Job application tips
job applications SUCK but i have made my personal process easier and I'm going to show you how
i hate updating and tailoring and editing my resume so it fits perfectly on the page and then still having to input each bit of information individually to the online application, but back in college when my brain worked better, I did this:
[id: a screenshot of my documents folder with seven word document names visible, two have been edited to hide my last name. The documents are titled:
Master Coursework, Master Experience, Master Publications, Master Skills, Name Resume 2023, Name Resume, Template. end id]
When I need to build a resume for a specific job, I make a copy of the 'template' and put it in a folder named "Specific Job"
I name that template copy 'Name_Resume' then I open it up.
The top has my name and contact details, formatted how I like.
Then there are sections that are empty except for the headers "Skills", "Experience", and "Publications"
I've got my template set up, now I just need to fill it in, to do that, I go to the 'master' documents and cherry pick the pieces that are relevant to the job I'm applying to.
I've had pretty consistent employment since graduating, so under "experience" I'm going to include all of those jobs, but I might bulk up or pare down the descriptions that go with them.
I might not include any publications, and skills are where I'm going to spend the most time.
Each "master" document includes all the things I've done that fall into that particular category.
I can probably do away with 'Master Coursework' but if you're a recent grad, or you've taken a few classes here and there, or you take online seminars or whatever, this might be a good one for you. I have grouped mine by topic instead of when I took them. I have an unofficial copy of my transcript for the timeline of my college career if I need it.
My experience document includes every job and volunteer position I had in college, all the way to now.
I list the job title and company and dates of employment on one line, and right underneath the title, I list the location. Underneath that is a bullet point list of responsibilities I had at that job.
The document also includes a complete list of just the job titles, companies, and dates. If you ever have an inch or two at the bottom of your resume, pad it with that kind of list.
Publications includes the papers I wrote in college and their academia(dot)edu location. I was also in the school magazine a couple times, and in a regional publication. All of those are listed, as are my college presentations. Everything is in a specific citation format. I don't remember which one that is, but it's consistent.
My skills document is a mess, but I've grouped it into categories like "science", "office", "interpersonal" and "art". I include things I've learned at work (instruments I'm familiar with, tools, and processes I've learned to use), and life skills like communication and cooking. You might come across some weird job postings. If you have the skills they're looking for, it doesn't matter where or how you gained them.
Those two resume documents in the list are fairly generic but already filled out resumes. If I were going to a job fair, that's what I would take with me to hand out. I have also started from here instead of the template on occasion.
When building your resume, keep in mind you want either one full page or two full pages (print front and back!)
After you've got your resume ready for the specific job, start a document for your cover letter in the same folder. When you upload all your 'relevant documents' later they will all be exactly where you need them.
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