The Resume Rundown
Oh the dreaded resume, ok maybe you don’t mind working on your resume but I can say with full confidence that I do.
Kristen Jones
What goes on a resume?
What doesn’t go on a resume?
What kind of format should you use?
How big should the font be?
How much information is too much?
The list of questions like this could go on for days if you haven’t ever worked on a resume before. But don’t stress yourself out because I’m here to offer some resources and advice that I personally have found to be very helpful.For the most part your resume is going to be very specific to you as an individual (depending on your background career, interests, etc.) so there isn’t necessarily an exact format that everyone follows. However, there are some key components that should be fairly consistent throughout any resume. Just about every school has a career center or some kind of resource center on campus that can be very useful when it comes to formatting your resume. On campus at Augusta State we have a career center and a website with many tips and answers to just about any career question you may have. A specific resource that I have found helpful on ASU’s career center website was this basic outline for writing multiple types of resumes.
Maybe you have also found yourself wondering, “What exactly is it an employer is looking for on a resume or what is it that will catch their attention?” You no longer have to wonder because there is a group that has done specific research on what literally catches the eye of employers. In the study the company looked at gaze tracking on resumes and what they spent the most time looking at. Some of the items that received the most attention were name, education, and current title/company. To read and learn more about the Ladder Eye Tracking Survey (which I would encourage you to do) click here.
Be sure to keep checking in with the Career Corner as I will continue to provide you with more information and advice about landing that dream job.
Vote for Kristen!
So our intern (and Augusta State softball senior) Kristen saw that D2SA.org was running a contest where student-athletes had to create a short video showcasing their experience in Division II. This was her first attempt at creating a video like this, and she put together and edited all the footage. Not bad for her first time! Check it out and vote for Kristen’s video HERE. She can win an iTunes gift card for her efforts!
Life After College
Kristen Jones
I have to admit that like most other college students I never thought I would see the light at the end of the tunnel and be so close to graduating. It took four years of hard work, dedication, and a lot of time sacrificed but here I am and maybe you’re there too. So here’s the big question: now what? I think we all know the answer but sometimes there are a lot of uncertainties. Being a student who is months from graduating I’m in the same position many others might be in trying to take the right steps to building my professional career. It’s time to take the next step in reaching the goal of having that job we’ve all dreamed about. After all of my research, reading, and conversations I’ve had there is one resounding theme that keeps coming up and that is preparation.
I believe John Wooden said, “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail,” and this is true in all aspects of life not just sport. You have to approach the job search and the process as a whole in the same way you would approach any athletic contest. You would never go in to a game without studying your opponent, without practicing ahead of time, and without having a specific game plan to adhere to. So why should it be any different when it comes to your career? With that being said here are some tips and advice that I have to offer.
When it comes to preparing you need to cover all aspects of the job search. This includes but is not limited to where to look for jobs, resume and cover letter, interviewing and even your attire. Think of them all as a certain skill set that you have to work on to perfect. For example, the resume is something you should be constantly reviewing and making edits to as your accomplishments grow and your career does as well. If you are preparing to graduate and don’t have a resume, get on it! Also consider the interview and the general types of questions you know that are going to be asked and come up with a list.
There is so much to think about when it comes to starting your career after college. Look for more Career Corner posts on the Peach Blog from me in the coming days where I will be discussing more of these topics in detail!
Cougars Scavenge for SAAC
The student-athlete advisory committee on each PBC campus has a vital role in being the voice of the student-athletes. SAAC groups plan programs, raise money for Make-A-Wish and discuss potential legislation. But hopefully they also have a little bit of fun. Here is an example (along with some pictures) of a year-end activity from Columbus State’s SAAC:
Columbus State University’s SAAC finished the 2011-2012 year on a fun note by participating in a campus-wide scavenger hunt. While they were not on a mission to find items, per se, they were given the challenge to submit proof of activity based on a suggested list of tasks. A few of the assignments they were hoping to complete included:
- posing at the CSU Clock Tower with arms reflecting clock’s position
- imitate poses on windscreens in front of the baseball complex
- single photo of each member with Cougar statue
- video of one team member performing a duet with a random person on campus
- an exact photo replica of the Beatles “Abbey Road” album cover.
They were given specific instructions on what activity would earn points throughout the “hunt.” A time of 30 minutes was given to complete as many tasks as possible for as many points as possible. There were 5 teams vying for the prize…a personalized trophy with team name and team members engraved to be on display in the trophy case within the Frank G. Lumpkin Center. Competition was fierce with almost each team completing the entire list of 13 activities for a total of 35 points.
Afterwards, a meal was provided and some discussions took place for next year’s committee. The main objective was to end with laughter and a little healthy competition…there would be plenty of time for business later!
Here is some of the “proof of activity”!
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