During your job search there are many things to remember; in the following article I give you 10 things to remember NOT to do...

2.      Not being on LinkedIn- www.linkedin.com is a powerful professional networking tool being utilized by approximately 40 million registered users (linkedin.com).  The site gives you the chance to upload a professional photo of yourself, provide information about your skills, past work history and education, allows for others to recommend your work.  The site also allows you to reach out to people in various industries by “connecting” to them or being “introduced” to them through another contact.  This is a great new way to begin networking and searching for your next career.  Once you set up your account be sure to use it.  Log in 2-3 times per week and get connected to as many people in your industry as possible.  Networking doesn’t work if you don’t use it.

3.      Not doing company research- “What do you know about our company?” <insert cricket noise here>.  Don’t let this question catch you off guard.  Take 10 minutes to get on the company website and find 3-5 easy to remember facts.  For example, I interviewed at ING in Iowa quite a few years ago.  When they asked me what I knew about the company I stated, “Well, as an avid runner I know that ING sponsors the New York Marathon”.  DING DING DING!  He said that is the first time anyone had said that!  Finding something that interests you about the company is a great way to ensure you will remember it in the interview.  Writing down 3-5 items and keeping them with you is also an option- read through them before the interview then keep it tucked away. 

4.      You go to the interview unprepared- You have no resume, you have no portfolio, you are underdressed and you ran out of time to brush your teeth.  Yikes.  This is not a good way to start an interview.  Yes, there may be times when you get a call at 2pm and the interviewer would like to see you at 3pm.  If this is the case, do the best you can to look the part and try to gather as much of your material as possible.  Being well dressed and looking great is the top priority.  Have your portfolio and resume ready to go at all times.  Company research in this case may be difficult to do, but do the best you can.  As you apply for jobs- take a moment to jot down 3-5 things about the company by searching their website.  Keep these notes in your portfolio to reference during an interview.  Worst case scenario- ask the interviewer for a 3:30 or 4pm interview or ask if there is another day you can meet.  This is really a last resort…but can be used if needed.

5.      You smell, good or bad- Smelling in an interview could go one of two ways…you did not have time to shower and you just got done at the gym; or you did have time to shower and put on too much perfume or cologne.  The best scent at an interview is really no scent at all.  Find a trusted friend or family member that will sniff you out to be sure your scent is not too overbearing before you enter an enclosed space with an interviewer.

6.      Failure to show enthusiasm or interest- It’s important to give the interviewer some sort of non-verbal feedback when they are talking- smile, nod, raise your eyebrows- it’s also important to sound excited when you talk.  Have some sort of energy behind your answers but don’t go over-the-top.  There is a difference when stating “I applied for this job ‘cause I’m interested in it and qualified” and saying “I applied for this position because it is just the opportunity I have been searching for.  I’m also excited because it’s right in line with my skills and experience”.  Which one sounds better to you??  Even if you discover you are not interested in the position, keep your energy level up and continue to impress the interviewer…you never know what other opportunities may become available to you.

7.      You tell too much during the interview- I like to describe an interview like a first date- you want to get to know the person across the table from you, but not too much.  You want to tell the person about you, but not your whole life story.  The same is true for an interview.  While it’s important to talk about yourself in an interview- it’s even more important to keep the information you share into 1 of 3 categories:  Education, Experience and Skills.  This will ensure you cover your college education, your work/volunteer/internship experience and your skills/qualifications.  It is not necessary to tell the employer anything personal about your life including but not limited to: children, marriage, friends, or other family members. 

8.      You don’t network- I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but a job is not going to fall from the sky and land in your lap; finding a job can often be a full time job.  If you are not using all of the resources available to you- you are really missing out.  Attend a Chamber of Commerce event, talk to your Career Services Advisor, attend conferences, presentations and seminars, tell everyone you know you are searching for a job (don’t discount the line “I have a sister whose husband is an Accountant.  He said his boss is looking for an Assistant.  You should call him”).  The ‘friend of a friend of a friend’ is often someone you need to know!  At one time I was told that upwards of 80% of jobs are never posted, they are advertised by word of mouth…if no one knows you’re looking how do they know to tell you about the next great opportunity?  Don’t be shy, get the word out!

9.      You don’t volunteer- Much like I’ve stated above, a big part of networking is volunteering.  Another main reason people volunteer is to help others.  Employers like people who help others; it shows compassion, work ethic, drive and dedication.  Let’s say you want to work at the County Courthouse.  Try to find a volunteer or internship opportunity within the courthouse.  Maybe it’s sweeping floors or filing paperwork, but it’s better than being on the outside looking in PLUS it gives you access to jobs as soon as they become vacant AND it gives you a chance to meet people who may be in charge of hiring!  Volunteering is also a great addition to any resume and could lead to great References.

10.  Ring backs & nasty voice mails- when an employer calls you to set up an interview the last thing they want to hear is “Baby Got Back”, trust me.  When you are applying for positions PLEASE take the ring back OFF your phone.  An employer would much rather here the old-fashioned ringing of a phone instead of the latest Top-40, Hip Hop, or R&B hit.  Also, be sure your voicemail is short, concise and professional.  Use this as a script: “Hello!  You have reached the voicemail of Jane Smith.  I am currently unavailable but please leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as I can.  Thank you and have a great day”.  Now doesn’t that sound better than “you know who you called so say what you called to say”??  I think so…

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  Do you ever feel like your dream job is playing an elusive game of Hide ‘n’ Seek with you?  Like when you were a kid, and you would run around in the dusk of a hot July evening chasing Lightning Bugs and trying to find your brother (or sister, or friend, or neighbor kid) who had very cleverly hidden ABOVE you in the tree.  You only found your friend (or foe at this point) when they jumped down and ran to the ‘safe zone’ and began yelling how they got you again!!  How frustrating!

It’s common to feel frustrated, defeated, and lost in the midst of your job search.  It’s tough, demanding and tedious work to search for a job.  (I should know, I do it each day for my graduates!!)  So when you feel yourself getting drained from long hours in front of the internet, it’s time to try a new approach to the search.  Here are some tips to get out of your job search rut, and try some ‘out- of -the -tree’ ideas to find a new job.

1.       Shut off your computer.  Log off.  Close your laptop- put it away.  Now, get out of the house, or the library, and head to the nearest café.  Order a coffee (or a milkshake), and nuzzle up to the closest newspaper you can find.  Read the whole thing.  Yes, I said the WHOLE thing.  Take in what is happening in your community- what business is opening, what business is closing, who needs money, who’s giving money, what events are happening?  This is a great way to find a ‘hidden’ job lead or volunteer opportunity.  It’s also a great way to find out what type of networking events are happening in your neighborhood.  Once you are all caught up on your current events, then you can open the JOBS section and read through ALL the postings, yes, all of them.  You may be surprised how many leads you find here that are not online!

2.       Head to your nearest Chamber of Commerce.  Walk in and introduce yourself.  Give them your resume.  Let them know you are a recent graduate looking for a job in Marketing, Sales, Business, Healthcare, or whatever it may be.  Ask them what events are coming up that community members can be involved in.  Ask if they allow members to join at a discounted rate.  This may feel odd, weird, strange and uncomfortable…but it could also lead to some wonderful, great, fantastic contacts who may be able to assist you in your job search.

3.       Head back home, or to your library, fire up your computer and print off 20 copies of your resume.  Use nice paper.  Distribute them around town.  Yes, like a newspaper delivery person.  Be sure to dress professionally and have a plan of attack for each business you head into.  Have a short speech prepared for each person you encounter.  For example: “Hello, my name is Sue.  I am a recent graduate of Rasmussen College searching for a position in your company.  I’d like to leave my resume for the Hiring Manager.  Is the Manager available, or should I leave it with you?”   At this point, politely hand your resume to the front desk person.  Smile, and wait for their response.  Guess what, they will rarely say ‘NO’.  If they do, politely say ‘Thank you for your time.’ Smile, and go on to the next company.  Remember to keep a list of where you go so you can do a follow up call within 3-4 days of the drop.

4.       Finally, TAKE A DAY OFF!  Even CEO’s get a day off- you should too!  Choose 1-2 days each week where you try not to think about your job search.  This will re-energize you, and give you brand new job postings to look at once you are back on the case.  On your days off do something fun and different like- taking a walk around a really nice neighborhood to look at all the great homes.  Head to the dog park and watch the dogs play.  Take a stroll through a flower garden.  Grab your camera and take some abstract, outdoor photos.  Write a blog!  Whatever you choose to do with your day off, remember that your hard work and dedication to your job search will pay off eventually.  But whatever you do- Pick Up That Phone; it could be your Career Calling!

Congratulations you graduate you!  You have crossed the stage, grabbed your diploma (cover), flipped your tassel, had your photo taken and did it all without tripping!  HOORAY!!  You have finished your last paper, submitted your last online assignment and burned (or sold) your last text book.  Then, it happens.  The dreaded question is asked… ‘What are you going to do now that you are done with school?’  You panic…you haven’t really thought about that yet.  You’ve only been thinking about the cake on the table in the back of the room, and how much this gown itches, and how silly you feel with this hat on! 

‘Oh no’, you think ‘what am I going to do now???!!!’  Well, the good news is this- you are NOT alone.  I am here to continue to guide you to career success; all I ask in return is that you keep us updated on your progress.  Just because you are a graduate, doesn’t mean your love affair with Rasmussen has to end.  Your Career Services Advisor is still available to assist you as you move forward with your bright future.  Today, I am here to give you some Pointers! on what you can do to help yourself along the way.

‘1! We are the Pointers, 2! A little bit louder, 3! We still can’t hear you- 4 more times and 1!....’ 
I graduated from Center Point-Urbana high school- home of the Stormin’ Pointers.  That was a piece of a cheer yelled at every sporting event- are you pumped up or what?!  SPIRIT FINGERS!!! YAY!!

Pointer 1!  Join an Association or Club.  This can be as easy or as difficult as you would like.  It can be as easy as joining a ‘Young Professionals’ group that meets once a week for dinner.  You could form your own club, become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, volunteer at the hospital, attend City Council meetings, run for School Board or join the PTA.  Do something that will get you in touch with others, primarily those who working in the field that YOU hope to one day be working in also.  Even if you don’t happen to be connected with someone who is looking for an Accountant, maybe someone knows someone that is.  These are also good people to have as a reference or ask for letters of recommendation from when the time comes.

Pointer 2!  NETWORK!!!  I can’t stress this enough- it is so important to make a list of all the people you know…and where they work…and who they know…and how they could help you.  I bet that if you sat down right now (well, after you finish reading this) and made a list of 10 people in your life you could find at least 1 connection to either a career, or someone who could get you where you want to be.  TRY IT!!!  Building your network can only help you- try out websites such as LinkedIn or Yahoo!'s new site- Kickstart (still in preview mode).  You may also want to try re-vamping your MySpace or Facebook page to showcase your education, skills, abilities, work history.  Heck, post your resume on these sites!!  I would suggest leaving all contact info out- choose to have people contact you through the site…my guess is you don’t want all 1 million users calling your cell phone.  Use these sites as a way to reach out to employers and professionals to find out what is NEW in the field, WHO is hiring, WHERE are the jobs and much more!!  Networking is a little like dating…put your best foot forward at all times- even if it is virtually.

Pointer 3!  Find a mentor.  Who do you view as successful?  Who do you think has a great job?  Who energizes you to work hard and reach your goals?  Connect with an instructor, a parent, a clergy member, a friend, a relative or whomever in your life that you want to model your career after.  This may be someone who is a stranger to you right now, perhaps you have only seen them give a speech at an event, or found their profile on LinkedIn.  These strangers can turn into mentors…all you have to do is GET CONNECTED!  Mentors can give you inside tips (Pointers!) into being successful in your field.  They can also get you in touch with others who can guide you to your dream job.  Try to find other Rasmussen College graduates who are successfully working in their field- ask them how they made it and follow in their footsteps!

Pointer 4!  Interview!  Ever heard the saying ‘the more the merrier’?  Well- get used to it.  The more interviews you can go on, the better you will become at interviewing, and the more chances you’ll have to be offered a position.  However, this starts with sending your resume- and sending it A LOT!  The more resumes you send, the better chance you have of getting an interview, and the more chances you have at an interview…well we’ve gone down that road before.  It’s also important to have realistic expectations for your first few interviews.  You may be going on interviews for positions that you feel ‘over-qualified’ for, but it’s still good experience.  Let’s face it, you may even have to take a JOB that you feel ‘over-qualified’ for…and experience is experience, it’s better than nothing…and will expand your network!

Pointer 5!  Set goals.  Searching for a job can often become a full time job.  It’s important that you map out your day and set goals for your journey to your new career.  Sending out at least 3 resumes a day is a great goal- be sure you keep track of what goals you get accomplished and what else you have to do.  Another key in this category is to STAY ORGANIZED!  Be sure you keep track of where all those resumes are going- you don’t want to sound too confused with Sally from Office Team calls asking you to come in for an interview.  Other goals to set are salary and ‘company’ goals also.  How much do you want to make? What kind of company do you want to work for?  Just be sure the goals are reasonable and reachable- that’s where you can count on your mentor for some guideance. 

I hope you find these pointers helpful as you begin to map out your journey now that you are out of college. Make no mistake- we are all still students, I learn something new every day.  For instance, today I learned that Clip Art does not have a photo of a Hot Wing.  Who would have guessed?!  The more you continue to learn the better off you will be.  Learn about yourself along the way, you’ll be surprised how fascinating you really are! 

'Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities' - Terry Josephson, 20th/21st-century motivational author.

This is a question I hear just about every week in my office, and it is a very valid question! 

I read a very interesting article today in a magazine called “The Greentree Gazette”, the article discussed an issue that comes up often in college - ‘to intern or not to intern’.  One of my very dear friends chose not to intern, and instead spent her final semester of college studying in Turin, Italy - the Host City for the XX Olympic Winter Games in 2006. 

Once she returned and began searching for jobs she had an employer tell her flat out “you made a mistake not doing an internship”.  Did she?  She believes, and I agree, she gained more practical business knowledge studying with an international company than she may have in the states.  However, there is something to be said for having an internship, or volunteer work, on your resume.

You may be asking ‘I thought we were talking about ME here?’ 

Well, yes, we are talking about you- in a roundabout way.  There are plenty of ways you, can gain experience in your field of study.  You can volunteer, you can job shadow, and you can intern.  I know, I know - you are way to busy to do any of those things!!!  I don’t doubt that you are busy, we are all busy, but even 2 hours a week can make a difference on your resume, and if it will help you get the type of job you want - isn’t it worth it??

Let me quickly discuss ‘working your way up the corporate ladder’.  Generally speaking, brand new graduates are not going to be hired on as ‘the boss’ making $70,000 a year.  You are going to have to take a job making less money and probably working more hours just to prove yourself.  This does not mean, however, that great jobs don’t come along for new grads - I see it every day…but those grads have prepared themselves for those positions by working part time in their field, volunteering, or interning (for free) while they were in school.

Think of it this way - if you volunteer for 2 hours a week for the next year that is 104 volunteer hours you can add to your resume.  And you are making valuable connections with the right people.  Those 100+ hours could mean the difference between you getting the job and another candidate with NO volunteer history. 

We have heard from many employers that they are willing to hire someone with an Associate’s Degree that has work or volunteer experience over someone with a Bachelors Degree and no experience!  There are plenty of area businesses/hospitals/agencies who would LOVE, and desperately need, to have someone volunteer a few hours of their time to assist them in tasks around the office.  And because you are so lovable and hard-working…they may even offer you a job!!! 

Now, wasn’t that easy?!?

I get it; you don’t have the time, or money, to volunteer.  Then - let’s talk part-time work.  What is your ultimate career goal?  What are you willing to do to reach it?  I saw in an article online the other day this statement - ‘TEMP is not a four-letter word’…well, it is…but you know what they mean.  If you are struggling to find full-time, permanent work in your field- give a staffing agency a call.  Let them know what you want to be doing, ask them if they have ANY sort of work that relates to your field.  Even if it’s only a 6-week assignment - it’s still experience, its still money, and you’re making great contacts!  It’s also important to keep your Career Services Advisor on your campus updated on your progress, or lack thereof.  We are your resource to area employers, networking events, job fairs and job leads but we can’t help you if we don’t know you need it!

In the end my friend did find a job - she moved to Seattle, WA and now has a very successful career as a designer working with a large company.  So, the moral of the story is two-fold…follow your dreams, but attempt to gain some experience in the process. 

Answer that phone - it could be your career calling!

While interviewing is key to getting a job, it is often the most stressful part in the job search process.  Hang on to your hats - Mr. Scott will see you now…

“…palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy…”  for some of you, this song reminds you of attempting to rap in your car to Eminem, for others of you it may remind you of your last job interview.  Either way- I think we are all on the same page of how it feels to be nervous prior to a job interview.  Think back to the last interview you were on - do you think you were 100% prepared for what was going to be asked of you?  Were you confident you had the skills needed to do the job?  Did you remain composed even though you were shaking inside (or outside)?  Today I will discuss all of these topics and more as we learn the skills of Interviewing 101.

I’ve been on a lot of interviews.  My first interview was when I was 18 years old, late bloomer, for a retail position at Old Navy.  I remember getting ready to leave the house- nice dress shirt and jeans.  My dad stopped me and said “you are not really wearing jeans to an interview, are you?”  I looked at him with a very puzzled, I know more than you ‘cause I’m 18 look and said… “uh, yea…it’s Old Navy - they sell jeans there”.  He smirked and said, “at least put khaki’s on”.  So…with an eye roll and an ‘ugh’ I pounded up the stairs to put khaki’s on.  Dad was right - I got the job.

That brings me to Lesson 1 - Clothes really do make the man, or woman.  Even if you don’t have top of the line, designer dress clothes- you can fake it really well…trust me.  You can find black pants, a black suit coat and a collared shirt anywhere- and I bet you can spend $50 or less.  (Don’t believe me?  Try me…I’m the queen of bargain shopping).  It’s so important to look professional when going into an interview, first impressions count and last.  Remember what you think each time you walk past someone at the mall?  Come on - you know you do it…if they are dressed a certain way, you probably think a certain thing.  Be mindful of your dress on your big day- it could be the deciding factor!

Lesson 2 - This is a big one, very important, write it down.  BE NICE TO THE RECEPTIONIST!!!!  The person sitting at the front desk is often the first point of contact you will have when you arrive for your interview - BE NICE to them.  Smile politely, introduce yourself, let them know why you are there and SAY THANK YOU when you leave.  I can tell you that every supervisor I’ve talked to has said they will ask the receptionist if the candidate was courteous to them upon arrival and exit.  You’d be shocked at how much of an impression you can make in a few short minutes.

Lesson 3 - A quick one - RELAX and BREATHE…don’t get so worried!!  They called you for an interview- right?  They must be interested in you, so take a deep breath, wipe off those sweaty palms and relax…you will do great!!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH- Now you are in the interview room, don’t pass out, just breathe…smile, shake hands (be firm about it) and settle into your chair.  YOU are the one for this job- no one else.  Just keep telling yourself that over and over.

Lesson 4 - LOOK and listen.  I stress LOOK here because it is very important to make EYE CONTACT with every person in the interview.  Even if one person never asks you a question, be sure to LOOK at them just as you would the others.  Now, don’t stare them down and make them nervous, but be sure to keep eye contact with each person equally- this will make them feel good about themselves, and you!

Lesson 5 - Employers do NOT expect you to have all the answers.  It’s OK not to know the answer to everything an employer asks you.  Employers will occasionally ask questions they don’t expect you to know the answer to – just to see how you’ll handle it.  It’s OK to say “Actually, that is a very good question.  I am not sure on the answer - could you fill me in?”  This shows your ability to ask for help and handle yourself in a collected manner.  Don’t make something up, companies have plenty of people who make things up for them…don’t be another one. 

Lesson 6 - BE YOURSELF!!  Employers want to hire an individual, a leader, a person with creativity and ideas.  Don’t use textbook answers or say something just because you think it’s what they wan to hear.  And please, I’m begging you…do not tell them “I’m a people person, I love working with people”.  They get it; they know it - think of something clever to say instead.  Don’t forget it’s hard to remember each candidate - the more outgoing and unique you can be the better.  However, don’t go overboard.  I once heard a story about a man who did a head stand in an interview- please skip that trick- it’s not needed.  He didn’t get the job.

Lesson 7 - Be enthusiastic, show actual interest in the company and the position.  This goes hand in hand with ASKING QUESTIONS!!!  There is nothing worse you can do that answer, answer, answer and never ask a single question.  Ask the interviewer how they got started with the company, ask whey they are hiring for this position, ask them who did their interior decorating, ask how many employees they have, ask about opportunities for growth within the company- JUST ASK!  It’s a good idea to type up a list of questions to refer to incase you get nervous.  Asking questions shows you are genuinely interested in the company, the people and the position.  Not asking makes you look as if you don’t care.

A few final notes - take an extra copy of your resume, cover letter AND references with you - in a nice folder.  Don’t forget to smile.  When they ask you about yourself- try to add in one personal, creative tid bit.  Something like “I have completed 4 Chicago Marathons” (that’s mine, can’t use it unless it’s true) or “in my spare time I enjoy reading the Stephanie Plum novels” (also mine) or “I have a Husky dog named Pacino” (yep, mine too).  Give them something personal, yet professional, that they can remember you by.  Don’t be just another face in the crowd – stand out!!  

I hope this has given you a few ideas on how to approach your next interview.  As always - contact me for more advice and information…”help me help you.”  

A resume can make or break your chances of even getting a call from an employer.  It’s important to follow a few simple rules to make your resume stand out from the rest.  It’s possible you haven’t looked at your resume for quite some time.  Well, pull it out, wipe the dust off and lets review some ways to make your resume shine like the day you turned in your final draft.

A resume is to job searching like peanut butter is to chocolate (ok, ok…or jelly).  You will be hard pressed to find one without the other.  I like to think of a resume as a menu in a restaurant with everything organized by category, easy to read and enticing to the person reading it.  If you can keep the vision of your resume as a menu -  what do you think would be the appetizer?  Ah, yes, there you go - your COVER LETTER!  A cover letter is a MUST for most job seekers.  This gives the employer a small insight into your skills, abilities, and interest in the job.  A resume without a cover letter, is like a banana split without a cherry on top!  (Can you tell I love food?!)

A good cover letter really only needs to consist of 3 paragraphs:

1)  The first will explain the reason you are writing, the position you are applying for and where you found the position (Monster, CareerBuilder, St. Cloud Times, etc.).  

2)  Your second paragraph will talk about why you are interested in the company and why YOU are the best person for the job.  Don’t just write about what’s on your resume- talk about some things that can’t be found on your resume- something interesting that will make the employer want to read your resume!  Be sure this interesting thing is workplace appropriate- letting you future boss know you are best known for sleeping for 15 hours straight is probably not the best thing to include.  Telling them you are an active volunteer at the Humane Society shows your dedication to community service and your love for animals- something all the other candidates may not have.  

3)  Your final cover letter paragraph will remind them you have enclosed your resume and include the best way to reach you for an interview.  Don’t be too specific here- let the employer know the best part of the day to reach you and if email is a viable option for them.  You don’t want to sound like your online instructor explaining their office and call hours to you- general times/days are best. 

Once you have mastered the art of writing, and re-writing your cover letter for each job you are interested in, you can move on to perfecting your resume.  There are, in my opinion, 5 THINGS that will keep an employer from giving you (and your resume) a second thought…

Lying- Just don’t do it.  If you don’t have your Associates Degree yet- don’t list that you do.  If you only worked at Target for 5 months, don’t say you were there for a year.  If you were never Mickey Mouse at Disney - please don’t include it in your work history.  Employers WILL look into what’s written on your resume, if you are lying, they will most likely find out.  Costing you a job and possibly tarnishing your reputation.  Your 1st grade teacher was right - honesty is the best policy.

A "creative" email address.  If you plan on using your personal email address for job searching purposes, you may want to consider getting a more ‘professional’ address that you will use only for this purpose.  Employers generally do not want to set up an interview with someone by emailing imalwayslate@email.com or workstinks4ever@email.com.  These are great addresses to utilize when chatting with friends and family- but not a future boss. 

Using too many or too few words.  Your resume should NOT be the next great American novel, this job blog on the other hand- I really hope it is!  Your resume should be a short, concise view into your professional and educational history.  Use 3-5 bullet points to explain your job duties and only list 3-5 past jobs (unless otherwise stated by the employer).  The rule of thumb is 12-point font, 1-page in length.  On the flip side, don’t leave important details out for sake of length.  You want to give some sort of insight into yourself - so don’t sell yourself short.  

Stuffy words.  There is nothing worse than when an employer asks you to define the word ‘tenacious’ because you’ve used it 5 times in your cover letter and you have no idea what it even means!!  Don’t try to use words to impress your future boss, use your education and your experience and you will win out every time.  

Please, I am begging you; do not use Resume Wizard!!  I know it’s tough to format your first resume - lots of spacing, tabbing over, indents, margins, headers, footers…ahhhhhh!  But just try (and I can help!).  Try to be creative, do something that will make YOUR resume stand out from the pack.  Even putting it on actual resume paper will really help your cause.  A word of caution - if you are going to ‘cut and paste’ your resume to a site, you will generally need to take out ALL the tabs and spacing for it to correctly format.  If you are attaching your resume - it will be fine without those changes. 

I hope you now see the value and necessity of taking the time to put together a working cover letter and resume.  There are few things in your job-searching life that will come in as handy. 

Except perhaps a really big peanut butter cup and a banana split…