Five Ways to Start a Resume (even if you don't know how)

Starting a professional resume can be tricky, especially when you have no clue where to begin. Even if you already have one, RESUMES ARE NOT STATIC DOCUMENTS, and they should be updated with every professional-oriented activity you take part in. If you’re like me, you made a resume for some class in high school, got a good grade on it, and tossed it aside. However, your resume is a walking, talking representation of yourself (okay, it doesn’t walk but it sure does tell a lot about you) and should never be put on the back burner. To find out how to create a professional resume that you can be proud of, read the tips below. Who knows, you may even land a new job!

Tip 1:

Start by writing down your accomplishments (awards, training, presentations, etc.), education, work/ intern experiences, volunteer work, military experiences, athletic abilities, interests, skills, and any other information that you feel adds value to your professional abilities. Remember, potential employers will see this document, so although you may be proud of winning the contest for most hot dogs eaten, it may not be something to include on your professional resume.   

Tip 2:

Now that you have a list of your achievements, organize the information in categories like: “Education” and “Extracurricular Activities.” Within these categories, list things so that your most recent achievements come first (for example, if I joined Student Council in 2012 but I joined another club in 2014, I would list the second club first because it is more recent). Organizing your information like this will make the writing process much easier.

Tip 3:

Begin a typed document with your name and personal information (address and contact info) at the top of the page. Placing your name at the top will allow your name to be the first thing the employer sees. Educational experience usually comes after your name and will be the first thing the employer judges. Remember to list in order of most recent- least recent.

Tip 4:

Continue to list your accomplishments in the way that you organized your info, and try to limit yourself to one page long. It’s not good to bog down the employer with lots of little information. Being concise and clear will prove to be more successful.

Tip 5:

If you get stuck or would like to see a template according to your program, feel free to check out our website. Just go to www.naz.edu à Quicklinks à Career Services à Services à Creating Resumes and Cover Letters. After you’ve created your resume, come to the Career Service office, located in GAC 111, and one of our career counselors can look over it with you and help you organize it even further to ensure you’ll get the job every time!

Help! I’m Undeclared! Five Tips For Finding Your Perfect Major

Undeclared? That’s ok, Naz has you covered!  Here’s five tips for starting your mission to find the right major:

1. Meet with a Career Counselor or Academic Advisement Counselor
    The counselors in these offices are great resources on campus that will help you to explore who you are and what you want to do at Nazareth.  These professionals will be able to tell you more about what each major on campus is like and direct you to other resources, like job search tools, including Nazareth’s HireAFlyer job database.  Or tell them about your favorite show and crazy hobbies and they just might be able to help you figure out your path that way, too.

2. Take a Test
    Taking a career guidance test can be the perfect way to see what jobs or fields you would enjoy most.  These aren’t your typical career tests, though. Stop by the Career Services Office in GAC 111 to take the Focus 2 or MBTI test.  Learn about each profession in depth and learn about your own skills, strengths and interests.  This may open your eyes to options you never even thought of before and show you the way to a great major.  

3. Take CDL 101
    Nazareth College offers a class for undeclared students, CDL 101: Exploring Self, Majors and Careers.  The class is broken into three sections, each of which allows you to come to a greater understanding of who you are, your skills, and what interests you as a major.  The class is taught by a counselor from Academic Advisement, making it easier to ask questions and learn about requirements for each major offered at Naz.  The class is a great way to give structure to your search throughout the semester.  Even if you haven’t declared by winter break, that’s ok, because you will probably have narrowed down your options.  Try exploring those majors in classes during your second semester to test the waters more!

4. Meet With Department Heads
Once you have chosen a few majors that you're interested in, it’s a good idea to meet with the department head to ask any questions you might have, learn about the classes they offer, and find out what other students in the major have done after graduation. One of the best things about going to a small school like Nazareth is that you can make appointments directly with department heads without jumping through all the hoops a big school might have. Not only is this a great way to get to know someone who could possibly be a future advisor or professor, this is the time to ask all of your questions and see if this major is the right fit for you.

5. Think About What YOU Want
    Even with all the tests, classes and consultations you can take at Naz, the most important thing is to make the best choice for you when you are ready.  Make sure you are happy with the choice you make- declaring a major should be exciting!  And if you end up not liking what you picked, there’s still time to change it later.

    Ready to declare? Great!  All you have to do is fill out a declaration form in the Academic Advisement office (Smyth 2) and have the department head of your major sign it. There are some majors that require students to be tested in to, but no worries, we know you’ve got what it takes!
 Follow these tips and you’ll have a major in no time at all!