Chapter 15, “Starting Your Career,” had some really good tips and explanations about how to create the documents needed to find a career.
I have always struggled somewhat with tailoring my résumé to emphasize particular skills. I feel like it’s much easier to do this when you have a lot of experience and education to choose from. It’s hard to omit irrelevant work experience if you have little to no work experience to begin with! However, the chapter made a good point about using the language of the industry to which you are applying in.
For example, I am a double major in Professional Writing and Psychology, and plan to apply to both writing positions in the pharmaceutical industry and more creative writing positions with magazines, etc. For my Employment Project, I have chosen a job ad from Eli Lilly & Co. for a “Scientific Communication Associate.” When I create my résumé, instead of highlighting the journalistic experience I have and my English education, I want to emphasize my experience with psychology and the scientific method. On this résumé, I might include working with a psychology professor in a lab, while omitting some irrelevant newspaper experience.
I know that my résumé at Lilly would definitely have to pass a Human Resources representative before it was passed along to the appropriate department. My résumé needs to contain all the typical requirements of a résumé and show that I meet all the requirements of the job in order to get through the HR rep, but it must still have something that shows the primary audience, the hiring coordinator for the department, that I stand apart from other applicants. One suggestion I’ve heard that can show you meet the requirements but set you apart is in tailoring your objective statement through the job description. Using the same language in the job description in your objective statement will show that you meet the requirements and at the same time, make it seem like you are the perfect candidate for the job (assuming you do meet all the requirements with your education and experience, as well).
Irrelevant work experience
I had the same problem with deciding on what to put experience wise on my first resume. I really had no work experience pertaining to my chosen career, but I have previous employers who I knew would give positive feedback, so I wanted to put them on there. Now I realize that these irrelevant work experiences must be replaced by relevant projects and lab activities. You pretty much build your whole portfolio (if you decide to or are required to) around your career choice and audience. Although, I don't think that adding a few extra materials, such as a background in journalism in your case, would hurt.
Resume
I think everyone has struggled when writing their first resume. I did not make one until I started college. It seems I learn more and more about building resumes every year. Even after all of these corrections and input I receive from others, I still think it needs work. It could be I have high standards, a lack of experience to fill the page, or both. Whatever the reason, I believe I can speak better than my resume can. I rather sell myself talking to the person that might hire me rather than some ink on a piece of paper.
Jeff
Response
I completely understand about believing you can speak better than your resume. I have gotten frustrated in the past because I feel like if I just have a chance to do the interview, I'd have no trouble getting the job. The good news is, several people have told me that your resume will almost never make or break whether or not you get the job. Even if someone has a much better resume than you, but you possess the quailities and personality that would fit with the company, you're going to get the job over the other candidate. I've been advised by teachers to make the goal of my resume getting an interview, not getting a job. Thus, you do have to consider your audience and what they want to see and build your portfolio around that, like breal suggests, but just to get the interview. Obviously, you would never want to lie, but you can include and omit certain information that tailors your resume towards making you a unique and interesting candidate for the job.
Kristin
Building from the resume
That's good to hear about the resume not necessarily making or breaking a job opportunity, and I can see why that would be true. I think that as long as your resume is written and designed well, you can just build from there, even if you don't have much experience. Where you can really show what you're worth is within the application letter, portfolio and the interview. Your biggest chance to show the company what you can do for them is when you're face-to-face(or on the phone) with them. Companies are not looking for the most intelligent most experienced person they can find, but someone who is enthusiastic, personable and well-rounded.
Response
First off, Kristin that is a very good point about the goal of your resume to only be used to land you an interview, and not the job. I would also have to agree about struggling when writing a person’s first resume. I also did not have really any relevant job related experience, and I found myself searching for filler for my resume. But, in the last few years I have been able to gain that experience and to add it to my resume. I have also found myself constantly learning from interview to interview what is good and bad with my resume.
Also, something that I found very helpful was to take my resume to Center for Career Opportunities and have them look over it.