The biggest difficulty that I have run into while developing my résume is being selective about what I include and likewise, what I leave off of it. While applying recently to Tough Mudder HQ, I was faced with this issue when contemplating whether or not my life guarding and swim instructing experience was relevant to include. After reading through the job description that was posted on the company's website, I found that the position I was applying for required the applicant to become certified in areas such as first aid, CPR, AED, and BBP, all of which I have now because of my past summer jobs. The job also called for someone who had experience working outdoors and with a variety of people in a leadership role, which were also played into my time spent at the pool.
At this point in my job search, I have lost count of how many times I have reexamined my résume and altered it for an application. All of the versions that I've accumulated thus far are saved into a folder on my computer. It is beginning to seem as if I create a new one each time I got to apply for a job. Perhaps that is my calling.
I'm as liberal as it gets...until it comes to what I post online. I am the Chris Christie of my Facebook; my own personal Palin. I am a staunch conservative when it comes to what I post and am leery of the efficacy of the privacy settings that social networking sites provide to put their users at easy. I am no computer expert, but even I can break through a Facebook privacy block. These days, our criminal records [if we were to have one] are available for instant download for $2.99. Point is, the internet, social media particularly, has opened the floodgates of what used to be private information, and frankly, when or how I brush my teeth is of no importance to my future boss, that is unless I become gainfully employed with Colgate or Crest.
I long for the day that these stacks of coins become equal. Unfortunately, I do not fathom it coming anytime in the near future. It is beyond me that women are still averaging only 73 cents to the male earned dollar in the US and as a female who is making her way into the workforce, I am terrified.
I am not out to say that men have it easy. They are faced with their own unique challenges and gender expectations, however while they are left to walk the proverbial balance beam of the workforce, women seem to be left with little more than a tightrope and well wishes. Equal qualifications should lead to equal pay regardless of gender, race, religion, orientation, and all other superfluous factors. Given that women are expected to uphold the same caliber of societal responsibility as their male counterparts, they should also be equally enabled monetarily. Of late, our nation has had trouble, and I use this word quite graciously, with upholding our constitution. As a country that prides itself of equal opportunity, we are failing, and until there is a change in our perception of what is equal, we will perpetually remain in a state of turmoil and unrest.
Quite frankly, many of the items on the list of what college writing classes do not teach but should, have been taught to me here at Rowan. I find that the professors and advisers alike here are optimistic, but realistic about the futures of college grads. I myself have been lucky enough to have a few who have been willing to be blunt with me about the chances of finding a job as a writing arts major in this economy, though contrary to what Salerno notes in his article, my professors have offered me one valuable piece of advice. They've taught me that because of my broad major and interests outside of my academics, I will likely be able to adapt to many job settings. Granted while there may be many jobs that I rather end up in over another, this prospect of employment is comforting as I begin to venture into the workforce.
My professors have also taught me to thrive off of my creative side. While I love to draw and paint, I would also like to avoid the starving artist persona and while I enjoy my musical side, playing coffee shops gets old very quickly. My hope is that my artistic qualities are ones that I will be able to apply to my career as a writer, somehow, someway.
The challenge that I am facing is making these qualities job-ready. While I am confident in my ability to apply my skills to whatever job I end up in, in order to get to where I want to be, I must make them resume ready first. I hope that though this class, I can learn to translate my non-academic skills into ones that will shine through on a job application and in turn, find a career that is not only prolific, but fun.
