Tips to Keep Your Resume Out of the Trash Can

As we are preparing college and graduate school applications and applying to jobs and internships our resume is an integral piece to the puzzle.  Resumes are ridiculously important to everyone’s employment and professional mobility.  It’s a one-stop shop representation of your qualifications and experiences.  Potential employers should be able to read it and assess your aptitude and potential.  It should be accurate, straightforward, clear and concise.  Everybody and their mother’s nephew is looking for a job which means that employers are painstakingly reviewing fifty-leven thousand resumes and cover letters per day.  As someone who has sat many a hiring committee , let me tell you, common mistakes make our lives much easier.  We bank on them and are delighted to discover them.  These trivial little errors and common faux pas identify an applicant as careless, sloppy and unprepared. Just one of these mistakes relegates your resume to the recycle bin, never to be considered again.  I’m trying to give you the heads up and make sure you know all you need to know to make the cut.  

1. Know Your Selling Point and Get To It- Miss us with dramatic self-centered mission statements and objectives that sing your infallible praise. Your goal is to match your skills and abilities to the companies needs.  State your business briefly and get  on with it.  We don't have the time or the patience to figure out why we should hire you. Tell us articulately and appropriately.  With most recruiters the priority is the company first and then the candidate.  Remember that.
2. It is Not A Numbers Game- People often think that the more jobs they apply to the higher their chances of getting a call back for an interview.  This is not always the case.  Only apply to jobs for which you are qualified for and are genuinely interested in.  Nothing is more annoying then having to comb through loads of resumes of individuals that are completely unqualified.
3. Always Include a Cover letter-  Even if a cover letter is not specifically requested, one should always accompany a resume. Check out the previous posts on Cover letter writing and keep it here for more information I’ll be sharing in the next few days.
4. Templates are the Devil-  Potential employees can spot a canned resume at a 50 mile radius.  Personally I find them very impersonal and just plain lazy.  There is nothing wrong with using a template as a guide for formatting your resume, but you’re an individual with distinct credentials and experiences.  You shouldn’t force yourself into a generic template.  That is the easy way out and we can all tell.    Make sure your resume specifically speaks to the position that you are applying for.    Since you’re job search is personal and focused it shouldn’t be that difficult to do this kind of tailoring.  It really makes all the difference. 
5. Tell the TRUTH-  Padding and fudging your resume can have devastating long term impacts on your career tract.  In doing so you are running a very large risk.  First of all, your deception is usually very easy to uncover upon closer review.  Considering the state of the economy, the hiring process is very involved with large attention to detail.  Between reference checking and our good friends at Google your fraudulence can be exposed with a few clicks of the mouse.  And remember the world is smaller than you think especially in certain industries.  Getting caught in a lie with one hiring manager can lead to black listing.  Google the horror stories if you don’t believe me.  They do exist.
6. Proofread as if Your Life Depended on It-  Check and double check and then have someone else check again.  Be mindful of your spelling and your grammar as well as your consistency in formatting and punctuation.  Are their periods at the end of all of your bullet points?  Are all of your headings and subheadings formatted consistently and is your capitalization correct?  With resumes there is a lot to remember, so it’s really easy to sometimes forget.   That’s why it’s important to take the time and review your resume prior to each time you submit it.  Just under 80% of all human resources personnel have reported dismissing mistake riddled resumes of otherwise qualified applicants.  Don’t get your resume thrown in the trash for an oversight. 
7. Formatting- When submitting job applications online it's always best to save and attach your resume as a PDF.  This will ensure that the format of your resume will not be altered regardless of the program/operating system that is used to open the attachment.  Computers and word processing vary n forms of fonts, margins, alignments and spacing.  PDf files ensures your resume remains the way that you send it.  

I hope this has been helpful to you! Feel free to holla at me with any questions , feedback or requests for future posts.  Till Next Time!

Say What?!?!- Personal Statements 2.0

Back again friends with another post on writing a solid personal statement. Make use of your summer months by getting a jumpstart on them graduate school applications.   Libraries have loads of free space and free central air conditioning.  Get your life!  Get somewhere, sit down and do something productive.   Don’t know where to start? No worries; you know I’m here as always with my two cents.  As a student and graduate student who has experienced the process of writing and revising my own statement, and now as a professional responsible for reviewing applications and admitting students into the programs I work with, I’ve seen the personal statement from both ends of the table.   Although most of us are never formally instructed on how to write them, there are clear and finite do’s and do not’s when it comes to preparing a personal statement most effective in presenting ourselves as eligible candidates for the college/graduate/medical/law programs, of our choice.  Below are some examples of common mistakes that I’ve seen in the countless statements that have graced my desk.  There are even some no-no’s that I’ve made myself.   Through watching and working with faculty and administration in the construction of classes and cohorts I’ve learned (and I’m still learning) what the decision makers are (and are not) looking for.  So I'm here to share the wealth.  I just want to make sure that we’re all taking the right steps in the right order to realize our academic and professional dreams.  

1. Follow the directions- I think I mentioned this in my first post, but it’s worth restating.  YOU MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS.  If they ask you a question, answer it directly.  There are no tricks here. It’s just as simple as it’s been your entire academic life.  A personal statement does not grant you license to recklessly state your thoughts, opinions, political affiliations, etc.  Rather it is essentially a measure of your intellectual capacity, writing/communication skills, creativity and overall academic/professional potential.  Failing to read the directions places you at an immediate disadvantage. 
2. State your business at the door- Your first sentence, paragraph MUST STATE that you are a Masters/Doctoral /Juris doctor candidate in ABCD Program at ABCD school.  Oftentimes students think they must reel the reader in with an elaborate, emotional anecdote or random witty phrase.  This can be effective if properly executed but it’s often done at the expense of what the statement is all about.  Again this is not an autobiographical sketch of your personal, academic and professional experiences to date.  Do not spew a wide random range of activities, experiences, beliefs in an effort to appear a verbose, cultured, extraordinarily educated individual.  The statement tells us about you and why you feel you belong in our program.  Your great grandmother’s dying wish, while significant,  in this case is left of the point.  Which leads me to the next don’t…
3. SPARE US THE SOB STORIES AND WATCH THE CLICHES- This don’t is my personal favorite as this too was discussed in the previous personal statement posts.   I understand that the circumstances of our lives often motivate our professional choices and it’s okay to acknowledge them.  However, it is important that we don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.  We when feature certain not-so-positive circumstances in our statements we become categorized, labeled, and remembered for what we’ve gone through rather then for what we bring to the table. Be careful to structure your personal statement in a way that puts the spotlight on your achievements and not just your adversity.  It’s ok to reflect personally and be transparent but remember the focus of you statement should be substantive and specific to what makes you a prime candidate for this particular program/college/graduate school.  Trust me, playing the pity card and dwelling on your meager single parent upbringing in the mean urban drug infested streets of your hometown is often perceived as a hook or an angle employed by an applicant who doesn't believe him/herself to be as strong an applicant as his/her counterparts.  Think about it. 
4. It's an essay; ACT like it- You’re statement is an essay and it must be structured as such.  An introduction, thesis statement, supporting paragraphs and conclusion are all necessary elements.  Sometimes students see the word "personal"  in personal statement and get informal in their writing. Be careful of your phrasing, sentence structure, spelling and grammar.  These common mistakes are very distracting and can be a deal breaker for some application readers/reviewers.  
5. Don’t Submit a Standard Statement- We can spot a canned, generic, just change the name of the institution, personal statement a mile away.   Be specific and show just how and why you fit into the program that you’re applying too.  Doing your research puts your miles ahead of the competition because it shows (not just states) your commitment and sincere interest in the program you’re applying to.   Perhaps there is a faculty person you’ve been following and would appreciate the opportunity to work with/learn from.  Perhaps there is center or institute specifically devoted to your specific area of interest.  These are things that reviewers love to see in personal statements.  So check out the website, tour the campus, schedule a call /visit with a faculty person/administrator.  We're always looking to admit students who want to succeed at our institutions. You all make our jobs much easier. 

These are just a few things to keep in mind.  There is more information available in my first post on personal statements.  (You can find it here) Again, make use of your summer months by getting a jumpstart on them graduate school applications.  Don’t forget to revise, re read and proofread as if doing so will plug that oil-leaking hole in the gulf. It's that serious!  Love ya’ll, thanks for your patience and I’ll be back with more posts soon!

Happy Heat Wavin,

Tykeia Nicole

The GlamNERD

Cover Letters 101

Recently two of my very good friends reached out to me for help with their cover letters.   I told them to send me what they’d written thus far and I’d be more than happy to read through and offer my suggestions and feedback.  I noticed a few mistakes that consistently occurred in both cover letter drafts and realized that these were the same mistakes I’ve seen having served on several hiring committees.  So I figured a post would be fitting to kinda get the word out there on some of the standard rules of cover letter writing.  I’m no English teacher or job searching and resume/ cover letter writing aficionado by any stretch of the imagination.  I’m just a seasoned vet in the job search game and swindle and I’m here to share what I’ve learned along the way.  

1. State your Business- The first thing you want to do is formally and directly state the purpose of your letter.  Your first sentence should let the reader know the specific position that you are applying for.  You’ll then want to follow that sentence by succinctly stating or listing what skills and experiences make you eligible to be considered for that position.  Hiring managers and committees are reading through tons and tons of letters and resumes.  Get straight to the point by honing in on the job you want and telling them exactly why they should give it to you.   
2. Show Don’t Tell- The purpose of the cover letter is to complement and give narrative to your resume.   Your resume already lists your credentials; skills and experiences, so your letter should explain just how those things match up with what the company/organization needs.   Discuss your present or previous position, briefly talk about your roles and responsibilities and then pair those with activities listed in the description of the position that you’re applying for.  An example of how to do this would be a phrase like,  “My experience in customer service and my abilities to multi task would no doubt contribute in greeting guests and visitors and coordinating guests to the production office at XYZ Television Studios.”
3. Use Active Voice- Stay away from phrases like I feel that I am, or I could be.  Active voice is a quality of professional writing we all need to be comfortable in using.   Take this sentence as an example “ I feel as though my academic and professional experiences make me eligible for the position of strip club/pole dancing evaluator.”    The writer of this sentence comes off timid, unsure and hoping the hiring manager will give him/her a shot at a dream job.  The same information presented using the active voice can completely change the position of the writer from novice to professional.   For example “I am confident that my academic and professional position qualifies me for the position strip club/pole dancing evaluator.”  If you know that you can do this job.  Be sure of yourself, confidence is the accessory we all need not leave home without.
4. Do Your Dance and Get Off The Stage- Now is not the time for elaborate prose.  Say what you have to say in a comprehensive and polished manner and wrap your letter up.  Letters that are more than a page or written in 10pt font are daunting to read and can get your letter glazed over and set aside.  Write a great letter, you’ll get the interview and THEN  you’ll have plenty of time to be deep, intuitive and prolific.
5. Proofreading is Fundamental- Hunny, read, reread and read your cover letter again.  Then send it to your mentors, literate friends and family members and even the writing or career services center at your school or alma mater for further review and feedback.  Spelling and Grammar can make or break a great letter.  Homonym misplacement, excessive use of commas, run on sentences, etc. can leave your reader confused, underwhelmed and just plain drained.  Don’t let it happen to you.  Read your letter out loud to yourself and to others to make sure you phrasing and grammar are correct.  Hell, if you can’t get ANYBODY to help you, email it to me. If you catch me on a good day I can usually find a free few minutes to be of assistance.

I hope this helps.  The job market is real and we here at the GlamNERDS are all about standing out for the right reasons.   Get your life!

Till Next Time,

Tykeia

aka 

TheGLAMNERD! 

Say What?!?! Misplaced Homonyms- Let's Do Betta!

Everybody who reads this blog, follows me on Twitter, etc knows that I’ve definitely  fallen victim to a typo. So please, don’t come at me on some patronizing, elitist, mumbo jumbo cause that’s not even what this is all about. I’m here to address a problem I see so frequently, it is clear many people are still very much unaware. I’m talking homonyms. You know the words in the English language that are different but sound the same. Words like you’re and your, their, there and their, to, too and two, witch and which,  toed, towed and toad. etc.

 Let me just reiterate, I’ve deleted many a tweet for making this very same mistake.  In my haste to deliver quirky, clever tweets I have used a word incorrectly. But like my Grandfather says, when you know better you do better, so how about all of us commit to trying to do just that.

An Example of a Common Faux Pas

Your vs. You're

Your is a pronoun that signifies possession, specifically “belonging to you".

For example, “Call your friends and tell them to meet us at the movie theatre”.

You’re is a contraction, an abbreviation used in place of you are.

For example, “I hope you’re planning to come to my housewarming party".

Sometimes using both of these words in a sentence can be tricky and can result in confusing the two, misplacing the correct homonym or only using one.

An example, “I hope your bringing your famous spinach dip to my party”.

In this case the first your is used incorrectly.  The sentence is referencing someone as to say “I hope you are bringing your famous spinach dip to my party” therefore you’re should have been used and not your.  The sentence is supposed to read

 “I hope you’re bringing your famous spinach dip to my party”

Also be mindful of other homonyms and as your proofread and review your emails, papers, tweets, etc. keep an eye out for a misplaced one that may sneak in here or there.

Click HERE for a List of More Homonyms!

After reading it I realized I was making some mistakes I didn’t know I was making!

I hope this helps!

Best, 

Tykeia

TheGlamNERD

Say What?!?! Affect vs. Effect

Affect and effect are two different words with two different meanings and they are NOT to be used interchangeably. I'm guilty of it as well, so I'm not at all judging but somebody got me together and I thought I'd share the wealth. Each one teach one ,right?

 Complete Definitions

Affect is defined by YourDictionary.com as such

- to have an influence on or effect a change in something. For example My broken nail affects the speed  and accuracy of my typing.

- to act on the emotions of; touch or move 

- to attack or infect, as in a disease. For example My Rheumatoid Arthritis affects my bones and joints.

Effect is defined by YourDictionary .com as such

- Something brought about by a cause or agent; or a result

-The power to produces an outcome or achieve a result; influence - For example, my grades have an effect on my admittance to graduate school

-A particular impression: For example, adding mirrors to the walls of a smaller room can give the effect of spaciousness. 

There are several rules of when it is appropriate to use each. But generally it helps me to think of the word Affect as a verb and the word Effect as a noun.

Remember, affect is  generally used to describe the influence of one thing over another, while effect is generally depicted as the end result.

Example Phrases 

My allergy medicine affects my appetite.  

My allergy medicine has several side effects, such as loss of appetite.

Naturally there are always special conditions and loopholes but generally speaking, if you keep this one rule in mind you'll be on the road to using affect and effect correctly in your papers, letters, personal statements and even your tweets. 

There are tons of websites that feature some of these special rules as well as worksheets that will help you hone your skills and no exactly when to effectively use each word.  Hope this helps. Happy Writing! 

 Additional Resources

YourDictionary.com- Affect vs. Effect Grammar Rules 

Affect Vs. Effect.com

HubPages.com