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.