10 Step to Creating a Dynamic Resume -- from Skyline College

Skyline College Career Center

10 Step to Creating a Dynamic Resume

Step I. Define your Target Job (Job Objective)

Before you can begin writing a resume, you must know what type of job you will be preparing a resume for. Clearly, your job objective will guide your entire resume. This will tell the employer which type of job you will be applying for. It will also allow you to focus on identifying those skills for which the job is calling for.

Step II. Research what specific skills, knowledge, and relevant experience is needed

for the target job.

Now that you have decided which job you will be applying for, you will need to research the specific skills, knowledge, or experience, you will need for this job. The closer your skills and experience fit the “need” of the job, the greater the likelihood that you will have of obtaining an interview for this job. One way to identify the specific skills, etc. needed for the job is to review the description of the job for which you are applying. It will tell you specifically what the employer is looking for in an employee.

Another resource is the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles, published by the Department of Labor, is a book with a listing of over 17,00 job titles in the United States. The DOT descriptions could provide you with the following information for each job title listed: specific job duties, interaction with data, people, and things; education; and strength requirements. Use the DOT to get ideas on language that you could include in your resume. In addition, Eureka Computer Information System also offers detailed information on job descriptions and characteristics.

Step III. Identify and list three or four of your strongest skills, abilities, and specific knowledge

that makes you a good candidate for the job.

To begin this process, write down all of your skills, abilities, and specific knowledge (regardless of whether they fit the requirements of the job or not). Consider clustering (and identifying) your skills in the following three ways: Occupational Skills, Personal Skills, and Transferable Skills. For more information on skill identification, go to www.smmcd.net/skillscan to obtain a detailed skills profile that will assist you in identifying your skills.

Step IV. Select from your key skills, accomplishments from your past work history that illustrate that you are a good candidate for the target job.

Take a minute to review your personal Skillscan profile completed in Step III. Locate those skills that best “fit” what the employer is looking for. Hint: Use the job description (if you have it handy) to match what the employer qualifications for the job and compare those to what you have.

Step V. Describe each accomplishment in a simple action statement that emphasizes the results, which benefit your employer.

When listing accomplishments, use action statements that show results. Hint: Don’t fall into the trap of just listing what you did while on the job; show results by using action words and quantifying your results. For example, instead of saying your efficiency in delivering of newspapers to customers resulted in increased newspaper sales, say by how many customers you increased your distribution list by. (See list of Action Words on Resume Guide).

Step VI. Make a chronological list of the main jobs you have held (Include unpaid work which fills a gap or that demonstrates you have the necessary skills for the job).

Remember that experience does not necessarily have to be paid experience. Be sure to include volunteer work/internships. A good tip to remember is to list every job you have held by jotting down duties and responsibilities held at the job site. Do not leave anything out, whether you think it is small or menial. Don’t make the mistake of discarding activities that you did in your job, volunteer, or internship site. Doing so will only limit your work experiences, not clearly representing your skills and abilities to the employer and limiting your job opportunities. Delete work experiences that are not relevant to the targeted job, only after you have completed your entire list and have exhausted the possibilities of everything you have done!

Step VII. Make a list of your education and training relevant to the new job objective.

When listing your education, remember to think of the courses that you took, or are taking in college. You probably have learned some great skills in college that can easily be applied to a job at this very moment. Hint: Take out your syllabus from your classes (Another Hint: Keep all your class syllabi). They are a great resource when writing resumes and trying to recall what you have learned!). Scan your syllabus for skills you have learned or projects that you have completed, which could easily be transferred to a job for which you are applying.

Step VIII. Select a resume format that best highlights your individual skills and accomplishments.

Refer to the Resume Formats described in the Job Search site of the Career Web Page.

Step IX. Arrange your action statements according to the format you chose.

How you present the information on your resume will depend on the resume format you choose. Again, refer to the resume formats on the Job Search site of the Career Web page.

Step IX. Summarize your key points at or near the top of the resume.

You have probably seen this summary called: Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Highlights of Qualifications. What you call it is up to you. Be creative but follow the following guidelines when writing your summary.