Elon University School of Communications
into the trash. Edit your work, proofread the final copy and then double-check everything. Twice. Have someone else go over it. Make sure the editor is NOT the first person to see the finished product.
Understand the purpose of a resume'. It is not intended to get you a job on its own. It is meant to tell prospective employers enough about you so that they'll look at your work sample and call you in for an interview. Use the interview, tests, tryouts and other activities to land the job.
Blindly sending out resume's is an exercise in futility - communications organizations get them by the dozens and they are cast into the trash immediately unless they are sent in application for a specified job opening or your name rings a bell with the recipient. Even if you are applying for a specific job, your resume' can be instant wastepaper if you don't 1) have an inside track because you know someone in the hiring company; 2) have an incredible track record of recent real-world employment (internship, part-time, even full-time) in the job for which they are hiring.
Networking is key: If you want to land a job, find three communications organizations for which you would like to work, research them thoroughly and find out the names of the people who do the hiring for the type of position you would like. Find some way to get to meet these people at each organization and talk to them one-to-one for at least 10 minutes. The idea is to have them invest a few minutes of their personal time in knowing your name, your face and your determination to be an exceptional communications professional. One approach is to call for an appointment, explaining that you admire them and their work, you are a student and you wish to take just 10 minutes of their time to interview them about their field. Offer to buy them coffee or a soda. It is an opportunity for you to learn about your chosen field; use it wisely. Go in prepared to ask good questions. Dress in business clothes. Toward the end of the conversation, ask about the best ways to make yourself attractive as a candidate for jobs at this particular company. Following the talk, send a handwritten thank-you note or a small box of sweets or other appropriate token with a thank-you attached.
Where to begin when writing the resume'
In a business where word economy is valued, one-page resume's have traditionally been the norm. This is changing, though not with all editors and managers. You're certainly free to go over that, but it won't work with everyone - especially when your experience, in comparison to the hiring manager's, is modest.
On the typical resume', you begin with complete contact information, including your e-mail address. Stating a career objective can help, but only if it matches the job opening. An incompatible career objective can eliminate you immediately. It's also OK to omit this; it's up to you.
Put education or experience next, depending on which is more relevant to the job you're trying to get. Tailor it to fit. For instance, if all of your work experience has been outside of communications, but you have a degree in it, lead with the degree and details about your coursework. If you're completing a non-journalism degree and have two internships at media outlets, list the media internships first.
The categories' chronological order is less important than relevance. However, if you break things up this way you should establish categories and then follow chronological order within those categories, going from the most recent to the oldest.
Expand on simple job titles
Describe your jobs. Don't say you were a reporter. Say you were a reporter who covered a school district, two police departments and the United Way and that you wrote a monthly column. Say you were a photographer who covered pro sports on weekends. Say you were an office manager for the largest PR firm in Burlington.
Mention the more complicated, difficult or outstanding accomplishments you had in those jobs. These accomplishments distinguish your resume' from others, tell the media manager something about your interests and abilities and could open the door to an interview.
Keep your design clean and simple
Clear, clean lines, dignity and elegance work. Overly flashy resume's suggest you lack experience or sophistication and do not give you any advantage over other applicants. They can suggest bad taste and give the general idea that you have poor judgment.
Does your resume reflect a mature attitude? People who hire are seeking employees with the energy of a 20-year-old and the emotional stability and world understanding of a 40-year-old.
Due to the corporate-conglomerate nature of today's media, more companies scan resume's for employment databases. You should make a resume' that scans cleanly. This is a straight-forward resume' written in 12- to 14-pt. typeface, with no use of italic type. If you do this, your application may be passed around to other media outlets within a corporation - this could lead to a good job or more interview offers.
Non-journalism jobs - to list or not to list?
If you have a short employment history, you may include jobs that are not journalism-related. These help demonstrate that you have worked for others, know how to toil for a living, show up on time and generally are responsible. Stress areas that are most similar to newspapering: writing, handling information, working with the public, juggling tasks.
You should include second languages (only if you know more than the obligatory school minimum) and recent awards, scholarships, extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and personal achievements - if they demonstrate relevant qualities such as resourcefulness, tenacity or responsibility. Don't just rehash your high school years - no one will take you seriously unless you won the Nobel Prize back then. That was then, and this is now.
Generally omit personal information
It is not relevant whether you are married or single, old or young, a smoker or a non-smoker. Don't include those facts. They can say you don't know what's relevant to an employer and what isn't. It can lead the potential employer to think you aren't very good at content decisions.
If you are a world traveler or if you have a hobby that is so serious that you have become something of an expert, this may be of use on a resume'. Generally, the more relevant this information is to the job, the better off you are using it. Being accomplished at a musical instrument, for example, implies precision, discipline and practice. Saying that you have a passion for button collecting or that you bake cookies may leave some recruiters cold.
Information courtesy The Detroit Free Press
Internship/Job Hunting Links
• Preparing a Portfolio: A professional portfolio is an essential part of your internship/job application. Click for details on portfolio prep.
• Putting Together a Dynamic Cover Letter: Don't waste words. Write a letter that piques the interest of the potential employer and encourages him or her to carefully consider your portfolio and call you for an interview. Click for details on writing cover letters.
• What to Include in a Resume': Rule number one is to assume that pretty much anything you did in high school is not of interest. That was then and this is now. Click for details on resume' writing.
• Preparing to Take the Test: Newspapers and other media organizations often administer writing, editing and/or general-knowledge tests to prospective employees. Are you ready? Click to find out more.
