MACON, Ga. —
How to Write a Resume:
The first step to a good resume is choosing a format.
According to the popular job site Indeed.com, a chronological resume is a good choice if you’ve spent the past several years in the same industry and each role you’ve held was more senior than the last.
A chronological resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Relevant skills
- Professional experience
- Education
- Additional information (i.e., volunteer work and special interests—optional)
A functional resume will focus more on relevant skills than work history. While the chronological format highlights work experience with detailed summaries of the achievements within each position, the functional format focuses on a relevant skill set to the role you want.
A functional resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Summary of relevant skills
- Work experience
- Education
- Additional information (i.e., volunteer work and special interests)
A combination resume is exactly what it says and is a combination of both functional and chronological resumes. It is great if you have unique skills to highlight or if you have significant gaps in your employment history. You can look for clues in the job posting to understand what is most important for the employer in an ideal candidate. This format is also ideal if you're applying for higher-level positions like a manager.
A combination resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Summary of most relevant skills
- Work experience
- Education
Quick Resume Tips:
- Use a professional, readable font like Helvetica or Calibri
- Make sure to keep your points concise
- Use 10 pt and up to 12 pt font size
- Feature section headers
- Ask for help from friends or career centers if you need help
Here is a sample resume:
How to write a Cover Letter:
While cover letters are not always required, many hiring managers still rely on them to gauge an applicant's skills, experience and background.
Cover Letters are typically three to four paragraphs and explain your interest in the job and how well you will fit into the role. This letter should highlight your skills, experience and achievements.
Unlike a resume, you can go into more detail about your experiences and how it can aid you in a future position. Here is a sample of what a cover letter can look like.
A cover letter should be formatted like a business letter with these sections:
- Header with date and contact information
- Salutation or greeting
- Opening paragraph
- Middle paragraph(s)
- Closing paragraph
- Letter ending and signature
Here is an example from Indeed.com.
Example 1: Administrative assistant
Job description
In this role, you will support managers and other senior-level personnel by managing their calendars, arranging travel, filing expense reports, and performing other administrative tasks. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills will be critical to success.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience providing high-level admin support to diverse teams in a fast-paced environment
- High school diploma or equivalent work experience
- Excellent Microsoft Office Skills with an emphasis on Outlook and Excel
- Self-motivated and highly organized
- Team players who work well with minimal supervision
Cover letter
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the opening for an administrative assistant at [name of company].
I'm drawn to this opportunity for several reasons. First, I have a proven track record of success in administrative roles, most recently in my current job as an administrative coordinator. A highlight from my time here was when I proactively stepped in to coordinate a summit for our senior leaders last year. I arranged travel and accommodation for a group of 15 executives from across the company, organized meals and activities, collaborated with our internal events team and ensured that everything ran according to schedule over the two-day summit. Due to the positive feedback I received, I'm now tasked with doubling attendance for the event this year and leading an internal team to get the job done.
I am attracted to this role because of the growth opportunities that [name of company] provides. The research that I've done on your company culture has shown me that there are ample opportunities for self-motivated individuals like me. A high level of organization and attention to detail is second nature to me, and I'm eager to apply these skills in new and challenging environments.
I look forward to sharing more details of my experience and motivations with you. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Practice Interview Questions:
Here are some common interview questions and how to answer them.
1. Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief?
You might start by focusing on who you are as a professional. Talk about your educational and work history and how you ended up where you are today. If you do share something personal stick to discussions of your hobbies such as playing volleyball, or cooking
2. How Did You Find Out About the Position?
The employer is trying to see if one of their marketing methods reached you, or if you found out about the job through some other way.
3. Why are you looking for a new job?
Instead of complaining about grievances you may have about your current position, focus your answer on your desire for greater opportunities and career growth.
4. Why do you want to work here?
To answer this you could say you like the company culture that you read about online or you heard from other people about how much they love their position. Make sure to bring up your excitement for the position if you are able to be an employee there.
5. What kind can you bring to this position?
This is your chance to highlight some of the skills you mentioned in your resume and cover letter. Talk about your relevant skills and difficult obstacles you've overcome in previous positions. Discuss how your skills can make your place of employment better or more efficient. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn!
For more interview questions you can check out these articles from the Harvard Business Review and Indeed.com
Job Help in Central Georgia:
Here are some Central Georgia agencies you can look to for help:
Their goal is to help job seekers and work with employers to help connect talent with opportunity. They help most people for free if they qualify with job training, resume or cover letter help, finding a specific role, or seeking tuition assistance to go back to school.
You can apply for services on their website.
Or stop by one of their career centers:
- 3090 Mercer University Dr, Macon, GA 31204
- 96 Cohen Walker Dr, Warner Robins, GA 31088
- 156 Roberson Mill Rd, Milledgeville, GA 31061
- 1001 S Armed Forces Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31088
- 124 Osigian Boulevard, Suite A Warner Robins, Georgia 31088
Funded by merchandise sales in Goodwill’s retail training stores, their Job Connection-Career Center services are provided at no cost to job seekers.
The Career Services team provides several workshops to prepare job seekers including:
- Online Job Search Skills
- Overcoming Barriers to Employment
- Navigating Career Pathways
- Resume and Cover Letter Writing
- Interview Preparation
In addition to in-person services, job seekers can utilize the Virtual Career Center to view local job leads, access resume writing and interview preparation resources, connect with community resources or participate in free online education programs.
You can find out more on their website.
If you are homeless and seeking a job you can stop by Daybreak. The can provide you with food, showers, and shelter. Depaul's Daybreak Day Resource Center of Macon identifies and provides resources and services to homeless people to help them overcome the immediate crisis of homelessness with the goal of getting out of homelessness.
This program provides:
- Housing and housing placement
- Case management
- Breakfast and snacks
- Laundry facilities
- Showers
- Free nurse-run health clinic
- Access to phones and computers
- Transportation assistance
- shelter during the day
Having your documents in order is an important part of getting employment. Loaves and Fishes can help. Many of their clients don't have housing or a secure place to store their documents, so the necessity of an ID is a pressing issue. At Loaves and Fishes, they help clients navigate the difficult road back to obtaining a valid ID and birth certificate.
To schedule an appointment to obtain an ID or Birth Certificate, call (478) 741-1007 on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. to schedule an appointment for the following Thursday. They are located at 651 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Macon, GA 31201.
Have the following items ready to bring with you to your appointment:
IDs
- Original birth certificate (no photocopies)
- Social Security card or an official government document (such as a W2 or a letter from the Social Security Administration) with your name and SSN on it.
- 2 documents with your name, address, and the date. These documents could be two pieces of mail, a paycheck stub, etc.
- Proof of income including food stamps, disability, SSI, paychecks, child support checks, etc.
Birth Certificates
- Valid photo ID, such as:
- Driver’s License or another state-issued ID card (valid or expired less than 1 year), employee ID Card, valid passport, military ID, current school ID,
- If you do not have an ID, your parent, sibling, or adult child that does have an ID can get your birth certificate for you
- If you were born in another state, the documents required vary based on the laws of that state. Most states require a valid ID.