Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (9 page)

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UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE OF A RéSUMé

At the base of it all, you’ve got to understand what a résumé is. It might seem to you like a brag sheet, but put yourself in the employer’s shoes. What is a potential employer looking for? His main concern is to hire someone who can get the job done well, with as little supervision as possible—unless your boss is a control freak, and that’s another story. The purpose of a résumé is to convince the prospective employer that you have the necessary skills and personality for the job—and that based on this document, you should be called in for an interview.

That’s why when you present an experience, you should think not only about what you got out of a particular job but also about what the employer got out of you. Let’s say you’re applying for a job in a doctor’s office. It may be important to you that you discovered your interest in ophthalmology during the week you filled in for your eye doctor’s secretary, but “discovered interest in ophthalmology” is not something you write on a résumé. (It is, however, a great thing to note in a cover letter or interview.) The employer cares about the concrete skills you acquired through your experience. Here’s how that would translate to a résumé entry: “Office of Dr. Carl Edwards, ophthalmologist. Temporary Assistant. Booked appointments; called patients to remind them about upcoming appointments; maintained confidential patient files; ordered office and medical supplies.”

Seeing this piece of paper through a busy employer’s eyes also helps to explain its length—one page, and no more. A résumé is a summary, a selection of highlights, not a list of every single thing you’ve ever done in your life. Every line, every word counts and should be code for “I can do
this
…” A successful résumé will make it appear as though all your life experiences have prepared you to apply for a particular job—no matter what the job.

There’s an art to a one-page résumé; you need to be incredibly selective and prune your language carefully. Focus on what I call the four C’s: Be Clear, Concrete, Concise, and Consistent. Avoid repetition and the use of most articles. Economy of language is key. Every word should be essential, and as in a sonnet or haiku, there cannot be a syllable out of place. The one-page résumé is your calling card, the piece of paper that gets your foot in the door. If one page sounds too restrictive, keep in mind that it’s just one part of your self-presentation package: You can say more in your cover letter, through references, and in an interview.

Within the standard framework, you are in control of the content. Computer templates should be used only for inspiration and guidance on matters of style. Question the conventions. Feel free to create your own categories to highlight your skills and talents as needed: Outdoor Experience, Athletic Experience, International Experience, Culinary Experience …

The Header: Name and Contact Information

The very first item at the top of your résumé should be your full name, which acts as the “header” and should not be preceded by any other text. (Translation: The words “Résumé” or “Contact Information” should not appear.) Nor should your name be preceded by an honorific (“Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss”). Convention stipulates that you use only your first and last name,
and middle name if you so choose. Do not list degrees or titles after your name—the “Education” section is the proper place for such information.

Though your name should appear in a large font, you don’t want to overdo it. Names in enormous fonts might indicate a huge ego—giant capital letters are the equivalent of shouting. Yours should stand out without dominating or overwhelming the rest of the text.

Below your name, in a much smaller font (but not smaller than 10 or 11 point), insert your contact information: postal address, phone numbers, and e-mail address. List only one e-mail address; don’t make the employer
guess which account you check regularly. Make sure your contact information is up to date.

The prospective employer must be able to reach you easily, and between cell phones and e-mail, that shouldn’t be a problem.

If you do not have access to a cell phone, rent one or set up a message service. You don’t want potential employers to call what they think is your number and end up having a long chat with your mom, who’ll tell them how great you are—and then forget to give you the message.

Nickname Quandary

Q. I have a nickname. Do I use it on my résumé?

A.
It’s best to go formal and use your full name. On the other hand, you don’t want an interviewer calling a reference who will deny knowing a “Catherine” if you were known only as “Kitty.” So if you really don’t ever use your given name, go with your nickname. You can also specify your nickname in parentheses between your first and last name: “Maribelle (Mari) Lowell.”

If you currently use a childhood nickname, ask yourself if this may be a good time to switch to a more professional name—a new job can be a fresh start.

Out-of-State Résumés

Q. I currently live in Oklahoma and am applying for jobs in San Francisco. Do I stand a chance? Should I omit my permanent home address?

A.
Some employers are wary of out-of-town résumés. If at all possible, use a temporary address in the city in which you are looking: ideally, a friend or relative’s, or if that’s not an option, a P.O. box.

I’m not asking you to lie, but an out-of-state address at the top of your résumé should not be the first thing an employer sees. Your cover letter is the place to indicate that you are an out-of-town candidate and are planning and/or willing to move.

Indicate that your contact number is a cell so people know they can always reach you there—before the phone number write “Cell Phone” or “(c).” You don’t want interviewers to think you’re in another time zone and unreachable at certain times of day.

CV’S, BIOS, AND SPECIALIZED RÉSUMÉS

A “CV,” or curriculum vitae, is a type of résumé used in academia. A CV typically goes on for pages, including publications, professional associations, talks given, and so on.

A “bio” or biographical statement is a document you may use later on in your professional life; it’s composed of one or more paragraphs written in the third person, summarizing and highlighting accomplishments and experiences. You might be asked for one if you are giving a talk or speaking on a panel.

You may have heard of specific résumé styles, too: “functional,” “chronological,” “skill-based.”

A chronological résumé orders your experience by date, with the most recent activities appearing first. A functional or skill-based résumé groups your experience by skill or type of experience. In my opinion, chronological résumés are far too rigid, allowing little room for you to control what to emphasize. I advocate organizing your résumé by experience and then ordering material within each category chronologically, starting with the most recent.

The “Education” Section

After your name and contact information, you’ll list either your jobs or your education (see box, page 45, for guidance on making the choice). The main education entry should be the name of your school, with degree and year of graduation; if you have not yet graduated, write “B.A. in History, expected 2013” or “B.A. in History (2013).” You do not need to specify your graduation month and date unless you graduated midyear and want to keep the chronology clear.

Next, add any secondary areas of study and academic awards or distinctions: B.A.,
cum laude
, Phi Beta Kappa. If you’re short on material, list academic distinctions and scholarships in a separate category at the bottom of the page. You can also add and expand upon activities such as athletics or student government.

Organize the information in order of importance, using bullet points for clarity.

That’s all the information that needs to appear, but if you’re looking for filler, you can get more specific about your studies: “Course work in 18th-century English literature.” Note the year or year plus semester. If possible, focus on areas related to the job for which you’re applying. If you were applying for a chemical engineering job, you could include the header “Coursework in Chemical Engineering,” then list a few specific courses. If your professor is famous in the field, include his name in parentheses next to the course name: “Introduction to Physics (Professor David Lee).”

While high school is a category that should usually be left out (and will be, the older you get), for a recent college grad it can be used to fill space and also to serve as a marker in a variety of ways. It may indicate where you grew up, or at least spent a few years. (“You grew up in Providence? Where? So did I! Did you know so-and-so?”) It may indicate whether you went to a public school, private school, boarding school, all-girls, Quaker, Catholic, or other religious school. If the name doesn’t indicate the type of school you attended and you think it’s of interest, add your own description.

But think carefully about this choice and others like it. Listing public or private high schools may give an indication—not always correct—of your socioeconomic status. The name of an elite private school may attract the eye of an alum; but some readers may be biased against perceived privilege.

Honors + Awards

I
F YOU RECEIVED ANY HONORS OR AWARDS IN COLLEGE
, don’t be shy about listing them; this information will definitely help characterize you as a desirable job candidate. List awards under the name of your school. The exact titles of your awards may not be sufficiently descriptive, so explain the award as succinctly as possible—“2008 John Smith Award for highest academic achievement.” If you received a citation with the award, you might quote directly from it.

Scholarships, Financial Aid + Putting Yourself Through College

I
F YOU’VE WON SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCED YOUR EDUCATION
yourself, it’s important to show that you’ve worked hard for your achievement. Do not rely on the names of scholarships to convey the message. Use parentheses and add descriptors as necessary: “Awarded $5,000 Trump Scholarship for Academic Promise” or “Worked 15 hours a week to defray tuition expenses.”

Some counselors advise against noting the amount of a scholarship, but if it’s over $1,000, it’s worth sharing.

Oui, I Studied Abroad

T
HOUGH STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS ARE FAIRLY COMMON
these days, it’s still worth your while to mention that you took part in one. If you attended the Bucknell Spring Semester in Japan program, don’t just write “Spent spring semester in Japan.” Explain what you studied and did there: “Bucknell Study Abroad Program: Spring Semester in Japan. Lived with host family. Studied tea ceremonies. Course work included Intermediate Japanese, the Art of Watercolor, and Modern Japanese History.”

Thesis Pride

Q. Should I list the title of my thesis or self-designed major?

A.
Obviously you want to make it clear that you actually wrote a thesis or designed a major, but is the title necessary? It depends. A title can serve as a hook, but make sure it’s the kind of hook you want. If you wrote a thesis on a provocative subject, include the title only if it’s something you want to talk about in an interview. Make sure that the topic is clear to the reader: I once saw “Cry of Pain” listed as a thesis title. How could anyone know it was actually a history of flamenco dancing? Shorten and condense a long title unless you are applying for a position that relates specifically to the work you did.

EDUCATION OR EXPERIENCE FIRST?

If you are a recent graduate, the Education entry should probably be at the top of your résumé. The top entry creates the first impression, so lead with your most impressive material, whether that’s your internship experience or your educational institution. Once you’ve been out of school for a couple of years, place the Education entry at the bottom of your résumé, but before your activities and interests or computer skills (unless you’re applying for a job in the tech industry, in which case those skills would appear up front).

BOOK: Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job
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