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Resume Best Practices
From Resumes to Cover Letters … and Back Again
UChicagoGRAD – grad.uchicago.edu
I am the brainchild of Bill Watterson, reclusive cartoonist and – in the minds of many – one of the greatest geniuses in the history of comics. I am looking for work squishing bugs and playing Calvinball professionally. Please contact me at [email protected] for more information about my career trajectory. I am always happy to network!!
Associate Director, Bug Squishing!Calvin’s Family!!
The “Death” of the Résumé
grad.uchicago.edu
Associate Director of Bug Squishing at!Watterson Family Household!
Watterson Family Home!Ms. Wormwood’s Class!Kindergarten!
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The Advice Store Still Open
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So what are you doing here?
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) The Genres II) Format III) Content & Skills IV) Wrapping Up
grad.uchicago.edu
Agenda: I) The Genres II) Format III) Content & Skills IV) Wrapping Up
grad.uchicago.edu
Genres have History
When was the résumé invented? What does résumé even mean?
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First Rule: Engage!
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Master the Genres!
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A Résumé is NOT a C.V. Traits of a C.V.:
- Accumulation of detail
- Used mostly for academic jobs and programs
- Tailored in the order of sections, hierarchy of skills/experience
- Multiple formats to accommodate info
- No strict pg. limit
Traits of a résumé:
- Curation of detail
- Used mostly for non-academic jobs
- Tailored acutely
- Bullet points
- Limited info about specific academic accomplishments
- Go onto a second page
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The Résumé as a Genre What can a strong résumé ACTUALLY DO?
- Give you a chance to do the easy stuff
- Argue by curation
- Frame your personal narrative
- Respond to a job description
- Show you’ve done your homework
- Project confidence
- Get you an interview
What CAN’T a resume do? (Almost no matter what).
- Get you a job
- Obscure a lack of attention to detail
- Bend the truth
- Tell the whole story of your experience from your birth through the present
- Go onto a second page
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Cover Letters *YOU* Would Want to Read - Begin with them: write to a person - What’s exciting about this job?
- Give narrative shape to résumé or CV
- Key word is fit, not qualifications
- Don’t repeat your résumé or CV
- What you have = what they need
- Each paragraph is a chance to show that you understand the job
- 1Pg. Sign it. Destination address unnecessary.
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But what about the “D WORD”?!
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It’s an asset. Not a liability. I promise.
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How Divinity “Plays” in these Genres - Think about audience and mission alignment
- The University of Chicago Divinity School OR The Divinity School at the University of Chicago
- Don’t write off your experience/research
- Rigor, research, and writing always play well
- Don’t apologize or run from your work
- Don’t explain yourself into a hole
- *DO* understand readerly skepticism
- *DO* trust the alumni network and the name
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Agenda: I) The Genres II) Format III) Content & Skills IV) Wrapping Up
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Format: (Not So) Easy Stuff
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Format: Fonts of Un-wisdom
Arial
Times New Roman (sweatpants of fonts) Calibri Cambria
Yeah Yeah, You Got it…Comic Sans The Calvin and Hobbes font…also not great
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Use a Better Font!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Serifs: Garamond
Georgia Palatino Linotype
Gotham Light/Bold Helvetica Neue Light Century Gothic Trebuchet MS
Size: 11 – 12
Sans Serif:
Format: Margins of Error
.7’ – 1” all around for all docs
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Less is more. Way more.
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Format that Aids Content 2-line contacts
Education § Thesis?
§ GPA?
§ Study Abroad
Headings
Bullets
Spacing
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Format that Aids Content Vertical § Reverse order
§ Most relevant on top
§ In each section, broadest to most specific
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Format that Aids Content Horizontal § Most important
information on the left
§ Compound bullets get lost
§ Strong action verbs should run down the left-hand side
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*Magic*: Right-Align Dates
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*Magic*: Right-Align Dates
Questions So Far?
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Agenda: I) The Genres II) Format III) Content & Skills IV) Wrapping up
grad.uchicago.edu
Docs Reward Creativity
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Docs Reward Creativity
a) Strong Verbs b) The Skills You Have c) “I have No Experience!” d) What Kind of Numbers? e) Read Before You Write f) Coda: not that kind of
creativity
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What is a Strong Verb?
grad.uchicago.edu
Verbs: Superhero Costumes Weak(er) § Assisted with; Worked on; Looked at;
Helped to; Cooperated with
Srong(er) § Managed, Led, Oversaw § Taught, Tutored, Advised § Wrote, Edited, Revised, Critiqued § Communicated, Presented § Analyzed, Synthesized, Examined § Collaborated, Facilitated § Implemented, Launched § Created, Produced, Developed § Drove, Gained, Delivered
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But seriously you HAVE. § Managed projects (or a coffee shop) § Led workshop discussions § Facilitated meetings § Collaborated with faculty § Implemented a research plan § Created, produced, developed:
presentations, talks, new research § Conducted research abroad and
domestically § Worked with data and in 3 languages
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“I have No Experience”
Do you feel like this?
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You know know how to READ!
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You know know how to WRITE!
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You know know how to THINK CRITICALLY!
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You know know how to TEACH!
… teach!
Skills to the Rescue!
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Articulating Your Skills Writing § Grant-writing/fellowships § Editing and receiving feedback § Condensing information § Reading and Reaching Audiences § Writing in multiple genres § Navigating varied cultural terrain § Communicating about sensitive
material in appropriate ways
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Articulating Your Skills Teaching § Communicating difficult concepts § Leadership and management § Facilitation of stakeholder views § Assessing and addressing needs § “Client” service § Use of technology in classroom § (…and preaching is teaching is
preaching)
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Articulating Your Skills Research § Analyzing objects and evidence § International travel § Managing long-term projects § Meeting regular deadlines § Completing self-directed work § Collaborating with difficult
bosses advisors § Presenting and publishing work
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Articulating Your Skills Critical Thinking § Use of language and data § Synthesis of Information § Analysis of complex evidence § Curating information § Detail-oriented use of evidence;
careful articulation of argument § Considering the role of tradition
in the contemporary moment
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Articulating Your Skills Administrative Experience § Conference planning § Research planning § Curating content § Web design and content writing § Promoting events § Managing budgets/logistics § Corresponding with experts
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So You Do Have Experience.
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But it’s Not *Just* Experience
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*Use* Your Experience § More than “Work Experience”
§ Not just Volunteer or Work or Professional
§ Specify the kind of experience
- Graduate Research Experience
- Teaching and Tutoring Experience
- Communications and Writing Experience
- Arts and Nonprofit Experience
- Leadership and Sales Experience
- Retail and Customer Service Experience
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What kind of Numbers? Weak(er)
§ Tutored students § Managed all staff
Strong(er) § Produced daily and weekly presentations § Managed $4k budget to host events for 10 staff § Taught 50 students (ages 5-10) in 1-on-1 settings § Managed 4 full-time and 3 volunteer staff § Met strict daily and monthly deadlines
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Not that Kind of “Creativity” GPA/GRE’s/SAT’s § Off except for some internships
and consulting/finance
Awards § “Latin” and Named Awards only § Explain wherever possible
Publications § On resumes, mostly leave out § Offer availability of citation list
“Interests” § 1-2 and ONLY if they’re unique
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Technical Skills / Languages Technical Skills § MS Office Suite – especially Excel § Drupal, Wordpress, Tumblr § Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) § Write about these in the experience sections § Conflict mediation, discussion leadership § SPSS, MATLAB, Stata, C++, HTML, Java
Languages § How advanced is advanced? § If you took one Spanish class ten years ago, and
you read the books in translation…. § What are languages doing for you?
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Get more skills § Coursera: Languages, programs
§ Code Academy, Lynda.com
§ Blogging: Personal Experience Counts, but include blog assignments in courses
§ Languages: Rosetta Stone in the Lib.
§ LRS / Certificate Programs (Graham)
§ Board Certification Programs
§ Volunteer through UCSC
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The Last Rule: Read First.
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Agenda: I) The Genre II) Format III) Content: Skills IV) Wrapping up
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Don’t Do This Alone
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Use Your Resources
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Use Your Resources
§ Each other and alumni
§ Uchicagoalumni.org
§ Individual advising
§ Internships (some still open!)
§ Career and Skills Programming, including job search summer camp
§ Open forum on what you need!
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Time to Dream of Summer?
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§ By May 25 - An updated resume; initial ideas about jobs - A list of 10 names you want to contact - An appointment at GSA to review draft - Begin Applying to Positions - No carpet-bombing!
§ By June 15 - Talk to alumni, explore multiple paths - Continue applying and, if possible,
volunteering
Nope….START NOW.
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Questions? [email protected]