While most University of Memphis students are gearing up forfinal exams, many graduating seniors are polishing theirresumes.
A resume is an advertisement of the skills and qualificationsyou have to offer employees, so graduates should think of searchingfor a job as a marketing campaign -- they are the "product" andtheir resume is the "advertisement," said officials in The U of MCareer and Employment Services.
"The biggest mistake students make when it comes to writing aresume is failing to include activities and internships," saidKaren Hayes, director of Career and Employment Services. "WhenWells Fargo was here for recruiting, they received more than 50applications and only called 11 for interviews. Resumes withoutactivities or internships were automatically ruled out."
Other common errors students make on their resumes includeforgetting to include a good grade point average, typos andimproper use of grammar, Hayes said.
"The main things I look for in a resume are the major, workexperience and the GPA," said Bennie Williams, managing director ofFedEx Human Resources in Memphis. "For students right out ofcollege, any work experience, even outside the field they areapplying for, is better than no experience at all."
It is also important to include a well-written cover letter thathighlights experience and was created specifically for eachemployer, Hayes said.
| Resume Rules |
| - Always send a cover letter with your resume.
- Review and revise your resume as needed, and be sure your phonenumber is current. - Plan for a one-page resume. - Use concise, positive phrases beginning with action verbs. - Use indented and bulleted statements. - Edit, proofread and spell-check for possible errors. - Don't use a resume with career objectives different fromthe position for which you have applied. - Don't include pictures. - Don't put your resume in a fancy binder. - Don't include street addresses of former employers. - Don't use personal pronouns such as "I,""me," or "my," in your resume. - Don't use personal evaluations. - Don't state race, religion, marital status or politicalaffiliation. |
