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 Ways to Make Your Scholarship Essay Get Results!

By MyStatementofPurpose

April 21, 2013

A personalized - not cookie cutter! - passionate scholarship essay can mean everything when it comes to obtaining your scholarship dollars.

It's not easy to separate your scholarship application from the background noise of thousands of other applicants. Even if you fit the main criteria for a scholarship, you're still going to have similar grades, goals, activities, and aspirations as dozens of other applicants.

That's where a great application essay comes in. The essay is your best chance to state your case for why you above all others should receive a scholarship; it helps the scholarship provider learn about the person behind the application, and gives them a much more detailed look at your unique story, what you took away from school and what it truly means to be you!

When done right, those few paragraphs can help your application stand out—and could mean the difference between getting a "thanks for applying" E-mail and the award you're looking for.

Of course, putting so much emphasis on a scholarship essay may make it seem like a daunting task, especially if you don't consider yourself a great writer. By following these four tips, just about anyone can create an amazing scholarship essay.

1. Research your audience: Each scholarship provider is different and looking for a specific set of students who meet their specific criteria. Look closely at the application questions, the organization giving the scholarship, and any past recipients, if they are listed.

Do they emphasize school performance? Looking for someone who's dealt with adversity? Interested in character or community service more than grades? Whatever the answers, your research will put you a step ahead of applicants who are copying and pasting "cookie-cutter" essays.

2. Plan, plan, plan!: Don't settle for a cookie-cutter essay!  Start your research and planning as far in advance as possible.  This will give you time to develop an outline.  List two or three main points you want to make in response to any essay questions, add some supporting information under each and consider a sentence or two of introduction and conclusion. 

3. Make it personal and passionate: The scholarship committee does not want to read dry, sterile drivel!  If you can't be passionate about your future, then who can?!  You want to convince the committee that you're the student they've been looking for. Answer the questions you've set out in your outline, but make sure every point you make is illustrated with a specific detail that shows you care about the subject.

Don't just mention that you work with disadvantaged kids; tell them how your love of soccer got you into coaching those kids. Don't just tell them about your acting awards; show how the stage helped you conquer your shyness.

4. Find an editor: Last but not least, make sure you have time to run your essay by a good editor. Even a well-researched and passionately written essay can be derailed by spelling mistakes or awkward sentences, and if you've spent a lot of time looking at your words, it's easy to miss the obvious.

A few minutes of proofreading by a trusted editor can make a huge difference. I also recommend reading your essay aloud to yourself, so you can hear how it flows.

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?