You're Ready For The Real World

The number one reason why people go to college is to get a degree and have a successful career. One of the most important elements in pursuing a career is having a good resumé. A resumé is a huge stressor for applicants, especially for those who do not know how to construct one. In reality, constructing a resumé should be a smooth and simple task. For those who do not know what a resumé is, it is an overview of the experiences and skills related to the field of work that is being entered. This is a very important part in an applicant's search for a career. A resumé can be considered as a selling tool for the applicant's accomplishments and experiences.The reason why a resumé is important is due to the fact that it is going to determine whether or not an employer calls back to schedule an interview. In other words, it is the document that is reviewed to see if one has the capabilities of working in a certain field. A resumé has to be well written and well organized because it is a reflection of the applicant. It reflects work ethic, skills, accomplishments, and job experience.

A common question about a resumé is, "What do I put in it and how long should I make it?" A resumé should not be more than a page long; it should be short and to the point. It is not an essay or biography; it should strictly stick to a few key points. As for the content of the resumé, it has to contain several important sections. These sections include: name and contact information, objective, education, skills, work experience, activities, volunteer work, honors/awards, and references.

Resumés are not always easy and basic to organize, and sometimes students need help selecting the right information to include. Students do not have to go through this journey all by themselves. Here at Kean University, there are people that can help. At the career development and advancement office in the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success, students can find someone to help with their resumés. Career development and advancement hosts different resumé writing workshops and drop-in resumé clinics. These programs help students complete their resumé and they will even proofread it for students after their resumé is complete. Students can visit the office for a schedule of the clinics and workshops that will be taking place this semester and next semester. The office is located in the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success room 123. Students can also call 908-737-0320 with any further questions.

Example Resume:
Name and contact information
This section of the resumé is self-explanatory because it simply displays the student's basic information. For example:

Kean Cougar
1000 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908-737-7777
keancougar@kean.edu

Objective
The objective of a resumé is a statement that reflects what the applicant hopes to accomplish. It is the area of the resumé where the applicant communicates the specific type of job they desire. For example, if an applicant is looking to be a high school physical education teacher, the objective would be, "to teach physical education to students". Although an objective is specific, that does not mean it needs to state the exact job title. It can show how the student wants to be utilized. For instance, "to utilize my counseling experience and bilingual skills" would also qualify as an objective. This objective is just a bit broader.

Education and honors/awards
Most of the time, these next two sections go hand in hand on the resumé and are often listed one after another. The reason why they go together is because this section shows what the applicant has accomplished over the years of their education. It will look something like this:

Education: Kean University, Union NJ
Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Member of Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Honor Society

This is an example of how the education section should look but it can also be more detailed if wanted or needed.

Skills
It is a major advantage if students have skills in certain areas. Skills are considered the factors that make the applicant valued as workers. Examples of skills would be having the ability to work with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, and any other knowledge related to the field.

Work experience/activities/volunteer work
All an applicant has to do here is list all the previous work experience that is relevant to the field of work that is being pursued. If applying to be a teacher, list all previous related work experiences, student teaching experiences, and internships. Remember, it all has to pertain to the desired work field. Also in this section are the activities and volunteer work that the applicant has done including participation in clubs, groups. This is why Kean is committed to encouraging their students to get involved.

References
References are simply people who can be contacted if there are any questions about a possible employee. These contacts are usually former employers, bosses/managers, teachers, and anyone who can provide valid information if needed. The resumé can state that references can be available upon request