Resume Writing 101

Resume Writing 101 professor-howdy.blogspot.com “Help! It says I need to include a resume!” As college students, we are incessantly told that we need to have a resume. Like a photo ID, we need to keep it updated and even carry it around, ready to brandish our Golden Ticket of employment at any given opportunity. Yet, just as we are often told to go to a professors office hours, it doesn’t mean we actually do it. As a sophomore, I’d never needed to present a resume until I stumbled upon the perfect job opportunity. Cover letter, resume and availability required, it read. I was left reeling: I had no idea where to begin, or what cover letter meant. So if you’re like me and managed to escape the plethora of resume writing workshops and pressing counselors, take your seat in Resume Writing 101. Let’s get down to business. Employers often ask for what’s called a cover letter to prelude your resume. As the first thing an employer will know about you, a cover letter is a short and sweet introduction to your resume and to you. Its purpose is to express your interest in the position, add a bit of personality, and to interpret but not repeat your resume. It shouldn’t be long depending on the position, it can be 3-5 paragraphs of varying length. Here’s a sample cover letter  for a college senior. Transforming a blank page into a full-blown resume really isnt as daunting as it sounds. Begin by making a list: rack your brain and think of any and all previous work experience, education, certifications, clubs or organizations you’ve joined, volunteer experiences, internships and leadership roles, and when you completed them. Even if it’s small maybe you volunteered with Pay-It-Forward two years ago write it down. This isn’t final you can decide what to include when you’re sending a final copy to an employer. Next, describe what you did in each activity. If you volunteered at a hospital over the summer, what duties did you perform? Shadow a doctor? Answer the phone? Be specific. Most importantly, determine what it took of you to perform those activities, and what skills you gained from each experience. Don’t think that the little things don’t count, because they do! Shadowing a doctor gives you experience in the workplace. Interacting with patrons hones clerical and communication skills. Now, organize your list of activities into categories: work experience, education/training, volunteer experience, and your interests, to name a few examples. Beneath each heading, include the specifics and outline skills gained/tasks performed for each duty. Keep it clear and concise about a page long. When that’s finished, check out some sample formats. Decide what you layout organization conveys your strengths and gets the message across to the employer best. Here’s some examples.  Then send it to a friend, faculty mentor or parent for review. And voilà! Finished before your Ramen comes out of the microwave (yeah, I know you do that too). Now when that perfect opportunity arises youll be ready, and your heart won’t stop when you see the R-word!