What is a resume?
A resume is a picture of you that is intended for the "real world." It should present you to prospective employers in the best possible light, emphasizing your strengths and unique qualities in an honest, attractive manner.
Why does the portfolio need both a reflective essay and a resume?
The reflective essay is precisely that -- reflective. Some of those reflections may not be appropriate or of interest to prospective employers or graduate schools. The resume, in contrast, is a succinct statement of who you are, directed toward an explicitly public audience. Despite its more private purpose, the essay is intended to be useful for constructing the resume. Having written the essay, you will be better able to summarize and highlight those aspects of your life that have professional relevance.
What purpose does the cover letter serve?
The cover letter introduces you and the resume to the professional world into which you wish to enter. Given its narrative form, the reader not only sees relevant information about you but also has some understanding of your communication skills, particularly in writing. Having spent four years developing a reflective essay, you should develop an ability to write clearly and thoughtfully about your interests and abilities in pursuing a particular career, job, or graduate school education.
So how do I get started on a resume and cover letter?
First of all, you need a career direction. If you aren't sure yet, visit the Office of Career Services in Rebecca Hall, or visit the office's web page. Regardless of where you are in the career decision process, you should take a virtual or physical visit there. In addition to information about jobs, the job search process, and interviews, you will find useful suggestions on writing cover letters and hints and templates for resumes. Another excellent online resource on these and other issues related to the job search process, including sample resumes, may be found at www.jobweb.com/resources/library.
I'm going to graduate school after graduation, not into the job market. Why do I need a cover letter?
You don't, at least not right now. You do, however, need to write an application essay. Most of the criteria for good cover letters are relevant for grad school application essays. For more on this, see the jobweb.com web site identified above.
|
|
