Writing a Resume/CV

[DuckTales]

Hi all,

This is my first post. Exciting, I guess? After a nearly five year break, I'm finally taking the plunge and applying for a Master's in journalism. My B.A. isn't in journalism, I had a double humanities major (great average) from a top Canadian university. Here's the thing: After (and, I guess during) university, I worked as a waitress/barista to make ends meet. I wasn't really sure what I really wanted to do, and waiting tables enabled me to stay in the super awesome city where I went to school. One waitressing job led to another and now I'm five years out. I've had an internship and I'm a pretty regular freelancer at my local alt-weekly (I've even won awards for my writing, which I think is pretty snazzy). 

 

So I guess my question is this: How do I design a resume to reflect what colleges want to see? I'm aware of the styles of CVs that emphasize skills, but I sort of felt like half of it is made-up, BS stuff like "interpersonal skills" and "some Java." 

 

Also: I've been thinking about approaching my gap in scholastic endeavors in the Additional Information section, which usually allows you to explain weaknesses in your application. But here's my soapbox: I don't feel like my time away from university is a weakness. And I'm not talking about freelancing and internships, though those are definitely benefits to my time off (it would be, in my opinion, pretty stupid to go into J-school without having set foot in a newsroom). Is it a good idea to present this information in this way?  Or should I just leave it unsaid?

 

[i just deleted a whole paragraph about what a great education waiting tables has been. I can expand if someone decides that they're interested, but really: waiting tables, while not scholastic and certainly not intellectual in most senses of those words, has been an phenomenal incubator for a lot of my ideas about class, activism, the food-supply apparatus, social mores, labor and privilege. I have also gotten insanely good at people.]

[excusemyfrench]

I can't really answer your first question as I just used a reverse chronological order format - even with significant time breaks between jobs. My app actually gave me space to explain resume gaps, etc.

 

As for your second question, I think it's perfectly fine. I actually did this in the "address any issues" section on my app. I recommend a "while" sentence e.g. "While I may not have taken the traditional route to Journalism, I strongly believe that..." and then you finish that off with how your particular experience is actually a benefit to the program, etc. (I'm sure you can write it better but something along those lines...)

 

Here's the thing, I think in person you could probably sell the "soapbox" feeling re: your time away from university very well. But on paper, even if your area of expertise is journalism, it could possibly come off wrong. If you can write it in such a way so it doesn't appear arrogant or defiant, then I say go for it! If not, I suggest the "while" approach as it acknowledges potential concerns they may have but alleviates it very quickly and focuses their attention on what you BRING to the table.

Edited November 8, 2013 by excusemyfrench

[Caylynn]

I had some similar issues coming up with my C.V., although I was working in an unrelated professional field when not in school.  I was told to include my work experiences, but frame them in such a way to emphasize the skills I learned that are transferrable to my new field of study.

 

I do have a functional resume that emphasizes the skills I have learned, but most of the Masters programs I'm applying to specify how they want the C.V. to appear, so I'm following their format.  For the ones that don't specify, I'm using a similar format, but with emphasis up-front on the experience I have in the field I'm moving into (nutrition/dietetics for me) and my research experiences.  Finally, I have a chronological resume that only emphasizes my relevant experiences to nutrition.  Some programs have asked for a two-page chronological resume in 12pt font, 1" margins, where it is impossible to list all of my professional experiences so I've focused on the recent, relevant work and volunteer positions.

 

So I think you can definitely include your experiences as a waitress/barista, and frame them in such a way as to emphasize the skills and abilities you've gained in those positions (provided you have room to do so, after including your more relevant internship/freelance experiences).

[Loric]

Hi all,

This is my first post. Exciting, I guess? After a nearly five year break, I'm finally taking the plunge and applying for a Master's in journalism. My B.A. isn't in journalism, I had a double humanities major (great average) from a top Canadian university. Here's the thing: After (and, I guess during) university, I worked as a waitress/barista to make ends meet. I wasn't really sure what I really wanted to do, and waiting tables enabled me to stay in the super awesome city where I went to school. One waitressing job led to another and now I'm five years out. I've had an internship and I'm a pretty regular freelancer at my local alt-weekly (I've even won awards for my writing, which I think is pretty snazzy). 

 

So I guess my question is this: How do I design a resume to reflect what colleges want to see? I'm aware of the styles of CVs that emphasize skills, but I sort of felt like half of it is made-up, BS stuff like "interpersonal skills" and "some Java." 

 

Also: I've been thinking about approaching my gap in scholastic endeavors in the Additional Information section, which usually allows you to explain weaknesses in your application. But here's my soapbox: I don't feel like my time away from university is a weakness. And I'm not talking about freelancing and internships, though those are definitely benefits to my time off (it would be, in my opinion, pretty stupid to go into J-school without having set foot in a newsroom). Is it a good idea to present this information in this way?  Or should I just leave it unsaid?

 

[i just deleted a whole paragraph about what a great education waiting tables has been. I can expand if someone decides that they're interested, but really: waiting tables, while not scholastic and certainly not intellectual in most senses of those words, has been an phenomenal incubator for a lot of my ideas about class, activism, the food-supply apparatus, social mores, labor and privilege. I have also gotten insanely good at people.]

 

 

Your Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement can reflect the grand journey from barista to bacheloreate (I know that's not what happened but I like the way it sounds and it's my post - you still get the idea.)

 

That said...

 

The way i've been told to structure my resume is likely going to benefit you as well. When you deal with "project work" you end up not fitting into the normal resume format. You don't work for years for BlandCo pushing around McFiles and living in a Cubicle . So putting "BlandoCo - Bland Leader - 2003 thru 2007" and then "MS Office Excel, Word - Proficient" seems completely to miss the point.

 

"Journalism Experience"

 

Important Thing - For Whom - When

-Like a published article of importance, piece, etc...

-Bulletpoint of why that was important or skill related or goal accomplished

-Bulletpoint of the same as above, but same idea, not the same-same.. you get what I mean.

 

Other Important Thing - For whom - When

-BulletS!

-More Bullets!!! Preferably ones that cover other wonderful things you did, do, can do and accomplished.

 

"Other Journalism Experience"

 

Job-job in Journalism - For who - When

-Any longer term positions

-Bullet point.. break it down, bullet time..

-Doo doo doo, doo-doot, can't touch this

 

"Related Work Experience"

 

Barista - Starbucks - Since the late 90's

-If you can't come up with a reason it's important, don't include it.

-Make great coffee, I hear professors like coffee.

 

---Fin---

 

See? You also have headings for Education, Volunteering, etc.. as needed, but you cover the important parts of what you did and can do. Not a BlandCo resume that doesn't work for task oriented work roles.

[Loric]

Also - the best way, I feel, to leverage the real world life experience is to show how it creates a diverse student body. Because you KNOW you're going to be up against and in classes with traditional students. Showcase how you'll bring something to the mix.