Career Services Quick Start Transcripts

Video Title:  Getting Started with OptimalResume

Begin transcript.

Getting Started with OptimalResume Walden University Career Services Center

Slide 1 Welcome to “Getting Started with OptimalResume” from Walden University Career Services Center.

Slide 2 During this session you will learn how to create an account in OptimalResume and discover the various tools OptimalResume provides.

Slide 3 You can access OR from our career center website at careercenter.waldenu.edu, or by going directly to the site waldenu.optimalresume.com. At this time, let’s transition to OptimalResume for a step by step tutorial. If this is your first time visiting, create a new account by clicking on “new user”. If you are an existing user, click here and log in with your email and password.

Slide 4 Once your account is created and you login, you will be in the document center. There are five modules available for you to use: resumes, letters, portfolios, interviews, and websites.

Slide 5 I will first review the resume builder. We recommend OptimalResume to help you create a tailored resume because it is a cutting edge tool that meets you where you are. If you don’t have a resume you are able to use templates. This allows you to focus on content rather than the format of your document. With over 100 templates to review and utilize, you can pick which will best showcase your skills and then populate it with your information. If you have an existing resume and want to strengthen it, there are tips and tools. To develop a resume click “Create new resume”, and name your document. We will name this resume Professional Resume. You can also upload a resume. If you choose this option you are not able to edit it, however, you can use it in an OR portfolio or website. Once you have named your document, click “start resume”.

Slide 6 Next, you will see you have three options to create your document. You can browse samples, browse section sets, or you can choose to start from scratch. When you browse samples you will be shown job categories. Some of these categories include education and training, federal, and human resources. In addition to browsing by category, you are able to browse samples by experience level: entry level, mid-career, or experienced professional. By doing this we have narrowed the samples down to entry level Community and Social Services. If we look at the first sample we can view the document in full. Once you find the resume you want to use, click “use this sample”. There are over 100 resume samples for you to review. We recommend viewing samples from multiple job categories and experience levels to see various ways to tailor your own document. This browse sample option is useful because it is pre-populated with text examples and can prompt ideas on how you can write your own resume content. Now let’s navigate back to the document center to view the letter builder.

Slide 7 If it has been some time since you last wrote a professional letter, you are able to use letter templates. This allows you to focus on content rather than format. OR offers 10 letter types ranging from job inquiry, to thank you letters. Even if you feel confident about your letter writing skills there are tips and tools to review. From the document center, select “Create new letter”, and name your letter. We will name this letter Professional Letter. You can also upload a letter. If you choose this option you are not able to edit it, however, you can use it in an OR portfolio or website. Once you have named your document, click “start letter”.

Slide 8 Just like with the resume, you have three options to create your document. You can browse samples, browse letter types, or you can choose to start from scratch. When you browse letter samples you will be shown letter categories, such as Follow-up, job posting, and thank you letters. In addition to browsing by category, you are able to browse samples by experience level: entry level, mid-career, or experienced professional. By doing this we have narrowed the samples down to entry level thank you letter samples. If we select the first sample we can view it in full. Once you find the letter you want to use, click “use this sample”. This browse samples option is useful because it is pre-populated with text examples and can prompt ideas on how you can write your own letter content. Now let’s navigate back to the document center to view the portfolio builder.

Slide 9 We recommend you create an online portfolio to show a prospective employer your potential. You can upload numerous documents to highlight your career accomplishments. You may wish to include your resume, CV, or cover letter as well as course projects, publications, or research papers. You can also link your OR portfolio to social media sites. From the document center select “Create new portfolio”, and name your portfolio. We will name this Professional Portfolio. You have two options to create your portfolio– you may either browse templates or start from scratch. We recommend you use the start from scratch option.

Slide 10 To get started with this option, add a project section and name it. We will name this project Academic Artifacts. In addition to the project name, you can add a brief description of the project to inform viewers as to what this project includes. Once that is completed you will click on Continue/Add Files. Next, you can upload a file or link to a website. If you choose to upload a file, name the file and provide a description if you would like. Once this is complete, save file. As you can see the portfolio is starting to take form. The portfolio title is Professional Portfolio, the first project is Academic Artifacts, and one file has been uploaded Capstone Project. Now let’s navigate back to the document center to view the website builder.

Slide 11 We recommend you create a website because is a great way to market and expand the reach of your brand. During your job search, you can direct potential employers and key individuals in your network to your website to view your application documents, and even an online portfolio. In addition, your OR website may be linked to your social media sites like your LinkedIn profile. From the document center, select “Create new website”, and name your website. This website we will title Professional Website. Because your website name will be a part of the URL, you cannot include spaces or apostrophes. Next, click ‘start website’. Here you see the resumes, letters, and portfolios you created in or uploaded to OptimalResume. Enable the document types you want to be included on your website. To do this, select the enable box in resumes, letters, and portfolios. After enabling the desired document types, select one document from each category. Here I have selected my professional resume, professional letter, and professional portfolio. Finally, decide on the order in which each document will be listed on the website. Do this by changing the order from 1 st page, 2 nd page, and 3 rd page in the drop down menu. After these steps are complete, click save and continue. Now, select your website template. While browsing through the 32 template choices, keep your audience in mind and pick the one that best represents your brand. Click save and continue. The last step is to create a customized sidebar. This sidebar gives you the option to add direct links to your social media sites, along with easy sharing capabilities. To add this sidebar you must first enable it, and then select the widgets you want to include. Your widget options are to add a share button, along with buttons that will directly link to your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr accounts. You can even directly link to a blog, or add a professional photo. If you decide to link to your social media accounts, you will be prompted to add the account URL. I have selected the “share” and “LinkedIn” widgets. Once complete, click save and continue. The last step is to activate your website. By doing this you are provided with a personalized URL and activation button. When you click ‘activate website’, you have to agree to OR’s disclaimer. After you activate your website, you can view how many visitors have visited the site, which is counted by ‘hits’. You can also deactivate your website once you no longer want people to have access.

Slide 12 Now for the reveal of your website. Once activated, click the URL and you will be directed to your live website where there are three document types that have been added: resume, letter, and portfolio. With the resume page selected, the resume document is visible in the main content area. You can also see the sidebar that was enabled, which allows you to share the website with others, or go directly to your LinkedIn account. Now let’s navigate back to the document center to view the interview prep tool.

Slide 13 The number one way to prepare for an interview is by practicing, and that is exactly what the interview prep tool allows you to do. Enhance your interview skills by experiencing a variety of interview types. You will receive guidance from a coach on what employers are looking for and how you can improve your answers. From the document center, select “Create new interview”, and name your interview. This interview will be titled Professional. Next, set up your interview with two easy steps. First, select the interview type. As you scroll over each interview type a description will appear and the number in the parenthesis is how many questions are in that type. I have selected the behavioral interview and the 20 behavioral interview questions appear. Then, select your recording format. Your options are video, audio, text, or choose not to record and only listen to the question being asked. If you choose video, it will record both your audio and video, whereas the audio option only records audio. When you have made your selections click “continue interview”.

Slide 14 Now we are in the interview session. The interviewer, David, is in the video on the left, and the question he will ask is at the top of the screen. The full list of questions in this interview is listed below the video boxes. You will notice each question has a red flag, and as you answer each question, the flag will turn green. When you are ready to record, click record answer, and then choose to re-record, save, or play it. Once you are ready to advance to the next question, click next question. If you come across a question you are unsure how to answer, play the video on the right where David acts as a coach.

Slide 15 This concludes our overview of OptimalResume. Now it is your turn! We encourage you to create an OptimalResume account to get started!