The Future In Your Hands, On One Piece of Paper

One of student's main purposes to progress their colege education is to get their oh-so-coveted college degree that will allow a student to evolve from a college graduate to a member of the workforce with all the trials and benefits it entails. However, when a graduate gfinally decides to take the big plunge into a "real world" job, a given employer will often not ask what school a candidate went to or even what their degree is in, but rather, for a resume. The one page summary of all a graduate's education, activities, work and goals can be the one thing that stands in the way of a graduate's path to the job of their dreams. Many UConn students already have had to face the demons of making a decent resume, but will their current resume get them the jobs they want later in life?

The question arises - how can students sell themselves just in a little more than a page? What really makes a sought-after resume? The answers to these questions were posed in an informative presentation entitled the "ABCs of Resume" given by Career Services in the Center for Undergraduate Education Wednesday afternoon.

Beth Sharpiro-Settje, a career consultant for the Department of Career Services, presented students with an in-depth look into what employers really want out of resumes. When Sharpiro-Settje asked if the filled room of students were first, second, third or fourth year by a raise of hands, the majority stated that they were third of fourth year, showing the importance of resume writing for these impending college graduates.

"We like to obviously help students," said Sharpiro-Settje, "and we find this [presentation] is a good way to reach a lot of students who are beginning to job search or internship search and they need to know what is needed to make a good resume."

Sharpiro-Settje also stated that a resume is "a history of you" and that next to a college diploma and transcript, the resume is probably the most important document a student will take with them out of their college experience. She described a resume being "almost like a living breathing document" that will change along with the person it describes.

After browsing template resumes on the Career Services Web site, students got a look at certain important aspects of resume writing, including the need for key words that match the position being applied for and match the work, internship or even volunteer experience listed on a resume, clear and legible font to make a resume flow easier and look more professional; even the quality of paper that needs to be used.

Some simple but vital tips about resume writing were also provided. Sharpiro-Settje reccomended students should read their resumes out loud in order to catch certain spelling mistakes. She continued by saying accuracy can be key in a resume, spelling or simple things such as making up information concerning grades or work experience can be huge errors. Students should keep different resumes for different types of job they want to apply to and that resumes should be updated every few months so when a coveted job comes along, a student is ready to pounce at it with their resume rather than have to rush to update it.

Sharpiro-Settje even shared a personal anecdote of her job search experience using resumes that were printed on sky-blue and rose pink paper in order for them to stand out more. She stated that, even though the average white or ivory-colored resume may look plain, it can still stand out through the quality of a resume by getting the simple message of how a candidate's education and experiences will best suit the job through. The qualifications, not colored paper, will catch an employer eye in usually 30 seconds or less in a good way. There are three piles employers keep when they look at resumes: a yes, maybe or no. Surely, according to Sharpiro-Settje, students who attended the presentation and students who seek out the help of Career Services will make it into the "yes pile."

This presentation is one of the numerous workshops, programs and presentation that Career Services provides for students on a regular basis. Students who are even a little wary about the quality of their resumes can go to Career Services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and have a hard copy of their resumes critiqued, poked and prodded to perfection. The "ABCs of Resume" workshop will also be provided again on Nov. 6 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the CUE building and additionally, DVDs of the presentation are available to students at Career Services.

Contact Natalie Abreu at

Natalie.Abreu@UConn.edu.