CV bustin’!
So, what to do, I've now seen several good students' resumes that need additional punch to get them through the door. It's frustrating to see people with excellent core skills in the area of marketing and then fail miserably at marketing themselves. Students that don't embellish their one pager with class consultancy projects, students that don't yet have a site up and running about them (and for them), students that insist on a yellow or worse LILAC CV (which just wont photocopy well if in fact it makes it passed the p*ssed off secretary who reads them first), or students that can't seem to think of anything interesting to say about their personal lives (I jog a lot and enjoy going out with friends). A quick checklist for you from the best and worst I've seen;
- An objective statement that is changed to suit the employer and job. Market yourself properly will you? Fitness for purpose please!
- A profile statement – who you are. Get your best friend to write you a few and relate these to your ability to be trusted and your ambition.
- A key achievements approach (rather then a boring chronological statement pertaining to how long you've worked for McDonald's).
- Over zealous use of power words, I'm passionate about achieving and rarely fail - translates – I'm the last person in the world you want to work with, watch your back!
- Those that think they have no hobbies. What do you want to do with your life and free time outside of college? Think ahead – try taking up something new just to see – I happened to fall back into painting last Summer for instance.
- Those that list their courses or grades (that's what a bloody transcript is for people!!).
More advice, go for coffee in Barnes and Noble, there are loads of books on this issue including the crafting of interesting cover letters. What ya got to loose?
One final bit of advice. Please reconsider paying someone to work on your CV. They don't know you, they don't care about you, they are unlikely to do you justice. Talk to people who do – your peers, your professors, and potential employers. Get the feedback! Remember that every decent marketing plan has a control and feedback loop. What's yours?
Dr Hair is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the E Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT.
© 2006, Dr Neil Hair. All rights reserved.
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Hell and Back
Great post! I would have to partially disagree with the one comment about listing classes and grades. I partially disagree because I don’t think the grades shouldn’t be listed, the GPA already covers that part. I’ve been told by people here in the US and people that have looked at my resume back home that they would like to see a list of the courses that relate directly to my field. That is why I list them, other than that reason, I would much rather use the empty space to talk about projects and achievements, etc..
I agree with Chafic. He beat me to the post though! I was told on a few occasions by professors, that having a list of past courses that are relevant to my major, would be beneficial. In my specific situation, my future boss (co-op this summer) was actually excited to see the courses I had taken and it started a wonderful conversation. It would have made sense for me to bring a transcript to show them that, yes I agree with that. But that means I would have to show them the classes I did not do so hot in my freshman year:)
FYI…here in the States we call them resumes Dr.