De-Crowd Your Resume, Increase Your Chances of Getting a Job

For those of you who have the not-so-terrible “problem” of too much information on your resume, this blog is for you.  A lot of people think, hey, how can this be a problem?  A lot of work experience should work in my favor, right?  The short answer is sometimes yes, and sometimes no.

If you’re an undergraduate student, then yes, having a lot of work experience definitely works in your favor.  But it’s not likely that all of your work experience is relevant to the kinds of jobs and internships you’re applying for to build your career.  We can definitely show you how to shape your resume based on the position you’re applying to, and it’s something you can learn to do easily as well.  Essentially, the kind of jobs you’ll be applying to are going to be entry-level positions that require a one-page resume, so start editing.

The only way you can get away with a resume that’s more than one page long is if you’re applying for a non-entry-level position and if your resume is AT LEAST one and a half pages long.  A page and a quarter just won’t do.  

Have a great weekend,

Seghel

CPP's Are Coming to Your Dorms!

Hey everybody, the Career Planning Peers are going to be visiting freshmen dorms during the next two weeks.  We're gonna be giving away insider information about what you need to know as a freshmen to make your college career a cinch.  We will be visiting during these times:

3/2, Tuesday: Fromm Hall 6-7pm
3/8, Monday: Gillson Hall 5:30-6:30pm
3/9, Tuesday: Hayes Healy 5-6pm

Any and all are welcome to come!

Have a good one,
Seghel

What ARE objective statements anyway?

While I look at a variety of resumes on a daily basis, all with their own unique flavor and design, the one thing I find myself catching over and over again are issues with objective statements. So let's take a more in-depth look at what they're all about.

What are objective statements?
Simply put, objective statements are a one sentence declaration of what you’re looking for and why you’re sending your resume in to the employer. It should be short, clear, and focused. The main purpose is to make it simpler for the hiring manager to know exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, just like with a cover letter, object statements need to be tailored to a specific position, so make a new one each time!

Really? I have to make a new one each time?
Unfortunately yes. But lucky for you, changing them is incredibly simple as they really are only one sentence long. But they must be changed because they must be specific, and catered to each job you’re seeking.

What if I’m attending a Career Fair?
In a situation like this I’ve usually recommended students just take their objective statement off completely. It’s important to note here that objective statements are not mandatory, and most every employer will not have an issue if you chose to omit this section.

What do they have to include?
Objective statements are very basic, but very specific. Having a general statement like: “I’m a driven young professional looking for a career with a great company” is, in all honesty, just fluff. It doesn’t add much to your resume, and really just winds up being a space waster in the end. Instead, you need to include at least two, and ideally three basic components.

• Who you’re applying to (Kaiser, Project Open Hand, Ernst & Young…)
• What position you’re applying for (Intern, Marketing Assistant, Accountant…)
• What you can bring to them (communication skills, leadership ability…)
• This point is not necessary, but may add to the overall feel

Or to put this all together more clearly, here is the basic template we show to all resume writers:

To obtain a position with ________ company as a _________ utilizing my _______, __________, and ___________ skills.

Of course this is a stock example, and is certainly not your only option in terms of objective statement structure. What we want you to take away from this template, though, is the necessity of being specific with what you’re applying for, and where to include your personal skills if you chose to do so.

Some other clear, focused examples to consider:

• An internship position with Wright and Young inc. with a focus on counseling issues related to older adults, their adult children, and their families.
• To obtain a position in a Registered Nurse New Grad Training Program in Pediatrics.

To sum it all up

• Objectives can be helpful, but are not a mandatory part of your resume writing process. If you’re struggling with space on the resume, or if you’re attending a career fair or similar event, it might be in your best interest to remove the objective statement entirely.
• If you are going to include an object statement, make sure it’s specific, make sure it gives a basic overview of what you’re applying for, and make sure it has one to two examples of what you can bring to the organization.

Hope this cleared some things up!

-Sarah

Transform yourself into the best candidate for the job!

I was looking around to see what different people and organizations are saying about what is important regarding finding and landing a job. A common theme seemed to pop up everywhere; and it’s a theme that we can’t stop talking about here at CSC. Any guesses?

Personalization, personalization, personalization.

Besides the obvious problems with misspelling a company’s name (or including the wrong company’s name!), a hiring manager can tell when you haven’t tailored your cover letter and/or resume to fit their wants and needs.

So how do you make yourself look like the very best person for the job?

Take the time to research each company individually. Read the job description carefully, and identify the skills or requirements they are looking for.

Once you know what they’re looking for, think about the experiences you have that show how you acquired each of those skills. It won’t do you much good to go into detail about your incredible painting skills when they are clearly asking for someone with public speaking skills. Now, this doesn’t mean you should make up a story about “that time you spoke to an auditorium full of hundreds of people,” when it was really only a few friends. It does mean that you should brainstorm examples that show your speaking abilities, i.e. class presentations or giving reports to your club.

If the company doesn’t have a job description (or even if they do…), find out any and all information you can about them. Read their mission statement, their impact on the community, etc. Even if you don’t use this information for your resume or cover letter, it will certainly benefit you in an interview. Or, it may even show you that this isn’t a company you want to apply to.

The point is: know what you’re applying for, understand what they are looking for, and use your creativity (truthfully) to show why you’re the best candidate for the job!

Good luck!
-Allison

You CAN Still Apply for Summer Internships

Hey Everyone!

Hope your semester is going well so far and you’re not too stressed about classes (I know I am).  Here’s something you don’t have to stress out about: it’s not too late to apply for summer internships.  There are a ton of internships that are still available and have deadlines that extend to mid-April.  But don’t wait that long to apply!  You know as well as I do that time flies.  And trust me- the earlier you apply, the better.  You have a much better chance of landing an internship if you submit your resume right around when they’re starting to be accepted.  Just make sure to come by our office during Drop-In hours to have us check out your resume and cover letter before submitting them.

Another thing to keep in mind is that our internship database is separate from our job bank.  You can find internships at Internship Exchange, which you can register for on our website at www.usfca.edu/career (Click on the “Student” link in the left-hand navigation menu).  It only takes a few minutes to register, so do it as soon as possible! 

Have a great weekend,

Seghel