A GENERAL GUIDE FOR RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME

As you enter the job market for what may be the very first time, there are some key points to remember as to what employment opportunities you can expect, and how to maximize your chances within this field.

1. Employment prospects for recent high school graduates:

Generally speaking, high school graduates will be hired for entry-level vocational work (if appropriately skilled) such as auto repair and service-related positions whether that’s in administrative and clerical or as a food service worker at a local fast-food chain. Other opportunities lie in physically demanding work such as a warehouse loader.

2. Maximizing skills to get that first full-time position:

Clearly state on your resume any vocational skills learned during high school that are valued by employers. These would include:

A. Clerical or administrative skills
1. Typing (be certain to include wpm)
2. Data entry
3. 10-key by touch
4. Proficiency in computer software (list specific programs)

B. Trades
1. Auto Mechanics
2. Cooking
3. Sewing (and tailoring)

3. Minimizing Youth & Professional Inexperience:

Even before being called in for an interview, the best way to prove you have a mature attitude (despite your youth) and a professional demeanor is to submit a flawless, meticulously crafted resume.

Nothing shouts inexperience more than using personal pronouns in a resume (eg: “I” “my” “our” “we”). The same goes for putting an objective within the document (eg: “I’m looking for a position where I can earn good money and advance quickly.”). Seasoned professionals know that the hiring manager is always more interested in what the applicant can do for the company, rather than what the company can do to make the applicant happy.

By crafting an outstanding resume that is to-the-point and clearly states your employment skills as related to your goal, you’ll be telling the hiring manager that you are ready for that first full-time position.

The Professional Touch: Using Consistency in Publication Presentation

by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME

Publications are generally included in a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for scientific and academic professionals. The standards of presentation have evolved so that consistency is maintained throughout. This includes:

1. Placing your and co-author names as they appear in the publication.
2. Bolding your name.
3. Maintaining consistency in presentation of names (eg: first initials only or full names for all)
4. Providing the date of publication or expected publication date last.
5. Italicizing the name of the publication in which the data appeared.
6. Providing publication volume and page numbers so that the data can be accessed by
interested parties.
7. Indenting the second line of type so that the data is attractively presented and easy to read.
8. Presenting data in reverse chronological order.

An example:

Kale, M, Ph.D.; Withers, T; Roberts, A; Trent, Z; and Forsyth, L. “Vitamin D deficiency in mature rats.” Neurobiol. Advisor. 51:770-774. 2002.

Brennan, DK; Rose, C; Kale, M, Ph.D.; Zhang, F; Sares, H; Reese, M; Haenal, D; and Nolan, R. “Inner retina retinoid metabolism.” Exp. Res. 14:564-570. 2001.

Wolfe, B; Norville, D; Jennings, M; Dosenbach, JT; Freeland, T; Guillianno, A; Kale, M, Ph.D.; and Withers, T. “Retinol dehydrogenase.” Modern Biochemistry. 11:1430-1440. 2000.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

· I’m going to be placing my publications on my website – are there privacy issues in listing my co-authors’ names?

Only if the publication has not been accepted as yet. In that case, you might ask for your co-authors’ permission to post their names on your website. In the event they refuse, you might want to list your full name followed by “…with co-authors”. Make certain that at the end of the listing you write “publication pending,” in lieu of a date and that you list this publication under the subheading of “Submitted Manuscripts.”

· How are Abstracts listed?

The same as Publications and Presentations. The idea is to maintain consistency throughout your resume or CV so that your document has a professional appearance with data that is easily accessible.

· Colleagues have indicated that there is one way to present publications for scientific CVs and another for academic CVs. Since I am involved in both fields, which should I use?

If you’re submitting your CV to a particular school or institution, you may want to call first and ask if they have a preferred format. If so, adhere to it. If not, make certain that all of your data follows one consistent format.

SAMPLES

Whether your CV or resume contains publications, presentations, abstracts, submitted manuscripts, conferences – or all of these – the important thing is to maintain consistency of presentation for a professional and winning appearance.

For example:

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Paper

“Industry Analysis and Corporate Strategy of Telecommunication Resales,” Policy Issue, Vol. 22, No. 7, #13, DIKI: New Mexico, 2000.

“Trends of Mobile Telecommunications,” Policy Issue, Vol. 20, No. 26, #15, DIKI: New York, 1999.

Project Report

“Radio Promotion Tactics,” Song, T; Wright, J; Manville, KK; Winters, F, Thompson, C; Larkspur, L; and Franklin, M. Research Reports, #07-30, 2001.

“Number Portability Demand Survey,” Franklin, M; Wright, J; Thompson, C; and Franklin, M. Project Reports, #15-22, 2000.

PAPERS

Industry Analysis Papers

“Mobile Number Portability Analysis,” Information Policy, DIKI: Las Vegas, Nevada, Vol. 3, No. 7, #482, pp. 150-170, 2003.

“EU Member Countries Number Portability Policies,” Telecommunications Policy, DIKI: Salt Lake City, Utah, Vol. 53, No. 2, #55, pp. 1-21, 2002.

“European Telecommunications Market Restructuring,” Information Policy, DIKI: Seattle, Washington, Vol. 21, No. 51, #116, pp. 1-7, 2000.

CONFERENCES

International Refereed Conferences

“Planning Toward IMT-2000: Telephony Service,” 17th International Conference: Analysis, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, 2003.

“Telephony Resale Market in Europe,” SPROP’ 2002, Singapore, 2002.

Domestic Refereed Conference

“Local Number Portability,” 2002 Conference, State College, Phoenix, Arizona, 2002.

“Policy for the Broadband Wireless Local Loop,” 2001Conference, State University, Dayton, Ohio, 2001.

The Professional Touch – Personal Data

by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME

At first glance, your resume should answer two important questions for a hiring manager:

1. Who You Are
2. How You Can Be Contacted

Who You Are

This includes your name and any professional designations you have obtained, such as an MBA, Ph.D., RN, MD, or any of a number of professional distinctions. By including these designations with your name in the header you are providing the hiring manager with immediate and valuable data regarding your candidacy and career level.

The manner in which you present your name is also important. Including familial designations such Joe Jones, III may very well be seen as pretentious by a hiring manager. Using a “Jr.” after your name may be applauded by your family, but it could give a hiring manager the wrong first impression – that you are young and inexperienced. Caution is always advised in these instances.

A word about nicknames:

Nicknames can work for you or against you given the circumstances.

If you were named “Kendrick,” but go by “Ken,” use of your nickname would be appropriate as Ken is more modern and sounds more youthful than Kendrick.

However, if you were christened “Barbara,” but are known as “Babs” - even at work - it would be best to err on the conservative side during your job search, especially if the targeted industry is a traditional one such as banking, accounting, or education. Once hired, you can then decide whether using your nickname is appropriate.

How You Can Be Contacted

This data should be instantly obvious to a hiring manager.

Your phone number and email address are your most important contact data. For easy access by hiring managers, phone numbers and emails should be bolded and in a larger type than the physical address, as hiring managers rarely, if ever, contact a successful candidate by “snail” mail.

A word about phone numbers:

Although you may be tempted to list numerous phone numbers, including fax numbers, don’t.

Work Numbers: Never include a work number even if your boss knows you’re searching for another position as this sends the wrong message to a potential employer. He or she will wonder about your loyalty and whether you’ll be using company time at your new job to speak to prospective employers.

Cell Phones: Never include these because you may just be contacted while you’re in traffic with its intrusive background noise, or where the phone signal is weak which could irritate a busy hiring manager when neither of you can hear each other speak above the static.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

· I have numerous professional designations – should I include all of them after my name at the beginning of the resume? What is too much?

The key here is to target your approach and to include only what’s germane to your current job search. If you have a Ph.D. in Biology and an MBA, you would only list your Ph.D. in the heading when applying for an academic position.

· I’m planning to relocate to Georgia from California and am currently seeking employment in the Atlanta area. Should I list my California address on my resume?

As previously stated, physical addresses aren’t as important to hiring managers as phone numbers and emails. In your case, your physical address should be removed from the resume and replaced with “Relocating to the Atlanta, Georgia area.” It would be well advised for you to provide a time frame for this move so that a hiring manager knows you’re serious.

· My name is foreign-sounding and it’s not immediately apparent to a U.S. hiring manager whether I’m a “Mr.” or a “Ms.” Should I just use an initial for my first name?

Use of an initial would do little to clarify the matter for a hiring manager. Many overseas clients use their given names. then add - in parentheses - the U.S. or European equivalent - i.e. Étienne (Stephen) Dore.

· Is there a negative connotation to using a P.O. Box rather than a street address in the heading of a resume?

Absolutely not, especially in these days of heightened security, and when responding to “blind” postings on Internet job sites.

HOBBIES & INTERESTS ON RESUMES

by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME

Generally speaking, hiring managers expect resumes to be focused towards business-related activities that can indicate to them your potential on the job. However, hobbies and interests that show leadership, technical skills, commitment to community, or team-playing capabilities may also enhance your candidacy. These might include:

1. Volunteer work for such organizations as Junior Achievement, the “Y”, Girl or Boy Scouts, being a Big Brother or a Big Sister, etc.

2. Clubs that enhance skills and test proficiency, which can be useful on the job. These would include Computer Clubs, Language Clubs, Toastmasters, International (public speaking), etc.

3. Participating in events to help a good cause (eg: 10-K run for cancer research)


A Word About Hobbies and Interests that Should Not be Included in Resumes

Avoid mentioning those with:

1. Political overtones (eg: The Young Republican Club, volunteering for an individual seeking public office)

2. Danger (eg: skydiving, racing cars, mountain climbing, motorcycling)

3. Expense beyond your means (eg: coin collecting, European travel, buying antiques)

4. Unusual (eg: collecting Elvis paraphernalia, attending Star Trek conventions)


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

· I’m a female company vice president whose only hobby is knitting. Won’t that make me seem old or too female?

Unless the hobby enhances your candidacy, it probably shouldn’t be included on your resume. However, if you’ve donated articles you knitted (to a local woman’s center or perhaps for preemies at the hospital), mentioning this indicates to a hiring manager that you are a well-rounded individual capable of running a business, while also attending to ‘people’ issues.

· I really don’t have any hobbies other than watching television at night. Should I just make something up?

Hobbies and interests are not required on a resume, therefore it’s advisable to exclude your television viewing habits. It’s always best to remain truthful so that you’re not surprised by any questions during the interview process.