Theresa Harrigan, Ed.D. Director Boston College Career Center Boston, MA
	Sean E. Henderson Coordinator, Employment Resource Center Fresno City College Fresno, CA
	Tim Harman Placement Specialist The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
	Patricia Nielsen Director of Career Services Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
	Xandy V. Rocha Job Placement Specialist San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
	Nadene Francis Assistant Director for Public Relations Career Resource Center University of Florida Gainesville, Fl

Patricia: In addition to work experience and leadership and co-curricular activities, students should think about including academic honors, projects and skills. Students should include honors such as Dean's List and they should include their GPA if it is higher than 3.0. Projects can be very important to include on a resume, especially if the student has not done a career-related internship. I advise the student to create a Projects section, select a few projects that are related to the career objective, give each one a title, and describe them in much the same way as they would a job or internship. Some examples might include creative projects in communications, advertising and marketing, research projects in science, psychology and social services, and management projects in finance and business. Skills are also important to include on a resume. Employers look for computer skills and, in addition, if a student has foreign language skills, those should definitely be included! International travel may also be good to include.

Sean: An entry-level resume should never exceed one page. Again, the purpose of your resume is to get you an interview. Many entry-level jobs have a tremendous response rate with companies receiving hundreds of resumes! Giving the reader all of the necessary information in a brief, easy-to-read format will help you stand out from the crowd. The design of your resume is an individual choice. The rule of thumb is to use a chronological format if your employment history lines up with your objective and a functional resume if you are trying to get into a new field.

Tim: Numbers often speak louder than Words. The key words are good adverbs, action verbs and current 'buzz' words in the business community. Examples include: Efficiently, streamline, effectively, mentored, coached, guided, hands-on, fast-paced, adaptability. This is of Critical importance! If you do not make it sound important, It's not! Often college student's experiences are similar, so the descriptors that are used to tell how you accomplished your role help to separate you from the pack.

Tim: Reflect the activities, volunteer experience and/or classes relevant to the position they are seeking. Occasionally, I recommend students with little out-of-the-classroom experience lead off their resume with a summary of qualifications that invokes not only classroom skills but transient skills such as: Leadership, team-player, strong communicator, etc.

Theresa: The best way to stand out is to make sure that the resume is targeted toward what the employer is looking for. Make sure the top third of the resume contains the skills and qualities that an employer wants in a candidate. Take time to read the job description and research the organization. Know the mission and the philosophy of the prospective employer. Put yourself in the position of the employer - think, "if I were hiring, what would I want to see on a resume?" There are some creative fields where you can use graphics on your resume, but it is always better to err on the conservative, professional side and not be "too cute."

Sean: Have at least three other people read it. Writing a resume is such a difficult thing to do. Many of us do not know where to begin or end because it can be a very personal document for some. Having others read it will help you focus on what does not belong and how to correctly say what you really need to.

Theresa: Employers will specify the way they want to receive a resume and many want it sent electronically. If the employer requests that the resume be sent via email, you can always follow up with a hard copy. This gives you another opportunity to sell yourself because you are also sending a cover letter as well. Never send a resume without a cover letter highlighting your qualifications for the position. When you cut and paste your resume from a document into an email, you will probably have to do some editing. Send a practice email to yourself to see how your resume looks. Never send your resume and cover letter as an attachment unless specifically requested by the employer. Because of viruses, attachments are seldom opened.

Nadene: My first recommendation is get to know yourself. The process by which you learn about your likes, dislikes, patterns of behavior, preferences, abilities, values etc is called self- assessment. There are two types of self-assessments you may use through your career center: Self-guided and counselor-interpreted assessments. Self-guided assessments are tools, resources or surveys you can use and interpret without the help of a certified counselor. Counselor- interpreted assessments generate results that need to be explained by a certified counselor. Career counselors can recommend which self-directed or interpretive assessments you should take. The assessments can measure or identify different skills, personalities or interests. Assessments can give you recommendations for career paths and possible majors. Note: Some of the assessments may involve a fee.

Xandy: First impressions are very important. Clothes are most likely the first thing the interviewer will notice about you. But that doesn't mean your non-verbal and verbal communication skills aren't just as important (or more so) as your attire! Eye contact, your initial greeting, a firm (but not TOO firm!) handshake and tone of voice all make an initial impression.

Nadene: The easiest answer is to wear a suit, but there are a few exceptions. If you're down to the last penny and you don't have a suit, men can wear a dress pant, shirt and tie. Ladies a dress pant or skirt and blouse combination or dress can work. Look in magazines with a professional orientation for outfit ideas. Different employers may require different types of attire. Do your research, or ask your interviewer to clarify the type of attire expected.

Nadene: Phone interviews can be tricky. It's like conducting an interview with your eyes closed and your hands over your ears. Remember your voice is the only means you have to convey your excitement to the interviewer(s). Consider a few of the following: Conduct the interview on a land line instead of a cell phone (you wouldn't want to drop that call) Ask for the names and positions of the persons interviewing you and jot them down (in case you have specific questions for each at the end of the interview).

• Stand up and smile as you deliver your responses, to lighten your voice and sound enthusiastic
• Have a copy of your resume handy (to help you respond to questions in case your nerves get the best of you)
• Have a calendar with important dates on it like your last day of class, any scheduled interviews or vacation times
• Take time to answer the questions. If they ask you a challenging question, let them know that it was a good question and take time to think about it. Letting them know that you are going to take a moment to form your response is better than unexplained dead air for 30 seconds
• Wear your interview attire for the phone interview (this is more of a mental trick to keep you in interview mode)
• Practice, Practice, Practice - sit back- to-back with a friend. Have them ask you a few interview questions or do an actual phone interview with them
• Don't answer any in-coming calls

Xandy: Some of the toughest questions would probably be, "What was your most significant accomplishment"? "What is your greatest strength"? "What is your greatest weakness"? "Why should I hire you"? "Can you tell me about a conflict you had with a customer or co-worker and how you handled it"? I give students practicing for an interview a homework assignment. I ask them to write these questions on a sheet of paper...think about their answers and write them down. The applicant is glad he is prepared when asked a question that he has already been given some thought to and it gives him a chance to think of an appropriate way to respond.

Xandy: At the end of the interview you should ask the interviewer when they plan to make a decision and if it would be ok for you to call on _____ day to follow-up. Also be sure to send a thank you note within 24 hours.

Nadene: Make a solid first impression; from the resume you present to the way you exit the interview. Ask questions during the interview to demonstrate your interest in the position Ask about the next phase of the interview process. You want to know if they have several weeks' worth of interviews to go or if they'll be making the decision tomorrow.

Xandy: According to quintcareers.com, less than 5% of applicants send thank you notes! Chances are, if the interviewer is having difficulty deciding between two candidates...and then she receives your thank you note...who do you think just raised their chances of getting the job?!

Nadene: It really depends on the industry and employer you're interacting with. If an the interviewer is recruiting and will be out of the office for the next two weeks it might be best to send an e-mail. It is "ok" to e-mail a thank you note if that is the only method of contact you have. It's more important to remember to send a thank you note. Handwritten thank you's take more effort and are usually more personal. When you do be sure to personalize it: restate your gratitude for the information they provided you during the interview or the cheerful way they greeted you; you can also use a thank-you note to answer a question or restate qualifications you want to highlight.