Resume and Job Placement Workshop

1. Resume and Job Placement Workshop December 3, 2010 Kelly Wesener Edward Heard Marianne Spring

2. Resume Revising Dr. Kelly Wesener

3. The Big Picture • Include job history and broad overview of your skills. • Choose font and format that express who you are. • Be consistent – punctuation, tense, indentation, date format. • Match the length to your time in the field.

4. Details, Details, Details • Use appropriate e-mail address and professional voicemail message. • Include location of institutions listed. • Write out acronyms (e.g., bachelor of arts). • No degree yet? Use anticipated date. • Use present tense for current position. • List only most important or relevant information for past experience.

5. Quantify your experience. • Avoid abbreviations, unless it is shared language (e.g., ACPA, NASPA). • Be intentional about your headings. • Provide your role regarding conference, committee, or organizational participation. (Include dates, and list in chronological order.) • Include your name and page number on each page. • Use resume paper – avoid dark colors.

6. Cover Letter and References Dr. Edward Heard

7. Cover Letter • An introduction and an invitation • Relies on job posting first, experience second • Conveys a sense of professional identity • Sincere; believable • Avoid appearance of entitlement • A writing sample • Edit; have reviewed by trusted source

8. Cover Letter: The Job Posting Assistant Director First Year Experience (HigherEdJobs) • Master's degree in student development, higher education, student personnel, advising or related field is required. A minimum of two years full-time related experience on a college campus working with first/second year students is required. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are also required as is significant knowledge about successful college engagement practices. Demonstrated strategic planning experience and the ability to interact easily with members of the University community is required. Preferred requirements: Previous experience in residence life; a demonstrated understanding of student development; program coordination; student advising; significant organizational skills; familiarity with career and other assessment tools; desire creative use of technology as well as knowledge and understanding of student learning philosophy.

9. Cover Letter: Borrow and Relate • I have worked in orientation and admissions offices for the past three years, supplemented by additional past employment in residence life and academic advising. • In my current role at Northern Illinois University, I am responsible for coordinating programs to transition freshman into new academic expectations and university life. • My recent experiences in researching first-year programs and student retention initiatives have contributed to the department’s strategic planning. • I am interested in the challenge to creatively use technology to engage students and to improve assessment procedures.

10. Cover Letter: A Guide • Paragraph 1 - Position of interest • Name position, where you saw it • Convey energy • Paragraph 2 - Possibility of fit • Address employer’s needs; see job ad • Show you know the organization • Paragraph 3 - Preparation for position • Other qualities you bring • Show you know yourself • Paragraph 4 - Plot anticipation of meeting • Confident clarification; reaffirm interest (invitation) • Point to documents

11. References Preparation, Stage 1 • Distinguish from posting: reference list or letters? • Prepare ahead of time: identify 5 references • Options: employers/supervisors, professors, advisors, pastors, volunteer coordinators; never use family • Collect detailed/accurate contact information • Networking • Relationship • Investors

12. References Preparation, Stage 2 • Approach your contacts as you approach employment • Preparing documents for your investors • Have a sense of the person’s schedule • Which reference(s) will I choose for this application? What can/will this person say about me? (really) • Use discretion – learn from everyone/select your references

13. References The time is here, handling business, Stage 3 • Know your deadlines: you are on their time • Steer the ship - a checklist; provide easy-to-read instructions (sealed-signed/direct mailing?) • Avoid information overload • Provide job vacancy notice, your resume, points to address • Set appropriate deadlines for references: not too soon; application deadlines are applicant’s responsibility • Have back-up plan if reference doesn’t commit • Combine requests if possible (efficiency) • Follow-up your requests; don’t be shy

14. References Format • Use same color/type of paper/font as your resume and cover letter • All should have your personal letterhead (name and contact information) Note: • Thanks • Updates

15. Editing Marianne Spring

16. What Is Editing? • Reading for • Content • Clarity • Style • Rewriting and revising

17. Why Edit Your Cover Letter? • It’s a representation of you, your experience, and your professionalism. • It’s a first impression—the first contact with a potential employer. • It’s your writing sample—proof you can communicate clearly and effectively. • It’s your future.

18. How To Format A Cover Letter • Inside address • Recipient’s address • Date • Formal Salutation • Introduction, body, and conclusion

19. How To Edit • Read the document through without marking it. • Edit it. • Reread it. • Print it. • Proof it.

20. When Editing, Be On The Look-Out For • Missing Transitions—make sure your thoughts flow logically • Choppy Sentences—can you combine sentences? • Rambling Sentences—revise long sentences if they’re confusing; use coordination and subordination • Clutter—get rid of unnecessary adjectives/adverbs and wordy phrases • Imprecision—replace general nouns with concrete, descriptive nouns

21. Passive Voice—use the active voice (and action verbs) whenever possible • Misused Words—use a dictionary! • Repetition—use a thesaurus, but use it cautiously (be cognizant of connotation) • Confusing/Awkward Phrases—make sure what you wrote is what you mean • Errors in Usage—misplaced/dangling modifiers, unparallel structures, run-ons • Slang/Jargon/Idioms/Clichés—avoid them all!

22. What Is Proofreading? • Checking for errors in • Spelling • Usage • Punctuation

23. When Proofing, Be On The Look-Out For • Commonly Confused Words • Commonly Misused Words • Subject-Verb Agreement • Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement (or ambiguous/missing antecedents) • Dangling/Misplaced Modifiers • Non-parallel Structure • Missing Commas • Overused Commas • Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense • Colon Usage • Misspelled Names and Places • Spelling Errors

24. Never Rely On Spellchecker Eye halve a spelling checker It came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh My checker tolled me sew.

25. Questions ? Questions for the presenters