Resume Tips: Volume I

Part of my job at Envoy is to monitor, review and distribute the resumes we receive. Maybe it’s just been a long month, but all of the “looking for an internship” resumes are starting to look exactly the same. Whether you are about to graduate college – or know someone in that position – hopefully you can glean a few tips on what not to do when submitting your resume.

And, yes, these are all actual examples.

Don’t exaggerate the truth.
If you are going to make such bold statement as “I have great skills and knowledge of trend analysis, market research, campaign and creative direction,” the “experience” section of your resume should contain more than “cake decorator” and “cashier.”

I’m not knocking cake decorating or cashiers. I was a waitress for two and a half years before landing my internship. But be honest about the skills you developed in those positions. Don’t try to fluff your experience for more than it’s worth. It’s likely the actual experience you gained from your “non-industry” job is more relevant than you think.

• Customer service – shows you know how to talk to people, which is important when dealing with clients/vendors/etc.
• Training – indicates you can grasp different processes and know how to be a part of a team.
• Money handling – illustrates someone put enough trust in you to be responsible for money, as well as showing that you are organized enough to count and sort your drawer at the end of your shift.

Don’t just spell check, PROOFREAD.
It’s mighty embarrassing when you refer to yourself as a “Copyright Editor.” Unless, of course, you mean that you spend your time editing copyright. Doubtful. Sure, mistakes happen. But if you’re going to brag about your abilities in “correcting grammar, APA style, punctuation,” make sure you use those skills on your resume.

If you’re still in college, take advantage of the journalism department. Find a professor or fellow major who would be willing to review your resume.

Don’t use generic statements about the company you’re contacting.
Yes, I’m busy. And no, I don’t read every word in your e-mail, cover letter and resume, but that doesn’t mean you can sneak statements such as “your company is of great interest” by me. It’s fine to say this, but only if you’re going to tell me why.

Next time, instead of making a blanket statement, take an extra five minutes to personalize the e-mail you’re sending.

Instead of: “I’m excited by the strong potential fit with your company.”
Try: “I’ve been looking through the case studies on your website, and I am particularly excited by the work you did with Hiland Dairy. We studied new product launches at length in my Advanced Advertising Class, and I would love the opportunity to work on a real-world example with Envoy.”

See? Easy peasy.

Next time, we’ll talk about how including family photos with your resume may not be important when you’re applying for a job.