Hi Mentees, over the past several weeks Dana, Samantha, Byron, and Kevin have talked about what interdisciplinary studies are, critical thinking, integration, interdisciplinary research, and problem solving. Once we get some basic understanding of those topics under our belt, we need to DO something with them. As you work with your e-portfolio, you will begin to shape your knowledge and experience into a tool that you will be able to use in the future to help obtain that all-important career that you have worked so hard to land. Finding how your strengths and experiences integrate together will help you prepare an awesome resume and cover letter to present to prospective employers.
In times of yore, a well typed resume on crisp linen paper was critical to getting your foot in the door of a company. Most of the time you interviewed with someone fairly high up in the company, who actually took time to read your resume and valued the added effort of using the finest quality stationary available.
So what’s different now versus those “old days”? It all depends. Many companies now, especially medium to large sized employers, use technology to at a minimum pre-screen resumes for potential candidates. Resumes are scanned by computer and compared to a database of keywords and requirements to match candidates to potential positions within the company. When a match is found, those resumes are forwarded on to the respective departments to further weed out the candidates and set up interviews. So as far as the initial screening goes, that fine linen paper and Harrington 18 point font are not going to make much difference. What does make a difference is the CONTENT you put into that resume. One of the things you will work extensively on in your e-portfolio is the content pages. It is the type and quality information that you convey that is critical to a good resume. It is best to know the company and position you applying for, and tailor your resume to match. Putting down the fact that you were a lifeguard for last summer is perfect if you are applying for the Beach Patrol, or even a paramedic type position, however it won’t trigger the right flags for a financial advisor position.
I have been in an occasional position to read resumes submitted for positions within our company and give feedback to the hiring manager as to my thoughts on the applicant. One of the most important things to me when reading a resume was the candidate’s spelling and grammar (did I spell that right?). Since we no longer use the IBM Selectric and the Merriam Webster Unabridged Hard-bound dictionary to create a resume, there is absolutely no excuse for a resume containing typographical errors. This is one of the most important documents you will ever create, a “sales brochure” to sell yourself to prospective employers. Every computer word processing program available has some type of spelling and grammar checker built in. USE THEM! There are many tools available to help you create the perfect resume and cover letter. UCF has many resources on their website and the web is full of great resources. Take a look at some of these:
So now it’s your turn. Think about the following questions, and respond to any (or all!) that you want to discuss.
· What are ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
· What are some questions about cover letters you've have?
· Share your best cover letter
· What are questions about resumes that you have and/or share some advice?
· Share any resources you've found about cover letters and/or resumes.
Getting your resume right is one of the most important parts of any job search, so take the time and use the resources available to give yourself that key advantage! Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to sign your comment!
John Seybert
The way my resume would highlight my interdisciplinarity is by showing the cohesion of the disciplines. My resume would demonstrate how my IDS degree qualifies my to speak on all subjects related to the job I would be apply for.
ReplyDeleteHere is a page I think is useful as a resume resource from formatting to cover page.
http://www.resume-resource.com/
Hey John~
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that now-a-days you need to revamp your resume for each position you apply for to express you qualifications for that particular position. Like you said, one resume is not going to cut it anymore or make you stand out compared to other applicants.
A resource that I have used in the past to better my resume is:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/719/1/
A cover letter resource is:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/681/01/
Kylee Jones
There's a psychology course - Psychology of Career Development (PSY 3028) - I took as an elective last semester. I thought it was going to be something different and at first I was disappointed in the content. But, actually, it's a great little course about designing your career. The primary focus is on self-reflection and development of interpersonal and communication skills. Topics range from how to handle workplace issues to the development of an effective cover letter and resume. The semester project is to design your resume.
ReplyDeleteLisa Schmidt
Hi mdsiemer,
ReplyDeleteBeing able to show how all your disciplines fit into the employer's position that they are hiring for will be a great benefit. Since many employers are just now learning what an IDS degree is, it is up to us to help them understand how all the different classes that we have taken will benefit them in the long run.
PS - Don't forget to sign your posts too so that the instructor can give proper credit! :)
John Seybert
Hi Kylee,
ReplyDeleteNowadays with the job market the way it is, we truly cannot be lazy anymore and have a one-size-fits-all resume! It takes extra work, but if you really want to work for a particular employer, showing how you can benefit them within the context of their business will definitely get you the furthest. Thanks for posting the websites! I especially liked the one about scannable resumes http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/700/1/ As I mentioned above, more and more of the larger companies are going this route, so whatever you can do to make it work in your favor is a plus!
John Seybert
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great course. I can't begin to tell you how important interpersonal and communication skills are in the workplace, andsurprisingly how few people have learned them to any extent - even people that have been in the workforce for some time. We have all heard stories about office politics, and I'm here to tell you, it is definitely true! Learning how to cope with that problem co-worker is just as important as doing your job.
When it comes to communication, this is an area I think alot of younger people entering professional positions could use a little more help on during their educational years. Then again, maybe it is a result of the technological age we live in. Unfortunately, typing out an email to your boss in all small letters and text message shorthand just won't cut it! I don't think I have ever seen an email from my Vice President with an emoticon or an LOL anywhere in it, and the employees need to follow that lead. Professionalism is key to a successful career!
John Seybert
Resumes can show your interdisciplinarity very easily. By showing the jobs and experience you have in many different subjects clearly shows your ability to work in different areas and your competence in those areas. It's true that resumes can't be one size fits all anymore, but if your resume is clear and to the point and shows your experience and creativity, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link on writing cover letters:
http://www.thejobexplorer.com/Cover_Letter/
- Mike Sanacore
John - To expand just a little on your response (to my earlier post), not only are folks having a difficult time with written communication, they're also struggling with verbal communication. We are seeing a high number of new hires with "anger issues." That might sound dramatic, but many are having trouble accepting constructive criticism and difficulty understanding/accepting multiple view points. (There are many wonderful things about new hires, too. I'm focusing on trouble spots we've seen in recent years.)
ReplyDeleteAnd now back to the program! John - you bring up another good point in this week's post. Spelling and grammar should be perfect on resumes and cover letters. This is vital to the screening process. We have thrown out dozens (if not hundreds) of resumes from candidates who don't care about attention to detail.
Usually, you have one shot - with a cover letter and resume - to make a good first impression. Fair warning: don't fall short! A misspelled word can mean a lost opportunity. As John mentions, in today's market, competition is stiff. If you haven't developed strong writing and editing skills, lean on someone you know with those strengths. At the very least, let someone with strong editing skills proof your resume and cover letter.
Lisa Schmidt
A resume can always help highlight my interdisciplinarity. When someone writes a resume, they’re supposed to list their qualities and skills to show their potential employer how much of an asset they would be to the company. This has interdicsiplinarity written all over it. If I were to list my qualities, they would fall into a range of categories that don’t belong to just one train of thought. For example, Good skills in math would not necessarily be related to good skills in customer service. But having the ability to thrive in both areas shows how one can be interdisciplinary.
ReplyDelete-DeAnna Powell
Hey LIsa~
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of that psychology course before, but it sounds like it is something I should look into. Especially now we need to do all we can to stand out against other applicants, and taking a course that helps develop our resume and interview skills could really benefit us all.
I also wanted to comment on your new hires Lisa. We too recently have received some new hires at work, and being a trainer I am responsible for teaching and guiding them through their first few weeks until they feel comfortable enough to be on their own. It is always surprising to me when I try to help them (constructive criticism), and they get defensive and angry with me for "correcting" them when all I am trying to do is help. Maybe a course like the one you mentioned should be mandatory for all college students. Not only would it help us prepare a good resume and cover letter, but also help us develop skills in communication and accepting constructive criticism in a graceful way.
Kylee Jones
Kylee,
ReplyDeleteI love what you said re: "accepting constructive criticism in a graceful way." This is probably going to sound super corny (and show my age), but the ability to behave with grace and style in the business place is critical to success. I think that's where the lost art of mentoring comes in. In today's busy workforce I hear a lot of "I don't have time" excuses when it comes to mentoring. However, it's an important component in teaching the younger workforce how to deal with all aspects of one's career - interpersonal communication, acceptable workplace behavior, growth and development, etc. I think great leaders should be required to mentor - and that all new hires should be assigned a mentor. Just my two cents! Thanks for reminding me about grace in the workplace.
Lisa Schmidt
Kylee & Lisa,
ReplyDeleteInteresting observations on the "anger issues"! I think you are right about mentoring. It is becoming a lost art. There is a fine line between providing constructive criticism and just pointing out someone's flaws. It is all in the approach on how you deal with the person. I don't mean to imply the incidents you all have witnessed were done wrong, but I know that I have seen occassions where the method of delivery of constructive criticism (although it was constructive)to someone was less than helpful. You are right about the "I don't have time" excuse. Most people are so overworked anymore they don't want to be bothered with another task of mentoring someone.
John Seybert
Mike and DeAnna,
ReplyDeleteYou make good points about how your different disciplines can show a prospective employer how you can be an asset to them in different areas. The key to tailoring your resume is to make sure you know something about that company, and craft your resume to highlight the strengths of your different disciplines with respect to the employer's needs. Math skills may not fit with customer service, but if that is the job you are going for look for an angle on how those math skills could be applied to that area. Maybe your ability to approach difficult problems logically (which is an important trait for math) can be worded such that it demonstrates your ability to solve customer issues in an expedient manner. As Mike mentioned, be creative!
John Seybert
John~
ReplyDeleteI agree that the approach to constructive criticism is very important. To make yourself heard you must do it in a way that does not insult, anger, embarrass, or demean others. If the approach is off (I mean more criticism and less constructive), then it doesn't matter how well intended you are, the message will not be received. This being said, we are humans and do have the tendency to remember the bad experiences over the good, it's just human nature. But John I agree with you 100%, in that the message is better received when the delivery is done in a way that does not insult the other's intelligence.
Kylee Jones
Kylee,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we do tend to remember bad experiences over good, and it may be that effect that causes some of those people that don't respond well to any criticism to react the way they do, no matter how well the giver does at delivering the message. Unfortunately, we never know what has happened in that person's day, week, or whole life that may have planted that seed in their mind. Maybe they were cut off by another driver on the way to the interview, maybe they had a terrible interview the week before, maybe they are going through a life changing experience (divorce, death of family, etc.), whatever it is it will affect how they respond to us. We can only hope that whatever feedback they do receive, whether they take it well or not, will sit in some recess of their mind and someday may help them to do better the next time.
John Seybert
As stated above, that is very true. I think it's best that the criticism is still brought to their attention, at least that way it gives them the ability to improve. If they are never given feedback, even negative, they will never know how to improve and become a better worker/person/whatever.
ReplyDelete- Mike Sanacore
My resume would highlight my interdisciplinary skills by briefly touching on complex issues I have addressed via integrating solutions from multiple disciplines. I think if I just talk about how great it is to integrate disciplines, the reader could still miss "connecting the dots" and not understand the real-world application. If I give an example of a real-world complex issue addressed by integrating disciplines it may help my readers have that "ah, I get it" moment when they read my resume.
ReplyDelete-William Powell
@Lisa,
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting course. I never knew UCF had a course like that. I'll have to check my plan again, but I think I might be able to have room for the course you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
Also, I have to agree with your experiences with people having issues with verbal communication. For many, effective interpersonal skills seems to be lacking or nonexistent. I feel it is becoming more common to find people in the workplace that can't take constructive criticism or a critique or have issues accepting (or at least respecting) multiple perspectives on things. In past positions I have hired some people who looked great in their resume and cover letter but within the first few months I could see that this person may have been technically qualified for the position and had relevant experience, but their lack of communication and interpersonal skills made them unemployable where I worked. Looking back, I would say it wasn't an age or experience issue. I can think of former employees from various age groups and stages in life that would fit the description I just gave.
-William Powell
@John Seybert
ReplyDeleteI like that you mentioned knowing how all of your disciplines fit into the employer's position would be a great benefit. That's a great point to remember. It's important to maintain that relevancy so the prospective employer can easily grasp how you will benefit them. That's also why I am a fan of having different resumes prepared for different types of jobs. I used to have very little success with my resumes because I tried to have one resume that could appeal to any job I felt I was qualified for. In hindsight, that resume was didn't really "speak" to any one position and didn't communicate how my experience was a fit for the employer's position. I assumed employers would read my resume in its entirety and know I was a good fit. I didn't realize back then that employers used resume scanning software to parse, search and score resumes and in the end may only spend a few seconds actually reading a resume.
-William Powell
Cover letters are a "touchy" area with me. I haven't really had to include cover letters before, so I have no experience in knowing what someone would really expect. I can look at a lot of examples of cover letters, but it only gets me so far. I never know how much I should write, or how "studious" I should come off. I feel like I've gotten a lot better at writing my resumes, but I know I still need some work. I was told that when writing resumes, to keep everything short and simple. I was also told that I didn't need to include as much information as previously thought. But recently, Professor Sparker told me I needed to write more, especially in my education area. I need to find a healthy balance between the two.
ReplyDelete-DeAnna Powell
In response to what Lisa said, it is almost comforting to know that there are a lot of people who are having communication issues. I feel that my communication skills are a strong suit for me. I have to admit, I'm not the most outgoing person there is, but I always say what is one my mind. I am not one to avoid addressing an issue or giving an opinion if I really think it is valid.
ReplyDeleteAlso, realizing the additional difficulty people are having with critism and accepting mutliple view points is an eye opener for me. I can't understand why in today's world, people will still close themselves off to other ideas. Especially when there is no negative connotation to them.
-DeAnna Powell
Scott Pollack
ReplyDeleteMy resume highlights my interdisciplinarity due to my wide range of experience. I have experience in sales, customer service, and marketing. With all of these taken into consideration, I have experienced the front and back end of processes within the workplace.
Cover letters to me are strange. I never really know what to put as far as how to go about getting an interview and also how to not sound overly qualified for the job.
I ahve always known to keep resumes under 2 pages. Employers want to get to the breadth of the resume without having to sift through jargon.
My main resources are resumes themselves that I see on a daily basis at my job. I like short, concise resumes that outline pertinent information and leave out the not so important information.
Kylee, Lisa, and John, Bill: The constructive criticism discussion is so applicable today. I realize some people may be having a bad day or a live changing situation but there is a large proportion of people that are just plain insolent, not only to managers but they're terrors to their fellow employees. That used to be what progressing up the ladder was all about...how to give respect and edify your superiors. Yes, superiors.
ReplyDeleteMany are under the impression on an entry level position that they're entitled to an office, stock options, and expense account...that's overblown but not by much. In this age of political correctness and self-entitled stance to equality in the workplace (as in a dept. head versus the new hire) , the new hire attempts to "run the place." They won't take criticism, and it doesn't have to be annotated with constructive, criticism is criticism, and many can't or won't say anything for fear of being perceived as something other than a critic.
Patience is a virtue in these situations but I think "the situation" has degenerated into a "bad situation." I feel for you Kylee, after reading your posts here and in class I can't imagine anyone responding negatively to you unless they are totally ill-mannered and ignorant. You are one of the most professional people I've encountered at UCF. Keep doing what your doing. Just wait until you get to do performance reviews! I guess all the violence in the workplace issues really puts it all in perspective.
-Jonathan Harris
Regarding the resume, is it really a valuable tool or have they just become cliche? The programs that search for "key words" and discard the rest really says everyone is saying the same thing. Of course everyone is going to be the asset that makes the company turn the corner. There is such a limited space to put everything I've never seen the point. I'm not trying to be contrary but raise a point that may be valid.
ReplyDeleteIs networking more important? Are most positions filled through the back door, at least the good positions? Would a detailed direct letter to the CEO or Dept. head be more likely to produce results? In these times with 16-20 million people out of work and the universities dumping another 2 million into the pool annually, I'm a little skeptical.
Not to say that they have no value but we perhaps shouldn't overestimate their value and if we've sent out 3000 of them from sea to shining sea and don't get a response we shouldn't say "we've done everything possible." I no someone that knows someone who knows someone .......
good relations essential...burning bridges: BAD STRATEGY.
-Jonathan Harris
Hello John,
ReplyDeleteIt is important to know that the resume is the way we try sell ourselves. By that, I understand why you think that One of the valuable things we will work extensively on in our e-portfolio is the content pages. I tend to agree with Kylee that to respond to what the job market wants, we cannot be lazy in preparing our resume. There is no place for a lousy resume. In brief, we need to remember that the resume is the only way to convince the the employers and become a winner of the posted position. If we have to be well trained to win a the game, it is the same for applying for a job.
Georges Desliens
Certainly, a well done resume may be able to represent me better and to make me impeccable by showing my area of study and my minors.Imagine how valuable a resume being linked to my e-portfolio. Any recruiter will have the pleasure to appreciate a good organizer.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing, a resume needs to be updated. This one is best for career changers with transferable skills from a previous career. For example, if we're pursuing a career that is very different than our former career, a functional resume is a good choice. This style allows us to draw out your related skills and downplay your work history.
Georges Desliens
I learn a lot from visiting either monster.com or U CF website for resume writing, Our mentor has done a great job about explaining the importance of having winning resume. I tend to agree that a resume is one of the most important documents I will ever create. There is no doubt that it is my passport to get hired.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what student might think, many graduate schools put accent on the valuable resume when the competition is tied. At this point, I understand that my resume and my cover letter should be grammar free. Thank you everybody for sharing experience to help improving my resume. In conclusion, if I can win the resume, I will win the position easily. By that, I will build my self-esteem and my self-confidence in order to progress in my job or career selected.
Georges Desliens
It would seem, and even more so after this class, that the IDS components of our education will provide an edge in the marketplace of jobs. This class is really starting to come together and I can see an application for the topics and skill development being discussed. Thanks mentors for your presentation of this and other subjects. We have issues today that didn't exist a few years ago and I can't say I know of any other time the employment picture has been so constricted. We could be in this situation for a long time and I hope everyone is ready to persevere. Have a great week everyone.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Harris
my resume can highlight my interdisciplinarity by outlining my career and educational history. By showing where I came from and how I got here, I can easy show where I am going.
ReplyDeleteI have never really understood cover letters for resumes unless you are driving around dropping one at every office you come to. If you are going to an interview or submitting a resume with an email introduction, there is no need to attach a cover letter. The introduction to the resume at the top should be sufficient.
Being 28, I have submitted and created lots of resumes. The best advice I can give is to not boast about yourself, but be proud of your accomplishments. The resume, in some cases, is the first chance potential employers will have to meet you. You want to make yourself seem like the best option without building yourself up too high.