[Not] Cutting Down a Resume Many people express concern over the standard suggestion to keep their resume

to one page. Everything seems important because you never know what is going to resonate with a reviewer or hiring manager. You might be interviewing for a policy position at the State Department, but wont noting experience as an assistant swim coach at age 15 illustrate leadership and planning abilities? Youre not alone; most people struggle with paring down. But, heres an unconventional tip: You dont have to. At least, not exactly. If youre struggling with cutting down, consider maintaining TWO resumes. The first will be just for your reference, multiple pages, and grow as your career progresses. Use it as a comprehensive list of skills and accomplishments from every position youve had, as well as relevant upper level coursework, awards and honors and/or published work. Youll use this first resume to tailor your second, one-page resume. Each time you apply for a position, youll be able to pull the most relevant and targeted information from your comprehensive resume based on the type of job and position description. Your long resume will also come in handy when writing cover letters or interviewing; you can use bullet points you didnt include in your one-page resume as examples to strengthen your application. Maintaining a long, reference resume may also help you see patterns or skills that would lend themselves to positions you may have not otherwise considered. Finally, and perhaps most important, keeping a long resume may be psychologically beneficial: you wont have to worry about forgetting information or details you remove from your one-page resume, allowing you to add them back again, if appropriate, at a later date. Resume Spin A resume should be a living document that is re-visited, updated, and assessed regularly. Its important to remember maintaining your resume is more than simply updating it with professional responsibilities and accomplishments. A standout resume has language carefully curated to highlight your professional abilities in the best possible light, while being careful to not overstate or misrepresent yourself. No matter what your position, you should be able to describe related tasks and accomplishments in a way that emphasizes responsibility and professional development. For example, if youre working as a program assistant and some of your responsibilities are to answer phones, schedule meetings, and book travel, you could simply say that, OR you could say you manage key administrative tasks for senior staffschedule meetings and conferences, coordinate travel arrangements, process expense reports, and respond to external inquiries. Thinking about your duties using strong, action verbs can be helpful. You can also consider your tasks in terms of why you have been assigned to do them. For example, imagine you are working on a research project and your supervisor asks you to keep minutes during a status meeting to benefit staff who are unable to attend. Rather than saying you keep meeting minutes, which does not sound very impressive, you could say you briefed key stakeholders on project development and progress timelines. It is important to note, however, that nothing on your resume should be a lie. In an interview, you should be able to back up everything with specific examples of your abilities and aptitude. Thinking about and updating your resume regularly can also be helpful in determining what you want to be doing and shaping your professional experience. If you regularly edit internal intuitional correspondence, you might realize you would like to try drafting this sort of document. In your next meeting with your supervisor, you might point out you have been successfully editing these types of documents and ask if there might be an opportunity for you to expand your skills by writing the first draft next time. In addition to managing your workload, supervisors are very busy with the responsibilities of their position so, if done respectfully and professionally, it can be helpful to both you and them to point out areas where you can grow and develop.

Cover Letters Writing a cover letter is an art, which you are likely to find useful several times in your life. Cover letters for jobs or internships must accomplish four tasks: 1. Apply for a specific position(s): Direct the note to a person, if possible. If not, address it to the hiring manager. You might begin with a one sentence description of yourself: I am a junior at WUSTL, majoring in International and Area Studies, with a minor in Religion and Politics. Then, continue to apply for a specific position. I am writing to apply for the Editorial Intern position at the National Geographic Society for this coming spring semester. 2. Indicate what about the organization and specific position(s) appeals to you: Keep it brief, show you have done your research (draw from the organizations website about their mission and/or activities), and be specific: if you are applying for an internship in the Communications Department of a large trade association, include one or two sentences about the communications divisions work. 3. Demonstrate why you are a great candidate: You neither want to repeat what is in your resume nor assume that the details of your resume are self-evident. The best letters usually elaborate on a couple of elements from a resume. If a course is listed on your resume and you wrote a research paper on a topic directly related (by subject or skills) to the internship, that would be a great piece for the cover letter. If you have job experience, perhaps you can share an anecdote that demonstrates skills and character traits which might make you especially appealing. 4. Illustrate professionalism and attention to detail: Your tone should be professional, with a friendly but businesslike closing. Above all else, make sure there are no typos, grammatical errors, or words missing. An error makes it easy for a hiring manager looking at a large number of applications to simply throw yours away. Tailoring Your Cover Letter to the Position Cover letters can be tough. In one page, youre expected to introduce and sell yourself to an organization as a strong candidate for an internship while simultaneously demonstrating your ability to think clearly and write persuasively. In many cultures, were dissuaded from speaking too highly of ourselves, or tooting our own horn, but in a cover letter, youre expected to put humility aside and do your best to shine. Writing a cover letter does not need to be a painful process. Your cover letter should not simply rehash your resume. Instead, explain why your experience makes you a unique candidate. Talk about why the mission or work of the organization appeals to your skills, interests, and goals. Use requirements from the job description to explain why you would be a good fit. For example, if knowledge of Spanish is required, your resume might list fluent in Spanish, but in your cover letter you can explain that you grew up in a bilingual household and have spent two summers doing community service in Argentina. Your cover letter is also the place to highlight skills that may not have an appropriate place on your resume. For instance, if excellent writing ability is desired from candidates, you could mention youve enjoyed and excelled in creative and technical writing classes.

Phone Interviews If a company wants to conduct a phone interview, they have reviewed your resume and are confident you have the skills theyre looking for to fulfill the responsibilities of the internship. The primary goal of a phone interview is to assess whether a candidate would be a good fit with the culture of the organization. For D.C. internships, a phone interview will often be the only interview required. Schedule phone interviews like you would an in-person: make sure you have enough time, will be well-rested, and alert. Take the call in a quiet place without interruptions, preferably on a landline. Before the interview, research the company: know who they are, what they do, and be familiar with recent work. Practice answers to standard questions, like talking about your responsibilities in a past job, why you chose your major, or why you want to intern for the company, in advance. Some people find it helpful to practice out loud. Make sure you have a copy of your resume and any additional talking points readily accessible. It may help to print these documents in a large, easy-to-read font and highlight any particular points youd like to mention. Be pleasant and professional, listen carefully, never interrupt, and be prepared to ask at least one question. Answer the call with a greeting and your name, and thank the caller before you hang up. A follow-up thank you is always expected. Thank You Notes Sending a thank you note after a job interview isnt simply about politeness or good etiquette. A thank you note is another opportunity to make a good impression on a potential employer, build or improve upon answers to questions you retrospectively felt could have answered better, and underscore why you are the best candidate for the position. Whether you send an email or handwritten thank you letter, you should do it within 24 hours of the conclusion of the interview. A good professional thank you note should be relatively brief, personalized for the job and the interviewer, and include: 1. Appreciation for the opportunity and the interviewers time; 2. Mention of a specific topic discussed, to differentiate you from other candidates. This can be something job related or a personal commonality discussed during small talk; 3. A subtle reminder of your qualifications and reiteration of your excitement for the job. These reminders can also be used as leverage to mention something you forgot to say during the interview or offer additional insight or clarification on a topic you discussed. Thank you notes should always be written in a professional tone. Address the interviewer using an appropriate honorific and their last name, unless you are specifically instructed to call them by their first name. Conclude the note with a professional sign-off, the contact email and phone number listed on your resume. Always remember, a thank you note may be your final contact with an interviewer before they make a decisionwrite to impress!

Networking Networking can be an ominous-sounding activity. When you think of networking as an expectation to enter a social setting and position yourself professionally while simultaneously acting like an interesting (and interested!) person, of course it seems intimidating and forced. But, networking doesnt have to be a painful activity. In fact, it may even be something you find yourself looking forward to. These networking tips will guide you through three phases of networking: finding people to network with; meeting someone new for the first time; and following up and/or maintaining the relationship. For each, well highlight some of the most commonly perceived hurdles and fears and offer suggestions to make networking easier and less intimidating. Phase One: Finding People to Network With The first, and probably most obvious suggestion, is to attend industry-related events. Meetings, conferences, and organized networking events can be great places to meet people who are there for the same reason you are: to learn and meet individuals who share similar interests. The second tip is to leverage your existing networks. Networking isnt always a linear process. If you already have regular social networkslike a club or teamit can be beneficial to mention your interests and career goals to these people. Someone you already know and interact with may have a contact they can personally introduce you to who will open opportunities. A personal introduction generally comes with implicit recommendation from the introducer, so being able to expand your outreach through an existing network could be very beneficial. Phase Two: Meeting Someone New for the First Time Networking is, first and foremost, building professional relationships. Networking is long-term. No one expects you to give a run-down of your resume and professional goals in thirty seconds, and you shouldnt expect to receive an offer for the job or internship of your dreams after the first meeting. Becoming a familiar name and face and periodically keeping in touch may prove beneficial years after first meeting someone. Keeping in mind that the first meeting is just the beginning of a networking relationship, how do you initiate a conversation? Try asking questions. Letting the person youre networking with do the talking takes a lot of pressure off you and, when it is your turn to talk again, will provide you with a few discussion points. Consider asking a question immediately after a brief introduction and allowing the conversation to flow freely from there. For example, My name is Sarah. Im a WUSTL senior interested in environmental policy. I know you work for the Pew Environment Group. How did you end up working there? Once youve gotten someone talking, dont apologize for wanting to network. You should never feel like asking for help or more information is an imposition. Everyone has been in your position. CEOs arent born CEOs! They work their way up, too! Bill Gates was once a Congressional Page. If someone is not able to help you, dont take it personally. They could simply be busy or know they cant offer the expertise youre seeking. If someone says they cant help, maintain your networking relationship by asking if they can recommend someone who would be better suited to assist. Phase Three: Following Up with a Networking Contact and Maintaining a Relationship Once youve networked with someone, its important to follow up. Add them on LinkedIn and stay on their radar by keeping your profile updated (so they will get an email alert to the changes). Congratulate them on any notable changes to their profile, such as a promotion or position with a new organization. You can also send a short email to update networking contacts whenever you have a new professional accomplishment to share. For example, if your name is published as an assistant on a published report, or a supervisor uses talking points you prepared during a notable speaking engagement. In addition, asking a few questions about how they are in your correspondence will show you are interested in maintaining a relationship. You should also be sure to say hello again in person if the opportunity arises!

Dont be afraid to ask for direction. It never hurts to ask if the person you are networking with knows anyone they would be willing to introduce you to, or if, as someone with more professional experience, they have any ideas for next steps you may not have considered. People generally enjoy feeling helpful and reaching out at critical points in your professional career, like when you are about to graduate or are considering changing jobs, is an ideal time to reconnect with network contacts. Finally, think about what you can offer. Networking is a two way street. Being young or inexperienced does not mean you have nothing to offer. Imagine youre hoping to get a job in health policy and someone you meet in the field mentions they are considering going to law school. If a parent or close friend is an attorney and you think theyd be willing, you could offer to put them in touch so the person can talk about their goals while still helping you with yours. Networking canand often doesprovide mutual benefit.