Resume Rescue

 

Writing a resume doesn’t have to be a daunting task, but it needs to be a carefully crafted one. Tips:

1. Know about the companies you want to send your resume to. It will help you decide what information you want to present to the company and what info is just too much for your resume. Knowing the company will also help with the interview process. And of course, you shouldn’t work for a company you know nothing about!

2. Review other resumes of friends or online. Instead of having to learn from your mistakes, take the time to see what’s worked and failed for other people. Odds are you’ll see some good ideas to list on your resume by reviewing others.

3. Gather your information. Don’t just write a resume off the top of your head. Figure out your title on past jobs, ask references if you can list them and think hard about what your objective might be. Just like a term paper written the night before its due, a resume made in haste won’t be as well composed as one you invest time in.

4. Proofread. Typos happen, but your resume is not the place for them. Have someone read over your resume to check for errors and offer suggestions.

Some websites that might be helpful are Resume Help Blog,Mahalo.com, and Wiki How. These sites are free and are not offering to write your resume for cash. They can help give you a pretty good idea on what to do and build your confidence in writing.

This video below is kind of funny, but it makes some good points on the actual writing part of the resume.

Counting Words

I read Lindsey McCaffrey’s Article Is Your Employees’ Inferior Writing Sabotaging Your Brand? on the Ragan.com website. My response to it: I see a lot of good points here. If your client’s first impression of your company comes from an employee’s written word, errors could be damaging to business.  I don’t think it would completely ruin the business, but if the grammatical errors were impeding communication then something needs to be done about it. I like the idea of reviewing resumes, but I think having an editor would be best. If writing is that critical to your business, it’s best to have someone reviewing the paperwork that goes out.

Be a Reporter

 I took the NewsU course Be a Reporter. The course was actually a game where I played the reporter looking for the story behind how 14 school children became sick. The game allowed me to conduct interviews and collect information useful to the games plot, but it also gave a good look at what is involved in investigative reporting and working with PR practitioners. I enjoyed it toughly.

I would recommend this to both journalism and public relations majors. Even though the game was designed for people interested in reporting, knowing how to do research would help in PR. Learning to back up what business or consumers are saying lines up with what reporters try to do when investigating a story. The skills are useful across the board.

PR in Times Past

Family in the 1930's

I think being a PR practitioner during the 30’s would have been interesting. The 20’s were a time of great prosperity in America and buying was just another way of life. Little effort would have to be put forth to convince the public that the company was good because people were itching to get out and spend. The 40’s brought with it the war and patriotic heartstrings could be played as companies and consumers alike rallied together under a common mind set.

The 30’s were a challenge. Many PR’s found out what their companies really stood for when it came to scamming, cutting corners and lying or being honest, providing quality and acting on what they promised. To work for an honorable company, keeping the corporation informed of the public’s plight, would be a fulfilling days work.

With Arthur Page’s six principles already established, the 30’s would be a good testing ground of those principles while PR practitioners of the time acted as pioneers into one of America’s darkest times. Though it would be very stressful, and possibly risky, I think I’d like to be one of those PR’s that helped their companies and publics continue in good relations.