Tuesday, 2 October history of journalism project

Project timeline......Tuesday, October 2......topic choices and partners. Lots of folks have chosen to work independently in the past. NO GROUPS OF THREE!
                               Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Tuesday (October 3, 4, 5, 9)- in class time to work on the project.
1. You should begin with research.
2. Put your notes- some of which will be copied and pasted- into a word document. If there are two people in your group, explore different sites. Make sure to copy your site info into your notes. You need to be able to say where you acquired your knowledge.
3. Next, coordinate your notes. Share what you learned and come to a consensus as to how it is to be presented.
4. Divide up the work as to visual and written. Who is writing the outline and who is putting together the Prezi or Power Point. Keep in mind that you will be both recieve the same grade. If one person does less that quality work, the outcome will reflect on both people.  Note: individual projects will not be expected to be as comprehensive in terms of the outline and presentation length. However, the quality will be the same.
5. Organize how you will do the actual presentation. Make sure it is on your thumb drive. If your partner does not show- and has the thumb drive- you two will have to come after school; as well, it is considered late.  Know who is speaking when. Both of you should have a copy of the outline when presenting.
On Wednesday, October 10 - at the beginning of class-EVERY GROUP WILL TURN IN AN OUTLINE. Make sure you have kept a copy for yourself.
Beginning Wednesday, October 10: presentations

History of Journalism Project -Directions (read carefully):Pick a partner in your class (or work independently) and select one of the topics listed below to complete the History of Journalism Unit. Proposals are due at the end of class on Tuesday. The presentation should be 10 minutes, neither less, nor more. (7 minutes, if working without a partner.)
You must have a power point or prezi. Include video clips, if needed.  The objective is to give an insightful and educational overview of one aspect of journalistic history. No more than two groups are to work on the same project in the same class. PROJECT GRADING: research 50%-this is a detailed outline of your presentation; 50 % presentation (oral presentation skills: audibility/ eye contact/ body language; communication of knowledge, as well as engaging and well-organized visuals. In addition there will be a separate- and private grading- of your partner's work, as to effort, communication and cooperation. 
.TOPIC CHOICES: Let me know, when you have made your selection. (First come, first serve)

1. Printers: Find out about famous journalists (at least 3) that devoted themselves to improving the print industry. Show and discuss the progression of printing through the years. How have techniques changed and what impact did each change have on the newspaper industry? Tips – Johannes Gutenberg, Ben Franklin, Letterpress, Offset Printing.

2. Reporters were sometimes found to be “radical” in different periods of history. Look at people like Martin Luther, Horace Greeley, John Upton Sinclair, Sam Adams and others who used their journalistic skills to fight for people’s rights. See “Muckraking.”

3. Coverage of politicians’ private affairs – How does the media handle cover personal situations in politicians’ lives? How have they done this in the past and what has the development has occurred?

4. Examine the history of the papers owned and run by Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hurst during the period from 1895 to 1905. How sensational can reporters write without becoming a “yellow journalist”?

5. Beginning with the area of the “Penny Press,” going through today, discuss the cost of newspaper subscriptions and the evolution of advertising. How does advertising help finance production costs? How much revenue is generated today vs. years ago? How does the industry decide on the price of the ads?

6. Stunt Journalism – Does it take reporters engaging in “dangerous” acts to get stories and to make it in the field? Ideas: look at someone like Nellie Bly and compare her to the people and type of reporting today which is similar. How has it made a difference in society?

7. Compare coverage of the Civil War vs. Vietnam War and Desert Storm. Show how reporting and photography has played a major role in shaping the public’s opinions of U.S. involvement. How has reporting changed over the last 100 years? Where do reporters, called correspondents, get their information?

8. Trace the course of the woman’s involvement in journalism from the colonial days to the present time. Use the Anne Catherine Green story as a basis as well as others Fanny Fern, Margaret Fuller, Middy Morgan, Jane Grey Swisshelm, Winifred Black (Annie Laurie), Bessie Bramble, Margherita Arlina Hamm, Julie Hayes Percy, etc. Find some current successes and compare stories. What has made them so successful?

9. Since “The Yellow Kid” began in 1896, trace the changes an evolution of the nature of comic strips. Why are some humorous, some adventurous; why are some self-contained in one day, and some continuing stories? What purposes do comic strips serve?

10. Trace the lines of communication that went up across America from the telegraph to the telephone and radio stations. Show how the discovery of waves in the air led to broadcast journalism where sound could come into homes and eventually into cars. What was impact of Samuel Morse’s invention? How did each new invention or discovery change the way we communicate? Discuss AM and FM frequencies. How have Bill Clinton’s radio broadcasts affected the public in comparison to Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” when he was in office?

11. Music and music videos have made a huge impact on the youth of America. Show how forms of music have changed over the past 50 years in equipment, as well as the variety of content available. What change in the music industry took place when MTV aired? How has MTV changed from the original format? Trace the history. Don’t forget to touch on ratings and censorship within the music industry.

12. Minorities have often had difficulties breaking into the media industry historically. Research and discuss historically minorities who have made it in the industry. What challenges did they face? How were they able to break into the industry when so many tried to shove them out? What was it about the people who were successful that helped them to made it? Did they have any advantages?

13. How and why does the media work as a “watch dog” or society? How has investigative reporting helped the “betterment” of America? Discuss what influence the book, “The Jungle,” and stories such as “Watergate” have done to impact and better society. Include examples of current journalists doing similar things .

THE PRESENTATION SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED WEDNESDAY NOTE THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PREZI PROJECTS, EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD EITHER BE FILMED OR PUT ON YOUR JUMP DRIVE. IF YOU PARTNER IS ABSENT ON THE DAY OF YOUR ASSIGNED PRESENTATION, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO FILL IN. ANY STUDENTS NOT READY TO GO, WILL BE DEDUCTED BEGINNING AT 10 POINTS PER DAY. MAKE-UPS WILL ONLY BE HELD AFTER SCHOOL, not during classtime.

Remember that power points are to augment your knowledge. They should be almost exclusively images- very, very few words. Please do not read off of them. Use your outline as an organizational tool. If you know your material, you should be able to speak fluidly.
Make sure that both people have a part in the presentation.  PLAN...PLAN...PLAN
How to Write an Outline1.What is it?An outline is a general plan of the material that is to be presented in a speech or a paper. The outline shows the order of the various topics, the relative importance of each, and the relationship between the various parts.

2. Thesis Statement of Summarizing SentenceAll outlines should begin with a thesis statement of summarizing sentence. This thesis sentence presents the central idea of the paper. It must always be a complete, grammatical sentence, specific and brief, which expresses the point of view you are taking towards the subject.

3. Order in an OutlineThere are many ways to arrange the different parts of a subject. Sometimes, a chronological arrangement works well. At other times, a spatial arrangement is best suited to the material. The most common order in outlines is to go from the general to the specific. This means you begin with a general idea and then support it with specific examples.WE ARE USING A SPACIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR OUR PROJECT.4.Types of OutlinesThe two main types of outlines are the topic outline and the sentence outline. In the topic outline, the headings are given in single words or brief phrases. In the sentence outline, all the headings are expressed in complete sentences. WE ARE USING A TOPIC OUTLINE, THT IS SINGLE WORDS OR BRIEF PHRASES.

5. Rules for Outlining1. Subdivide topics by a system of numbers and letters, followed by a period.
Example:
I.
    A.
        1.
           a.
            b.
            c.
       2.
            a.
            b.
            c.

   B.
      1.
      2.
         a.
         b.
II.
 A.
    1.
      a.
      b.
B.

2. Each heading and subheading must have at least two parts.
3. Headings for parts of the paper of speech such as, Introduction and Conclusion, should not be used.4. Be consistent; Use brief phrases.

Examples Topic Outline

Choices in College and AfterThesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses, depend on larger questions I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work.
I. Two decisions described
    A. Art history or chemistry
       1. Professional considerations
           a........
           b......


   2. Personal considerations

     B. A third year of French?
      1. Practical advantages of knowing a foreign language
      2. Intellectual advantages
      3. The issue of necessity
II. Definition of the problem
      A. Decisions about occupation
      B. Decisions about a kind of life to lead
III. Temporary resolution of the problem
      A. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistry
       B. To take advantage of cultural gains already made: French

Tuesday, September 25...end of the resume road

Today is the last day to turn in your cover letters and resumes. They will be returned to you on Monday for any corrections, at which point you will tidy them up and reprint.

Please be mindful of capitalization, spelling, punctuation and run-on sentences.

Monday, 24 Monday Finishing resumes and cover letters

In class today, 24 Monday: 

You will be finishing your resumes and cover letters. All work is due at the end of class on Tuesday. I will be editing them, but keep in mind that what you turn in at the end of class will be graded before I review your work.

Note: It is in an earlier blog entry, but to make things easier, if you need to send me anything, my email address is amclean4@mail.naz.edu.

-Mrs. Harmon

Wednesday: business ettiquette: how to wipe your nose at dinner.
Thursday: interview techniques
Friday: fish bowl

Friday, 21 September Continuing resumes and cover letters

In class today:

You will continue to work on your resumes and cover letters. Please refer to yesterday's blog for helpful information about cover letters.

Period 8: We will be meeting in room 433 today.

Some things to consider...

Cover Letter Tips for College Students

Top 10 Cover Letter Tips for College Students and Graduates

Writing a compelling cover letter is a critical component of an effective job search for college students. A well thought out cover letter will show employers that you are a motivated candidate and place a high value on their employment opportunity.
A quality letter will convey to employers both why you are interested in the job or internship and how your background will enable you to excel in the position.
Lastly the cover letter serves as a writing sample and will demonstrate to employers that you can communicate logically and effectively. Here are some tips to help you write the best possible cover letters.
Top 10 Cover Letter Tips for College Students
1. Carefully research your target job prior to starting to write your letter. Assess the skills, knowledge, education, experience and personal qualities required for success. Some of this will be evident from the job advertisement that the employer has provided. Supplement this information by conducting informational interviews with alumni in the field. Ask them what it takes to excel in that role. Consult your college's career office for suggestions about other resources of information about the field.
2. Make a list of the assets in your background which correspond most closely to the requirements for the job. Your assets can be skills, coursework, knowledge, experiences, personal qualities, honors/awards, motivations or interests. Aim to compile a list of 7-10 reasons why the employer should hire you for that job or internship.
3. For each asset put together a phrase referencing how you have tapped that strength to succeed in a role, project, job or activity. For example, "my persuasive skills enabled me to expand membership in the sorority by 25%". In some cases more than one asset can be strung together with a particular statement of proof like "strong writing, research and interviewing skills contributed to my success as a reporter for the school newspaper". Weaving together these phrases will form the core of your letter.
4. In your first paragraph make sure you reference the specific position or category of jobs for which you would like consideration. If anyone known to the employer (like an alum who works there!) has referred you to the opportunity make sure you mention their name towards the beginning of your letter. A tone of enthusiasm and a strong statement of interest should be reflected in your first paragraph. Some candidates will use a brief thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph to demonstrate their interest and summarize their fit. For example, "My fascination with numbers combined with my strong accounting skills and mathematics minor should help me to make a solid contribution in this role".
5. Use short paragraphs so that employers can quickly scan your document without being overwhelmed by large blocks of text. Try to limit paragraphs to 7 or fewer lines of text.
6. Use action or skills verbs like created, increased, calculated, analyzed, initiated, reorganized etc. to portray your background in a dynamic way.
7. Employers of college graduates are often looking for future leaders for their organization. Include statements in your letter that showcase any successful leadership role you have played with student organizations, teams or academic groups.
8. Showcase any recognition you have received by former employers, coaches or faculty to highlight key assets. For example "My supervisor designated me as shift leader due to my ability to orient and motivate fellow staff members".
9. If you are searching for a position distant from your campus or home area make it seem easy for an employer to interview you by mentioning when you might be in their area. For example, "I will be visiting your area during my upcoming spring break, might we meet for an interview at that time?".
10. Use a strong closing to reaffirm your high level of interest and belief that the position is an excellent match. For positions outside of the campus recruiting program, consider including statement that you will contact them to follow up on your letter and explore the possibility of arranging an interview.
Following these suggestions and composing a strong cover letter will show employers that you are serious about the job at hand and willing to work hard to achieve you goals.

Thursday, 20 September - finishing resumes and cover letters

In class today, Thursday, 20 September, you will be continuing to work on your resume and begin work on your cover letter. I have provided some useful reading about cover letters. as well as samples.

Keep in mind....the resume and cover letter are due this Friday, 21 September.

Cover Letter template 1

Your Contact Information
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
Email Address

Date

Employer Contact Information (if you have it)
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name, (leave out if you don't have a contact or using Dear Hiring Manager or one of the other examples below)

Body of Cover Letter
The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up.

First Paragraph
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.

 (First Paragraph - Why you are writing?)

Middle Paragraph(s)
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.  

Middle Paragraphs - What you have to offer the employer (be specific)

Final Paragraph
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.

Final Paragraph - How you will follow-up

Complimentary Close

Respectfully yours,

Signature

Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature

Cover Letter template 2

All cover letters should:

Explain why you are sending a resume.
Don't send a resume without a cover letter. 
Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?
Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization — a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.
Convince the reader to look at your resume.
The cover letter will be seen first.
Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.
Call attention to elements of your background — education, leadership, experience — that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.
Indicate what you will do to follow-up.

In a letter of application — applying for an advertised opening — applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you." However, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications."
In a letter of inquiry — asking about the possibility of an opening — don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)."  Then mark your calendar to make the call.

Page margins, font style and size

For hard copy, left and right page margins of one to 1.5 inches generally look good. You can adjust your margins to balance how your document looks on the page.
Use a font style that is simple, clear and commonplace, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. Font SIZES from 10-12 points are generally in the ballpark of looking appropriate. Keep in mind that different font styles in the same point size are not the same size. A 12-point Arial is larger than a 12-point Times New Roman.
If you are having trouble fitting a document on one page, sometimes a slight margin and/or font adjustment can be the solution.
Serif or sans serif? Sans (without) serif fonts are those like Arial and Calibri that don't have the small finishing strokes on the ends of each letter. There is a great deal of research and debate on the pros and cons of each. Short story: use what you like, within reason; note what employers use; generally sans serif fonts are used for on-monitor reading and serif fonts are used for lengthly print items (like books); serif fonts may be considered more formal. Test: ask someone to look at a document for five seconds; take away the document; ask the person what font was on the document; see if s/he even noticed the style. A too-small or too-large font gets noticed, as does a weird style.
Should your resume and cover letter font style and size match? It can be a nice touch to look polished. But it's also possible to have polished documents that are not in matching fonts. A significant difference in style and size might be noticed. Remember that you can have your documents reviewed through advising, and that might be a fine-tuning question you ask.

Sample cover letter format guidelines:

(Hard copy: sender address and contact info at top. Your address and the date can be left-justified, or centered.) Your Street Address City, State Zip Code Telephone Number E-mail Address Month, Day, Year

Name LastName Title Name of Organization Street or P. O. Box Address City, State Zip Code Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName: Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and basic information about yourself. 2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. (Focus on what you can do for the employer, not what the employer can do for you.) This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resume. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position. 3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration. Sincerely, (Your handwritten signature [on hard copy]) Your name typed (In case of e-mail, your full contact info appears below your printed name [instead of at the top, as for hard copy], and of course there is no handwritten signature) Enclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.) (Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs.

Wednesday, 19 September Resumes continued

In class today:

You will begin working on your resumes today, and will do so for the next few days. I have included a reference for "action verbs," which will take the place of words that are overused. Your goal is to sound as professional as possible--this is your first impression!

Mrs. Harmon

Note: If you need to send me any materials, my email address is amclean4@mail.naz.edu. Thanks!

Also, I did not receive Career Development Organizers from the following:
          Period 3: Nicole, Grace Parker, Tara, Quinton
          Period 6: Kendall, Rebecca, Sidnee. I also did not receive the Resume Notes chart from Kendall.
          Period 8: Keith, Taquan, Donald, Rosie, Christine. I also didn't receive the Resume Notes from   Taquan and Shannon.

ACTION VERBS

Management skills	Communication skills	Clerical or detailed skills
administered analyzed assigned attained chaired contracted consolidated coordinated delegated developed directed evaluated executed improved increased organized oversaw planned prioritized produced recommended reviewed scheduled strengthened supervised	addressed arbitrated arranged authored corresponded developed directed drafted edited enlisted formulated influenced interpreted lectured mediated moderated motivated negotiated persuaded promoted publicized reconciled recruited spoke translated wrote	approved arranged catalogued classified collected compiled dispatched executed generated implemented inspected monitored operated organized prepared organized prepared processed purchased recorded retrieved screened specified systematized tabulated validated

Research skills	Technical skills	Teaching skills
clarified collected critiqued diagnosed evaluated examined extracted identified inspected interpreted interviewed investigated organized reviewed summarized surveyed systematized	assembled built calculated computed designed devised engineered fabricated maintained operated overhauled programmed remodeled repair solved trained upgraded	adapted advised clarified coached communicated coordinated developed enabled encouraged evaluated explained facilitated guided informed initiated instructed persuaded set goals stimulated

Financial skills	Creative skills	Helping skills
administered allocated analyzed appraised audited balanced budgeted calculated computed developed forecasted managed marketed planned projected researched	acted conceptualized created designed developed directed established fashioned founded illustrated instituted integrated introduced invented originated performed planned revitalized shaped	assessed assisted clarified coached counseled demonstrated diagnosed educated expedited facilitated familiarized guided referred rehabilitated represented

Tuesday, 18 September Career Development Organizer

In class today, you will be completing a Career Development Organizer that will greatly assist you tomorrow, when you begin to write your own resume.

Then, take a look at the article, "Writing a Resume That Shouts 'Hire Me'" by Phyllis Korkki, and answer the five questions that accompany it.There are three sample resumes that you will read--one of the article questions refers to these resumes.

Next class, Wednesday, 19 September, you will critique sample resumes and begin your own. We will also talk more about key terms, or action words,


SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

Career Development Organizer

Complete this organizer to gather information you need to complete your resume or application.

1.         Contact Information (Use for both application and resume): Someone reading your resume needs basic information about you, including your name, address, and telephone number.

                        Name: _______________________________________________________________

                                                            first                             middle                                     last

                        Address_____________________________________________________________

                                                            number                        street                                       apartment

                       

                        Telephone number__________________________________________________

2.         Career and Education Plans (include on the resume): An employer would want to know about your career and education plans and goals. This can be a brief statement in your resume. You can also expect current as well as future and long-term career goals to be a topic for a job interview.

            A.        Job or Career Plans:    Examples: become a medical secretary, electrician, machinist,          carpenter, computer programmer, store manager, teacher, nurse, scientist, auto mechanic

                        1. Short-range plans:

                                                                                               

                        2. Long-range plans:

            B.        Education Plans:  Examples: complete high school, two-year college, four-year college, graduate school, career-technical program, job training program, military training

                        1. Education goal:

                       

                       

2. Specific description of education plans, including potential major if known:

2.         Education (use on both application and resume)

                        A. Schools attended: List all schools, starting with the most recent and ending with                                    junior high/ middle school.

                       

                        Dates Attended                                   School                                     City/State

                       

                        _______________________________________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________________________________

                        B. Course of study: Program of study in high school (examples: career-technical                                         program, honors program, music major, etc)

                        _______________________________________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________________________________

4.         Work Experience (Use on both application and resume): List jobs you have had in order, beginning with the most recent. For each one, indicate the employer and dates of employment, as well as the skills and knowledge you gained in that position. Indicate both full- and part- time jobs. Also include work that you have done on your own, such as child care, tutoring, mentoring, etc.

            A. Paid work experiences

            1.         Job title_______________________________________________________________

           

            Type:              Full-time________                 Part-time________                 Summer_______

            Employer_____________________________________________________________________ 

           

            Job description/ responsibilities________________________________________________
           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            Dates employed _________________________ to ______________________________

                                                month/year                                                                  month/year

            Skills and knowledge gained through this job___________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________ 

                        _____________________________________________________________________________             

            _____________________________________________________________________________

           

            2.         Job title_______________________________________________________________

           

            Type:              Full-time________                 Part-time________                 Summer_______

            Employer_____________________________________________________________________ 

           

            Job description/ responsibilities_____________________________________________
           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            Dates employed _______________________________ to ___________________________

                                                month/year                                                                  month/year

            Skills and knowledge gained through this job___________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________ 

                        _____________________________________________________________________________             

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            3.         Job title_______________________________________________________________

           

            Type:              Full-time________                 Part-time________                 Summer_______

            Employer_____________________________________________________________________ 

           

            Job description/ responsibilities_____________________________________________
           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            ____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            Dates employed _________________________ to ______________________________

                                                month/year                                                                  month/year

            Skills and knowledge gained through this job__________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________ 

                        _____________________________________________________________________________             

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            B. Unpaid work experiences

           

            1.         Name of activity or task__________________________________________________

            Organization______________________________________________________________

           

            Duties or responsibilities___________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            _____________________________________________________________________________

           

            Skills and knowledge gained ________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            2.         Name of activity or task__________________________________________________

            Organization_________________________________________________________________

           

            Duties or responsibilities___________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            _____________________________________________________________________________

           

            Skills and knowledge gained ________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________ 

           

            3.         Name of activity or task__________________________________________________

            Organization_________________________________________________________________

           

            Duties or responsibilities___________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________________________

           

            _____________________________________________________________________________

           

            Skills and knowledge gained _____________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

            _____________________________________________________________________________

5.         Special Interests, Activities, and Achievements (Include on application and resume): List and describe courses and subject areas that are interesting to you, as well as any other special interests. Also, briefly describe your activities, awards, and special achievements in school.

            A. Special interests: Examples: photography, painting, swimming, reading, dance, art, music,       travel, etc

            B. Activities: Examples: clubs, teams, journalism, yearbook, student government, etc

Achievements: Examples: special awards, scholarships, certificates, National Honor Society, Dean's List/ Honor Roll, competitions, etc

6.         Skills, Strengths, and Abilities (Include on application and resume): Information from the previous sections of the organizer may be used here to summarize the skills, knowledge, and abilities you have gained through your experience and activities.

            A.        Skills: Examples: office skills, computer skills, mechanical skills, etc

            B.        Strengths: Examples: leadership, punctuality, reliability, etc

            C.        Abilities: Examples: artistic ability, writing ability, ability to speak more than one                language, etc

7.         References (Include on application. Provide notation on resume): References are people who can give information about you and your abilities. Try to select people who know you from different activities. Be sure to ask the individuals for their permission to use them as references. For each reference, you will need the person's name, job title, organization, address and phone number. The notation, “References available upon request” is often included on the resume instead of listing individual references. However, you need to have the list available in case it is requested.

List at least three people who could write a recommendation for you:

Name, address, telephone number

1.  ________________________________________________________________________________

2.  ________________________________________________________________________________

3.  ________________________________________________________________________________

---

February 28, 2010

The Search

Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’

By PHYLLIS KORKKI

IT’S tempting to think of a résumé as a low-maintenance aspect of your job search. Just list where you worked, what you did and where you went to school, attach that to each application and press the button.
In fact, though, you have considerable flexibility in how you structure your résumé. The decisions you make about what it says and how it looks can affect whether you get the job you really want, or get a job at all.
A résumé is a marketing document that “can serve as a magnet to draw job opportunities to you,” said Susan Ireland, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Résumé.” That’s largely because more résumés are now on job boards and social media sites, and are included on company databases, she said.
Often, people place too much emphasis on the parts of past jobs that they hated — and get new jobs they end up hating, too, she said. “Your résumé is about your future,” she said, “it’s not about your past,” so stress experiences that are most relevant to the position you aspire to hold.
Let’s say you were in a data-entry position but want to move into project coordination. Give your true job title, she said, but you can highlight the parts of your job that involved projects.
You aren’t obliged to list every single job you have ever held. If a job is 15 or more years in the past, stop and consider how much it’s worth mentioning, or how much space to give it, said Wendy S. Enelow, a résumé writer for executives and co-author of “No-Nonsense Résumés.”
“Your résumé is not an autobiographical essay of your entire life,” she said. If the sales job you had 20 years ago does not relate to where you are headed, leave it out or summarize it very briefly, she said.
In listing your most relevant experience, quantify your achievements whenever possible, Ms. Enelow said. For example, you could write “automated internal record-keeping processes, resulting in a 27 percent reduction in annual operating costs,” she said.
People with gaps in their recent work history often balk at a résumé that lists their latest jobs first, thinking that a “functional” type, stressing skills rather than dates, will work in their favor. But in most cases, job seekers should go the reverse-chronological route.
Most hiring managers become suspicious when they see a résumé without prominent dates, Ms. Ireland said. Try to list things like your community service, your volunteer work or other activities to fill in gaps in your recent work history, she said.
Many companies use software to weed out unqualified applicants. Pay attention to key words, repeating some defining terms from the job description. For example, if you are applying to be a solar energy engineer, you could include the words “solar,” “installation” and “photovoltaic (PV),” Ms. Ireland said.
Be concise in the job-objective or summary part of the résumé, which comes after your name and contact information. If you are seeking a position similar to one you have held, simply state your professional title, Ms. Ireland said (for example, user interface architect). Otherwise, indicate the job you want next or emphasize the skills that the job involves.
Tweak your résumé when necessary. Be sensitive to wording differences among industries. For example, banks have customers, while libraries have patrons and hospitals have patients, Ms. Ireland said.
Generally, unless you are a very recent graduate, list education after work experience. The older you are, the less necessary it is to list the year you graduated, Ms. Enelow said.
Make sure your résumé is easy to read, both on the screen and on paper. Even though most résumés are sent via e-mail, many H.R. people still print out the attachments, Ms. Ireland said.
Résumés are shorter than they were even five years ago, Ms. Enelow said, perhaps as a result of social-media behavior like 140-character tweeting. Keep them “tight, lean and clean,” she said. Ms. Ireland warns against the “big cement block” effect, meaning the use of dense paragraphs. A paragraph should be no longer than three lines, she said.
Make good use of white space, point size, boldface and bullets. But if you start seeing a laundry list of bullets, group them into clusters under skills headings so they are more readable, Ms. Enelow said.
And if you are a mid- or late-career professional, don’t feel that you must keep your résumé to one page.
Many companies have older versions of Microsoft Word, so make sure that your résumé attachment is compatible with them, Ms. Ireland said. It’s also wise to have printed versions ready, to hand out at interviews.
Finally, have someone review your work. If you need a complete makeover, the services of professional résumé writers may cost from $100 up to thousands of dollars, Ms. Enelow said.
But even an extra set of eyes from a friend, family member or career center employee can be enough to set a wayward résumé on the right course.

-->

           “Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’”

Guided questions

1.    What does Susan Ireland mean when she says that the resume is “about your future, not about your past”? How can an applicant reflect that idea in his or her resume?

2.         What are “functional” and “reverse chronological” resume formats? How can a person       best smooth over employment history gaps?

3.         How should candidates strategically and effectively use key terms (action words) and why?

4.         What other tips about a resume's look, feel and function do the experts interviewed for      the article provide?

5.         Which of the resumes that we looked at meet these experts' criteria for effective     resumes? Why?

When you are finished, write on the back of this paper what you think are the five most important points of the article.

Sample resume 1:

FirstName LastName
6 Pine Street, Arlington, VA 12333
home: 555.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: phjones@vacapp.com

Education

Arlington High School, Arlington, Virginia
2006 – 2010

Experience

Sales Associate, The Retail Store
June 2008 – Present
• Maintain and restock inventory.
• Provide customer service.
• Operate computerized cash register system.

Child Care
2007 - Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.

Achievements

• National Honor Society: 2008, 2009, 2010

• Academic Honor Roll: 2006 - 2010  

Volunteer Experience
• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Arlington Literacy Program
• Run for Life
Interests / Activities

• Member of Arlington High School Tennis Team
• Girl Scout
• Piano

Computer Skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet 

Sample resume 2:

First Name Last Name 6 Elm Avenue, Stockler, CA 91733
Home: 111.111.1111 Cell: 766.444.4444
petals@flowershop.com
OBJECTIVE Interested in a paid summer camp working up to 15 hours per week.

EDUCATION
Pepperona Central High School, Pepperona LA
High School Diploma anticipated in May 2010
Sophomore, GPA 3.84
Electives: Art, Culture & Foods, Independent Living, Family Advocacy
Activities: Band and Stage Crew
SPECIAL SKILLS & INTERSTS

• Love to work with children
• Can create attractive posters and flyers using graphic software
• Able to follow written instructions
• Good with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Can do internet research using MS Explorer and FireFox
• Enjoy biographies of famous people and plays
• Travelling with family
• Manage family recycling assignments

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Stocklerbridge Hospital, Stockler CA Ongoing
Pediatric Ward Volunteer

• Read, watch television or play games with children
• Make sure the play area is neat and toys are put away after use
• Run errands or do assignments from staff

Stockler Recreation Department, City of Stockler Summer 2007
Volunteer Camp Counselor

• Led arts, crafts, sports, games, camping and hobby workshops for groups of 8-10 year olds
• Monitored groups of up to seven children on weekly field trips to the zoo, water parks and on walking tours
• Made sure campers were dropped off and picked up safely

GOALS
Planning to study Psychology or Music as a major in college
Join the Pep Squad in Junior year


Sample Resume 3: 

-->

1234 West Lemon St. Lompoc

733-1234  Hotchick@msn.hotmail.com

Debi  Greer

Objective	Introductory position leading into neurosurgury
Experience	2006-2007                      Arbor Shoes                                South Ridge, CA Shoe Sales Fit people into shoes, sold shoes, Maintenance and cleaning
	Mrs. Smith  688-3456 Babysitter ·       Watched two kids while theyre mom worked
	·       2007-2008
Education	Expected Grad date: 2009  Lompoc High School                        Lompoc, CA.  ·       Career Pathway in business and accounting ·       Honor Roll one time ·       Los Padres Elementary School – student of the month in Februayr in 3rd greade
Interests	Video Games, texting, hanging with friends.
References	None