As some students near the end of their college careers, constructing a resume and starting a career are the first things on their minds.
???"The resume is an individually designed, brief summary of what you have to offer an employer," said Holly Justice, an engineering career counselor. "It should include experience, education and specific skills."
???Some crucial things to do when applying for any job or internship include thoroughly researching the position and the company, learning key details about the job and knowing exactly what you can offer to the employer.
???According to Justice, this will make it easier to construct a resume specifically for that position. Making it easy for the employer to reach the applicant is also a wise way to get any job or internship. It's important to include a phone number, e-mail address and home address at the top of the resume.
???"When listing your education within your resume, include the name of the college attended, degree earned, date received or expected to receive and applicable coursework," Justice said. "Any awards and honors along with study abroad information can be included as well."
???If applying for any position that is technical, such as engineering or computer science-related jobs, it's important to include related experience, whether paid or volunteer, according to Justice.
???"Be pretty specific about the objective," Justice said. "Tell me exactly what you want as far as a full time position."
???According to Justice, one should always target the part of his or her resume that mentions what he or she can offer to a company.
???"Being specific and brief is really important when constructing any resume," said James Holmes, a UB alumnus. "You should always know what you're working towards accomplishing from it."
???Another thing that a solid resume requires is "soft skills." These include good communication skills, teamwork skills and flexibility. According to Justice, companies have been looking for specific types of "soft skills" recently, so researching the company allows applicants to know specifically what employers are looking for.
???"Always think to yourself, does your resume make you want to read it at a glance?" Justice said. "The layout should look professional, use quality print and resume paper along with appropriate margins."
???An important rule to follow is to keep the resume brief. Typically, good resumes include 10 years of experience per page, Justice said. This means most college students should have a resume that does not exceed one page.
???"Use full yet concise descriptions so it has complete information without being too specific and too long," Justice said.
???Some students have found out the hard way to keep their resume a page long.
???"I did not have much luck when I was first sending out my resume," said Gary Pretishin, a senior sociology major. "It was after I had already sent some out that I had my counselor look over it and tell me it needed to be shortened a lot."
???Now that technology plays a large role in applying for jobs and internships, knowing the appropriate way to e-mail a resume is also crucial.
???"Always use formal, professional language in your e-mail," Justice said. "Do not be casual."
???According to Justice, Career Services helps with researching employers and effectively promoting skills. Career counselors can be found in the Career Services office, 259 Capen Hall, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are always welcome and students can call to schedule an appointment as well.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
