Black Jack! Top 21 Ways Customize Your Resume and Get the Interview!

You search hard for the perfect jobs to apply to.  Shouldn't your resume and other application materials be customized for each job and company/entity you are applying to?  Your application materials are a reflection of who you are, the pride you take in your work, and it is the first impression a prospective employer has of you.

Ask yourself these questions 'before' you hit submit!

1. Does my resume reflect me as an ideal candidate?

2. What was emphasized in the job listing and how did I tailor my responses and resume to meet the employer's needs?

3. Have I shown off my most relevant experiences?

4. Have I focused on accomplishments or just my duties?

5. Don't just post your accomplishments, explain how you achieved them!

6. Have I exaggerated too much or not said enough?

7. Read other people's resumes, such as on LinkedIn for similar positions.  Can I borrow or paraphrase some of the same language?

8. Have I gotten my resume down to one page?  Can I justify it being more than one page?  If so, make sure to put the most relevant information on the first page!

9. If you bullet list things, put the most important information first!

10. Get rid of resume fluff!  Get to the point and use as few words as possible.  Sound bite it!  Elevator speech it!  Give them the executive summary!

12. Avoid silly adjectives/adverbs/buzz words.  Instead, give solid examples of your successes.  If you must use adjectives/adverbs, use "power" verbs, such as directed, improved, launched, etc. Avoid job jargon, though, even if 'you' think it is more precise.

13. Use powerful words to describe your top accomplishment(s)

14.  Wherever possible, quantify your accomplishments!  Example: increased sales by 120% in first quarter on the job.

15. Don't repeat words.  Don't repeat words.

16. Divide your resume into categories such as Experience, Education, Skills, etc, but lay it out logically.

17. Ask a mentor or colleague to read over your resume and to be brutally honest.  Ideally, ask someone outside the equation to look it over and give you honest feedback.

18. Make sure your resume is up to date in terms of the people/places you have worked.  Example: has an old employer's business name, address or contact information changed?

19. Embellish your resume, but do not fictionalize your job titles!

20. Double-check all employment, education dates, and your contact information and proofread the whole thing carefully!  If you have the email address, "mrluck@hotmail.com" consider getting a separate, professional one, such as "johndoe@gmail.com".

21.Save your resume as a PDF so you don't inadvertently save a mistake.  Then, save your resume with a helpful name, such as Last Name, First Name - Resume.  When submitting it, include a job id number or title in the file name if appropriate.

Do this all and Blackjack!  You will get more call backs!

As always, it is our belief that these guys write quite possibly the best Resumes on the Internet!  MyStatementofPurpose.com

Perfct Cover Letters & Resumes - You can DO this!

Perfect Cover Letters & Resumes: You can totally DO this!

We live in an age of perfect information, with the answers to many of our most common and most complex issues literally at our fingertips.  You've got a one-of-a-kind story to tell, so let's get it right the first time!

So here it is, a list of probably the best tools available for creating a Cover Letter or a Resume that gets results!

I tried to make this a good mix, from the simplest infographics to full-fledged interactive writing guides.

Cover letters are frequently only one page, so you've got 300 words or less to make it truly effective.  Resumes are the same situation - one page to say it all.

Overall, the best advice I could possibly give you is this: do not use a cookie cutter approach!  Customize your Resume - yes, your resume! - as well as your Cover letter to your audience.  Recruiters, admissions boards, and more know what a form letter looks like as opposed to a thoughtful, well-planned, customized document.  It makes a difference and, frankly, it's your life.  You get out of it what you put into it.  So put in your best!

More specifically, cater your cover letter and resume to the company or school you are applying to, such as finding out names of contacts, reading, digesting and responding to the school's or company's mission, and or values statement.  Additionally, and by no means least, cater your skills and experiences to the position or program to which you are applying!

Resumes

Purdue OWL: Introduction to Resumes – It's not just for APA and MLA citations!  Make your resume count! OWL provides a list of optional sections and offers specific suggestions to tailor your resume for each perspective employer and or academic program.

ALA JobList: Resumes – the American Library Association resume resource page offers a variety of suggested topics for creating and maintaining your resume, including librarian the Resume Review Service Committee (service requires ALA NMRT membership).

UC Berkeley: Writing Effective Resumes Online Workshop – Excellent example-focused video guide that offers a comparison of presentation formats, sections to consider including, as well as industry and objective-based suggestions. Advice from a panel of human resource representatives provides practical tips for improving resumes and avoiding common mistakes.

Entrepreneur.com: How to Impress the Robots Reading Your Resume – Entrepreneur offers an entertaining and informative infographic that can help you understand how to tailor your resume to better appeal to filtering technologies, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), to make your resume less susceptible to being filtered out of the selection process.

Boston University: Anatomy of a Resume – When researching resume writing you will encounter many terms regarding presentation styles and sections, such as chronological versus functional formats. Anatomy of a Resume is an interactive tool that allows users to identify common formats, sections, and styles with descriptions and tips to help you choose which ones best fit your needs.

Cover Letters

Purdue OWL: Cover Letter Workshop – OWL asserts that the cover letter may be one of the most difficult documents you will write and offers a wide variety of advice regarding formatting as well as writing tips to help you get your audiences’ attention.

The Ladders: How to Write a Great Cover Letter – According to The Ladders’ research-based article on writing a cover letter, generalizations (such as a blanket salutation) can make you seem lazy and work against you. This article provides examples from hiring professionals on content and format to help you connect with perspective employers.

The Muse: The Pain-Free Cover Letter Builder – This interactive tool helps applicants create a custom cover letter (requires Muse account).

Boston University: Anatomy of a Cover Letter – Anatomy of a cover letter is an interactive tool that demystifies the components of a cover letter and provides specific recommendations for each section to help you refine your letter and make an impact.

The Muse: 31 Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter Examples – This article lists introduction suggestions for opening statements to cover letters that will help your resume get attention. You can also sign up for a free cover letter writing guide.

And of course, it is our belief that MyStatementofPurpose.com is quite possibly the only writing site you will ever need.

Spring Semester Deadlines for US Universities

Spring Semester Deadlines for US Universities. Deadlines for MS in US, PhD for Spring 2014, Spring 2015. Most of these deadlines are correct, but couple of Majors may have different deadlines. So, check the graduate department website of the university for the exact deadline information.

Universities with Deadlines in June

1. University of Maryland, Baltimore County – 1-Jun
2. University of South Florida, Tampa – 1-Jun
3. Texas Tech University – 15-Jun

Universities with Deadlines in July

1. Florida Institute of Technology – 1-Jul
2. University of Pittsburgh – 1-Jul
3. Washington State University, Pullman – 1-Jul
4. North Carolina State University – 15-Jul
5. University of Illinois, Chicago – 15-Jul
6. University of Rhode Island, Kingston – 12-Jul

Universities with Deadlines in August

1. University of Michigan, Dearborn – 1-Aug
2. Kansas State University – 1-Aug
3. North Dakota State University, Fargo – 1-Aug
4. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo – 1-Aug
5. Wichita State University – 1-Aug
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – 15-Aug
7. South Dakota School of Mines & Tech – 15-Aug
8. South Dakota State University, Brookings – 15-Aug
9. University of Kentucky, Lexington – 15-Aug

Universities with Deadlines in September

1. Florida International University – 1-Sep & 1-Oct
2. Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago – 1-Sep with Funding 15-Oct without Funding
3. East Carolina University – 1-Sep
4. George Washington University – 1-Sep
5. Indiana University, Bloomington – 1-Sep
6. Lamar University – 1-Sep
7. Mississippi State University – 1-Sep
8. Oakland University, Rochester – 1-Sep
9. University of Nebraska, Lincoln – 1-Sep
10. University of Oklahoma, Norman – 1-Sep
11. University of Texas, Dallas – 1-Sep
12. University of Texas, San Antonio – 1-Sep
13. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University – 1-Sep
14. California State University, Chico – 15-Sep
15. Northeastern University, Boston – 15-Sep
16. Texas A & M University, Kingsville – 15-Sep
17. Tufts University – 15-Sep
18. University of North Carolina, Greensboro – 15-Sep
19. University of North Texas, Denton – 15-Sep
20. University of Texas, Arlington – 15-Sep
21. California State University, Fresno – 30-Sep
22. California State University, Northridge – 30-Sept Online, 31-Oct Doc

Universities with Deadlines in October

1. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb – 1- Oct
2. Tennessee Technological University – 1- Oct
3. California State University, Long Beach – 1-Oct Online, 15-Oct Doc
4. Indiana University Purdue University – 1-Oct with & without Funding
5. University of Detroit, Mercy – 1-Oct
6. Eastern Michigan University – 1-Oct
7. Illinois State University, Normal – 1-Oct
8. Minnesota State University, Mankato – 1-Oct
9. Oklahoma State University, Still Water – 1-Oct
10. Old Dominion University, Norfolk – 1-Oct
11. Oregon State University, Corvallis – 1-Oct
12. Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville – 1-Oct
13. State University of New York, Stony Brook – 1-Oct
14. Stevens Institute of Technology – 1-Oct
15. University of Colorado, Denver – 1-Oct
16. University of Houston, University Park – 1-Oct
17. University of Idaho, Moscow – 1-Oct
18. University of Iowa, Iowa City – 1-Oct
19. University of Louisiana, Lafayette – 1-Oct
20. University of Massachusetts, Amherst – 1-Oct
21. University of Nevada, Las Vegas – 1-Oct
22. University of North Carolina, Charlotte – 1-Oct
23. University of Texas, El Paso – 1-Oct
24. University of Virginia, Charlottesville – 1-Oct
25. West Virginia University, Morgan Town – 1-Oct
26. Worcester Polytechnic Institute – 1-Oct
27. Duke University – 15-Oct
28. Texas State University – 15-Oct
29. University of Georgia – 15-Oct
30. Villanova University – 15-Oct
31. California State University, Fullerton – 17-Oct
32. California State University, Los Angeles – 31-Oct

Universities with Deadlines in November

1. Florida State University – 1-Nov
2. Monmouth University – 1-Nov
3. Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn – 1-Nov
4. Portland State University – 1-Nov
5. University of Louisville, Louisville – 1-Nov
6. University of Miami, Coral Gables – 1-Nov
7. University of South Carolina, Columbia – 1-Nov
8. University of Utah, Salt Lake City – 1-Nov
9. University of Wyoming, Laramie – 1-Nov
10. Vanderbilt University – 1-Nov
11. Arkansas State University – 14-Nov
12. Marquette University – 15-Nov
13. New Jersey Institute of Technology – 15-Nov
14. University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth – 15-Nov
15. Marist College, Poughkeepsie – 30-Nov
16. Southern Methodist University – 30-Nov

Universities with Deadlines in December

1. Lehigh University – 1-Dec
2. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston – 1-Dec
3. New York Institute of Technology – 1-Dec
4. University of Houston, Clear Lake – 1-Dec
5. University of South Alabama, Mobile – 1-Dec
6. University of Southern California – 1-Dec
7. Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla – 15-Dec

Universities with Other Deadlines

1. Florida Atlantic University – 1 year before
2. Wright State University, Dayton – Rolling
3. University of Toledo – Rolling

Top 5 Scholarship Essay Mistakes to Avoid

1. Waiting to the last minute: Deadlines really light a fire under most people, but in order to do your best, start writing early!  Nothing is worse than sending out your application materials and then thinking of a great way of saying something better two days later.  Also!  Write when you are on vacation, the weekend, or other times when deadlines and demands on your time are at a minimum.

2. Not researching who/what you are writing for or about: Don't fall into the cookie cutter mentality!  While the bottom line is getting money for school, each application is to be approached appropriately.  Take your time to get to know your audience.  You know you can tell when someone is recycling, they can too!  Moreover, follow directions to the "T".  If they call for 12pt TNR font, and 1" margins, do it without question!

3. Blah Writing: The scholarship committees don't want to read dry, sterile drivel and incidentally, you don't want to sound this way, especially since you are talking about your favorite topic: You!

Be creative!  Use an original opening and ending that comes from the heart - your heart! not someone else's!

4. Using slang, and abbreviations: Your scholarship essay may require you to write only 300 words.  This does not mean that you use abbreviations that should be reserved for the cellular device!  Avoid slang at all costs, however, some colloquialisms are OK, but only in extreme moderation, maybe once per 300 words.  Be professional not texty!  For example, "through" is not spelled "thru", and "espc" is not an acceptable replacement for "especially"!  IMHO...

5. Spell check and grammar check are not enough: 

Will you please read your essay carefully before printing it or sending it out?  Spell and grammar check are good for picking up glaringly obvious errors, but leave plenty behind.  They are not perfect and may never be completely perfect. It doesn't pick up on the fact that you said, "amazing" three times in your essay, so proof it yourself before letting Dr. Grammar Check at the patient.  Have a friend read it over, or if your best friend is a rock, then try your school's writing center.

Stop saying that! The top 10 things not to say on your resume! No, really!

We - resume writers - used to use the term "boilerplate" when it came to these adjectives and phrases people would pepper their resumes with. Trust me, hold the pepper. Boilerplate means "formulaic or hackneyed language". You could also say they're cliche, blasé, and or buzzwords. Don't tell me it's just your schtick. Stick your schtick, already. Your resume is not the place for these terms! It is best to 

let your achievements do the talking!

Example: don't say that you're a team player if you point out that in your list of achievements you were a team member in a really important project - it's obvious you were a team player or you wouldn't be mentioning it! There's more...read on!

1. Hard working - Make a great resume, and anyone reading your resume will know that you are hard worker. Get good references, and they'll know you're a hard worker. Complete projects on time, mention the projects, tell 'em how you finished ahead of schedule, and - say it with me - they'll know you're a hard worker! 

 2. Self-starting - If you have been in a position in which you are basically a whole department or have supervised at least one other employee - even a part'-timer - you're a self starter. OR! If you handle projects regularly, and with little or no aid, you're a self starter...mention the projects and chuck the boilerplate terms! 

3. Team player - Don't say that you're a team player if you point out that in your list of achievements you were a team member in a really important project - it's obvious you were a team player or you wouldn't be mentioning it! 

4. Highly qualified - Mention your qualifications, even inflate them a bit, we all do it - and they'll know you are qualified. Or, even better, how about applying for a job you're qualified for, with the right list of qualifications, and then, you guessed it, they'll know you are highly qualified! By the way, don't just mention your qualifications - qualify them by listing your greatest achievements! 

5. Dynamic - Show how you're dynamic - for example, you handled many different aspects of a tough project, coordinating performers, caterers, logistics, etc. See how dynamic you were?!

6. Problem solver - Show how you solved problems over the years in your work or your volunteerism. 

7. Reliable - Leave it up to your references to illustrate how reliable you are. What is more, if you finish projects on time or ahead or time - guess what? - you're reliable!

8. Familiar with... - Say instead 'how' familiar you are with a software package, or a process. List years used and in what capacity. For example, if you've been a computer user since you were 8, it doesn't really count until you use a computer for work. Thus, say something like, expert computer user, 8 yrs professional computer use. I'm familiar with tae kwan do after watching some vids on it, but I can't really do it.

9. Flexible - Ok, yoga-tard, show how you were flexible, or actually be flexible and let your references do the talking. Flexibility on your resume can be illustrated thus: Handled large scale project while also completing regular duties, and met all deadline. 

10. People person - If you've been in customer service since you graduated high school, you're probably a people person. If people skills are needed for the job you are applying for, highlight some good examples: handled customer complaints; increased staff morale with Holy Smoke It's Friday in-house program; stuff like that.  Seeing "people person" on a resume makes me gag, then laugh, then gag again...sorry, but it's true.

Overall, boilerplate lines have been overdone - so stop doing it - you'll make more space for the things that matter. You've only got so much space to shine, so let's focus on the best you have to offer and can the canned terms!

Now...wanna see some great Resume and CV samples?

What to include and what not to include on your Resume!

10 Things to Include on Your College Résumé

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Getting into a good college is a lot like trying to get a good job, which means you’ll need a résumé to sell yourself, especially when the application fields don’t include enough space to list and explain all of your academic and extracurricular activities.

So, what should you include to boost your chances of being accepted?

Here’s a quick list of ideas:

1. School leadership positions (e.g., class treasurer or prom committee)
2. Club memberships (e.g., yearbook or Spanish club)
3. Community service hours
4. Music lessons/performance
5. Athletic participation
6. Work experience
7. Honors/Awards (e.g., honor roll, essay-writing awards, science competitions)
8. Church activities
9. Summer programs (e.g., Governor’s School for the Arts, Boys/Girls State)
10. Outside interests (e.g., photography, hiking writing, etc.)

Your list should NOT include:

School Courses. These are on your transcript and don’t belong on your résumé. Same goes for test scores.

Who’s Who Among American High School Students. The Better Business Bureau classifies these directories as “vanity publications,” which are more of a money-making outfit than an honor. Instead of looking special, you’ll come off as naïve to admission counselors.

Superfluous Information. There’s limited room on your résumé, so don’t clutter it by listing that one-time walk-a-thon in tenth grade or a club you joined for a couple of months in ninth grade. Be selective!

Outdated Honors. Most colleges are only interested in what you did during high school, so skip the sixth-grade spelling bee award.

Think of this as a CliffNotes version of the past four years of your life that details your uniqueness. You can use this résumé as an attachment to admission applications, as a resource for letter of recommendation writers, or even a tool to generate ideas for college essay writing.

Best Resume, CV, and Cover Letter Samples That Get Results!

Best Books: Writing Statements of Purpose, resumes, cvs, & letters

1. Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice by Donald Asher A great reference. Develop your own formula for writing success, but don't be formulaic! Create a list of points you want to hit, and then create your 10-15 Statements of Purpose, customizing each one for a particular school or program. Or you can look me up at mystatementofpurpose.com 2. Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer by Susan Britton Whitcomb A good reference. Nowadays you need a great resume visually ‘and’ informatively. Employers do not have ADHD, they simply need to be able to scan your resume quickly to get the intel they are looking for. Look at DK (Doring Kindersely) books to see cool layouts, and then stick your resume into one. Visual impact is incredibly important. Make your own or look me up at mystatementofpurpose.com 3. Essential CVS (Essentials) by Jennifer Vesperman A good reference. Nowadays you need a great cv visually ‘and’ informatively. Employers do not have ADHD, they simply need to be able to scan your cv quickly to get the intel they are looking for. Look at DK (Doring Kindersely) books to see cool layouts, and then stick your cv into one. Visual impact is incredibly important. Make your own or look me up at 4. Instant Recommendation Letter Kit - How To Write Winning Letters of Recommendation (Third Edition) by Shaun Fawcett Don't get trapped in the cookie cutter! If your letter looks like a copy/paste from a list of nice things to say about anyone and no one, you need to rethink your process! Be thoughtful and specific. You owe it to the person you are writing about or yourself. Employers & schools don't want to read dry impersonal letters. Write your own, or look me up at mystatementofpurpose.com 5. 1001 Letters For All Occasions: The Best Models for Every Business and Personal Need by Corey Sandler 6. Cover Letter Magic: Trade Secrets of Professional Resume Writers by Louise Kursmark 7. How to Write a Great Query Letter by Noah Lukeman The list author says: 8. How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement: Write powerful essays for law, business, medical, or graduate school application (Peterson's Perfect Personal Statements) by Mark Alan Stewart Peterson's has some of the best advice on creating a winning Statement of Purpose, giving loads of examples and advice. It's a daunting task, and it's never easy to write about yourself. Tackle the task with this book or you can look me up at 9. Perfect Personal Statements, 2nd ed (Peterson's Perfect Personal Statements: Law, Business, Medical, Graduate School) by Mark A. Stewart Another of Peterson's amazing guides! Best advice on creating a winning Statement of Purpose, giving loads of examples and advice. It's a daunting task, and it's never easy to write about yourself. Tackle the task with this book or you can look me up at 10. Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. by Robert L. Peters Some of the best advice on creating a winning Statement of Purpose, giving loads of examples and advice. It's a daunting task, and it's never easy to write about yourself. Tackle the task with this book or you can look me up at 11. Get Into Graduate School: A Strategic Approach for Master's and Doctoral Candidates by Kaplan Another of Kaplan's amazing guides! Best advice on how to get into grad school including how to create a winning Statement of Purpose, giving loads of examples and advice. It's a daunting task, and it's never easy to write about yourself. Tackle the task with this book or you can look me up at

CV Writing - they're not all the same!

Writing Different Kinds of CVs

What is a CV?

The term “curriculum vitae” comes from the Latin Curriculum (course) and Vitae (life): The course of one’s life. "It is vitae (not vita) because "life" in the phrase "course of life" … is in the genitive singular….” - Eric Daniels, CVtips.com

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) resembles a resume in many ways, but is more specifically focused on academic achievements. A CV summarizes educational and academic history, and may include details about teaching experience, publications (books, articles, research papers, unpublished manuscripts, or book chapters), and academic honors and awards. Use a CV rather than a resume for teaching or research opportunities, applying for fellowships or for further academic training. Some research positions in industry may also prefer a CV rather than a resume
CV’s are frequently longer than resumes, since the emphasis is on completeness rather than brevity. While there is no single correct format or style for writing a CV, the following types of information are generally included, and typically organized in this way:

• Name and Address
• Education
• Dissertation
• Fellowships and Awards
• Prepared to Teach or Areas of Research Interest or Areas of Specialization or Areas of Competence/ Expertise or Principal Research and Teaching Interests
• Teaching Experience
• Research Experience
• Publications and Presentations
• Works in Progress
• Related Professional Experience
• Languages
• Other
• References
• Dissertation Abstract

Additional Tips:

• Fields of Interest or Teaching Competencies: CVs may begin with a short section specifying Fields of Interest or Teaching Competencies (instead of a statement of Professional Objective with which resumes may begin). If you do include this optional section, make your categories as broad as possible to cover a variety of potential opportunities but don't be so broad that you appear unfocused.
• Teaching and Research Experience: On a CV it is appropriate to describe both teaching and research experience in detail (on a resume this is usually not appropriate). If applying for a position that primarily involves research, describe research experience first; if the reverse is true, put teaching experience first.
• Work Experience: Work experience not directly relevant to research/teaching/academic opportunities should be omitted or described only briefly on a CV.
• Other: This may include miscellaneous personal information such as membership in professional or scholarly associations, travel or study abroad, or personal interests. Include only if you feel that some aspects of your personal history may be relevant and of potential interest to your readers.
• References: If you list references, provide title, university affiliation, and phone number
• Your Dissertation:
• If you are working on or have recently finished your doctoral degree, at least include a brief, clear summary of your thesis topic in the Education section.
• Including a separate one- or two- page abstract of your thesis at the end of your resume is recommended, but optional. In this attachment, concisely summarize your thesis work, placing it within its scholarly context, and noting its contribution to the field. Your summary should be comprehensible to people outside your field, but scholarly enough to interest people within your area of expertise. Looking at theses on related topics, in Rotch or Dewey Library, may help you write yours. If you do provide an abstract, write "(See Abstract Attached)" in the Education section of your CV, after the name of your thesis title.
• Cover Letter: A CV should always be accompanied by a cover letter.

Probably the best CV writers on the net are here: MyStatementofPurpose