The Job Search:The Art of Resume Writing
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One of the many things that I was not taught in graduate school (or as a postdoctoral fellow for that matter), was how to prepare a resume. Despite opinions to the contrary, a resume is a very important document that must be well organized and carefully crafted. This is because the first thing that every hiring manager sees when looking for new employees is a job applicant's resume. As the old adage goes, first impressions are the most important and the ones that last the longest. That said, it is typically in a job candidate's best interest to have the first impression be a good one. To that end, resume should not be prepared hastily nor should theybe crafted without a substantial amount of thought and consideration. I do not want to get into the nuts and bolts of resume writing in this post. However, every resume should contain the following information:
- Contact information including name, phone number and e-mail address (mailing addresses are optional)
- A summary of qualifications that concisely represents your skill sets and talent that you want a prospective employer to know about
- Chronological listing of your professional experiences to date and an accompanying description of your accomplishments at each position
- Education including undergraduate, graduate or certificate credentials (dates obtained are optional)
- Awards and honors
- Membership in any societies or relevant organizations
- Any special skills or talents you may possess, e.g. website design, underwater basket weaving, etc.
- Publications (abstracts and presentations are optional)
- In general, references should not be included on a resume (if an employer asks for them, send them under separate cover or simply place them on the resume sent to that employer)
As scientists, we are trained to believe that personal achievements will be recognized and that promoting or marketing oneself is a "no-no". However, in the real world, self promotion and aggressive, shameless self marketing is what enables most individuals to get jobs and embark on successful careers. With this in mind, a well organized and carefully crafted resume is one of the most powerful marketing tools at your disposal! As we say in the recruiting biz, a resume will get you in the door......after that, it is up to you to "sell" yourself.
Until next time...
Good Luck and Good Job Hunting
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