Resume Tips

Resume Tips

Hi, everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. As promised in my last post, here are some tips to make your resume stand out. Writing my resume was something I always dreaded, it was very hard for me to get started. For all those graduate/undergraduate students who are reading this who are not graduating this semester and think this blog post isn’t for you… START YOUR RESUME NOW!  Avoid waiting until your last semester, as it can be very time consuming and exhausting. Learn from my mistake J

1.       Brainstorm: Before getting into the formatting of your resume, make a rough draft. What do you want your resume to include? List everything that you can think of!

2.       Be organized: Make some categories to help with organization. Mine included: education, clinical experience, related experience, training/certifications, volunteer groups/activities, awards/achievements, and additional work experiences.

3.       Be specific, but don’t ramble: This can be difficult because you want to showcase how amazing you are- and you should! Describe each experience in a “short and sweet” way- explain what you did without it getting too lengthy.

4.       Choose your words: Wording is everything! Avoid using the same words over and over again. Only use a verb ONCE- and choose wisely! Try using a thesaurus to spice up a word. For example, instead of using the word “created”, you can say “developed”, “generated”, or “carried out”.

5.       Formatting: Make your headers bold and a slightly larger font. If you are including the dates of when each experience occurred (which I highly recommend you doing!), type these in italics.

6.       Pick the perfect font: Many resumes are typed in Times New Roman. However, many employers have said that picking a different (yet still legible!) font can help your resume stand out. Some suggestions are: Arial, Tahoma, Georgie, and Bell MT.

7.       Get resume paper: You’ll want to use a thicker weight paper when printing your resume. This looks more professional!

8.       Have someone look it over: The Career Center will gladly review your resume! Every Monday through Wednesday from 11:00am-12:30pm, they hold “RESUME RUSH” in front of the Career Center- Suite 104 in the Campus Center. It’s a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early!

These are just a few tips that were helpful for me when I made my resume. There are also plenty of websites with examples on how to get started. I hope this was helpful!

                                                                                                                                                                ~Laura

ARE YOU READY FOR THE FUTURE?

While it is only February, I think it’s safe to say that the people graduating this semester are counting down the days (including me!). We can’t wait to walk across the stage and get our diplomas- we have worked so hard! Once all of the celebrations have come to an end, we will start our next chapter: THE FUTURE. Scary, I know right? Most of us will be applying to jobs and will be out in the real world! To help calm your nerves, here is a list of ideas that you can be working on to prepare for the transition from college to “adulting”:

1.       Spruce up your resume: Make sure you have everything finalized! Think of any job experiences, certifications, or events you can add to it.

2.       Cover letters: This can be the most time-consuming part of applying for a job. Strong cover letters should prove to a company why they should hire you. Avoid reiterating experiences that are on your resume- tell them HOW these experiences have prepared you for that specific job.

3.       Spend time looking at company websites: See what each company stands and strives for. See if it would be a good fit for you!

4.       Create a portfolio: Put some of your best work together, that way when you go on interviews you can showcase yourself.

5.       Practice for interviews: Make sure that when the time comes, you are ready to go for interviews. Have a friend help you with a mock interview to help you prepare. Don’t forget to think of questions to ask the interviewer!

Over the next few weeks, I will be diving into each tip a little more to help prepare everyone for life after graduation!

Keep plugging along!

~Laura

GET INVOLVED

GET INVOLVED

This past week at Stockton was the Get Involved Fair. It’s a great way to display the student organizations and clubs the university has to offer. There is literally every club imaginable! From the Animal Friendly Organization to the Zine club, there is something for everyone! While the stress of graduate school can be overwhelming, it’s still important to take time to do something for YOU. Clubs usually meet one every two weeks for about an hour, so it’s not a big time commitment. Student organizations are a great way to be a part of the Stockton community while enjoying your favorite hobbies. Click here to check out the great activities at Stockton! Email the club’s President or see if they have a Facebook page for more information J

Have a great week, everyone! 

 

AND WE'RE BACK

It’s hard to believe that the Spring semester is already here! I don’t know about you, but my brain is still on “break mode”. Sadly, it is time to get back into the swing of things and kick this semester off on the right foot! I know this is easier said than done, especially for those whose graduation in only a few months away! To help inspire you to finish strong, here are some motivational quotes:

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than 
you imagine.” – Roy T. Bennett

“If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” – Wayne Dyer

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” – Captain Jack Sparrow

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

Here’s to a great spring semester!