Junior Career Planning and Preparation

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JuniorCareer Planning and Preparation

• Building Your Resume
• Cover Letter Basics
• Finding Your Professional FOCUS
• Perfect Interview
• Building Your Citadel Network

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Building Your Resume

• Purpose of Your Resume?
• Sample Resume (refer to handout)
• Format Margins, MS Word (no template)
• One page or more?
• Chronological or Functional Format?
• Heading Information School and Home
• Objective?
• Skills Section
• Experience Section
• Leadership Section
• Computer Skills
• Honors/Activities
• Interests
• Reference Statement
• Academic Portfolio Statement?
• Electronic or Paper?
• Resume Tips

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Purpose of Resume

• To help you concisely organize your
  accomplishments
• To help you tell your story
• To help show your advantages relative to your
  competitors
• To help you earn an interview
• Resume is useful for summer job, internship,
  graduate school, and employment applications
• Military Resume Modified version, similar

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Sample Resume

• Please refer to the resume handout
• For additional samples, see http//www.citadel.edu
  /career_services/
• ResumeSamples.htm

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Resume Format

• Create in MS Word (no template)
• The MS Word resume templates weak
• Margins set to .7 inches, all aspects
• Font Size Use 11 to start, 10-12 if needed
• for all text other than your name (use 18-24 for
  your name)
• Font Times Roman or Arial

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One Page or More?

• Strive to keep your resume to one page
• Two pages are acceptable if needed
• Be sure to include all information relevant
• to your OBJECTIVE
• Your resume has approx. 10 seconds to succeed or
  fail

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Chronological or Functional?

• Use Chronological format at this stage in your
  career
• Functional format may be better when you are more
  experienced
• For Chronological format, enter your experience
  in reverse order (most recent on top)

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Resume Heading

• Include both School and Home phone and address,
  email address
• Be sure the information is accurate before
  sending your resume to an employer
• Update your resume as soon as contact information
  changes (and also update your resume if loaded
  into the resume database in The Gate system)

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Objective Statement Needed?

• Majority of Recruiters Yes
• Needs to be Concise
• Do not use Challenging, Utilize, or Field
• Good Example Summer 2009 Internship in
  Accounting
• Good Example Entry-level position in Sales
• Good Example Admission to Duke MBA Program

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Skills Section

• Important in Showing You Have the Skills Needed
  by the Organization
• Start with Most Relevant Skills for Position
• List in 3 Columns
• Example
• Sales Management Presentation
• Teamwork Interpersonal Analytical
• Leadership Supervisory Spanish (Basic)

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Validating Skills Claimed

• Have at least two examples ready for each skill
  claimed
• Interviews are often based on resume content
• You may also bring samples of your work to
  illustrate your claimed skills

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Experience Section

• Include paid and unpaid experience
• Use reverse chronological order
• Use bullets to segment your duties
• Use only positive phrases not Dealt with
  customer complaints but Provided excellent
  customer service
• May include jobs while in high school
• Include volunteer experiences and study abroad
  (may justify a separate section)

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Leadership Section

• Cadets often add a Leadership section
• Include positions held at The Citadel
• and possibly those in high school
• Specify duties and the number trained or
  supervised
• See samples from cadets on our web site
• Organization is similar to Experience section
• Typically placed after Experience section

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Computer Skills

• Separate from upper Skills section, easier for
  recruiters
• Unbundle MS Office, list only those you know MS
  Word, MS Excel, MS Access, etc.
• Add other relevant computer skills

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Honors/Activities

• May include high school honors and activities,
  add (HS) after the entry
• Example Football Team Captain (HS)
• See sample resumes for other examples
• Religious Activities Typically may include
• Political Activities Typically may include
• Scholarships Include
• Academic Honors Include

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Interests

• Include to help find common interests with the
  recruiter
• Interests often discussed during interview
• Do not include interests which may be judged
  inappropriate
• Include at most 5 interests

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Reference Statement

• Add if space allows
• If requested, have your separate reference page
  available
• Include 4 references 2 professors or staff
  members, 2 supervisors from prior jobs
• See sample Reference page at http//www.citadel.ed
  u/career_services/ResumeSamples.htm

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Academic Portfolio Statement

• Academic Portfolio is a binder containing
• 4 6 samples of work from your classes
• Examples Research Papers, Business Plans,
  Projects, etc.
• To show potential employers your skills
• Print fresh (revised, if needed) unmarked copies
  for your Academic Portfolio
• Only list Academic Portfolio Available on your
  resume if you in fact have one ready
• See www.citadel.edu/career_services/info-students.
  htm for more on Academic Portfolios

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Electronic or Paper Resume?

• You will often send your resume as an email
  attachment
• If paper copy is needed, use a laser printer
• Use resume quality paper (office supply stores
  sell this) and matching envelopes
• Print envelopes via MS Word (do not hand-write
  addresses on envelopes)
• Use 20 pound white or ivory paper
• If watermark paper, print in same orientation as
  watermark

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More Resume Writing Guidelines

• Follow Resume Guidelines at www.citadel.edu/career
  _services/ResumeSamples.htm
• The Citadel Writing Center provides writing
  assistance
• Specific questions? Please send to
  CareerCenter_at_Citadel.edu, attaching your resume

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Resume Tips

• Proof carefully, after using spell check
• Be truthful
• Include information which supports your Objective
• Update your resume frequently
• See through the employers eyes What skills do
  you bring to the firm?
• Use your resume to tell your unique story in a
  positive and convincing way

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Cover Letters

• Purpose Introduces you and your resume
• Use resume top as letterhead
• Sample format http//www.citadel.edu/career_servi
  ces/CoverLetterSamples.htm
• Answer 4 Questions
• Who are you?
• Why are you writing?
• What can you do for the firm (ref. to resume)?
• What will you do next (call for appt., etc.)?

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Update on Using FOCUS v.2

• FOCUS (new version now available) helps you
  identify the jobs which best match your values
  and interests
• To use Enter FOCUS at www.citadel.edu/career_serv
  ices
• Be sure to Narrow and Refine your results,
  using this option on the Main Menu, to see the
  best matches for you

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Interview Preparation

• Use the Perfect Interview Program to practice and
  record interviews
• Access program and instructions
  www.citadel.edu/career_services
• May use with or without a web cam
• Work stations with web cams available in The
  Citadel Career Center, reserve a time to use by
  contacting CareerCenter_at_Citadel.edu

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Building Your Citadel Network

• Use the Online Mentoring Network to start
• To use Register for access to The Gate at
  www.citadel.edu/career_services, then follow
  instructions for Mentees
• See profiles for over 400 alumni mentors, select
  and contact the one(s) of most interest, for
  advice
• Build a network of at least 10 key contacts by
  the end of Junior year (from all sources)
• Work to make the best possible decisions for your
  future

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Thank You!

• Best Wishes as you build your resume, determine
  your professional focus, build your network, and
  prepare for life after The Citadel!