RSUM WORKSHOP Presented by The Meredith Career Services

RÉSUMÉ WORKSHOP Presented by: The Meredith Career Services Center Heather Spielmaker, J. D. – Assistant Dean WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

GROUND RULES • Don’t use smaller than 11 font • Yes, we like to keep it to one page • If you have tons of relevant experience and are going two pages, be sure you FILL two pages, with GOOD STUFF • Don’t use acronyms or abbreviations, don’t use “etc” WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

GROUND RULES (CONT) • If you use bullet points in descriptions, either put periods at the end or don’t – consistently • Have enough white space and make sure it’s visually appealing and not too busy • Don’t have a big empty white space at the end • Don’t include your pic or cutesy stuff WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

GROUND RULES (CONT) • If you use a résumé service, the pdf it generates will be tough to edit – and you will edit A LOT • Keep in mind what you’re applying for and tie the entries to that location or field • Proofread twice before sending to us for approval, and once after (we all make mistakes) WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

HEADERS • Use the same header on résumé and cover letters • If you have a lot to include, use a 2 -line header to save space - if you have a little, use a bigger header to take up space • Make sure your email address sounds professional ( for example: NOT blondeambition@seatgeek. com) • If applying out-of-state, include local address if you have one WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

EDUCATION • Start here, unless you have had a successful past career • It’s Juris Doctor, not Juris Doctorate • Don’t assume reader knows our lingo (not everyone calls them CALI awards…) • If you did great in some classes but not others, list those classes under WVU Law • Don’t go overboard listing undergrad activities and accomplishments WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

EXPERIENCE • Start here only if you have an impressive professional past • If you’ve had lots of jobs, call the section “Relevant Experience” or “Select Experience” and include the best ones • If listing non-legal experience, include transferrable skills: Met deadlines, resolved client concerns, increased efficiency… WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

EXPERIENCE (CONT) • Show RESULTS in job descriptions – “increased membership by 50%” “made location profitable for first time in history” • Include experiences that show political affiliation at your own risk • Present tense for current job descriptions, past tense for past jobs WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

EXPERIENCE (CONT) • If using bullet lists for job descriptions (my preference), be consistent; try for 3 -4 bullets for each job description; never have ONE bullet point (see how dumb this slide looks? ) WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

“OTHER” • Bi-lingual skills, certifications, accreditations, and licensures should always be included – Call the section “Additional Information” or “Additional Skills” if there’s more than one type • Don’t add mission statements or professional summary sections – Ask me why! WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

THINGS TO KNOW • Résumés must be approved before used to apply via Symplicity • Therefore, don’t wait til the last minute and expect us to get it done in 15 minutes so you can meet a deadline (though we’d try) • You will likely have several versions of your résumé, if you’re doing it right! WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

TO HAVE YOUR RÉSUMÉ REVIEWED: Upload in Symplicity, or send to: Heather. Spielmaker@mail. wvu. edu - or. Rosalind. Lister@mail. wvu. edu WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW