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!

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

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! 

 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

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

1. Follow the directions- Read them and make sure you are providing only what is asked. Adhere to page and word limitations and for God's sake if they ask you a question, answer it. I know you've written a page of free flowing prose explaining your goals, ambitions and inspirations to success but if all they want to know is how this money is going to help you, or why you want to attend a certain college/university then make sure among all the fluff you've answered the question. 

2. Personalize it, Don't be Generic-  I know we've all got a couple of statements that we just tweek to fit the situation and  put in the mailbox.  I'm not against that, but the personal statement you submit should directly and specifically reflect the institution, organization, etc. In other words, you can't just change the name and the date and mail it in. Institutions and organizations want to know that you've done your research and that you have specfic reasons for the applying to the program or opportunity. This is especially true for college/graduate school applications. This is what can separate you from pack. Go online and gain information about specific faculty, programs, centers, initiatives of the school/graduate program you're applying to.  Then  use that information to express how well you'd fit at that institution. For example,  if your particular research interest align with a faculty member mention how much you'd benefit from working with him/her. If you have a knack for community service and you know the college/graduate school has an extensive service program, write about how much you would love to take part in and lend your skills and experience. You've got to sell it hunny, let them know you want to be at this school and that you know exactly why. 

3. Tell the TRUTH- Lying will get you nothing but a cracked face and a rejection letter. Be yourself and be truthful. It's called a PERSONAL statement for a reason. 

4. Save the Sob Stories- Hunny, make your capability the focus of the statement, not your disability. Now if you have overcome some extensive adversity then it's okay to mention it but don't make it the crux of your paper. Be positive and aim to leave you reader with feelings admiration and not sympathy. 

5. Proofread as if your very life depended on it- Spelling and grammar error are just plain distracting. They make you look sloppy and careless and like you waited until the 9th hour to complete your application. #Realtalk #Justsayin Make sure that your sentences are short, clear and well written. Don't be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. And everybody should be passing their papers along to mentors, professors, supervisors and our friends that are strong writers for a read through. Your eyes won't catch all the boo boo's trust me. Do you know how many times I get a tweet/instant message about a spelling uh oh I've made on this blog? :-) We're all human and it happens but don't let it happen to you, especially on an application. 

If you google how to write a personal statement, you'll get tons of advice and examples of all types of personal statements. You could also email them to me and I can take a quick look see as well. I've included some helpful links below. 

Tips on How to Prepare and Structure Your Statement  

How to Knock Their Socks Off   

Personal Statements for Aspiring Medical Students 

Law School Personal Statements Guide 

Take care guys, 

Tykeia 

aka 

The GlamNERD

1. Ask the right person- You want to ask someone who knows you and your work ethic. Someone who has some form of relationship with whether it be formal or informal. If it’s a professor, make it one of your classes you ‘ve done well in and held a strong rapport with it’s instructors. Doesn’t have to mean that you were dapping each other up at start and end of each class meeting but someone who knows who you are and the quality of the work you produce.  Forgive me for stating what may be obvious to some but I have to make sure that everyone  is equally aware. Do not request a recommendation letter from a professor/advisor/ supervisor if you have had any type of negative encounter with him/her. If it was a class discussion that got heated or emotionally charged, if you ever challenged a grade or decision, steer clear. It’s a sad reality, some professors are not the nicest people and will use their power in vindictive ways. Unfortunately, I’ve had students request and receive bad recommendation letters. Letters that highlighted challenges or,difficulties they faced or just flat out said “I don’t think this student is ready for your graduate program.”  Most  professors will rather turn you down and tell you that  they can’t write you a recommendation before they would write you a negative one.  But there are those who will not. This professor clearly had a hidden agenda, and attempted to set this student up to fail. Make sure you’re asking the right person. 

2.  Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute- One of the worst things that you could do is request a professor/advisor/mentor to complete a recommendation letter a week before it’s due. Lemme tell you from personal experience, professors are responsible for many things  they have to plan and run their lectures, keep up with grading and reporting, attend committee meetings and manage their research and scholarly endeavors. In other words, their time is of ncredible value and you’re asking them for some of it. So be courteous and be sure they have a workable deadline and can give you the glowing recommendation you rightfully deserves. 

3. Ask formally- This is not something you want to casually mention. If a professor agrees to write you a recommendation they have formally made a commitment to you and your application. I like to have some sort of documentation for my own records just in case some funny business jumps off. Even if I ask in person, I’ll follow up the conversation with an email and I’ll save that email and their response for my own personal files. 

4. Be prepared- SInce most applications can be accessed and submitted online, many of the recommendations have followed suit. You want to familiarize yourself with the procedure so that you can provide your recommender with complete and comprehensive instructions as to how to submit your recommendation. Be sure they are aware of deadlines. Don’t stalk them but follow up to make sure that they have what they need to write a good letter. If your application requires your recommender to mail in your letter, provide the stamped addressed envelope so that all he/she has to do is drop it in the mail. They are doing you a favor, you should make the process as convenient as possible. Also, attaching additional personal information about yourself can make your letter a lot easier to write. Give your recommender a copy of your resume, your personal statement or any other information that you feel could be of assistance to them. 

5. Say THANK YOU- After all of this it would be just plain tacky if you didn’t properly acknowledge your recommender for his/her help. Sending a personalized thank you card is usually sufficient in thanking them for their time and assistance, They will always remember if you did or did not  and if you’ve asked them once for a recommendation you likely have to ask them again. Don’t burn the bridge that helped you get over. 

I wish you the best of luck in your applications. And as always let us know if there is anything that the GlamNERDS.com can do to contribute to your success! 

In Constant Pursuit of All Things Fabulous, 

The GlamNERD

aka

Tykeia

“Where you at?”

“Where are you going to? 

Grab a Funny Picture from pYzam.com 

Now how many times have you said these things aloud? You know you have and that’s okay! The key is to know how to disassociate an informal dialogue amongst your peers and formal writing to a superior.  Below are appropriate ways to remedy the above miscues: 

“Where are you?”

“Where are you going?

As you can see, in most cases the preposition is not even necessary! Both examples convey the same message, but one is just improper.  So just be mindful of this disease, and constantly check your paper for symptoms.  With preventive care, recognition and persistence we can cure Endwithprepositionitis.

For a list of prepositions visit:  http://abcteach.com/free/l/list_prepositions.pdf

Love, Dollar $igns, and Lipgloss, 

TheBougieDoc