Grad school has been a bumpy ride to say the least. But it’s been so worth it. Who would have known that my résumé — the one-page, 30-second synopsis my overall skillset — would change so much? I’m still applying for jobs, which means it can’t be that awesome, but it’s in good shape for now.
It feels weird to share your résumé publicly, so why do it? Not to show off, but because I want to share some advice and hard lessons. After one tough meeting and five nervous phone conversations with alums, I realized that you learn something from each person, and it helps to talk things out. You have to own it, and using the right verbage will make all the difference.
BEFORE
My advice:
• If your resume is in two columns, change it back to something standard. Hiring managers don’t read in a Z-shape; they read from top to bottom.
• Your name doesn’t have to be too big, but contact info is important.
• Always use at least three bullets.
• Show impact and results as much as possible — this was key advice that I hadn’t thought about. You had a leadership position? Awesome, and what did you accomplish during your term?
• When something is hard to explain, use generic terms. This was also really important. I used CCI software to upload news stories; that soon became “managed and edited content in a technical pagination system.”
• Know the buzz words in your industry, and use them all over the place.
• Finally, take everyone’s ideas with a grain of salt, use your best judgement, and get as many eyes on it as you can. (That said, I’ll welcome any advice here, too!)
For my graduate assistantship, I help manage a digital magazine about higher education online, about new tools and techniques that Ball State is using to create more engaging learning experiences. As I wrap my head around the changes we’re planning for next year, I started thinking about how much I love the exercise of writing short stories, and giving readers a small glimpse at the thing or person they’re reading about. Sometimes all you need is a good hook, a photo, and 400 words.
My favorite assignments from last summer, in fact, were vignettes — of fans welcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder home from Miami, and of people in a rural communities who opposed school consolidation. I hope the readers enjoyed the stories as much as I liked telling them.
A former news writer, I appreciate any small writing assignment – over current events in telecom for my Digital Policy class, or over cool students who are making an impact in their community while completing a degree online.
This afternoon, I met with a professor for some direction on a story about a journalism graduate student who is finishing his thesis and also working on a book as an extension of a class project from last year. Pretty ambitious goals. He came to the program as a typical sports writer and left with a new skillset as a literary journalist — not the route I would take, but it’s very impressive, and it speaks to the high caliber of courses that are included in the program. So anyway, that is his story. That’s the angle. Not the fact that he worked on trans media project or covered the Olympics with a Ball State reporting team – those are good details, but I had to keep digging to find the right ones to tell this particular story. With more information, I can be more direct in telling the story, and keep it short.
***
The first part of the Thunder homecoming story, with iPhonography:
Thunder homecoming
When the Thunder got off the bus for their homecoming, the crowd erupted — just like they have all season.
The team was greeted by an estimated 4,000 fans in an open field west of Will Rogers Airport just off Terminal Drive and Amelia Earhart Lane. Nobody dwelled on Thursday’s loss to the Heat.
Instead, fans pushed at the metal fencing, and parents held their children on their shoulders. In his remarks, Coach Scott Brooks thanked the crowd.
“There’s two thing that I’ll remember about this team,” he said. “One, they work very hard, and two, you guys cheer them just as hard. We thank you. We appreciate everything.”
Here’s a look at some of those fans who greeted the team:
Landon Silcox
Today is my birthday
All Landon Silcox wanted for his sixth birthday was to give one of the Thunder players a high five. For three hours, the first grader held up a poster with those words on it, and he was proud to read them to you if you asked.
Silcox and his mom, Ashley, were standing near the front of the crowd, but Thunder star Kevin Durant didn’t see them as he walked toward the platform. He missed the chance to meet one of his biggest admirers.
But Silcox, wearing a new No. 35 jersey, said he wasn’t too discouraged.
“That’s OK. Maybe they’ll win next year,” he said, still holding the poster that was almost as tall as him.
His mother said she’s still grateful to the team for being good role models.
“Just want to tell them that they did a great job, and we’re very proud that they’re in our city,” she said.
It’s been several days since I’ve posted any photos or thoughts. But tonight, I have a slew of them, because like any good blogger, or writer, or practitioner of anything, it’s important to keep the wheels oiled. Here’s what I’ve been seeing while jogging:
Closer to fine 