Promote Yourself : Part 2

10/17/08 - In case you missed part one of PRomote Yourself, the biweekly column from the Public Relations Society, here is what you need to know. One of our goals is to make sure our members have the tools they need to be successful when searching for an internship or career. We want to use this column as a platform to share some of the professional advice discussed during our meetings with the student body. Two weeks ago we dispelled common professional myths; this week we will discuss tips for creating resumes and cover letters.



Tip 1: Create a functional resume rather than a chronological one.

The purpose of a functional resume is to show the skills you have learned through classes and previous jobs.

For example, if you are applying for a job at a PR agency and you have worked the customer service counter at Macy's, your resume should focus on the customer interaction skills you gained. Also, remember a resume should be one page. Therefore, if you have held a position that has nothing to do with the job you're applying for, you can leave it out. No one at an agency cares if you cooked the hamburgers at your local diner; however, they might care if you were in charge of a group of people there, or handled unhappy customers.



Tip 2: Have a basic resume that you tailor to each job you're applying for. Companies need to see how you will fit into their organization. Sending out a general resume will not put you at the top of their list.

Look at the position you are applying for and think about the skills needed for that job. Write your resume with those skills in mind.



Tip 3: Do something that makes you stand out! Whether it is your font or format, think of something creative that will make the HR representative remember your name. Large companies get hundreds of resumes a day, and yours needs to stand out. However, a resume still needs to be organized, to the point and easy to read.



Tip 4: Cover Letters. Great cover letters have three parts. The first paragraph needs to grab the reader's attention and make a connection to the company. This connection can be information you know about the company, or a relationship you have with a current employee.

The second paragraph needs to refer back to your resume and bring it to life; you want to highlight important parts of your resume. Also, you want the reader to flip back and forth between your resume and cover letter.

The third and final paragraph is used to create a plan for future contact.

You could tell the reader the next time you will be in the area or say when you are planning to call.

Similar to your resume, you need to tailor your cover letter to the company. Remember, grammatical errors, typos or any other mistake can get your resume or cover letter thrown out. Always have someone edit your work; even better, have several people edit your work.

To learn more about resumes and cover letters, Professor Leatham's COM 351 course gives students a great opportunity to write a resume, cover letter and take part in a mock interview. Career services in Roosevelt Hall is always a great resource, or stop by our meetings in the Memorial Union room 308, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.



The Public Relations society is a student run campus organization. Our members are actively interested in public relations, marketing, advertising, journalism and communications. E-mail us at prssa06@gmail.com to learn more!