How to Facilitate a Resume Workshop

Successful resume workshops offer useful information and require good planning.

Not all resumes are created equal. There are good resumes and there are bad resumes. A good resume helps you land the job of your dreams. However, a bad resume just ends up in the recycling box. For some job seekers, a well-facilitated resume workshop is the critical difference between a good resume and a bad resume. There's more to writing a resume than listing one's employment history. A resume workshop can help attendees with constructive feedback, resume samples and other strategies for writing winning resumes.

Instructions

1. Cover the components of a resume. Inform attendees of what a resume should include such as contact information, career objective, summary statement, work experience and education and training. Highlight examples of each component.

2. Discuss the chronological, functional and combination resume formats. Compare and contrast each resume. Explain when each resume should be used.

3. Explain the process of targeting resumes for specific employers. Let participants review a variety of positions such as receptionist, customer service and warehouse worker. Discuss how each resume should be tailored for specific jobs.

4. Show attendees the common spelling and grammar mistakes they must avoid. Make sure they use correct words. Point out common mistakes such as "it's" versus "its" and "except" versus "accept." Explain that spelling and grammatical errors on resumes and cover letters may reflect poorly on them and ruin their chances of securing a job.

5. Tell the participants that a cover letter must accompany every resume. Mention that contact information, an opening paragraph, the body and closing paragraph are included in a cover letter. Explain what's needed in each section. For example, the opening paragraph typically includes why you're applying for the position, the name of the position as well as the name of the person conducting the interview.

Tips & Warnings

• Provide additional resume writing resources. Pass out a list of resume writing books, websites and a summary of resume do's and don'ts. Include your contact information as well.

References

• Mesa State College: Employment Readiness Workshops
• Slideshare: Job Placement Circle Resume Workshop
• Cover Letter Format: Basics
• Monster: Grammar and Spelling Pitfalls to Avoid