What Kind of Resume are You?

November 14, 2019 at 7:57 am (career, Job Search)

Time flies when you are having fun! One day, you’re graduating college and the next, you’ve been working 15 years. Now you’re at the height of your career and want to make a job switch, but you haven’t updated your resume in years. Do you use the same resume that kicked off your career? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

It’s time to revamp your resume. From when I graduated high school in 2011 to now, the rules of the resume game have changed. The content and structure that is included in your resume should be different from the beginning of your career versus the apex of your career.

Let me set the scene: You are about to graduate college and dive deep into the big world of the unknown: work life. Most students have had no work experience or just odd and end jobs that keep you off the ledge of riding the struggle bus while in school.

The best way to lay out your accomplishments is in the form of a functional resume that highlights skills and abilities. In the top partition of your resume you will want to list your GPA (if it’s a good one) and your most successful accomplishments. Social media is huge now, so make sure to include your LinkedIn profile for interviewers to view. You will want to list relevant course work that pertains to the field you are wanting to apply for if you have not completed any internships. If you had the opportunity to complete an internship, highlight that instead of relevant coursework. All volunteer experience counts! If you participated in any honors programs or leadership activities, make sure to include those as well. With work history not being a huge significance, keep your resume to one page! A new thing I’ve learned to save space is there isn’t a need to include references. When I first learned how to write resumes, references were a must. Now, leave them out. Don’t even include “can list references upon request”. Obviously, if you want the job and they ask, you will provide those. So, keep them in mind when needed.

Now, think ahead to having the career you have always wanted and it’s time to make a job change. Do you use the resume you updated 15 years ago? Probably not. It’s now time to completely revamp your resume and give it a whole new look. You have put in hard work over the years and you deserve to show it off.

A 2-page resume is acceptable at this point in your career. You want to use a hybrid or combination resume that lists your most relevant jobs starting with the most recent. You can list up to 15 previous roles, or you can list the ones that pertain to the role you are applying for. Education isn’t a focus anymore, so its good to list the university or degree you have, but no need to include your GPA. you had over 15 years ago. Make sure to include a cover letter! At the top portion of your resume you want to use quantifying accomplishments to list. You can list your accomplishments all day, but employers want to see numbers and what you really achieved. Facts speak louder than words.

This is an example of a functional resume template.
This is an example of a combination or hybrid resume template.

Keep in mind when creating your resume, in whatever stage of life you are in, a “good” resume is someone’s opinion. Everyone has one. These are guidelines to follow to make sure your resume reflects your best accomplishments and you! Good luck in any and all job endeavors.

– Christa Sterling IUPUC Business Management

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Researching Potential Employers

March 29, 2018 at 6:03 pm (job, Job Hunting, Job Interviews, Job Search)
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When searching for a job, it is equally important to research potential employers. Having a good understanding of the employer can tremendously help you prepare for a job interview. By doing this research beforehand, you will have a greater understanding of what you are walking into on interview day. Questions that you may have had prior to an interview could be answered by simply doing your own research ahead of time.

What exactly do you look for when researching a potential employer? Some of the most important aspects to look at would be how long the company has been in business, and if the business has been successful. Obviously, no one wants to start a job just to find out the company is going downhill. You want to make sure the employer has built their business on a strong, solid foundation. Another part would be the company culture and morale. Other details to look at would be location, schedule, a general idea of salary and benefits, and employee retention rate. Again, researching these things before a job interview can help you come prepared for any further questions you might have.

Now the question is, HOW do you research a potential employer? With the internet right at our fingertips, it should be easy! A couple of my favorite websites are:
• Glassdoor – A free website with information compiled from anonymous employees around the world. You can narrow down your search to certain geographic locations, if you wish. The website provides information regarding salary, benefits, interview process/questions, pros/cons of working there, etc. It is a great website to research potential employers.
• LinkedIn – Search for the company page on LinkedIn. Is the employer well known? Do you have any mutual connections? If so, are they people whom you would want to work for/with? These are important aspects to look at when researching a potential employer.

Aside from those helpful websites, it is also imperative to review the company website. Is the site valid, updated, and user friendly? Do you feel welcomed when looking at the site? Click around on all the tabs throughout the site. You should be able to gain a great understanding of who the employer is and what they do by looking through their website. Some employers will share employee testimonies on the career page. This can give you insight on why people like working there!

Researching a potential employer can be quick and simple. It is always a good idea to do your research before heading into a job interview. The more information you know ahead of time, the more prepared you will be. Knowing what to look for in a potential employer and where to look could be the key to your next successful job interview!

By Samantha Winters, Business Major – IUPUC

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The Process of Finding a Job

March 29, 2018 at 1:01 am (career, Dream Job, job, Job Hunting, Job Search)

During your lifetime, you will most likely experience the process of searching for new job. There are many steps you should take when beginning the pursuit of a new job. In this post, I will provide you with three of my biggest pointers for a successful job hunt.  It is important to focus on your network, presenting employers with a strong resume, and maintaining an open mind.

 

Often times, it is most convenient to begin your job search within your network. Networking with professionals, whether it be your friends, family, coworkers, etc. can often lead to information about jobs that are available. On top of gaining inside information through your network, your network acquaintances can often give recommendations to people they know or companies they have connections to if you are seeking employment with one of them. For this reason, it is important to maintain positive relationships within your network. Today, many people choose to keep the people in their network updated through LinkedIn. Utilizing your network will make your job hunt more successful.

 

In addition to taking advantage of your network, it is important to present a strong and updated resume to employers. When employers are reviewing your application their first impression of you will be shaped by your resume. Your resume should always appear professional, grammatically correct, and organized. It is also important to always be truthful on your resume. Often, your resume is the factor that determines whether or not you will be asked to complete an interview. Your resume should represent who you are successfully, and impress employers.

 

One thing that often restricts people while searching for a job is their state of mind. Keeping an open mind can be one your greatest assets while searching for a job. Many people have defined characteristics they are looking for in a job, and they aren’t willing to take a chance on jobs that are outside of their comfort zone. You may not always get the job you wanted, but there are always more opportunities available. Applying for jobs that may not seem like the perfect fit for you, but have potential can often lead to a great opportunity. The struggle of finding a new job will be a lot less stressful and successful if you keep an open mind and a positive attitude.

 

Overall, the process of finding your next job can often be frustrating and time consuming; however, by using my three tips for a successful job hunt you will find the perfect job. The first job you get may not be your dream job, but if you keep fighting and progressing in your career you will eventually find satisfaction with your career. Often times we have to work through jobs that may not be enjoyable, but persistence will eventually lead you to the right fit.

 

By Walker Thomas, Business Major – IUPUC

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