an 212-careers research projectan 212-careers research project james w. schreier, ph.d. sphr ....

An 212-Careers

Research Project

James W. Schreier, Ph.D. SPHR

www.212-careers.com

Special thanks on this project go to the human resource professionals who took the time to evaluate these resumes.

But more importantly to several students at Marquette University’s College of Business Administration who took the time and made the effort to create these different versions of their resumes and to participate in this project in a variety of ways.

• Liam McElligott

• Michael Rice

• Brandon Fredrichs

• Justin Steinike

The Project

Resume formats are as varied as the weather -- but there’s scant evidence of what matters beyond opinions and agreement on the problems with grammatical errors, weird (or stupid) statements, etc.

This project was based on four different versions of a resume – created by a college student – and written, basically, in a similar format. The differences in the four versions are based on the content of the presentation.

There are four different “content” formats:

1. Basic “Experience-Based” – Describing Typical Job Dutiesa. Including Courses Taken – Computer Skills

2. Using “Action Verbs” for All Job Dutiesa. Remove Courses Taken – Computer Skills

3. Re-Write All Job Duties to “Accomplishments” Describing Actions and Results

4. Organize “Accomplishments” to Reflect Candidate’s “Strengths.”

Key Findings

Resume #4 (Accomplishments with Strengths) was overwhelming preferred by the evaluators.

Resume #4 (Accomplishments with Strengths) was preferred at even higher rate by Human Resource professionals with recruiting experience.

The “Experience” resume (Resume #1) was the least preferred resume – and rated the “weakest” of the resumes by 82% of the evaluators.

Resume #4 was rated the best on all factors:

Overall Sense of Qualifications

Candidate’s Specific Skills

Candidate’s Specific Accomplishments

Traditional resume content, like courses taken and broad computer skills, were generally rejected by the evaluators although a few evaluators still preferred including computer skills.

The “Accomplishments” resume (Resume #4) was praised for consistency between the objective and the specificity of the accomplishments, including results, from each job.

Resumes were evaluated by Human Resources professionals and managers with hiring experience.

Poor Ratings and “Not at All” ratings are not included in these graphs. Detailed ratings are

available in a “Research Appendix”.

• Plus - specifics listed under College Pro position

• Job description: doesn't highlight accomplishments;

• Remove relevant courses - expand job responsibilities.

• Objectives help determine part/full time or intern status of application.

• Not excited about accomplishments just lists day to day resp.

• Not of fan of relevant courses -- would expect those as part of degree.

• No detail on skills/qualifications.

• Does not include specific tasks in detail or detail on computer skills.

• No objective -- job responsibilities somewhat limited.

• General statements about positions -- not enough detail on activities.

• Boring -- standard old format.

• Tells "what" but less on "how."

• More information on specific skills and accomplishments is needed over

relevant courses.

• Very little provided about what he did in the jobs.

• Missing objective statement. Missing computer skills.

• Vague Very general -- need more detail.

• Experience statements are not strong.

• Remove all activities except FMA -- remove relevant courses

• Not enough detail provided.

• Too bland -- not enough detail.

• Good - specific accomplishments about each job

• Would have included Computer skills.

• Liked productivity increase reference.

• No detail on skills.

• Listed results but could be sharper.

• Like specific comments related to accomplishments.

• More wording, less "action" focused.

• Overall a nice job of listing multiple bullet points.

•A bit more "how" but not tools/methods used.

• Looks like more of a job description.

• I want to know performance and accomplishments.

• Missing objective statement.

• Job duties too vague.

• Vague - Doesn't highlight accomplishments.

• Liked the specific accomplishments stated for jobs.


• Better flow and consistency.

• More detail on functions performed and results.

• Specific responsibilities -- would like to see computer skills added.

• Very easy to identify areas of responsibility and possible strengths.

• Objectives good to have at intern level.

• Work experience descriptions could have been better.

• I love the data on how each accomplishment was accomplished.

•Added valuable detail without adding to the length of the resume.

• Good on specific skills and accomplishments.

• Better -- gives a picture of what he has done.

• Better list of job accomplishments.

• Very good... Like the detail of how end results were obtained.

• Items listed show relation to objective.


• Like listing of objective.

• Objective is good if that's the only position you are looking for.

•All - don't care for activities.

• Like objective listed -- specifics.

• Objective statement not needed -- goes in cover letter.

• I love the data on how each accomplishment was accomplished plus the

objective statement.

•Added valuable detail without adding to the length of the resume.

• I like the objective -- shows me what he thinks his strengths are.

• Best -- objective clearly stated.

• I get a feel for his performance.

• This one is the most concise.

• Like the objective and specific details of accomplishment.

• Very clear on what the candidate accomplished and measured.

• Liked the objective.

• Like the description of what the applicant will bring to the organization.

Resume Formats

A 212-Careers

Research Project

The Resumes

Resume #1

John McNally

Permanent Address

7656 Panasonic Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53256

(414) 555-6408

[email protected]

Education: Marquette University Milwaukee, WI

College of Business Administration

Major: Accounting

GPA: 3.1

Graduation Date: May 2009

Relevant Courses: Managerial Accounting, Financial Accounting, Management Information

Systems, Business Statistics, Intermediate Accounting, Financial

Management, Business Law, Operating/Supply Chain Management

Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (including MS Access), SPSS for Windows, Solomon

Experience:

August 2007- RedPrairie Waukesha, WI

Present Accounting / Finance Intern

Account reconciliations. Generating reports for managers. Assisting with input

of data for accounting purposes into Solomon. General office work.

Summers College Pro Painters Milwaukee, WI

2005 and 2006 Job Site Manager

Managed two teams of three painters. Increased production 100%

between 2005 and 2006. Managed customer relations before, during and

after projects. Received 5 out of 5 ratings on all productions.

Summer 2004 Blood Center of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI

Human Resources Student Intern

Performed clerical work and organized company awards luncheon.

Activities:

United States Soccer Federation Soccer Referee – Level 7

FMA – Financial Management Association

Marquette Hunger Cleanup Volunteer

Milwaukee Irish Fest (Festival Volunteer, Youth Leadership

Committee Member, Technology Committee Member)

13

mailto:[email protected]

Resume #2

John McNally

Permanent Address


Milwaukee, WI 53256

(414) 555-6408

[email protected]



Major: Accounting and Finance

GPA: 3.1


Experience:



Reconciled complex sales tax accrual accounts resulting from recent mergers and

acquisitions.

Identification of NOL carry forward for multiple acquired subsidiaries

Undertaken projects to send reports to auditing partners.

Generating reports for managers at an Operations and Supply Chain Management

Software corporation.


2005 and 2006 Job Site Manager

Responsible for performance of remote production teams

Increased production 100 % between 2005 and 2006 through instituting worker

satisfaction initiatives

Built and established working customer relations before, during and after projects.



Eliminated a six month backlog of resumes during large software upgrade in just six

weeks by adding preliminary sorting and organization to the process

Solely responsible for organizing company awards luncheon.

Activities: United States Soccer Federation Soccer Referee – Level 7 (7+ years) – upgraded via

performance assessment including game management; coach, player, parent interaction

FMA – Financial Management Association (Marquette University)


Milwaukee Irish Fest (Festival Volunteer, Youth Leadership Committee Member, Technology

Committee Member) (10+ years)

14


Resume #3

John McNally

Permanent Address


Milwaukee, WI 53256

(414) 555-6408

[email protected]




GPA: 3.1


Experience:



Created Excel documents detailing project tasks and details including pivot

tables for better organizational and informational utility

Created Net Operating Loss carryover schedules and Sales Tax Accrual

Reconciliation Excel spread sheets to give managers better detail and

tracking methods on a month to month basis


2005 and 2006 Job Site Manager Tailored process management flow charts for each job using factors

including: critical path based on time; work order process charts; and

resource management charts to reduce down time

Implemented worker satisfaction initiatives (a more interactive working

environment) thereby increasing quality and efficiency because workers took

personal pride in the projects



Eliminated backlog of resume entry through sorting and organizational

techniques not previously in place and freed up time for the department

Activities:

United States Soccer Federation Soccer Referee – Level 7 (7+ years) – upgraded via

performance assessment including game management; coach, player, parent

interaction



Milwaukee Irish Fest (Festival Volunteer, Youth Leadership Committee Member,

Technology Committee Member) (10+ years)

15


Resume #4

John McNally

Permanent Address


Milwaukee, WI 53256

(414) 555-6408

[email protected]

Objective: Seeking an internship position in finance that highlights my strengths to improve

process management and efficiency for an organization




GPA: 3.1


Experience:



Created Excel documents detailing project tasks and details including pivot

tables for better organizational and informational utility

Created Net Operating Loss carryover schedules and Sales Tax Accrual

Reconciliation Excel spread sheets to give managers better detail and

tracking methods on a month to month basis


2005 and 2006 Job Site Manager Tailored process management flow charts for each job using factors

including: critical path based on time; work order process charts; and

resource management charts to reduce down time

Implemented worker satisfaction initiatives (a more interactive working

environment) thereby increasing quality and efficiency because workers took

personal pride in the projects



Eliminated backlog of resume entry through sorting and organizational

techniques not previously in place and freed up time for the department

Activities: United States Soccer Federation Soccer Referee – Level 7 (7+ years) – upgraded via

performance assessment including game management; coach, player, parent interaction



Milwaukee Irish Fest (Festival Volunteer, Youth Leadership Committee Member, Technology

Committee Member) (10+ years)

16


Resume Formats

A 212-Careers

Research Project

Research Appendix

47%

39%

3% 11%

HR - Recruiters HR - Other

Hiring Managers Managers

82.1

5.1

12.8

0

88.2

5.9

5.9

0

0 50 100

Resume 1

Resume 2

Resume 3

Resume 4

Recruiters

All

5.1

20.5

7.7

66.7

5.9

17.6

0

76.5

0 50 100

Resume 1

Resume 2

Resume 3

Resume 4

Recruiters

All

an 212-careers research projectan 212-careers research project james w. schreier, ph.d. sphr ....

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