Resume Guides are available at the Cahill Center and on the Career Services website. Individual appointments are scheduled with a career advisor for review and feedback.
Prepare a resume draft by following Cahill's Resume Guidelines and reviewing the Sample Resumes provided. Pre-register with Career Services through the Cahill Online Job Bank and post your resume online. All resumes are reviewed and critiqued before final posting on http://www.collegecentral.com/ramapo.
Resources:
Resume/Action Verbs (WORD)
Liberal Arts Resume Sample (PDF)
Scannable Resume Sample (PDF)
Business Major Resume Sample (PDF)
Communications Resume Sample (PDF)
Computer Science Resume Sample (PDF)
Teacher Education Resume Sample (PDF)
Portfolio Guidelines
A college degree does not guarantee employment after graduation, nor does the mention of prior work experience and skills on your resume. As more students complete graduate degree programs, the job market grows increasingly competitive.
Since the late 1980's, educators have been addressing this challenge by teaching students the significance of creating a professional portfolio.
It is a misconception that only artists and graphic designers use portfolios.Anyone looking for a competitive edge should have a highly individualized portfolio that showcases skills, achievements, experience and qualifications.
Books to Help You Books
Check out the following books for portfolio samples:
- Building Your Career Portfolio , by Carol A. Poore Franklin Lakes , NJ: Career Press, 2001.
- Creating Your Career Portfolio: At a Glance Guide , by Anna Graf Williams,Ph.D. and Karen J. Hall (Prentice Hall).
- Creating Your Life's Work Portfolio , by the Editors of JIST, Indianapolis , IN : JIST Works, Inc., 1998.
- Creating Your Skills Portfolio: Show Your Accomplishments , by Carrie Straub (Crisp Publications).
- The Employment Portfolio: Identifying Skills, Training, Accomplishments, and References for the Job Seeker , by Roland B. Vendeland and Charles P.Bostaph (Prentice Hall).
- Portfolio Power: The New Way to Showcase All Your Job Skills and Experiences , by Martin Kimeldorf (Petersons).
- Proof of Performance: How to Build a Career Portfolio to Land a Great New Job , by Rick Nelles, Impact Publications, 2001.
- The Last Job Search Guide You Will Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams by the Editors of CollegeRecruiter.com and Published by CollegeRecruiter.com, 2002.
Web sites
Ways to display your workZip disk
There are three ways to format your portfolio:
- Three-ring binder -Many art and office supply stores carry three-ring portfolio binders in addition to ringless binders that showcase your documents through protective sheaths. A leather binder gives a more professional appearance and is very durable.
- Online - If you have a web page, you may want to have a section that features your portfolio. Most items can be scanned in or arranged as attachments.
- Zip Discs or CD's - These are popular choices for job seekers who wish to leave copies of their portfolios with potential employers. Depending on the information you leave behind and the nature of your career field, you may wish to be selective in what you leave with the employer. If you are unsure, discuss the issues of intellectual property rights with a professor or your career advisor.
What to include
- Academic/Personal Information - Resume and cover letter; transcript and testing results (GMAT, GRE, SAT, LSAT); faculty, staff and advisor letters of reference; skill/interest/value/personality assessment results
- Skills and Technical Abilities - Writing samples; documentation of technical/computer skills; samples of academic coursework (thesis paper, class project, etc.) or employment projects (manuals, brochures, professional letters, etc.)
- Professional Information - Certifications; licenses; list of conferences and workshops attended; thank you letters; internship/Co-op/Service-Learning evaluations and projects; list of professional organization involvement
- Honors/Award Information - Certificates of awards/honors/recognition/appreciation; nomination to honors/academic organizations; newspaper articles or other published works about your achievements
Organize your portfolio
There is no right way to organize your portfolio. Employers do, however, expect to see an easy to follow format. You should have:
- Table of contents
- Tab-divided sections of your work, organized according to your table of contents
- Your resume and a list of references or letters of reference at the beginning of your portfolio
These are some basic tips that will help you begin compiling your portfolio. Just as you do with your resume and cover letter, you may need to customize your portfolio for each job position. Once you have a "first draft," it is easy to maintain and add to your portfolio.
