talking with your hands”, for example, could be distracting or annoying to the interviewer. Never chew gum!
Listen carefully to show interest. Listening carefully also gives you information to use when asked if you have any questions.
Don’t forget to smile. Be yourself and let your personality shine.
Let the interviewer know you want the job offer. This should be done at the end of the interview. Most candidates do not express their interest in the position. Letting the interviewer know you want the job offer increases your chance of being hired.
Always follow up. Send a thank you note. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to speak with him/her, and state your interest in the position and the company. Close the note by expressing that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her.