Resume tips from alum, Andrew Cole '07, working with the Obama Campaign
1. Include Name AND Address: in the case of national companies it may be helpful to know, also, the applicant's willingness to relocate. A student may apply to the company's headquarters that may not have a position available, but the satellite offices may have something that could suit their skills
2. Include a concise cover letter: focus on what SKILLS you could offer.
3. Avoid the word "expert": this is a red flag to employers, unless you have a strong professional background to support the claim.
4. Organization: use some type of formatting when writing the resume. It should read as cleanly on the screen as it does on paper.
5. Follow-up: Do not simply re-send the resume. Wait a week before contacting the company should you have concerns that the company may not have received your resume.
Any questions? Contact AndrewCole_2007@alumni.depauw.edu
Networking Tips from NYC Alumna, Katy Keck '77
Greetings. I often get complaints from NY alums about the casual way students approach networking...sending messy emails, full of typos (including the student's own name!), poor grammar, too many "!!!" and "=)", all of which are inappropriate correspondences from students to potential employers and mentors.
Last year, I received one email after Career Night from a senior looking for a writing job that used "Me and Her" as the subject of a sentence. How many mistakes are in that sentence alone? I thought: a writing job, are you kidding me? I pointed out to her that if she thought I would forward that email, she should keep it professional and correct; it is not my job to fix her up before I ship her out.
I think this is extremely critical when a student is contacting an alum by email, because it is so easy to forward this correspondence to someone who might be able to help. However, if the email is not reflective of the quality of education we have received, I am not likely to do so. So EVEN if a student has a personal relationship with the alum, the email should be written professionally, as if it is going to be read by an unknown.
Another issue that arises regarding the casualness of contacting alums is the lack of respect for alums' time. Students should know that they can't ask for the alum to spend an hour giving advice via email, and that they should treat the alum as an elder/mentor--not a drinking buddy from school. It is much more effective to indicate the kinds of questions a student might be curious about and ask for a time to schedule a follow-up call to address these questions. That way the alum has an agenda for the questions that concern the student, without having to spend countless hours typing. Alums are very supportive and generous about sharing their ideas and time, however the "legwork" needs to come from the student. If a student shows that they understand and respect this relationship, alums will go the distance to help mentor.
Alum Profile: David Smart '65, Hospitality Industry
- What was your first job out of DePauw?
Sales representative at Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.
- How did you get your first position out of DePauw?
I called the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, set up an interview, went in and got the job.
- What are your current job title, employer, and responsibilities?
I am now self-employed and have my own company, David A. Smart & Associates, a hotel and convention bureau representation firm.
- How would you like to hear from students?
Either phone calls at (303)-340-4018 or email at das1@att.net
- General job search advice?
Job searching is difficult work. When you don't get accepted after one or two applications, don't give up or take it personally. Sometimes it may be the marketplace is not ready for a person with your capabilities.
Current Job and Internship Openings
- Math Teacher, Southern Teachers Agency (11/24)
- Technical Support Specialist, TriMed Solutions/FastEMC (11/24)
- Health Coordinator, The International Rescue Committee (11/24)
- Systems Engineer, City of Dayton (11/26)
- Supervisor of Science Education and Gifted and Talented Education, School City of Hammond (11/27)
- Program Analyst, Drug Enforcement Administration (11/28)
- Great ESL Teaching Positions in South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, Footprints Recruiting Incorporated (11/29)
- Computer Programmer, SpaceAge (11/30)
- Horticulture Research and Extension Manager, The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (11/30)
- Population, Health and Environment Advisor, The Public Health Institute (11/30)
See these and others on TigerTracks
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