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Tips
for Resumes First and foremost, please remember, there is no perfect resume. Richard N. Bolles, author of The 1997 What Color is Your Parachute What Color is Your Parachute What Color is Your Parachute What Color is Your Parachute What Color is Your Parachute, likens resume evaluation to "ink-blot reading," where a resume means one thing to one employer and something completely different to another. Although you can improve a resume (e.g., phrase an accomplishment more concisely, or correct a misspelled word), no modifications or revisions to your resume will perfectly satisfy 100% of the readers. In particular, listen to the feedback of people who represent the type of person likely to hire you within an organization (e.g., executive directors often read resumes very differently than do social workers). Some experts suggest a functional resume for recent graduates with little experience. While this is a good way to showcase your talents, be aware that some hiring managers prefer to see just exactly where your experience was obtained. Don't write your resume for the last job you had, write your resume for the next job you want. We advise tailoring your resume for each job that you apply for, or at least for each type of position (i.e. direct service or management/administration). In general, when writing a resume, less is more. Although all resume experts emphasize the importance of brevity, it bears repeating here. Keep it concise. "You as a Person": While corporations often look at resumes in terms of specific skill sets or historical accomplishments, many nonprofits are more interested in "the person behind the resume." In a resume, look for opportunities to engage readers with personal details of your life, specifically details that relate to their organization or their cause. Some of the most effective resumes "tell a story" about the life of their author, which draws the attention of potential employers while also building a sense of personal familiarity with the applicant. Be sure to showcase two types of things: 1) specific accomplishments or successes, and 2) the skills that underlie those accomplishments. Don't be shy, and don't be modest. Just provide information about the things you have done well, and provide information about why and how you were able to do those things well. Employers especially like candidates who are able to quantify their achievements (e.g.,, Raised $500,000.) Recommendations Transitioning from
Corporate Jobs: Be sure to highlight your volunteer experiences
and history, but be respectful that nonprofit employers have (often) spent
many more years and (almost always) "Been There, Done
That": Showcase the lessons you have learned Recent Transplants to the
Bay Area: As soon as you arrive in the Tips
for Cover Letters
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many more hours working on behalf of
their cause than you might have. Although brevity remains important, it is
not as all-important in the nonprofit world as in the private sector.
Specifically, take some space in your resume to build a sense of your
personality, your passions, and/or your history, even if that means not
mentioning quite as many accomplishments or skills.
from your own
experiences and successes. Merge this experience with a track record of
solid accomplishments and relevant professional skills, and you will very
often stand apart from the majority of applicants with a similar
professional background.
Bay Area, begin seeking
volunteer opportunities and/or contract work and be sure to include these
on your resume. This not only shows personal dedication, but also gives
you Bay Area experience which nonprofits find valuable. Volunteer
experiences with organizations familiar to an employer also make you more
of a "known quantity."