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To Write a Great Resume, Follow the 3 Rules of Copywriting

2009-03-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

#resumetips By Julie O'Malley, CPRW, Pongo Resume

I've been writing professionally for eons, but to this day I keep a little cheat sheet on my wall, titled "Three Things a Copywriter Must Know Before Writing." Even though I know those three things by heart (and I'll share them with you soon), I still like to look at that piece of paper every day to keep the basics front and center. I mention this because resume writing is copywriting (otherwise you're doin' it wrong).

First, let me backtrack and define "copywriting," just in case you're not sure. Copywriting is writing that is intended to advertise or publicize a product or service. Some forms of writing are meant to inform, warn, or entertain. They may influence their readers' behaviors, but they aren't trying to sell anything directly. (They don't have to convince anyone to part with money.) Your resume, on the other hand, does. It has to sell you to employers, and convince them you're worth interviewing. To craft a winning resume, you can't just write, you have to copywrite.

The 3 Rules of Copywriting

As promised, here are the three things a copywriter must know before writing:

OBJECTIVE -- What is the goal of the copy?
AUDIENCE -- Who is the prospective buyer; what are their needs and pain points?
PRODUCT -- What are the special features and benefits to the buyer?

How They Apply to Your Resume

In the case of your resume, here's how you would answer these three questions:

OBJECTIVE -- To earn an interview by communicating that you have the right skills, experience, education, and qualities to do this specific job well and to fit in with the team.
AUDIENCE -- A manager who has a problem (i.e., an open position) that needs to be solved because it’s hurting the business's productivity, profitability, efficiency, and/or responsiveness.
PRODUCT -- You, packaged and presented in a way that meets the Objective (#1) and persuades the Audience (#2) that you could be the solution to their problem.

If you're not sure whether to include something in your resume, measure it against Questions 1, 2, and 3. Will it help get you an interview? Is it relevant to the hiring manager's needs? Does it further the impression that hiring you could be the solution their problem?

If not, leave it out. You can tell them more at the interview!

Pongo Resume Blog Link: http://www.pongoresume.com/blogs/1/pongo.cfm

How do you make your email thank you stand out?

2009-03-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

#interviewtips I recently tweeted a message about #TPE discouraging hard copy Thank You notes/letters. In general, email thank you notes have been acceptable for quite a while.

In an effort to reduce the amount of paper used during TPE, we are asking candidates and employers to consider refraining from sending hard copy thank you notes. We are estimating that, based on previous numbers and our projected attendance, we could "save" almost 10,000 thank you cards from being used! We realize that this is a departure from custom for many participants, and encourage those who still want to deliver personal messages of appreciation to use email instead.

How do you make your Thank You note stand out when you are competing with the hiring manager's stuffed inbox? Please reply with your suggestions here.

Make your email subject descriptive:Rather than "Thank you", consider something like "Thank you for the interview. I am excited about this opportunity!" (Please add other suggestions below)
Consider creating a formatted email with attractive "stationary." If you do this using the built-in feature in Outlook, or using other methods, be sure you test it first to ensure it reads well in multiple email clients.
Be sure you include your contact information, and consider attaching your resume again.
Write a "PS" on your email, with something that will help the interviewer remember you.

Please post your recommendations!

Student Housing Links

2009-02-19T11:08:00.001-08:00

Student Housing Providers

Student Housing Vendors (coming soon)

Student Housing Resources

Jobs in Student Housing

StudentHousingJobs.com (We are biased... but we like this one ;-))
Other places to find jobs in student housing

Other posts with a Link label on Student Student Housing Jobs

National Student Housing Providers

2009-02-19T11:05:00.001-08:00

Student Housing Providers > National | Regional

Please reply to this post to add your firm to this list, and if you have a spot on your site, please link back to http://www.studenthousingjobs.com !

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Regional Student Housing Providers

2009-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Student Housing Providers > Regional | National

Please reply to this post to have your firm added to this list, and do us a favor by giving us a reciprocal link please!

Please reply to this post to add your firm to this list, and if you have a spot on your site, please link back to http://www.studenthousingjobs.com !

Back to Student Housing Links
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10 More Days of Our Launch Special (Post free jobs)

2009-02-18T17:32:00.000-08:00

Take advantage of our free job posting offer during our launch (through 2/28)! Use #FREEPOSTING at checkout to get a free 60 day job posting at StudentHousingJobs.com, the only niche job board dedicated solely to the field of student housing! Candidates, you can get a resume spotlight for free by using the code: RESUME09.

We are receiving great traffic from both employers and job-seekers. Whether you are seeking a job or seeking talent, this is the best place to make the connection!

New #TPE Student Housing Jobseeker Blog... Check it out!

2009-02-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

For those who are in the hunt for jobs in the on-campus student housing world, particularly if you are going to one of the exchanges, check out http://placementexchange.blogspot.com, the new blog that The Placement Exchange just started.

This blog follows the job search of four candidates seeking positions in Higher Education/Student Affairs. Check back often for stories, tips, quips and job search advice. Read on...

Advice for Placement Exchanges

2009-02-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

The advice below is for folks who are attending a placement exchange as a job seeker.

This article includes information about placement exchanges, ethical guidelines for jobseekers and employers, tips for preparation and the actual conference, and how to follow up.

For professionals in Student Affairs the primary method of job searching is through conferences and placement exchanges. They provide an opportunity for colleges and universities to interview many candidates in one location, and for candidates to gain exposure to a variety of employers in one location... ...For candidates looking for graduate assistantships, placement exchanges are often the best option. Both NASPA and ACPA tend to have more full-time positions and less assistantships.

http://carolmcbryde.com/GAR%2004/Career/placement.htm

What to wear to an interview #interviewtips

2009-02-13T05:26:00.000-08:00

An interview is your time to shine. While physical appearance won't (and shouldn't) get you a job, how you choose to present yourself does day a lot about you. Your appearance is the first thing a prospective employer sees.

If you are attending one of the placement exchanges (The Placement Exchange, The OshKosh Placement Exchange, or any regional exchanges such as the Western New York Residence Life & Housing Placement Exchange,

I was all ready to type out my interview attire advice, but then soon found this page at the OPE website. https://theope.org/candidates/guidelines/dressForSuccess.aspx Fantastic advice here! Here is a quick excerpt, but be sure to read the whole article.

An example of an “early stage” interview wardrobe can possibly consist of the following:

1 suit
5 shirts/tops (in different styles and colors)
2 pairs of shoes (men can get away with one pair)
1 handbag (not necessary, but it will complete the look)
1 leather portfolio
1 watch
Hosiery or socks
Undergarments
Read entire article at TheOPE.com

Where should every student housing job seeker be?

2009-02-12T05:40:00.001-08:00

What are the best places for the student housing job seeker to have her or his presence online?

Targeted Sites:
1) StudentHousingJobs.com (OK... I'm biased, but this is the only site JUST for student housing). Be sure to add your career profile so you can get FOUND... OK, enough with the self promo... on to the others:
2) StudentAffairs.com
3) HigherEdJobs.com
4) The Placement Exchange
5) The Chronicle of Higher Education
6) OPE (They don't have an online board that I could find, but this is the oldest placement exchange out there).

The Big Guys:
1) Set up your resume on Monster, Careerbuilder, HotJobs

Where else should you set up an online presence as a job-seeker?

What's with this #HAJ stuff?

2009-02-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

You may have already noticed if you follow us on Twitter that all of the job postings that come out on twitter are preceded by "#HAJ". This is a hashtag and is short for "Have a Job". This was kicked off by @BJMendelson.

Brandon was an RA, so there is a student housing connection here. He is currently doing some very cool stuff around the country raising money for breast cancer awareness. Check out his profile on Twitter or his YouTube page.

How can this help you if you? It is explained well by Michael Specht:

If you are looking for staff, head over to Twitter Search and search for the hastag #NAJ, http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NAJ. If you are looking for a job go to Twitter Search and look for the hashtag #HAJ, http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23HAJ. You can pull this data into an RSS feed and get the jobs or candidates delivered directly to you.

By including this tag on all jobs at StudentHousingJobs.com, we are increasing the reach for both employers and candidates. Please lets us know your thoughts below!

Increase your odds: candidate job board tricks

2009-02-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

Don't gamble in your online job search.

Thanks to @blogging4jobs for this! Major job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster are one of the most popular ways for companies to develop a candidate pool when looking to fill an open position.

CareerBuilder alone boasts 2 million unique users per month, according to a report by CNet News last year. With unemployment at its highest since 1982 and candidate competition increasing, how does a candidate stand out from the virtual pack when posting a resume on a major job board? Here are some tips:

Your resume title. First impressions are important and the title of your resume will determine whether it gets a first look. Include action words in the title that best describe your experience and are different from the norm. An example: “Certified AMX Audio Visual Professional.”

Read entire article

The Placement Exchange in Seattle (2009)

2009-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

Be sure to create a candidate profile at the Placement Exchange http://www.theplacementexchange.org/candidates/index.cfm website (in ADDITION to creating one here of course ;-)) You can create a profile whether you are going to the exchange or just participating in the online exchange.

ACUHO-I Stars College

2009-02-10T10:15:00.001-08:00

If you are an undergraduate seeking a career in student housing, be sure to check out the ACUHO-I Stars College program.

The ACUHO-I STARS College is an educational program for undergraduate students who are interested in a career in housing and residence life. The STARS College is held as a pre-conference workshop at the ACUHO-I Annual Conference and Exposition. STARS provides opportunities for participants to learn more about the field of housing and residence life as well as gain mentoring from experienced professionals in the field.

More info: http://www.acuho-i.org/brEventsbrPrograms/STARSCollege/tabid/644/Default.aspx

Student Housing Careers

2009-02-10T10:12:00.001-08:00

This is an old article about student housing careers from the Chronicle, but I thought it was worth linking to:

Careers in Student Housing

By Jennifer Jacobson

In his junior year at Ohio Dominican College, John (Jack) E. Collins could not afford to live on campus and had to live at home. But he grew tired of missing parties and friends. So when the college offered him a chance to live in the dorms and work as a resident assistant in his senior year, he accepted.

"I saw it as a way to move onto campus and get more involved in what was going on in college," says Mr. Collins, who graduated from the college, now Ohio Dominican University, in 1969. "At that point I never realized it would lead to my life's work." Read entire article at the Chronicle

How do I find a job in student housing?

2009-02-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

Careers in student housing are incredibly varied in scope. When considering student housing job options, there is much more than meets the eye. The traditional on-campus student housing career has a number of options, and the quickly growing private sector of student housing has even more varied opportunities.

I'll start with on-campus student housing. Many professionals who choose a career in student housing start "by accident". In other words, they may have been an RA (Resident Assistant) or some other type of student leader, and discovered they enjoyed the environment.

Continuing in an on-campus student housing career typically requires further education, including a graduate degree in student personnel administration/student affairs. Many schools require a masters in this or a related field for all full time student housing staff members. In order to be a director of student housing at many institutions, a PhD or EdD is required.

Other options in on-campus student housing can be on the facilities, financial or IT side of the house. Each of these areas require different sets of experience and education, and also vary from institution to institution.

The off-campus student housing (Click for jobs in this area) world ranges from large private off-campus apartment complexes to public/private partnerships with differing levels of involvement from the college or university.

In addition to residence life and operations opportunities, there are also numerous jobs that include more of a business component. These include leasing, marketing, development and areas of real estate finance.

There are pros and cons to selecting on-campus vs off-campus student housing positions. What are your thoughts?

Promote your community here!

2009-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I have received a lot of requests to put up information about individual student housing communities, and quite frankly, just don't have the time or resources to maintain that. However, you can use this post as one route to get the word out about your community! Simply reply. Be sure to include the URL of your website!

Resume Tips

2009-02-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

This post will stay up to date with all #resumetips hashtags from this site on twitter. Please reply to this post or to a tweet with your tips!

Job Interview Tips

2009-02-09T11:36:00.001-08:00

Other places to find jobs in student housing

2009-02-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

Individual Company Career Websites:

American Campus Communities
Asset Campus Housing
Campus Advantage
Campus Living Villages
Capstone
Inland American Communities
JPI
Please reply to this post if you want to add the link to your company's employment page.

Industry and Related Job Boards:

ApartmentCareers.com
HigherEdJobs.com
StudentAffairs.com
StudentHousingJobs.com
Please reply to this post to suggest additional job boards

Marking your way into the student housing profession

2009-02-08T07:20:00.001-08:00

You're an RA. You love your job. You think you might want to go into housing as a career, or at least for part of your career. But you don't hear a lot of people say "I want to be a Residence Hall Director when I grow up", so you may not know how to go about making your way into the field of student affairs and housing. The good news is that it is not a complex process. The next few paragraphs will hopefully help you embark on your journey!...
Read all at: http://residentassistant.com/careers/makingwayintoprofession.htm

Residence LIfe Coordinator at Kansas State University

2009-02-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Primary Responsibility: The Residence Life Coordinator position is a professional position responsible for one or more residence halls with a population of approximately 250-650 students. The primary function of this position is to direct and oversee the operations of the residence hall(s) including: staffing, student development, training and educating, administrative and managerial responsibilities, facilities management, and professional development. The RLC assesses, contributes to, and oversees the implementation and enhancement of student learning outside of the classroom through a wide range of programmatic opportunities.

Qualifications: Position requires a Master's degree in higher education or related area, preferred experience with community living, leadership development, and programming, teaching, or training.

http://careers.studenthousingjobs.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=7278&jb=5190300

Surviving the First Year as a New Professional

2009-02-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

Advice article for on-campus professionals in their first year.

If the title above snagged your attention then chances are you are a new addition to the world of residence life professional staff. Not too long ago you may have left the life of an undergraduate or graduate level para-professional with a myriad of experiences that motivated you and prepared you to enter the professional world of residence life and student affairs. Read entire article at: http://www.reslife.net/html/personal-dev_0106b.html

Student Affairs Organizations, Conferences, Exchanges and other websites:

2009-02-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Student Affairs Group on FB: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204795643

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Best careers of 2009?

2009-02-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

According to US News, those in on campus housing are in one of the top careers for 2009. Yeah! http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-higher-education-administrator.html