Passport to Your Future Technical Communication: The Resume Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. 1

CONCEPTS OF ENGINEERING

AND TECHNOLOGY

Passport to Your FutureTechnical

Communication: The Resume

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.1

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION

Chapter 130.362.9 (TEKS) - The student understands

the opportunities and careers in fields related tophysical and mechanical systems.

Engineers must possess strong technical communication skills. To interview for an engineering career, the engineer must first create a resume highlighting his/her qualifications.

The resume is the passport to an engineer’s future.


TECHNICAL TERMS & DEFINITIONSThe terms and definitions listed below are

discussed inthis lesson. Please review before proceeding with

thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Communications A technique for expressing ideas effectively (such as writing or speech).

Design A plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something.

Electronic Publishing

Publishing in which information is distributed by means of a computer network or is produced in a format for use with a computer.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Heading Something that forms or serves as a head, especially an inscription, headline, or title standing at the top or beginning (of a resume, letter or chapter).

Objective Something toward which effort is directed: an aim, goal or end of action.

Education A degree, level or kind of schooling.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Work Experience The experience that a person has working, or working in a specific field or occupation.

Computer Skills One's ability to utilize the software (and sometimes hardware) of a computer.

Honors An award: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Activities Organized student activities connected with school and usually carrying no academic credit, such as sports, clubs, volunteer activities.

References Character: a formal recommendation by a teacher or former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Employer A person or firm that employs workers.

Experience The accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities.

Human Relations The social and interpersonal relations between human beings.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Management The act or manner of managing; handling, direction, or control.

Qualifications Qualities, accomplishments, etc., that recommend a person for some function, office, or the like.

Research Diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.




thislesson.

Terms Definitions

Resume Is a piece of paper (or an electronic document) that serves to introduce you to the people who will eventually hire you.

Skills The ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well.

Technical Of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skill.


WHAT IS A RESUME? A resume is a piece of paper (or an

electronic document) that serves to introduce you to the people who will eventually hire you.

A resume is one of the most important technical communication documents you will ever create as an engineer.

A resume is a document that contains a summary of relevant job experience and education.


UNT in partnership with TEA. Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 11

UNT in partnership with TEA. Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 12

WHY DO I NEED A RESUME? Your resume is the tool you will use to sell

your qualifications to a potential engineering employer.

A resume tells the employer what you have done in the past and what you can do for their engineering company now.

A resume provides an advance contact with the employer to generate interest in you so that the employer will want to interview you.


TYPES OF RESUMESThere are two types of resumes:

Skills Resume

Experience Resume


THE SKILLS RESUME The Skills Resume is for people who have

not yet completed significant work experience.

It allows the job seeker to present school and extracurricular activities to good effect.

A Skills Resume combines the skills you have from a variety of experiences - paid work, volunteer work, student activities, classroom work, projects, you name it - and groups these skills by categories related to the kind of job you're seeking. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.

15

THE EXPERIENCE RESUME The Experience Resume highlights prior

work experience related to the job for which a person is applying.

A skills resume will be used by most engineering students in the first two years of study and those who graduate without technical work experience.

However, engineering students with internship and co-op experience in an engineering context would use an Experience Resume.


ELEMENTS OF A SKILLS RESUME As high school students we will

create a Skills Resume because you have not yet completed significant work experience.

You should keep your resume to one page!!!!!


ELEMENTS OF A SKILLS RESUMEYour Skills Resume should

include thefollowing elements: Heading Objective Education Work Experience (if any) Computer Skills Honors/Activities References


ELEMENTS OF SKILLS RESUMEYour Skills Resume should

include thefollowing elements:

Heading • Your Name (Centered)• Address (Street, City, State, Zip

code)• Permanent Phone Number• Email Address Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.

19

ELEMENTS OF SKILLS RESUMEYour Skills Resume should

includethe following elements:

Objective • Write a clear statement. • For example, an entry level

position in (state field or position sought).


ELEMENTS OF SKILLS RESUMEYour Skills Resume should include thefollowing elements:

Education • Your degrees• Your school• Graduation date (or anticipated

date)• Grade Point Average (e.g.,

3.0/4.0) Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.21


Work Experience• Your job titles (list most recent

first)• The companies for which you

worked• Dates during which you worked

for those companies• Responsibilities in those positions



Computer Skills• List Operating Systems • List Software Applications• List Languages & Scripts• List Hardware• List Certifications



Honors/Activities• Meaningful honors you have

received• Meaningful activities in which

you have participated



ReferencesList three (3) individuals who can verify your credentials and all or part of the information you have written in your resume

Current or former teachers Current or former project managers

or supervisors Other contacts from industry

associations Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.

25

STRATEGIES FOR RESUME WRITING Keep your resume to one page.

List dates in reverse chronological order (your most recent information first).

Use a 12-point font size and typeface such as Times New Roman.


STRATEGIES FOR RESUME WRITING Use one-inch margins around the page.

All headings (Heading, Objective, Education, Work Experience, Computer Skills, Honors/Activities, References) should be in bold, in capital letters, and should be the only information on that line of the page.

Your resume should be printed using high-quality laser printer on excellent bond paper (white, off-white or ivory colored paper).


RECOMMENDED ACTION VERBSHere are recommended action verbsyou may want to use in your Skills Resume,categorized by topic:

Human Relations

worked with taught helped volunteered

served assisted interacted counseled

trained sponsored directed guided



Research and Design

researched experimented observed analyzed

tested assessed solved verified

designed discovered devised created

investigated evaluated



Communications

drafted edited addressed designed

revised interpreted composed prepared

lectured published taught conducted

presented instructed published



Management

managed contracted saved rated

maintained scheduled evaluated established

sold devised negotiated verified

planned controlled produced organized

purchased improved coordinated


ASSIGNMENT: WRITE YOUR RESUME

Write your Skills Resume using the

Microsoft Word resume templatedocument.


REFERENCES

Gomez, Oakes, Leone (2006). EngineeringYour Future, Second Edition. Wildwood,

MO:Great Lakes Press, Inc.


Documents

Passport to Your Future Technical Communication: The Resume Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. 1