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!

                

SPRING TIME!

Although it may not feel like it every day, spring is finally here! While the weather is still making up its mind to be warm, it is important to take advantage of the nice days. Here are some ways that you can enjoy the sunshine:

         1. Take a walk around Lake Fred.

When I lived on campus, this was one of my favorite things to do! It was a nice way to de-stress. Not to mention the beautiful scenery along the way!

2. Do your homework outside.  

        If it isn’t too windy, do your text book reading outside! Getting your assignments done while taking in the fresh air is a great alternative to studying inside.

        3. Go to the beach.

        One of my favorite parts about Stockton is being so close to beach. Whether you go to Atlantic City, Ocean City, or anywhere else, taking a walk in the sand or boardwalk is a sure way to enjoy the spring weather.

        4. Open up your windows!

        Letting that fresh air inside will lift your spirits!

        5. Exercise outside.

        Doing your workout routine outside while be a nice change of scenery from the indoor gym. If you are not an avid gym-goer, you can sit outside and practice a brief yoga or mindfulness meditation.

These are just a few ways to take advantage of the nice days. As the semester starts to come to a close, it is important to remember to take some time for yourself. Taking breaks to relax from the stress of grad school is okay! Happy Spring!

-Laura :) 

Study Hacks

With winter break just around the corner, we can almost smell the holiday treats that are waiting for us!  While being in the home stretch is an amazing feeling, with that comes the most dreadful time of year- FINALS.  Here are some study hacks that will help you ace your exams:

1.        JAZZ UP YOUR NOTES

This may sound silly, but highlighting/color coding your notes can be all it takes to make studying a little bit easier.  I love to highlight my notes in different colors!  This helps me keep things organized (not to mention it makes my notes prettier).

2.       DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE TO STUDY

Cramming for a test is one of the worst things you can do!  Even researchers have found that waiting until the night before to study will not benefit you as much- it’s called Cognitive Overload.  Make sure you pace yourself and do a little bit at a time.  The end result will be beautiful!

3.       FIND AN OUTLET

I get it- we are in graduate school; we barely have time to take a break!  But, it is important to give your mind and body a chance to decompress for a little bit each day.  I have found that going to the gym for even just a half hour a day makes all the difference in the world.  After a good workout, I am ready and more focused to pound the pavements with my studying!

4.       MAKE ACRONYMS

This is by far one of my best study hacks this semester.  In my classes, we have lots of definitions thrown at us at once.  It can be a lot to handle!  I’ve learned that by coming up with creative acronyms, the terms stick better in my brain!  And the best part is, they don’t need to make sense!  As long as it helps you remember the information, that’s all that matters.

5.       FORM STUDY GROUPS

Study groups can also be helpful when preparing for an exam.   When you work with your peers, you all bring different bits of information together.  You may not understand a specific concept, but maybe one of your classmates does!  Remember that we are all in this together, so we might as well help each other out.  Team work makes the dream work!

6.       LISTEN TO MUSIC WHEN YOU STUDY

I used to never be able to study with music on in the background (I would usually end up getting distracted and start to sing along to it).  My friend told me to try listening to instrumental music instead, and let me tell you- it is amazing!  I am much more productive with a little bit of tunes in the background now.  Check out Pandora’s instrumental stations and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Hopefully these tips will make finals not as tough this semester!  Only two weeks left, we got this! 


-Laura :) 

Summer Time

Now that all the finals, papers, and projects are complete, it is time for summer!  Summer is a great time to relax, unwind, spend time with family, and maybe even do some traveling.  Whether you enjoy laying out on the beach, hiking up the mountains, or even taking a road trip to see America, it’s important to take the time to make some memories.  Along with enjoying yourself, it is important to remember your studies and try and gain work experience when you can.  That may involve getting an internship in your field or working part time for a company to gain some hands on experience you can use when you graduate.  If you are like me, you’re going to be taking some summer classes so you can get to the graduation finish line quicker.  Whatever you choose to do make sure you be safe and I will see you next semester!

-Eric 

End Of The Semester

I just submitted my last paper so I finished my first semester of Graduate School and I could not be happier to be back!  This semester was definitely one of the toughest couple of months I’ve encountered, but now that it is over I feel a sense of pride and relief.  It took a lot of adjusting coming back to school after three years because I was not use to the academic grind.  The struggle came with juggling my studies, Graduate Assistantship, other jobs, and family.  Now that I have one semester under my belt I will be better prepared going forward. I feel like I have learned a great deal these past couple months, which has allowed me to grow both academically and personally.  No rest for the weary though, now on to summer classes!

-Eric