Resume Assignment

   Due date: September 28 (Sunday), 2pm  (by email)

Assignment: Your next graded assignment for Junior Colloquium is to produce a resume suitable for use in seeking an internship. Very soon you will use this resume as the basis for the one in your electronic CATA Professional Portfolio.

●   Begin this project by reviewing some resource materials on the course resources page. Try the Evergreen State site for some basic starting points or the University of Minnesota tutor for a step by step approach. (The links to these locations are below)

• Developing the Professional Resume -- advice from the Evergreen State Academic Advising office.
  • Preparing your Resume -- detailed advice from MonsterTrak.com (download as a Word document)
  • Resume and CV Resources for Job-Seekers - multiple resources on resumes and cover letters for job seekers from Quintessential Careers
• Or try the University of Minnesota's Resume Tutor -- a simple step by step process for creating a resume.
   
• Use Heather Prater's  web (and also her "printer-friendly") portfolio resume as a model format 

●   Due some brainstorming and talk with friends to create a list of skills, experiences, courses, activities and previous work which might interest prospective employers and internship providers. Don’t worry if you list too much or some items that seem trivial. You can edit out material later.

●   Select the resume categories you will use.  These - education, professional skills, (work) experience, awards and honors, activities - are probably ones you will include

●   Next, create a rough draft of your resume.  Make everything on the resume relate to and support evidence of your ability to accomplish the goal you have for this resume.  (In this case most likely you will be using the resume for seeking an internship.  Use your best audience analysis skills to imagine and display what a potential internship employer is looking for.)

●   Keep the format simple at this point. Avoid fancy graphics, columns, unusual spacing, etc.   Keep the length to no more than 2 pages. I recommend you use the format used by Heather Prater (linked above).

●   Share your draft resume with your academic advisor and/or some other faculty member whose advice you value. Consider their suggestions.  Here is some additional advice.

"Resumes and cover letters are often required to vary with each position application.  A common misconception about resumes is “mine is good, it got me the job!”  Sometimes, connections, no qualified opposing candidates, a tight job market, or other factors can explain hiring decisions.    An important lesson to take away from this assignment is that, if a specific process requires the presentation of material in a specific way, you are best advised to adapt directly to what is requested if you expect to be successful.  In general, a single error in spelling, typography, or wording will eliminated from further consideration in a strongly contested job pool.  Resumes and cover letters are the first proof of writing skill in all positions requesting communication skill.  In positions in communication, public relations, or positions that want good communication skills -- resumes and cover letters are public relations for your first and most important client—yourself.

●   Prepare a “final” version of your internship resume in the form of an MS Word .doc and email a copy to me by the due date, 9/28. Be sure all information is correct and there are NO TYPOS. Be sure to save the file as we will use it to create a web version to place in your portfolio.  When you name the resume file you are sending me, use the following form for the file name:  < yourlastname-res.doc >