ITPro II: Resumes and Blogs

Professional IT Skills for the Workplace

Dr Robert Batzinger

Payap University

2023-09-13

Agenda for today

  • Recap of Session 2
  • Lessons learned from the exercise
  • What makes for a good resume?
  • Producing and distributing the resume
  • Becoming known using Blogs

1 Recap of Session 2

Academic Document

  • Based on Intepreting data to gain new insights
  • Abstract summarizes the outcome of the research
  • Introduces context of what is known and establishes the question being considered
  • Describe methods and findings
  • Concludes with intepretation of the results, suggested applications of the findings, and possible avenues of future research

Business Documents

  • Based on reviewing possibilities to suggest new opportunities
  • Exposes the key issues and points early
  • Describes the target problem and audience
  • Estimates the costs and the resources required
  • Predicts the benefits and outcome

2 Lessons learned from the last exercise

2.1 Posters

2.2 Proposals

3 What makes for a good resume?

3.1 An example of a rejected resumes

\[\huge Jaeahtaraq\ Bar\ Omerkhwanski\] \[\tiny 66-053-241-255\]

Hi. I’m looking for a job. Only for the summer though. Cause I gotta go back to school.

Tnx.

  • What do I have to offer?

    • Im good w ppl
    • I wear your brand all the time
    • Im a model so I can sell your stuff
  • Skills and Marketing potential

    • Good at organizing
    • Good sense of humor
    • Good w ppl, w kiddos and babies especially
  • Education and Experience

    2010-2011: University of Wales

    2008-2014: Cashier at Walmart

    2009-2002: Warwick Boys High School

    1989-1996: Liberty Primary School

Hobbies

   * Fishing
   * Laser tag
   * Animal training
   * Tattoo artist

3.2 Another Rejected Resume

3.3 What makes for a good CV?

  • a clear and concise introduction of the professional details of a person
  • well-structured documented broken by whitespace and standard section headings
  • gives a true picture of the candidate’s fitness for a job

3.4 Style and Format Tips

  • Limit the length to one full page.
  • For each role, put the most recent, relevant and tangible information at the top.
  • Use bolded, italicized, and CAPITALIZED formatting to create a consistent hierarchy of information.
  • Proofread! Be consistent in format (font, font size) and content!
  • Use a basic, readable font like Verdana, Georgia, or Times New Roman, size 10–12 point.
  • One inch margins are recommended.
  • Use short sentences in bullet points to make information easy to read.
  • Keep information formal that avoids personal pronouns (like “I” or “We”).
  • Make it visually appealing, but more importantly clear and easy to read.
  • Use PDF when sending resumes via email to preserve formatting.
  • Any number over 10 should be in the numerical format, any number under 10 should be written out with letters,
  • Avoid orphaned words and lines.
  • Do not include a picture unless you are following up an interview.

4 Sections of a Resume

  • Name and Contact Information

  • Education

  • Experience

  • Skills

  • Affiliations and memberships

  • Awards and Certifications

  • References

4.1 Hints about Name and Contact Information

  • Includes your name, cell phone number, location, email address, and LinkedIn link
  • Phonetics if your name is hard to pronounce.
  • At least one way of contacting you that will work but will not bring stalkers to your door

4.2 Hints about Education

  • For most recent graduates or those still in school, your education is key and goes first
  • Include type of degree, concentration, academic honors, and date of graduation or expected graduation.
  • Highlights the overlap between the educational program and the job description

4.3 Hints about Experience

  • List of experiences pertinent to the job
  • Includes paid work, summer jobs, internships, volunteer work, school activities, and organizations. * Include the name of the organization, city, and state, dates employed, your job title, and a brief job description.

4.4 Hints about Skills

  • particular skills that are relevant to the position.
  • You can list them separately (as done below) or all in one group.
  • You can include an indication of the level of competency (such as “proficient in…”).
  • You should be prepared to be tested on the skills you mentionand clear, within your experience.

4.5 Example of a skill section:

  • Editing: Avid, Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, iMovie
  • Equipment: Avid Media Composer, Toaster 100, Steenbeck, Super 8mm, 16mm camera
  • Computer: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPSS, Macintosh and/or PC platforms
  • Languages: Fluent in English and Spanish, conversational French

4.6 Hints about affiliations:

  • pertinent in relevant clubs and professional organizations
  • include those that show you have taken additional steps to make yourself knowledgeable in your field

4.7 Use of LinkedIn

  • extensive support for posting a resume
  • built-in referral system
  • tools for connection and communications

5 Producing and distributing the resume

Multipurpose

  • Cover letters / cold contacts
  • Attach to follow up letters and emails
  • Referenced on calling card
  • Included in electronic filing
  • Useful for speaker introductions

Multimedia

  • paper
  • email
  • online forms
  • personal website

5.1 Creating an online CV at Github

  • Choosing a (loginname) fashioned after your own)
  • Sign up for a new free account at [github.com]
  • Login to your account using your (loginname)
  • Create a new repository named [(loginname).github.io]

  • Create a new file named:[_config.yml]

  • Add this line to this file: [theme: jekyll-theme-dinky]

  • Create new file in your project directory named “README.md” 0r “README.html”

  • Test the content in your browser using url [https://(loginname).github.io]

  • Copy the contents from the corresponding template on the Google classroom site

  • Commit the file with the button on the bottom

  • Update the file with your information and commit

  • Proofread your contents.

6 Establishing a portfolio within a blog

  • The CV is a formal document and limits the development of rapport
  • A blog build community and a sense of trust
  • A portfolio gives evidence of competency

6.1 Different writing styles

  • Social media: is often a collection of icons, and short sentences that commonly to use abbreviations, emojis, and hashtags. The tone is usually more casual and friendly. Posts are often very short.

  • Blogs: are typically a conversation full of personal anecdotes, humor, and a more relaxed tone. Blog posts are usually shorter than articles or papers, but longer than social media posts.

  • Emails: usually written in a professional tone. They are often brief and to the point, but can also be longer if necessary. Emails should be well-organized with clear headings and bullet points to make them easy to read often repeating the inquiry that instigated it.

  • Websites: using concise and easy to read language this media target people who are looking for a specific explanation on a specific topic. Headings, bullet points, and images can help break up text and make it more engaging 1.

  • Papers: Academic papers use precise language to prove a point while citing the contribution of others in the development of the arguement.

  • Reports: use a formal tone to deliver detailed facts about a specific topic or issue. The purpose is to explain and to recommend.

  • Publications: magazines or newspapers cater to the needs of a busy and often distracted audience. Headings and sidebars are used to break up the text. Articles should leave the reader with a sense of value for the investment of time taken to read it.

  • Books: targets the target audience through its genre, plot and progression. The idea is to draw the reader into it by keeping the language clear and engaging. A good book builds a rapport with its reader. Material is organized into chapters, sections and subsections that focus on a piece of the story being told.

7 WordPress.com

  • Provides space for thoughts/ Announcements (Posts)
  • Allow organization of Posts by Subject (Pages)
  • Handles graphics in themes (under appearances)

7.1 Getting started

  • Set up an account on WordPress.com

* Add a post

  • Proofread your posts

  • Review your posts

  • Organize your ideas by Pages

  • Adjust setting and view the blog

8 Explanation of the Challenge

  • Please post your 1 page CV on Github
  • Establish a 3 page blog on Wordpress that acts as a portfolio that introduces yourself, your work and your aspirations as a professional
  • Submit the urls for the CV and the portfolio