Chronological vs. Functional Resumes

Q: What is the best way to write a resume?

A: It depends on your situation/experience/background.

You should avoid using a cookie cutter approach when creating or updating your resume. Often times I see students who borrow their friends' or co-workers' resume, cut and paste their relevant information and then call it a day. However, what may work really well for one person may not work so well for you.

Before you start typing away, you should first consider what type of resume you want to use.

Chronological Resumes

The most commonly used is the chronological resume with common headings such as objective, experience, education, and skills. Chronological resumes display work experience in a reverse chronological order starting with the most recently held position. This format is ideal for those who have had a stable work history and whose job titles demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility within a particular career field/industry.

Functional Resumes (aka Skills Resume)

The sections in a functional resume include the same sections as a chronological resume. However, the experience section is written in a completely different way. Instead of writing about each job in reverse chronological order, the experience section is broken down into skills categories. On average, a functional resume can include anywhere from 3 - 6 skills categories. For example, if someone were applying for a teaching position they might choose these categories: teaching, parent communication, curriculum development, and organizational skills.

Within each category, the individual then provides 3-5 experiences selected from all of their past jobs that demonstrates the particular skill in each category.

Functional resumes are better for individuals who have had a varied or unstable work history such as large or frequent employment gaps or a smorgasbord of job titles in unrelated career fields/industries. Career changers may also want to consider using a funtional resume to highlight their transferable skills and minimize lack of direct experience in the career field.

A true functional resume does not include any work history information (no job titles/work dates).

Combination Resume

A combination resume includes elements of both chronological and functional resumes. For example, if you want to use a functional resume, but feel uncomfortable about not including job titles/dates, you can add an additional section titled Work History that briefly lists this information.

What is best for you?

Now that you know what kinds of options you have when writing your resume, you can choose the type of resume that is going to work best for you. If you are not sure how to proceed, please feel free to contact me at joviedo@pacificoaks.edu . I can also provide samples of both types of resumes. Happy writing!

How about that Adjunct Teaching Salary?

Question:

I am wondering about salaries. I am in the MA program w/spec. College Teaching. What do part time college teachers get paid? Is there a general amount per class for non-tenure staff at places like Santa Barbara City College, Antioch, Chapman, Univ. La Verne or online? I am wondering and so far the only answer I get is, "Oh college teachers at the MA level hardly make anything."

-Danielle M.

Reply:

Hi Danielle,

Good question! The quick answer: $40 - $60 / hour (starting salary) depending on which school you work for, what class you teach and your education/work experience. The pay range can be as high as $80/hr. with a Ph.D.

The reason why you are getting responses like, "Oh college teachers at the MA level hardly make anything.", is because usually working as a part-time adjunct, you may only get one or two classes to teach per semester with no job security for future semesters. Some adjuncts teach at two or three colleges in order to make the equivalent of a full-time salary. Also, keep in mind that adjuncts usually do not get paid health benefits.

If you want to know specifically what the salary is at a particular school, most community colleges post their pay scale information on their H.R. department website. For example, Santa Barbara Community College faculty pay scale is located at: http://www.sbcc.edu/hr/index.php?sec=2485 .

However, it's not all bad. Some adjuncts have teaching contracts, so they have more job security. Also, starting off as a part-time adjunct may help open doors for full-time tenure positions in the future.

Check out this online article from the Chronicle of Higher Education about Adjunct Teaching Salaries: http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=1986 .

If anyone wants to share their experience with adjunct teaching, post a comment.

Hope that helps!

- Jessica

More Quick Resume Tips

1. Tailor your resume

In this competitive job market, generic resumes are usually not enough to impress an employer. Always take the time to review your resume and modify it to best highlight the skills and experience that qualify you for the particular job to which you are applying. It is likely that you may apply to different types of jobs in the same career field. However, just because jobs are related doesn't mean that they are the same. So, for example, the resume that you submitted for the Child Care Coordinator postion should have a different focus than the resume you submit for the Parent Educator position.

2. Use Key words

One way to tailor your resume is to use key words. Pay attention to the key words that are used in the job announcement and then try to include them in your resume. This helps to make the employer feel like you are a natural fit for the position.

3. Remove all I statements

Resume style writing is unique in the fact that pronouns are not used. "I", "me", "my" etc. should be completely omitted from your sentences. For example, instead of "I established curriculum guidelines for our class" change it to, "Established curriculum guidelines for the class". Removing I statements helps to make your resume sound professional.

Stay tuned for more resume tips! - Jessica

4 Quick Resume Tips

1. Start from Scratch.

Resume wizards and other pre-formatted resume writing programs are great time savers. However, I would only recommend them for high school students, entry level job applicants, and those applying for positions that don't require a B.A. degree. Most employers can easily recognize when someone has used this type of program and usually the association is not going to put you ahead of the pack.

2. Keep your formatting clean and simple.

Reserve bolding, italics, and underlining for emphasis or importance (like your name) and to create distinct sections in your resume. Don't overuse these features or they will lose their effectiveness and make your document hard to read.

3. Highlight your accomplishments.

Many people make the mistake of simply copying a list of job duties on their resume without adding any supporting evidence. Your resume is an advertisement about you, so make the reader sit up and notice! Writing about your success and accomplishments in your past or current performance sends a clear message that you are able to do your job well and that it will hopefully translate to your new job.

4. Triple Check.

Grammatical and spelling mistakes are huge No-No's! It is imperative that you make sure your resume is error free. Sloppy resumes usually go in the rejection pile. Run spell and grammar checks on your resume and have at least three other people give it a once over.

For questions on resume writing, call or email me at
joviedo@pacificoaks.edu or at 626-432-5566.

Happy writing! - Jessica Oviedo

Online Job Searching Tips

The Internet can be a very useful tool when searching for job opportunities, however, you need to be a savvy surfer in order to find what you are looking for. Here are some tips to help maximize your online job search:

1. Don't know how to start? Think of the Internet as a funnel:

At the very top, the broadest type of search you can do is to type in key words using a search engine like Google or Yahoo. For example, if you want to work in the field of social services in Southern California, you can type in "social service agencies, Los Angeles". The results should provide you with at least one or two useful links. Also try additional searches using different key words that relate to what you are looking for. The purpose of this type of search is to locate websites that may have good resources and information for you. In the above example, I was able to locate a great website http://www.resourcedirectory.com/ that provides links to social service organizations in the Southern California area.

The next level would be job search websites such as Careerbuilder, Monster, and Hotjobs. On these sites you can find jobs in your area that have been posted by employers. You can also post your resume on these sites in the hopes that an employer will contact you. It's a convenient one-stop shop, however, keep in mind a very small percent of job seekers actually land jobs by simply posting their resume online.

A half step below the large job search engines would be the smaller, community-based sites such as Craigslist.org. I would recommend these sites because they tend to be on a more person to person level. The likelihood of someone actually receiving your resume is much higher (especially if you follow tip #3).

Finally, at the bottom of the funnel is the employer's website. This is where you want to end up. Most organizations have fully developed websites with useful information about who they are, what they do, where they are, and most importantly, how you can be one of them! Usually to get to their job postings you will find a link titled employment, job openings, careers, join us etc. All websites are formatted differently, but hopefully the link is clearly posted at the top, sides or bottom of the front page. However, sometimes you need to dig a little further into the website. Usually links titled about us, contact us, human resources etc. will help you locate the employment section. Occasionally, the website won't have an employment section or you may have a difficult time finding it. In this case, you pick up the phone. Don't be afraid to contact the organization to inquire about how they post their employment opportunities.

2. Look Further.

When your search is stuck at the top and mid sections of the funnel, you need to take it a step further by doing some investigative work. For example, say you are in Careerbuilder and you found a job posting that sounded interesting, but you didn't quite meet the qualifications they were asking for. That's okay. If the position sounds interesting, there is a good chance that the organization may have or will have other positions that you will be interested in. Locate their website by doing a Google search, or even better, Careerbuilder sometimes provides a direct link as well. Taking that extra step will really help because as I mentioned earlier, you want to end up at the employer website to get the most accurate, up to date information available since it comes directly from the source.

3. Look Often.

You've probably heard this before, but I'll say it anyway: Finding a job is a job in itself. If you are in serious need of a new job, you need to make your job search a top priority. That means spending at least 2 - 3 hours of your day searching, networking, or applying for a job. This is especially important when it comes to doing an online search. The speed of communication is now virtually instantaneous and you need to keep up. For example, on an average day, an employer can post a job on Craigslist first thing in the morning and by the end of the workday, she may receive a few dozen resumes and cover letter emails. If you wait three or fours days to send in your application materials for that job, you may have missed the boat. I recommend that you log on every day and respond to appealing job postings asap.

4. Keep tabs.

As you are searching online, keep track of all the websites you visited and highlight the organizations that you are particularly interested in . Adding their website address to your favorites list is a great way to save time and will help you to keep up with tip #3. Also, note where and when you sent your resume, in the event that when an employer calls, you will have something to refer to.

5. Re-Evaluate.

If you are following all of the above tips, and are still not getting calls for interviews, then you need to re-evaluate a few things. First, ask yourself if you really are qualified for the positions you are applying for. Do you meet most or all of their requirements? If not, then chances are you are being past over for more qualified individuals. If you do meet the requirements, then you need to reconsider how you are presenting yourself in your application materials. It's possible your resume may need some fine tuning. You should always tailor your resume (within honest and legal limits) for each position. How about your cover letter? Is it well written? Does it provide detailed evidence of your qualifications? Are you not including a letter at all? If you are just emailing your resume without a proper cover letter, some employers may not even consider your application.

6. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

The Internet should not be the only place you go to for information about job opportunities. Even though many people find jobs online, networking is still the most effective way to land a job. Don't isolate yourself in cyberspace. Let everyone in your personal and professional networks know what kind of job your looking for. You never know when a friend of a friend has connections at the great school/agency/organization that you would love to work for.

- Jessica

How to Prepare for an Interview

1. 'A' is for ACE!

When you are preparing to take a test, you usually don't know what exact questions will be asked, but you do know the content and topics that will be covered in the exam. So you spend at least a few hours, maybe days, studying because you want to get an "A". Usually, the level of confidence you have going in to take the test is relatively in proportion to the amount of studying you did.

Well, the same is true for the interview. We generally don't know the questions ahead of time, but in a typical interview there are some common questions, basic topics and areas of interest that the interviewer(s) will want to know about:

• How your professional and educational background fits the position you are applying for. This is where the employer usually asks, "Tell me about yourself."
  
• Why you are interested in the position and working for their organization in particular.


• Will you be able to handle the responsibilities, tasks, and challenges associated with the position. Have you demonstrated this in your past experience?


• Will you be a reliable employee? (usually not asked directly, but rather inferred from responses to other questions).


• Do you live up to your resume?


• Are there any areas of concern that may hinder your job performance (usually not asked, but inferred from your responses to other questions).


• How well you match with the company/organization culture.

There are many common questions covering these topics that you should become familiar with. For a list go to http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerBytes/Articles.aspx .

Also, think about possible questions that may be specific to your job field or position, for example, "What is your teaching style?".

2. Do your research.

Lucky for us, the Internet has made it very easy for job seekers to find information on employers. The vast majority of organizations have websites with loads of information that is very useful in helping to prepare for an interview. When checking out a company website look for the following types of information:

• What is the organization? Is it a corporation, private or public company, non-profit organization etc. What is the size, how many employees are on staff?
• What is their mission, goals, and values?
• What products or services do they provide?
• What populations, clients or customers do they serve?
• Where are they located?
• Read your job description again, look for clues as to the type of person they are interested in hiring.
• How does the position you are applying for fit into the organizational structure?
• What other positions are currently available?
• Check out pictures or bios of the people who work there. If your lucky, you'll find information on the person who'll be interviewing you. This is a great way to put a face to the name and may help to put you at ease.

3. Create Questions.

When an employer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?", you had better respond with a 'yes'. If you fail to ask questions, this may come across as a lack of interest on your part. Nothing turns off an employer more than someone who is not enthusiastic about the job. By utilizing what you have gleaned from their website, create thoughtful questions to ask in the interview (and please, nothing relating to salary or benefits!). This demonstrates your interest and shows that you have taken the initiative and effort to learn about their organization. As a general guideline, I suggest preparing about 6 questions, that way if a few are answered by the interviewer prior to asking you for questions, you'll still have some left over to ask.

4. Practice makes perfect.

After you have come up with answers to the questions that are likely to be in the interview, practice what you want to say and how you say it. It may seem a little embarrassing or funny at first, but look at yourself in the mirror as you go over your responses. The point of this is not to memorize your answers, but rather to become comfortable answering questions about yourself so that on interview day, the words don't get stuck in your throat.

If you can, recruit a friend* to act as the interviewer. That way you can practice answering questions in front of someone else (this is especially helpful for nervous interviewers and shy people). Your friend can then give you feedback on how well you answered the questions as well as body language and other observations.

*Or contact me! I'll be happy to conduct a mock interview with you.

5. Dress Rehearsal

Prior to the big day, I highly suggest that you do a couple of things:

• Map quest the location of the interview and do a dry run. Whether you plan on driving or taking other types of transportation, this will allow you to get a good idea of how much travel time you'll need (don't forget to keep traffic and weather in mind), and what the parking situation and other factors are.
• Pick out what you are going to wear and try it on. If you are using an old suit, you don't want any surprises the morning of the interview (it used to fit... 2 years ago). Make sure that you are comfortable and feel good with what you are wearing. A good suit and great shoes can really put you in the right frame of mind. When in doubt, go with conservative, professional attire.
• Organize a portfolio with paper for note taking, and copies of your resume and list of references printed on good paper. Also, include a list of your previous employers including name, address and phone number to refer to when filling out the application.

6. Get Excited!

Believe it or not, your attitude going into the interview will impact how you perform and also how the interviewer sees you. Experienced interviewers can pick up on bad vibes and usually know when someone is only interested in a pay check. While most jobs are not perfect, you need to focus on the positive and make yourself excited about the job opportunity. Your enthusiasm will show through and employers will want to hire you. In the end, you want the ball to be in your court - you can always reject a job offer, if you feel the job isn't for you.

Good Luck! - Jessica

Learn from our mistakes.

Have you ever had an interview that you wish you could just erase from your memory? I have.

Several years ago, after being gainfully employed for over three years, I quit my first "professional" job to move back east. I was all geared up for my new job search and hit the ground running. Shortly after sending out resumes, I got a call for an interview at a private college in New Jersey. In usual fashion, I had prepared for the interview by practicing typical interview questions.

The day of the interview, everything goes well... the first few questions were exactly what I had expected. And then I get the big one.... "Can you please give us a five minute presentation on - fill in the blank- college (my previous employer)"? Um, say what? You see, in my previous job as Assistant Director of Admissions, I had done countless presentations to small and large groups... so public speaking was something that should come naturally, right? Wrong.

I was completely thrown for a loop, because I had not anticipated this type of request. Even though I had done mini presentations in previous interviews, I had always been forewarned ahead of time. Since no one told me to prepare for it... I didn't - and even though I could typically do that presentation in my sleep, I totally fumbled!

I was completely embarrassed, because on my resume I clearly stated, 'excellent public speaking skills'... and I know my presentation was anything but. Needless to say, I walked away from that interview knowing that I wouldn't be getting a second call.

I didn't get the job, but I did learn a very valuable lesson: Prepare to perform. That is, if there is a skill or qualification that is crucial to the job you are applying for, most likely, employers will want to see that in action. For some of us that means doing a song and dance (i.e. presentation, conduct a lesson plan etc.) or answering a scenario-type question (What would you do if...?).

So, the moral of the story is that yes, many of us have had interviews that we would rather soon forget, but instead, we can take those mistakes and learn from them. Till next time...