2008 Woodie Awards
Helpful hints for resume writing
Mike DeSumma
Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: Features
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Along with cold weather and the occasional snowfall, December will usher in graduation for many West Chester University seniors. At the end of the semester, it will be their time to walk the aisle to the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance" and revel in their accomplishments as they receive their diplomas. Afterwards, they will prepare to start their acquired positions in the working world.
Of course, the ultimate goal for many students here at WCU is to secure stable job placement upon graduation. With that accomplishment in mind, many upperclassmen know the work entailed: networking, job interviews, etc. Still, the initial appeal to any employer when job-hunting is a well-tailored resume.
According to the Web site www.collegegrad.com, a resume is "the initial marketing brochure" for any prospective applicant looking to "make a sale" with an organization. However, the site recently released a poll which showed that 72 percent of college students either "feel their resumes need help" or they don't have one at all.
To get answers on how WCU students can build better resumes for future employment, The Quad conducted an interview with Philip Tripp, the assistant director of the Twardowski Career Development Center.
Tripp referenced a study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, designed to identify the top skills and qualities that organizations are looking for in "the perfect candidate." The study found that communication, teamwork, leadership and computer skills as well as attributes such as self-confidence and integrity are what today's employers find attractive in applicants.
While Tripp admitted that "there is no perfect candidate," he conveyed how any good resume should start with an opening section where the applicant makes his/her skills known to the employer. According to Tripp, the "profile/summary" statement opens your resume by letting the employer know what your skills are. It then serves as a guide for the rest of the document as you attempt to convey your possession of those skills through listing your education and/or work experience. Tripp also mentioned how the summary gives a future perspective to the resume rather than just adding to what you've already done.
Of course, the ultimate goal for many students here at WCU is to secure stable job placement upon graduation. With that accomplishment in mind, many upperclassmen know the work entailed: networking, job interviews, etc. Still, the initial appeal to any employer when job-hunting is a well-tailored resume.
According to the Web site www.collegegrad.com, a resume is "the initial marketing brochure" for any prospective applicant looking to "make a sale" with an organization. However, the site recently released a poll which showed that 72 percent of college students either "feel their resumes need help" or they don't have one at all.
To get answers on how WCU students can build better resumes for future employment, The Quad conducted an interview with Philip Tripp, the assistant director of the Twardowski Career Development Center.
Tripp referenced a study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, designed to identify the top skills and qualities that organizations are looking for in "the perfect candidate." The study found that communication, teamwork, leadership and computer skills as well as attributes such as self-confidence and integrity are what today's employers find attractive in applicants.
While Tripp admitted that "there is no perfect candidate," he conveyed how any good resume should start with an opening section where the applicant makes his/her skills known to the employer. According to Tripp, the "profile/summary" statement opens your resume by letting the employer know what your skills are. It then serves as a guide for the rest of the document as you attempt to convey your possession of those skills through listing your education and/or work experience. Tripp also mentioned how the summary gives a future perspective to the resume rather than just adding to what you've already done.
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