Category Archives: Resumes

Dear Young Job Seeker:

Dear Young Job Seeker:

By Alicia Morga

From Fast Company

Editor’s note: This blog is written by a member of our expert blogging community and expresses that expert’s views alone.

WSJ.com has a new blog series that follows seven college seniors as they transition into the “real world.” Since these seven young people are no doubt no longer in need of employment, I will address the thousands of young folk out there without a blog on WSJ.com.

There is a wealth of advice and information online about how to write a resume, do an interview, get a job, etc. I interviewed and hired a number of recent college graduates as CEO of my start-up and this is what I would have told all those candidates if I’d had the chance before they met me.

The Resume

Lose the objective. I don’t know who taught young job seeks to put an objective at the top of their resume, but I’d like to shoot them. Your objective is to get a job. Period. I will be able to tell if you get this job if the meat of your resume addresses it. So you should have several resumes for all the different types of jobs you are going after.

Have someone else proofread your resume. Spelling errors are the kiss of death. It automatically tells someone you don’t or can’t pay attention to detail.

Don’t just list what you did but highlight achievements and wherever possible make them quantifiable. Did you increase membership by 150%? Were you able to raise over $100K for your alumni donation drive? Even if your only prior work experience was babysitting the iguana next door, find something to highlight.

The Interview

There are a number of signs that give young, inexperienced candidates away: the poor handshake, failure to look me in the eye when talking, not coming in prepared–haven’t thoroughly read the Web site, don’t have questions for me, didn’t spend time looking up key terms/vocabulary used by the industry.

Come prepared. For instance, have ready examples of behaviors that put you in a good light. Like an example where you had a difference in opinion with a boss, what was it and how did you handle it. Did you speak up? Did you pout?

Practice interviewing with a friend–for the first 15 minutes, answer every question as wrongly as you can. For example, what is your greatest weakness? I like to procrastinate. How would your last boss describe you? As always late. Then spend the next 15 minutes coming up with solid answers. When you interview you’ll remember the session and probably not take yourself so seriously.

Dress appropriately. This doesn’t mean suits in every case but it does mean I don’t want to see your cleavage or the waistband of your underwear–ever.

Be prepared to answer any question on anything you have listed on your resume. One of the number one ways I learned about a candidate was around the listing of Excel on their resume. If someone said they were an Excel genius or Excel expert on their resume I would ask them about that.

Alicia: “I see here you are an ‘Excel expert.'”

Candidate: “Yes, I can do anything in Excel.”

Alicia: “Oh. Good. So you can pivot table?”

Candidate: Slight pause. “Yes.”

At this point I would know this person does not know what I’m talking about, so I would up the ante.

Alicia: “What about writing a macro?”

Candidate: “Yes, of course.”

Alicia: “Okay. Please give me an example of a macro you’ve written.”

Candidate: “Um. ”

Kids, don’t let this happen to you. If you don’t know how to do it don’t put it on your resume. And if you are asked about your level of proficiency with something, just be honest. That’s all the boss is looking for–will this person fake it or will this person own up but emphasize an ability to learn?

At the end of the day, when you’re running a business, you don’t have time for the fakers. You just want someone who will be accountable and honest.

Also, remember that you are interviewing them. Someone who comes in with a sense of worth (but not cockiness) is a much more enjoyable interview. If you approach it like, “I’m here to make a connection with another human being,” I guarantee you will have more success.

The Follow Up

Usually you won’t know right away if you got the job. I still think it’s good form to send a follow up email of thanks. You can even ask for a business card at the end of the interview if you don’t have the boss’s email. Just show good manners.

Finally, if someone who is interviewing you opts to give you feedback–do yourself a favor and listen. If someone cares enough about you as a human being to go past their trepidation and tell you something about how you are coming across–consider it a gift. What they say is obviously not the word of God, but feedback does tend to point in a direction. You may want to consider what that direction is telling you.

In my time as CEO, I found most recent college graduates had no skills whatsoever in online advertising, but you see, I didn’t expect them to. I was looking for something else: integrity, a work ethic, and a willingness to learn. That, I know, you have in spades.

Finding a job is tough. It takes a lot longer than you would think. My advice? Become an entrepreneur.

Sincerely,
Alicia

For more salient advice from Alicia, visit www.aliciamorga.com

How to write a resume that gets results

How to write a resume that gets results

By Penny Loretto, About.com guide

From About.com


An effective resume is one that gets results. The purpose of a resume is to obtain an interview and ultimately to get the job or internship. All the effort spent on writing a good resume is worth it and the tips below will help you write a resume that gets results.

Be selective in the information you share on a resume and include only the details that are relevant to the employer and the position. Be concise and succinct in all descriptions and avoid the use pronouns and articles (a, an, the) whenever possible. Take a look at this resume template for ideas on what to include on your resume.

Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1 – 3 Hours
Here’s How:
  1. Formatting for results.The formatting of a resume is very important and provides the necessary information in a logical, easy to read sequence. The use of underlines, italics, bold, and all caps can guide the employer through the resume with ease. Consistency is key when developing a resume and helps make the information on the resume simple for employers to read.
  2. Start by including your personal information.The employer wants to know your name, address, phone number, and email address on the top of the first page of your resume. Personal information such as marital status, age, religion, political affiliation are not included on a resume and are illegal questions for employers to ask.
  3. Including an Objective or Summary of Qualifications is optional.An objective (optional) can immediately help identify the position to which you are applying. A Summary of Qualifications (optional) can offer a list of your skills and accomplishments right at the very beginning of your resume. You can also include why you are writing in the cover letter if the employer asks for one.
  4. Marketing yourself.Be sure to first list the most relevant experiences related to the internship or job to which you are applying. You may entitle this section Relevant Experience, Business Experience, Leadership Experience, etc.

    Maintain consistency in your resume by presenting your information in a logical consistent format utilizing boldface, italics, and capital letters to emphasize headings and important pieces of information. Avoid using several different type sets within the resume.

  5. Use Action Verbs to describe your responsibilities & accomplishments.Creating effective verb statements highlighting your skills and accomplishments will make your resume strong and create a favorable impression with employers. By including only relevant information with just enough detail to demonstrate your skills, you will be illustrating your attention to details along with your ability to communicate and organize your thoughts.
  6. Include all relevant Education, Honors, Degrees, & Certifications.When applying for internships Education, Honors, and Awards will usually go at the beginning of the resume and will move to the end once you have developed some professional experience. As a student, Education will be the first major category (after Objective or Summary if you include one), since student is your most recent full-time role.
  7. Maintain white space.Try to keep margins to 1” all around the edges of the resume and include some spacing within the resume to give it a fresh, professional look. You want to create a resume that’s easy to skim.
  8. Prepare several resumes.Be prepared to change your resume based on the position in which you are applying. You may choose to change the information provided or you may just change the order in which you present the information.
  9. Focus on the qualifications of the position and the needs of the employer.Each resume should be the result of researching the employer and reviewing the position description if possible. Be sure to include certifications, achievements, volunteer, internship, employment experiences as well as any special skills such as computer, foreign language, music, art, etc.
  10. Try to keep it to one page.For internships and entry level positions, one page is sufficient. One you have been in the workforce for ten years or more or if you have had extensive lab experiences or publications, two pages may be required. Be sure to put your name and page 2 at the top of the second page of the resume. Do not staple and avoid folding if possible. Use laser bond paper and you may select a matching #10 envelope or large 9″ x 12″ envelope.
  11. Review the overall format and how the resume appears visually.Once you have included all the information and have checked for consistency and formatting, take a good look at how the resume looks and if it is professional. The overall look and appeal of the resume will provide the employer with a lasting first impression of you as an applicant.
  12. Proofread.This is the time you will want to be a perfectionist. There is no room for grammatical and/or spelling errors in a resume. Set it down and come back to it, have someone critique it, do whatever is necessary to ensure that your document is absolutely perfect. You will not get a second chance to create a good impression if you send out a resume that includes errors.
  13. Congratulate yourself.Congratulations! You have prepared a resume you can be proud of. Every couple of years you will probably need to update the information on your resume; but the hard work is behind you.
What You Need:
  • Resume Paper
  • Matching or 9″ x 12″ Envelope