I realized several years ago if you put a group of hiring managers in a room together to give feedback on a resume they will come back with different reasons why they liked or disliked the resume, not to mention co-workers, friends and of course your uncle Johnny - it can drive a person in the process of writing a resume bonkers! One page or 4 pages, chronological or functional, full details or summarize, the list goes on. Through the 15 years I've been doing this I have testimonies for every style and length of a WELL written resume. So be of good cheer, there is a solution. God knows the manager for your next job - he knows everything about them, including what style resume they like. Ask for Wisdom in writing this - He gives wisdom generously to all that ask (James 1:5). Then, have faith, with no doubt in your heart that He is faithful. (Matt 21:21, Mark 11:23, James 1:6)
So how to develop a WELL written resume? Without going into a school on resume writing (we have a class for that, so check the schedule) there are a few basics that always need to be covered for a successful, WELL written resume.
1. You must know what kind of job you are targeting and use your experiences under each job to describe how your knowledge and skillset has grown through well thought out metrics (measurable accomplishments). Remember, the only reason they are looking to add staff is that they have a problem - either not enough man/woman power to get the work done, or they do not have the needed skills on their current staff. You can't be all things to all people. God created you with certain gifts that you enjoy, are really good at, and have probably grown in ability - show that growth in terms size, scope, revenue and oversite of the different projects and duties you have been a part of.
2. Never lie
3. Never use the same verbs to start sentences under a job description (google "resume verbs" for a great list)
4. Never use the same sentences under different jobs - doing this screams laziness and lack of creativity. Would you interview, much less hire someone with those attributes?
5. When you are developing the bullet accomplishments, come at it from the mindset that you are offering (selling) your skills and experiences THEY are needing. Look at the job description and make sure you have the size, scope, revenue details of your skills and experiences listed for every requirement they need that is in YOUR quiver.
6. No misspellings! Have several people that ARE GOOD at catching those sort of errors proof your resume. I'll be very transparent here - I'm not blessed with that talent! But we each know people that are, and usually they enjoy doing it and you asking them would bless them. Don't trust the spell checker of Word - if you mistype a word that is correctly spelled it won't catch it.
7. Don't abbreviate - spell everything out (unless it's a technical resume where you can first use spell it out and abbreviate after that with discretion.
Ask God to bless your resume and direct it into the hands of who He has planned, then post it, send it and hand it to anyone that will take it! Be purposeful and confident in your search. Be a good steward of your time - you have a job, and that's finding a job!
May God Bless you, and His Peace cover every fear and His Joy be your strength!
In Him, and all in!
Blogspot for Gateway Church's Career Development Ministry. This site contains the workshop schedules, along with encouragement and tools for your job search. We are always interested in your ideas, comments, and feedback to improve the ministry - so please leave feedback. May the one true Living God give you Peace, Revelation and Favor during this season.
Class Schedule
Career Development classes are on break the month of May and will resume in early June. You may contact Gateway church for the latest schedule at 817-328-1000
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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Career Development Speaker Bio's
The following business executives and owners volunteer their time and expertise to this ministry. Thank each one of you for your service to the King of Kings!
Robert Fredella
Robert has held senior positions in the US Government and in Corporate America spanning a period of 35+ years. After retiring from the US government at the age of 45, with his last assignment being Program Director of a 5 year $250 million dollar project, he entered Corporate America as V/P of Information Technology for Pepsi Cola, and subsequently spanned his experience in other industries with huge growth companies holding senior positions in such companies as Qualcomm, in the communications sector and i2 Technologies in the high end software development sector. During the last four years he has been a consultant to Drake Beam Morin, one of the largest international job transition companies in the world, has started two companies, one of which he currently operates and is president of a Information Technology staffing company here in Dallas
Joe Borden
Joe has been in the staffing industry for 15 years as a Recruiter and Hiring Manager. Starting his career as a technical resource for GRiD and AST, Joe moved into management then technical recruiting with such companies as DPRC and Compuware. Co-Founder of two companies within the staffing industry – Wired For Hire and Coolersoft, Joe has a passion for helping people through the hiring process to the next opportunity God has planned for them. Joe serves on the Board of the Fort Worth FCA, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of North Texas.
Debb Knorr
Our new Career Development Administrator - more to come!
Rich Sanders
Rich is a hiring manager for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. working from the Regional office in Irving, Texas. He has served the company in a variety of capacities, most recently as Zone manager for the Automobile Division. As a hiring manager Rich has seen hundreds of resumes and conducted hundreds of interviews throughout the country. He has seen qualified candidates miss the cut simply because they didn’t have a good resume or didn’t have the interviewing skills necessary to reach the next level in the hiring process. Rich is a trained behavioral interviewer and loves to be involved in people’s lives where he can make a difference, especially in career development. He holds the belief that the career path of any individual be pursued from a Biblical perspective, by combining an individual’s God-given talents with their learned strengths and skills. Rich has written scores of resumes and has provided interviewing coaching in a variety of settings. His “ministry” is helping others, not just in a job search, but maximizing opportunities as they arise for long-term, career growth and development.
Sarah Harris
Sarah Harris, a successful entrepreneur, has operated two businesses in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for over 17 years. Prior to business ownership, Sarah began her career in various sales positions throughout the U.S., and quickly promoted into Sales Management. In her last corporate position, she managed 17 sales reps with TST Impresso, in Coppell, TX. With an expertise in handling people and business, the next logical move was to start her own ventures: Prestige Design--a graphic design and printing firm; and Creative Surfaces, a construction company specializing in concrete stain application. Sarah’s experience and aptitude for design, customer service, marketing, and PR, served her well and led her to the next level, a call to ministry. With a heart for assisting men and women who are struggling with job search, Sarah has provided one-on-one career counseling from a biblical perspective through Gateway Church since 2003.
Nikki Nanos
Nikki Nanos graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech/Drama from Northern Michigan University in 1978. She continued her education at Northern one extra year to do a Graduate Directed Study in Directing and Acting. She completed her graduate studies in 1981 at California Institute of the Arts where she received a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. In 1989, Nikki was honored with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University for her accomplishments in the entertainment industry. Nikki has worked in the theatre and film industry for over 20 years teaching acting, field producing and directing.
With the Lord's guidance and a passion for teaching and directing, Nikki found a way to utilize what she has learned in theatre and film and transfer that to the public speaking arena.
Robert Fredella
Robert has held senior positions in the US Government and in Corporate America spanning a period of 35+ years. After retiring from the US government at the age of 45, with his last assignment being Program Director of a 5 year $250 million dollar project, he entered Corporate America as V/P of Information Technology for Pepsi Cola, and subsequently spanned his experience in other industries with huge growth companies holding senior positions in such companies as Qualcomm, in the communications sector and i2 Technologies in the high end software development sector. During the last four years he has been a consultant to Drake Beam Morin, one of the largest international job transition companies in the world, has started two companies, one of which he currently operates and is president of a Information Technology staffing company here in Dallas
Joe Borden
Joe has been in the staffing industry for 15 years as a Recruiter and Hiring Manager. Starting his career as a technical resource for GRiD and AST, Joe moved into management then technical recruiting with such companies as DPRC and Compuware. Co-Founder of two companies within the staffing industry – Wired For Hire and Coolersoft, Joe has a passion for helping people through the hiring process to the next opportunity God has planned for them. Joe serves on the Board of the Fort Worth FCA, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of North Texas.
Debb Knorr
Our new Career Development Administrator - more to come!
Rich Sanders
Rich is a hiring manager for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. working from the Regional office in Irving, Texas. He has served the company in a variety of capacities, most recently as Zone manager for the Automobile Division. As a hiring manager Rich has seen hundreds of resumes and conducted hundreds of interviews throughout the country. He has seen qualified candidates miss the cut simply because they didn’t have a good resume or didn’t have the interviewing skills necessary to reach the next level in the hiring process. Rich is a trained behavioral interviewer and loves to be involved in people’s lives where he can make a difference, especially in career development. He holds the belief that the career path of any individual be pursued from a Biblical perspective, by combining an individual’s God-given talents with their learned strengths and skills. Rich has written scores of resumes and has provided interviewing coaching in a variety of settings. His “ministry” is helping others, not just in a job search, but maximizing opportunities as they arise for long-term, career growth and development.
Sarah Harris
Sarah Harris, a successful entrepreneur, has operated two businesses in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for over 17 years. Prior to business ownership, Sarah began her career in various sales positions throughout the U.S., and quickly promoted into Sales Management. In her last corporate position, she managed 17 sales reps with TST Impresso, in Coppell, TX. With an expertise in handling people and business, the next logical move was to start her own ventures: Prestige Design--a graphic design and printing firm; and Creative Surfaces, a construction company specializing in concrete stain application. Sarah’s experience and aptitude for design, customer service, marketing, and PR, served her well and led her to the next level, a call to ministry. With a heart for assisting men and women who are struggling with job search, Sarah has provided one-on-one career counseling from a biblical perspective through Gateway Church since 2003.
Nikki Nanos
Nikki Nanos graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech/Drama from Northern Michigan University in 1978. She continued her education at Northern one extra year to do a Graduate Directed Study in Directing and Acting. She completed her graduate studies in 1981 at California Institute of the Arts where she received a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. In 1989, Nikki was honored with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University for her accomplishments in the entertainment industry. Nikki has worked in the theatre and film industry for over 20 years teaching acting, field producing and directing.
With the Lord's guidance and a passion for teaching and directing, Nikki found a way to utilize what she has learned in theatre and film and transfer that to the public speaking arena.