We’re here to help you be a GREAT student.

I know we mostly talk about STUDYING in this series, but today we’re going to discuss

what happens at the end of all that studying.

You’re going to have to get a JOB.

And to do that, you have to APPLY for a job.

And to do THAT, you’re going to need a RESUME.

Your resume doesn’t have to be -

actually, it SHOULDN’T be -

your complete life story.

It’s just intended to get you an interview.

You want enough targeted detail that will get the attention of a potential employer.

Your resume should be ONE simple page that’s FAST to read.

Because honestly, they’ll probably only look at it for a few seconds before they decide

whether you’re a “maybe” or your resume goes right in the trash.

So before you start, create a separate document that is just for you.

This is where you’ll keep track of ALL your experience.

Every bit of volunteering, all the little silly one-off jobs you’ve done, internships,

class projects - ALL of it.

You’re not going to put it all on your resume, but it’s great to have this resource

to look back on when you write the real deal.

A TARGETED RESUME focuses on a specific job opening.

It highlights the skills and experiences relevant to this ONE particular position.

So this means you’re going to edit - or even rewrite -

your resume for each specific job.

I know that sounds like a lot of work, but this kind of resume will set you apart.

It makes it clear to the hiring manager that

you are taking this application process seriously.

Now I’m not suggesting you do this for every.

single.

job opening you see.

I’d save it for the positions where you really are a good fit.

Start by reviewing the job description carefully.

Make a list of the qualifications and skills they’re looking for.

This will tell you what to emphasize in your edited resume.

The ad for the job should list Responsibilities -

take a look at what you’d be expected to do.

Consider, carefully, if you really want to do these things.

For instance, one of my friends turned down a job as a forensic scientist

because she was expected to be on call and to drive to crime scenes all hours of the

day and night.

The list of responsibilities can also help you decide if you’re even qualified to apply.

If all the tasks look unfamiliar, it’s probably not a good fit.

Having said that - don’t talk yourself out of a job because

you don’t meet 100 percent of the qualifications.

You can learn on the job, after all.

Did you know that women often hold themselves back in this area?

A recent study by Hewlett Packard showed that while on average, men will

apply for a job if they have 60 percent of the qualifications,

the average woman will only apply

if she has 100 percent of the qualifications.

A follow up study was performed to see if that was

because of a lack of faith in their abilities -

it turns out it wasn’t that, but rather women thought it

would be a waste of time to apply, that they

wouldn’t be considered if they didn’t meet 100% of the qualifications.

This is *mostly* not true!

This also may stem from a desire to follow the rules, but it turns out, this isn’t

really a rule.

You’re not being a senseless rebel applying for these jobs.

You’re just putting yourself out there for consideration.

If you’re not picked, that’s okay.

What’s that saying about “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

It’s true!

Speaking of giving it a shot - I’m going to put this out there:

Did you know Socratica has a Patreon?

If you love our content, consider sponsoring our work.

Every single gift makes a huge difference for us.

Basically, it allows us to keep making our educational videos free for the world.

So all you job seekers, keep us in mind once you land that job.

But first - let’s get back to making you a killer resume.

Pay close attention to the language of the job listing.

Do you see the term “self-starter?”

That’s code for being able to work independently, without someone giving you

a detailed daily task list.

If that’s not you, that’s okay.

It’s not a sin to be the kind of person who likes to follow instructions rather than

strike out on their own every day.

But it IS important to know this about yourself, so you don’t take a job that will

make you miserable.

What are some other phrases we can decode?

“Multi-tasking” - that means there are going to be a lot of different tasks to juggle.

Do you see the term “deadline-driven?”

That’s code for - this is a job that gets stressful when things are down to the wire.

If you crumble in this situation, don’t apply.

There are some people who thrive in that environment.

And there are other jobs that just don’t work that way.

Remember, you are choosing to apply for jobs, just as much as they are choosing whether

or not to hire you.

Sometimes, honestly, the job listings aren’t written very well, and they don’t tell you

a lot about the company or the job.

That’s when you have to use your Googly skills.

(We have a video all about getting better search results, by the way).

Do your research about the company.

Visit their website, and read their “About Us” section.

You may even see short biographies of their employees, and, hopefully,

more thorough job descriptions.

If you’re still not sure what the job would entail, try googling the job title.

What is a “Marketing Coordinator,” anyway?

Google “Marketing Coordinator Job Description” - and read up about it.

This step is essential.

You must be very clear about the Job Title.

For instance, if you’re a Biologist:

LabTechnician, Lab Manager, Research Assistant, Research Associate...

these titles are all distinct, and give you a clue about how much

experience is needed and what your duties would be.

If you have doubts, ask someone you know with this job title to explain what the job entails.

Let’s say you’re applying to be a computer programmer.

With a little research you’ll figure out that computer programmers have to:

Know one or more computer languages (they should be specified in the job listing - for

example, C++,Python, Java)

They have to: Write computer programs;

Update computer programs;

Troubleshoot programs;

Test software

and More general skills would include:

Analytical thinking; Attention to detail; Collaboration; and Focus

This brings up the difference between hard and soft skills, and different jobs will require

different sets of both of these.

Hard skills are teachable and can be quantified.

If you hold a degree in electrical engineering, or received a certificate that you program

in C, that’s a hard skill.

Soft skills are more subjective and more difficult to quantify, and for the most part you acquire

them indirectly, gradually, through experience.

For example, you might say you have excellent interpersonal skills, or

you’re a strong leader, but it’s not like you have a degree in leadership.

Now that you’ve done your research, make a list of Keywords you’re going to use in

your resume that are specific to this job listing.

For a computer programmer, these may include:

Applications, Certifications, Configuration, Debugging,

Design, Implementation, Infrastructure, Maintenance,

Network Architecture, Restoration, Solution Delivery, Usability.

Do you see Project Management in the job requirements?

this involves attention to detail, leadership skills, benchmarking, budget planning,

performance reviews, task delegation, scheduling, quality control, and more.

We’re paying a lot of attention here to keywords because -

and this is kind of a dirty little secret -

your resume might be read by a computer before a person ever gets the chance to see it.

If you don’t have the right terms and keywords, your resume won’t pass that first software

scan and {pfft sound, tossing away} - into the trash it goes.

This is another reason why it’s SO important to write a targeted resume.

We found this great site when we were googling around that listed specific skills required

for each job.

We’ll include the link below.

Remember this may change because some fields are rapidly evolving.

Make sure you know what is the current terminology.

Has it changed recently?

There has been a lot of disruption in various fields.

You don’t want to come off like a dinosaur who would need a lot of retraining.

Now let’s talk specifics.

We’re going to have just a few sections on ONE page:

Name and Contact info - those are easy.

Qualifications

Education

and Experience Highlights.

Think clear, easy to read.

Wherever you can, use a bulleted list rather than writing paragraphs.

Don’t make the font too small - 12 point font will ensure that no one has to squint.

Section headers can be a little larger or make them bold.

Your name at the top can also be a little larger.

Pick a simple, standard font like Arial or Times New Roman.

I could see making an exception if you’re applying for a design job.

In that case, feel free to play around a little bit.

Maybe even consider an infographic type resume.

That’s not our specialty here at Socratica, but if you ARE a design specialist, you’ll

know what I’m talking about.

Everyone else - now is not the time to be playful or showy.

Contact information: get a gmail account and make sure it is neutral and professional.

Hacker Ninja Boy @ aol DOT com is not going to inspire a lot of confidence.

If possible, use first name DOT last name @ gmail DOT com.

If that’s too long (I get it, it is for me), pick a simplified version of your name.

First initial last name or...something along those lines.

The Qualifications section is a CONCISE summary.

This is where you should focus on how you are a good match for this specific position.

Make sure to work in the keywords from the job posting.

In fact, we recommend you start with the actual job listing, and just rewrite it as a bulleted

list of all the qualifications you meet.

It should be almost laughably obvious that you are a good match, based on this summary.

Don’t include anything extraneous here.

Trim your Education section to the bare bones.

Listing your degree is sufficient, unless it somehow adds to your qualifications.

For instance, if you’re applying to teach at a prep school, by all means include the

name of your preppy high school.

If you haven’t received your degree yet, write the anticipated date when you’ll graduate.

This last section - Experience Highlights - is where you will draw from that

master list of ALL your experience.

Be EXTREMELY choosy here - we’re looking for 4 or 5 entries in a bulleted list.

Focus on your accomplishments, not your daily responsibilities.

Try to put yourself in the mindset of your would-be employer - what problem is the recruiter

trying to solve.

Don’t organize it chronologically or in terms of how long you were at a job - rather,

put the most relevant experience at the top.

This might mean listing a very brief position from your past at the top of the list.

That’s okay.

Include ACTION words at the start of each line in your bulleted list.

These should give examples of how you have performed in the past, and will continue to

perform if you get the job.

Here are some of our favourites, in no particular order:

Created/ Developed/ Established/ Launched - in other words,

what new piece of work did you contribute.

Improved/ Increased (as in Increased Sales)/ or Decreased (as in Decreased waste) -

how did you make things that were already in place better

Negotiated/ Resolved/ Solved -

how did you face challenges

Managed/ Trained/ Mentored -

how did you contribute to a functional workplace by taking on some of the leadership tasks

Don’t bother with vague positive statements like “highly motivated” or “a real go-getter”

or even “hard worker.”

It’s pretty much a given that an employer expects you to be a hard worker

who will get the job done.

These kinds of cliches make people tune out because they don’t offer any real information

about you.

Remember to USE NUMBERS to quantify your experience, when you can.

You assisted 40 people in library searches each day, you were responsible for the $20,000

budget for the school events committee.

You led a team of 6 on the expedition, you created a portfolio of 10 unique paintings

that were exhibited in the arts gallery.