Resume Preparation

The start of new year is a great time to create a resume or revisit the one you have. Your resume isn’t just a document; it’s your personal marketing tool in the professional world. Crafting it well is not just about listing education and employment; it’s about strategically showcasing your unique story and the value you can bring to any opportunity. Your resume becomes the roadmap for a cover letter, interview, and elevator pitch. 

Telling your professional story isn’t just a skill; it’s an art and gives you a competitive edge. In a world saturated with candidates, your narrative sets you apart, turning your journey into a compelling tale of expertise, growth, and undeniable impact you make. Open doors to your dream opportunity by turning your cover letter into a powerhouse of professional strengths. It’s not just a letter; it’s your chance to boldly declare your knowledge, experiences, service, and unique abilities. 

If you have an existing resume - I encourage to print it and keep the copy in your desk drawer. Somewhere easily accessible so that you can record the great things you are doing throughout the year. You’ll be glad you did when it is time to update the official document. 

Whether you are starting a fresh resume or updating an existing one. The first step is to start making lists. Sitting in front of the resume template can be very overwhelming when trying to think of everything you’ve done. Start by making a list: on your phone, on a legal pad, in a new document. The point is to list everything that you can think of. It is always easier to pair down the information versus pulling it out of thin air. Don’t worry if this resume is for your first job application or a significant career move. All of this can be the same for education or time spent as a long standing member of one organization. 

List your education first. All degrees, certifications, and training.Then move on to employment. Start thinking of everything you were responsible for in this position.What projects did you complete? What responsibilities outside of the job description did you take on? Don’t just consider the technical parts of the job, but also the soft skills and relationships you built. Did you gain empathy or a new perspective in this job? Has that impacted your decision making abilities

Try to list the top 3 skills you learned during the job. Be specific about how you got them. Can you think of a story or example for each skill listed? Were you recognized for your value added. These experiences become rich content for your cover letter and interview.

Include a list of your service. It can be volunteerism, civic duties, church, or neighborliness. Start a list of ways you are giving backin your area of expertise or interest. If you aren’t serving or sharing your knowledge with others. I encourage you to start. True professionals understand that service back to the industry adds a rich dynamic to their career and relationships.

The same is true for professional memberships. Most professions have a society and membership of some kind. Do some research and find yours. Professional societies make tremendous efforts to develop their members, provide opportunities, and produce best practices through governance. Societies are always eager to get new members and provide pathways for involvement. You will not only learn more about your profession but have opportunities for service and building your career network. 

Now, list what you didn’t like about the job. Where did you really struggle? How did you overcome the barriers? How were you ever pushed past your comfort zone? These answers aren’t going on the resume documentso don’t worry about censoring your feelings. The answer to these questions begin shaping your professional narrative and steering the interview conversation. Know which areas to highlight and which areas to avoid are great to consider before sitting in the interview. 

Start a list of how you deal with the stresses and obligations that came with your degree or job position. It is unrealistic to not have stress and overwhelm at times. Be able to articulate this. A common interview question is “What ways do you handle the stress and time commitments that come with these achievements?” This is a great place to be self aware and articulate the hobbies and activities that give you balance and rejuvenation. Remember, these aren’t written on the official document. However, they are crafting the professional narrative that helps communicate your achievements. 

A few housekeeping tasks to think of: create a professional email address, if you don’t have one. It is never a good idea to apply for a position using your current company's email. Also, don’t use a student email that you may lose access to in the near future. Make certain that your email address is professional and doesn’t include nicknames or anything suggestive. When emailing your documents - include a clear and concise subject line that includes your name and the position you’ve applied for. 

Check your social media and profiles before sending out your resume. Even though accounts are private; this is a great time to start considering your online presence and image. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile page, the work on the resume and cover letter give you the content for an impressive profile. 

Spend time now getting into the weedy specifics. The specific names of your degrees or certifications. The full name of organizations. The dates and locations of professional development events, conferences, or trips. Do the same for departmental specifics for any internships or clinical time.

Think about who you will use as a reference and begin gathering their information. When thinking of references: never consider family or someone you’ve never met. Take the time now to ask this person’s permission to use them. This isn’t always your immediate supervisor. Most often, you don’t want your supervisor to know you are sending out resumes. Consider those who have seen you grow in your positions. Please get their permission before adding them to your documents. If it has been a while since you sent out a resume, a reminder call or email is polite.

These details can become overwhelming once inside the resume template. Gather them now to provide a complete and impressive resume. 

Once you have the specifics of your education, employment, and service; print the job description, admission’s essay requirements, or scholarship parameters. Then, I want you to find the company or institution’s mission, vision, and values statement on their website. Ask yourself if you share these values and how you can express this in your written and verbal communications. Take a look at their social media presence as well. Look on their pages for recent events, initiatives, or celebrations. Once again, we are finding overlap and themes that navigate interview discussions. 

Now, look through every bullet point of the job description or scholarship requirements and find overlap with your lists. Start articulating how your experiences transfer to the requirements. Can you give concrete examples of your relevant knowledge or work? Think of specific experiences that make you a strong candidate. This allows you to express confidence in your ability to contribute to the company’s or institution’s success without sounding overly boastful. 

Bye Now.