1. Meeting Employer Expectations
What are Employer Expectations?
When you come to school, you expect certain things. You expect that there will be qualified instructors, you expect that there will be working equipment, etc. Just as you have certain expectations from a school, an employer will have expectations from you. An employer expects that a graduate will have:
  • A Competent Skill Level
  • A Track Record of Reliability
  • Professionalism
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    Using Your Total School Experience
    No matter what your educational and work backgrounds are, by using your total school experience you can meet these employer expectations. Since your school experience is you're most recent. Educational experience and your classroom "hands-on training is similar to work on the job, many employers will view your time in school as the strongest part of your qualifications. Make no mistake! Employers equate their desired employability characteristics directly to your school accomplishments in the following way:
    Hands-on Training + Good Grades Competent Skill Level
    Good Attendance + Being On Time Track Record of Reliability
    Positive Attitude + Enthusiasm + Dress Code Compliance + Good Peer Relations + Professional Job Search Skills Professionalism
    2. Your Resume's Appearance
    As stated in the definition, the resume's appearance can affect an employer's impression of you. Therefore, it is critical to give careful consideration to the areas that impact your resume's overall appearance. A perfectly formatted and printed resume shows an employer that you care and that you pay attention to detail. The following example illustrates how much a resume's appearance can make a difference.

    A Personnel Director has interviewed 15 potential job candidates during a five-day period and has narrowed his choice down to three individuals. We will call them candidates #1, #2, and #3. He is being pushed by his supervisor to make a choice. It's Friday, the end of a long day, he is tired and all the applicants have gone He has not seen some of the applicants since the first day. To remind himself of each applicant, he pulls out his interview notes and their resumes. As he looks at #1, #2, and #3's resumes, he says to himself; "Well, I really liked candidate #2, (then he suddenly spots a spelling error), and says, "or was it #3" (suddenly he notices the resume's format is not consistent and the type seems very light). As he picks up #1's resume, which is perfectly formatted, clear, concise, and error-free, he says to himself, "You know, candidate #1 really impressed me."

    The fact is, after you are long gone, your resume continues to represent you. If it comes down to a tie between two or three candidates, your resume could very well be the deciding factor. Remember, your resume is a direct reflection of you.

    Keep in mind that if you are not hired right away, your resume could stay in a company's personnel file for months or even a year. When another job opportunity arises, you could be considered or rejected based solely on your resume's content and appearance.
    3. Different Types of Resume Formats
    Different resume formats allow you to "tailor" your resume to fit a specific situation, or to highlight one aspect of your education or experience. There are three different types of formats you can follow, each of which will give your resume a different focus. The format types are Chronological, Functional and Targeted/Restrictive.
    Chronological Resumes
    The most popular is the Chronological Resume format which uses reverse chronological order (the most recent first) for education and employment history. Start and end dates for each item within the education and employment sections are clearly marked. This format provides a progressive picture of your education and work experience.
    Functional Resumes
    The Functional Resume is less frequently used and follows a "summary" approach in presenting education and employment history. An individual who has changed jobs frequently might use this style, as it provides a better opportunity to present background information. The functional approach summarizes the best job experiences by accomplishment and does not list associated dates. The functional format is particularly effective if you've had many jobs over a short period and want to avoid being viewed as a "Job-hopper", which might jeopardize your chances for an interview.

    In addition, the Functional Resume can be used by people who have varied backgrounds, which include different jobs in non-related fields. The functional approach would highlight only education and experience pertinent to the desired position.
    Combined Chronological & Functional Resumes
    In some cases, you might use a combination of the Chronological and Functional formats. For example, if you have a structured educational background and a partly unstructured work history (when you consider the number of jobs and start and end dates), you could combine the Chronological and Functional resume formats. You would then list your educational background in chronological order and summarize your work history in functional accomplishment paragraphs.

    Another example could have your work accomplishments summarized with the companies you worked for chronologically listed below, but with no detailed list of responsibilities.
    Targeted/Restrictive Resumes
    The most infrequently used is the Targeted/Restrictive Resume. This format focuses on a specific job in a specific company and as the name implies, it restricts your opportunities to be considered for other positions in the same company, or any position in another company. For our purposes, we will not use this format. However, you should be aware that it exists.