Resumes Your Personal Advertisement - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Resumes Your Personal Advertisement

Office of Career & Professional Development

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

• 1st Impression – Reflects You & Your Work Product
• Think Strategically

- Who?

- What?

• Market/Sell Yourself

• Heading
• Education
• Experience
• Activities

• Name
• Current Address
• Permanent Address
• Single Phone Number - Home or Cell
• E-Mail Address – Not Hyperlinked
• URL – Professional Web Site

mikeller@indiana.edu

211 South Indiana Avenue 1234 Washington Lane

Bloomington, Indiana 47403 Chicago, Illinois 60606

812-855-0258 312-555-0001

211 South Indiana Avenue * Bloomington, Indiana * 47403 * 812-855-0258 mikeller@indiana.edu

211 South Indiana Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47405

(812) 345-3030

mikeller@indiana.edu

• Use IU email
• Be consistent
• Be Professional

• Institution
• Location
• Degree(s)
• Date Awarded (or Expected)
• GPA & Class Ranking
• Activities – Moot Court, Journal, Orgs
• Honors/Distinctions
• Coursework w/ Highest Grade

• JD, Expected May 2012
• JD Candidate, May 2012
• Doctor of Jurisprudence, May 2012
• Juris Doctor, May 2012
• NOT Juris Doctorate, May 2012
• NOT JD, August 2009 – Present

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

J.D., expected May 2012

• Chancellor’s Fellow

• Inmate Legal Assistance Project

• Fundraising Chair, Women’s Law Caucus

• Environmental Law Society

College of Williamsburg, VA

B.A., cum laude, Major: Philosophy, May 2008

• Editorial Board Member, Time Goes By Literary Magazine, 2007

• Founder, Environmental Philosophy Reading Group

• President, Philosophy Roundtable

• Co-Chair, Host Committee, NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

University of London

Semester Abroad Program, Summer 2006

Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, IN

Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2012

• Chancellor’s Fellow

• Inmate Legal Assistance Project

• Fundraising Chair, Women’s Law Caucus

• Environmental Law Society

College of Williamsburg Williamsburg, VA

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Major: Philosophy, May 2009

Independent Study Thesis: "Environmental Impact Statements: A Theory”

• Philosophy Department Honors

• Editorial Board Member, Time Goes By Literary Magazine, 2006-2008

• President, Williamsburg Chapter, Phi Sigma Tau Honor Society

• Founder, Environmentalist Philosophy Reading Group

• President, Philosophy Roundtable

• Silverstein Grant for Independent Study

• Co-Chair, Williamsburg Committee, NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

• University of London, Summer Abroad Program, 2006

• Organization
• Location
• Title of Position Held
• Dates of Association
• List action statements of your duties which show responsibility and skills development

• Legal Experience
• Research and/or Writing Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Leadership Experience
• Management Experience
• Relevant Experience
• Internship Experience
• Volunteer Experience

DOES NOT HAVE TO BE “PAID WORK” EXPERIENCE

• Organization & Location
• Title – Office Held – Distinction Given
• Dates of affiliation
• Brief Description

• Technical Skills
• Publications
• Presentations
• Licensure or Certification
• Foreign Language Skills
• Professional Affiliations/Memberships
• Professional Service
• Community Service
• Special Skills
• Travel Experience

• Objective
• References
• Availability
• Personal Information
• LSAT Score

• Length – 1 page
• Paper Quality and Color
• Margins & White Space
• Using Software & Templates
• Font Size – 12 pt. (11 can work)
• Font Choices

• Appearance
• Not Spell Checking
• Gaps or omissions
• Filling in a Template
• One Size Fits All Resume
• Using Acronyms
• Inconsistent Entries

1. Heading - no hyperlinks or unnecessary labels

2. No Objective

3. Indiana University Maurer School of Law

4. J.D., Juris Doctor, or Doctor of Jurisprudence

- Undergrad should follow same format

5. Consistent format for section headings

6. Organization, Location, Title, Dates, Description

7. Not a chronological diary – strategic marketing

These are taken from real resumes!

• “My intensity and focus are at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable.”
• “Proven ability to track down and correct erors.”
• “I am very detail-oreinted.”
• “An obsession for detail; I like to make sure I cross my i’s and dot my t’s.”
• “Handled customers and cashiered.” (To dismiss from the armed forces because of misconduct.)

From Resumania™ (Robert Half International Inc.)

• Serves as an introduction
• Highlights desired skills
• Shows your enthusiasm & interest in the org and geographic location
• Demonstrates your writing skills

Paragraph 1 – Intro

• Why are you writing?
• Where did you find this announcement or who guided you to this job?
• Overview of qualifications
• Entice them to read your resume and invite you to interview

As a first year law student at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, I write to submit my materials for a 2010 summer clerkship with Jackson & Heller. I enjoyed the opportunity to job shadow Ms. Marjorie Johnson, an Indiana Law alumna who is an Associate in your firm this fall. My past work experience has empowered me with a high level of professionalism and I believe I can make a contribution to your firm as a summer clerk utilizing my skills in research and writing.

• In what ways do you meet their qualification requirements?
• What skills do you bring to the table?
• What is your link to that geographic area?

As a permanent resident of Kentucky, I plan to return to my home state to pursue my legal career after graduation. A summer clerkship with your firm would allow me to work in the Louisville legal community and synthesize what I am learning in the classroom in a practical setting.

• Why do you want to work for this organization/firm?
• Articles
• Web Site
• Practice Areas or Clients
• Referrals
• Specific Cases – But be careful

After college I worked for two years as a Business Analyst at Humana in Louisville earning significant promotions each year based on positive evaluations by my superiors. I believe my accounting and finance background has provided me with transferable skills and practical experience that will be an asset to your firm. Although I don’t know definitively what practice area I want to pursue at this early stage in my academic program, I am interested in Mergers & Acquisitions, which I know is a specialty area for your firm.

• Indicate your desire for an interview and willingness to meet them.
• Give them your phone number and e-mail address in case they want to contact you.
• Thank them in advance

I plan to be in Louisville from March 16-21 during my spring break and I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss the summer clerkship in more detail. I can be reached at lawstudent@indiana.edu or (812) 855-2345. Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my materials.

• One page
• Same paper and font style as your resume
• Sign in black ink
• Unless you use a letterhead format, don’t include your name in your address block

• Your return address block
• 1 Space
• Date
• 1 Space
• Employer address block
• 1 Space
• Dear Mr./Ms. Smith:
• 1 Space

• Body of letter with 1 space between paragraphs
• 1 space
• “Sincerely,”
• 4 Spaces
• Your Name

• Send to a specific person – if possible
• Use NALP Directory to identify Hiring Partner or Recruiting Coordinator
• Avoid restating your resume
• Give them a time frame that you will be in their area and available

• Generic Cover Letters: “. . . and I want to work for a firm with the prestige and reputation of (enter firm name here).”
• Telling them about your skills instead of demonstrating them
• My name is…
• The Informal E-mail
• Failing to proofread
• Too familiar – I would loveto work in your firm!

• Read Your letters out loud.
• Don’t copy Templates.
• Questions?