Transcript December 3, 2010 - Northern Illinois University

December 3, 2010
Kelly Wesener
Edward Heard
Marianne Spring
Dr. Kelly Wesener
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Include job history and broad overview of
your skills.
Choose font and format that express who you
are.
Be consistent – punctuation, tense,
indentation, date format.
Match the length to your time in the field.
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Use appropriate e-mail address and
professional voicemail message.
Include location of institutions listed.
Write out acronyms (e.g., bachelor of arts).
No degree yet? Use anticipated date.
Use present tense for current position.
List only most important or relevant
information for past experience.
▶ Quantify your experience.
▶ Avoid abbreviations, unless it is shared
language (e.g., ACPA, NASPA).
▶ Be intentional about your headings.
▶ Provide your role regarding conference,
committee, or organizational participation.
(Include dates, and list in chronological order.)
▶ Include your name and page number on each
page.
▶ Use resume paper – avoid dark colors.
Dr. Edward Heard
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An introduction and an invitation
Relies on job posting first, experience second
Conveys a sense of professional identity
Sincere; believable
Avoid appearance of entitlement
A writing sample
Edit; have reviewed by trusted source
Assistant Director First Year Experience (HigherEdJobs)
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Master's degree in student development, higher education,
student personnel, advising or related field is required. A
minimum of two years full-time related experience on a college
campus working with first/second year students is required.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are also
required as is significant knowledge about successful college
engagement practices. Demonstrated strategic planning
experience and the ability to interact easily with members of the
University community is required.
Preferred requirements: Previous experience in residence life; a
demonstrated understanding of student development; program
coordination; student advising; significant organizational skills;
familiarity with career and other assessment tools; desire
creative use of technology as well as knowledge and
understanding of student learning philosophy.
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I have worked in orientation and admissions offices for the
past three years, supplemented by additional past
employment in residence life and academic advising.
In my current role at Northern Illinois University, I am
responsible for coordinating programs to transition freshman
into new academic expectations and university life.
My recent experiences in researching first-year programs and
student retention initiatives have contributed to the
department’s strategic planning.
I am interested in the challenge to creatively use technology
to engage students and to improve assessment procedures.
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Paragraph 1 - Position of interest
- Name position, where you saw it
- Convey energy
Paragraph 2 - Possibility of fit
- Address employer’s needs; see job ad
- Show you know the organization
Paragraph 3 - Preparation for position
- Other qualities you bring
- Show you know yourself
Paragraph 4 - Plot anticipation of meeting
- Confident clarification; reaffirm interest (invitation)
- Point to documents
Preparation, Stage 1
 Distinguish from posting: reference list or
letters?
 Prepare ahead of time: identify 5 references
 Options: employers/supervisors, professors,
advisors, pastors, volunteer coordinators; never
use family
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Collect detailed/accurate contact information
Networking
Relationship
Investors
Preparation, Stage 2
 Approach your contacts as you approach
employment
 Preparing documents for your investors
 Have a sense of the person’s schedule
 Which reference(s) will I choose for this
application? What can/will this person say
about me? (really)
 Use discretion – learn from everyone/select
your references
The time is here, handling business, Stage 3
 Know your deadlines: you are on their time
 Steer the ship - a checklist; provide easy-to-read
instructions (sealed-signed/direct mailing?)
 Avoid information overload
 Provide job vacancy notice, your resume, points to
address
 Set appropriate deadlines for references: not too
soon; application deadlines are applicant’s
responsibility
 Have back-up plan if reference doesn’t commit
 Combine requests if possible (efficiency)
 Follow-up your requests; don’t be shy
Format
 Use same color/type of paper/font as your
resume and cover letter
 All should have your personal letterhead
(name and contact information)
Note:
Thanks
 Updates
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Marianne Spring
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Reading for
◦ Content
◦ Clarity
◦ Style
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Rewriting and revising
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It’s a representation of you, your experience,
and your professionalism.
It’s a first impression—the first contact with a
potential employer.
It’s your writing sample—proof you can
communicate clearly and effectively.
It’s your future.
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Inside address
Recipient’s address
Date
Formal Salutation
Introduction, body, and conclusion
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Read the document through without marking
it.
Edit it.
Reread it.
Print it.
Proof it.
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Missing Transitions—make sure your thoughts
flow logically
Choppy Sentences—can you combine
sentences?
Rambling Sentences—revise long sentences if
they’re confusing; use coordination and
subordination
Clutter—get rid of unnecessary
adjectives/adverbs and wordy phrases
Imprecision—replace general nouns with
concrete, descriptive nouns
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Passive Voice—use the active voice (and action
verbs) whenever possible
Misused Words—use a dictionary!
Repetition—use a thesaurus, but use it
cautiously (be cognizant of connotation)
Confusing/Awkward Phrases—make sure what
you wrote is what you mean
Errors in Usage—misplaced/dangling
modifiers, unparallel structures, run-ons
Slang/Jargon/Idioms/Clichés—avoid them all!
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Checking for errors in
◦ Spelling
◦ Usage
◦ Punctuation
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Commonly Confused Words
Commonly Misused Words
Subject-Verb Agreement
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement (or
ambiguous/missing antecedents)
Dangling/Misplaced Modifiers
Non-parallel Structure
Missing Commas
Overused Commas
Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense
Colon Usage
Misspelled Names and Places
Spelling Errors
Eye halve a spelling checker
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My checker tolled me sew.
Questions for the presenters