As a career counselor, the bulk of questions I receive tend to center on resume and cover letters. The major concerns are length and content, and if you ask three different career counselors the same question, you will get three entirely different answers! (The biggest misconception out there is that you MUST stick to one page. While this is desirable, at some point it becomes impossible to limit your accomplishments to one page.)
What follows are three very typical questions and my advice.
How long should my resume be?
For most entry-level positions the resume should be no longer than one page. However, when working on the first draft of your resume don't concern yourself with length and focus more on brainstorming all of the experiences relevant to the positions you are applying for. It is easier to edit out material later than to run the risk of leaving out valuable information for the sake of keeping your resume to a page.
Many people with technical or professional degrees (such as engineering and allied health students) will have resumes longer than one page. These students often have research projects or clinical sites that may be quite extensive and will require more than one page.
Where should I go to get help with developing my resume?
You can always e-mail your resume to me for critiquing (david.westhart@mail.tju.edu). Beyond that, the best advice is: Back to school! Whether it is the career center at the college where you received your degree, or your high school guidance counselor, schools almost always have someone who will help you with your resume.
Most cities also have fee free help from nonprofit organizations. Here in Philadelphia we have the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation which offers resume and job search help on a walk-in basis. Check the blue pages in your phonebook for similar organizations.
How much should I individualize my cover letter?
As much as possible. I always suggest clients have an “A” list of places they’d like to work and a “B” list. Obviously, more effort is put into tailoring the cover letter for the “A” list. Finding specifics about an organization can be done on the company’s web site or as a search in the local newspaper’s website.
Contacting the human resources department is another great way to get information about a company or organization.
More questions? I am available for the following one-on-one workshop:
|
YOUR CAREER: MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
Description:
In today's world, employees are expected to manage their own careers and define a career path that is personally rewarding. To do this, individuals need to define what professional success means to them and identify the types of work that offer a sense of satisfaction and self worth. The place to start is with an intensive career self-assessment using the Myers Briggs Type Inventory. The next step is learning how to explore the wide variety of career options that exist and the resources that are available to help.
Objectives:
This course enables participants to:
- Assess their work interests and values
- Identify a workplace personality profile
- Create a career mission statement
- Explore a variety of career exploration strategies
Instructor:
David Westhart, Director, Career Development Center, College of Health Professions
Who should attend:
Open to all Jefferson employees. For scheduling, email me at: david.westhart@mail.tju.edu
|
Related Links:
