Job Help

[Plum]

Job Help#0

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:21pm

Okay, I feel incredibly stupid. I'm applying for a summer internship through Monster.com for the first time, and they want me to give my resume a title. They give examples like "Award-Winning Graphic Designer." WTF?

So what do I say- stressed-out student? Someone who's blatantly applying for the job because of the fringe benefits? (It's a journalism internship; I'll get access to certain events.)

[RobbO]

re: Job Help#1

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:24pm

you can say "experienced writer/editor" or the like...

XING
PED

[Plum]

re: Job Help#2

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:27pm

Hee. Not sure how good that'll sound coming from a college student, but I do write a hell of a lot, if not in a journalistic form.

[RobbO]

re: Job Help#3

Posted: 12/8/05 at 7:29pm

you can take out the "experienced" if you don't feel that fits. you should just play up whatever strengths you want a potential employer to know. and also know that the title of your resume is not very important - and this comes from someone who got a job through monster and just hired someone through there also.

XING
PED

Updated On: 12/8/05 at 07:29 PM

[Plum]

re: Job Help#4

Posted: 12/8/05 at 8:05pm

Thanks. I'm neurotic; worrying is what I do. And there's no way on God's green earth I'm getting this internship anyway. Waaay too nice and high-profile. But I can always hope.

Next: To cover letter or not to cover letter? That is the question...

[smartpenguin78]

re: Job Help#5

Posted: 12/8/05 at 8:28pm

If it is a job that lots of people, especially those with "better" credentials, are applying for then an eye catching cover letter is important.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

[CJR]

re: Job Help#6

Posted: 12/8/05 at 8:35pm

Cover letters es muy importante!!!!!!! (okay, so that was bad grammar, shut up) I cannot stress that enough. Sell yourself!!! SELL SELL SELL!!!!!

And as for worrying about fluffing up your resume, a wise actress once told me "you gotta fake it till you make it, babe"

"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA

If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...

[Calvin]

re: Job Help#7

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:18pm

Cover letters for journalism jobs can be even more important than resumes, because they're an immediate showcase of your writing style. Whatever you do, don't make it some sort of formulaic cover letter -- do it like a news story, with a catchy lede, a nut graf and the like.

Good luck!

[bwaysinger]

re: Job Help#8

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:24pm

Awesome, Plum. I'd suggest a title and a letter that really shows your personality. I often find myself applying for jobs in a corporate environment but I still focus my cover letters to show that I have a fun, dynamic personality and excel in an office filled with energetic people.

[Unknown User]

re: Job Help#9

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:37pm

Monster.com has become less user friendly for the job seeker. The make their revenue from employers using their database of resumes to source for potential candidates. The job title for your resume is to make it easier for the potemtial employer to capture you in 5 words or less.

Your cover letter is important. What most prospective employers want to see is whether you can be specific identifying your strengths and how you can use them to help solve problems the employer may be having. Your letter should also demonstrate your command of grammer and how clearly and susinctly you present your thoughts.

The best cover letters are susinct, specific, and clearly written. What you want the letter to do is to open the door for the face-to-face interview. The letter will not get you the job, so don't oversell.

All that said, I have gained a number of interviews in the past with a cover letter of just 4 or 5 sentences.

There are unpaid internships (credit eligible) available for the winter sessions at BMI. Contact me for direct contact info if something like that fits into your plans.
Updated On: 12/8/05 at 09:37 PM

[Plum]

re: Job Help#10

Posted: 12/8/05 at 10:20pm

Well, I did my best. Weird that I've had 3 jobs and an internship in the past 3 years but never had to write a cover letter. I was thinking about linking to my main blog, but deemed it too conversational and...um...obscene. Further proof that I'm in deep, deep trouble once I have to leave the school cocoon. :)

Thank you for your help, guys.