Dread the thought of rewriting your resume, or putting your first resume together? Think again. In fact, you may need to completely reconsider how you look at the whole resume-writing process.
Students often lament they have no employable skills. But you may have more skills than you thought; it's all a matter of the questions you ask yourself when you start to write things down.
In addition to paid and volunteer jobs, consider your class work. You can get great ideas for your resume by rereading the list of class assignments. Individual or group presentations can count as public speaking experience. Did you help organize your group, or coordinate meeting times? That demonstrates leadership skills. Were you able to make deadlines on group or individual projects? Are you able to juggle school, work and extracurricular activities? These demonstrate time management skills.
Next, think about your positive personality traits. If you have difficulty assessing yourself objectively, ask a trusted friend, professor or employer to help you. I have heard it said that most people who fail in the workforce fail because they don't know how to work well with others, not because they don't know how to do their job. Any cooperative behavior skills that you mention should be looked upon favorably by a prospective employer.
When I had my resume critiqued, I received some valuable advice: back up each statement you make about yourself with a specific example. For instance, if you say that you work well in groups, follow up that statement by providing an example of a positive group relationship. This strengthens your claim by presenting "evidence."
If you have word processing skills, list them specifically by program. Other programs you may want to include are Telnet (e-mail), Netscape, Excel, PageMaker and PowerPoint. If you can operate both MacIntosh and Windows-based machines, say so -- it's another marketable tool to add to your resume.
After you write out a preliminary version of your resume, take advantage of all the free help the university provides. Between the Writing Center and the Career Development Center (CDC), you can receive plenty of helpful feedback. If you start now, y ou can continue developing your resume until it truly reflects the real you. The CDC (room 6, Student Services Building) has a wealth of free information available about resume writing, interviewing, and all aspects of the job search process.
Finally, take each job search seriously. Whether it's a part-time summer job or full-time employment, put your best self forward on paper, to make the most of your job search efforts.
The Cover Letter: Your First Impression
Cover letters are often the first contact you have with a prospective employer. Whenever you mail a resume or application to an employer, it should be accompanied by a cover letter. A cover letter is not necessary when you present your resume to an employ er during an interview. However, if you choose to drop off a resume to an employer you don't have an appointment to see, you'll want to include a cover letter.
Keep the following points in mind as you prepare your cover letter and resume:
- The cover letter should be typed neatly on a single page of stationery that matches the paper of your resume.
- Don't include your life's history. Brevity is the soul of cover letters.
- Put your resume and cover letter unfolded in a large matching envelope.
- Address letters to specific individuals. The MSU Career Development Center can help you find contact names for various employers.
- Keep in mind that your cover letter is also a writing sample. Show the employer your best "simple and direct" writing style. Use action words to describe accomplishments.
- Specify how you learned of the opening, or why you are writing.
- Highlight what special elements of your education or experience would enable you to do an outstanding job.
- Outline what attracts you to this particular opportunity.
- Include your knowledge about the company and their future growth.
- Describe what action you would like the employer to take in response to your letter.
- Remember to sign your cover letter.
Finally, before you ship everything off, have someone critique your cover letter and resume for style and content. Remember, it's better you find a typo on your materials than your future employer.
Source: MSU Career Services and Placement Manual
Action Words for Resumes
accomplished, achieved, acted, adapted, analyzed, assisted, budgeted, completed, conducted, contributed, created, developed, diversified, enlisted, encouraged, facilitated, generated, identified, influenced, introduced, investigated, launched, led, maintained, managed, motivated, negotiated, organized, oversaw, produced, performed, promoted, published, recommended, recruited, researched, restored, revitalized, scheduled, strengthened, suggested, supervised, trained.
Tips for writing thank-you letters
- Send thank-yous within 48 hours of the interview.
- Always address a thank-you letter to a specific individual. Be sure the name is spelled correctly.
- Write each thank-you letter separately, even if you follow a similar form for each letter.
- Once you receive and accept a job offer, send your new employer a thank-you letter.
- If you withdraw from consideration or turn down an offer, send a polite thank you which leaves the door open for future consideration.
- In response to a rejection, follow a similar format. Express your gratitude for being considered, as well as your continued interest in the company.
- If you terminate employment for any reason, send a thank-you letter to your former employer. Be positive -- this letter can "clear the air," if necessary, and generate positive references.
Online career search information Web sites for resume writing:
MSU Career Services & Placement
https://careernetwork.msu.edu/
Contract Employment Weekly
A Guide to Effective Resume Writing
http://www.cjhunter.com/cew/resume_writing_guide.htmll
Web sites on interviewing:
College Grad Job Hunter
On-campus Interviewing Success
http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/oncampus.html
Job Hunter E-zine -- The truth about interviewing
http://www.collegegrad.com/prep/jhc/16interv.html
Movin'On: Tips for Interviews
http://www.wm.edu/csrv/stualum/intrwdir/icontent.html
The Briefcase -- Don't sweat the interview
http://www.studentcenter.com/brief/sweat/sweat.htm
Job postings and employment information
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.merit.edu/
Michigan Works
http://www.michworks.org/
Federal Jobs
http://www.fedworld.gov/jobs/jobsearch.html
Source: MSU Career Services & Placement