TOOLS TO MARKET YOURSELF

Marketing materials come in various shapes, sizes, and utility. It is important to note that what might work best for one candidate, might not be the ideal model for another. As you begin considering which marketing tools might be most beneficial for you, remember too that what works best for some employers might not be what is best for others. If you find yourself struggling to make the selection, be sure to reach out and ask the University Career Center for assistance.

DID YOU KNOW?

In many international cultures, the curriculum vitae is the preferred professional document of choice. If you are conducting an international job search be sure to check out GoinGlobal in Handshake at handshake.auburn.edu for information particular to each country. RÉSUMÉ

Of all the items discussed in this section, the résumé is likely the most familiar. An almost universal presence in any job search, the résumé is the de facto document of choice by employers to assess past experiences, skills and abilities. So, what is a résumé? In short, a résumé is a targeted (emphasis on targeted) marketing document that best illustrates the most relevant skills, abilities, and experiences for the particular position that you are applying for. A résumé’s worth is not indicated by the number of pages it contains, but instead on the quality and pertinence of information provided. Job searchers and hopeful applicants do themselves a disservice when they only create one version of their résumé and send it to all their prospective employers. Imagine the look on your face when you receive a standard form letter in the mail. Now imagine that exact same look on an employer’s face when they read a standard form résumé. This likely was not the reaction you were hoping for. For examples of potential different layouts and different examples within majors, be sure to look at aub.ie/resume or pages 23-27.

COVER LETTER

Arguably the most personal and potentially impactful of the marketing materials (if done correctly), the cover letter is an essential part of any applicant’s submitted materials. And yes, before you ask, a cover letter should always be included unless you are specifically told not to include one.

Where résumés and C.V.s show skills, abilities, and past experiences, a cover letter demonstrates fit for a role. This document provides the applicant an opportunity to prove why they are the best candidate for that particular position. A potential candidate should feel free to “borrow” language from the job description and incorporate it into their selling pitch. A cover letter should entice someone to read your résumé. For many employers, having a candidate that can fit within their established company culture is an important trait in the potential applicant, and your cover letter provides an excellent opportunity to showcase this aspect. As with résumé writing, a potential applicant does themself a disservice by utilizing the same standard cover letter for all positions. It is difficult to show how one might fit in at Apple Inc. when one uses the same cover letter as their application to Microsoft Inc. Marketing materials should look to make an impact. This is exceedingly difficult to do when all your cover letters are the same.

As with résumés, for most cases, a cover letter should never exceed more than one page. Other small items to pay attention to: a cover letter is a business letter, as such it uses a colon after the salutation and does not indent paragraphs. As well, you should do your very best to find an individual to address your letter to; a little thing, but little things make all the difference. CURRICULUM VITAE

A curriculum vitae, or as it is more commonly known C.V., is an entirely different document than a résumé. Where a résumé is a targeted marketing document, crafted for singular positions or roles, the C.V. is a complete history of experience. For most entry level candidates there will likely be very little difference between their résumé and C.V., but in later careers the differences become more marked. Where a résumé will always be geared toward brevity and specificity, a C.V. is more of a comprehensive history of past experience. It is not uncommon for C.V.s to go on for multiple pages.

You might also notice that the curriculum vitae is more often used in fields like academia and those where research plays a large role. Common sections included in C.V.s but not as often in résumés include: Conference Presentations, Publications, Poster Sessions, Thesis, and Research. In addition to academic settings the C.V. is often used in international job searches. If you find yourself struggling with which document to use, come to the University Career Center (303 Mary Martin Hall) for individualized feedback.

PORTFOLIO

There might come a time in your job search where you are asked to submit a portfolio of your work. If you do not already have a portfolio, you might find yourself wondering what exactly to include or, more importantly, what exactly is a portfolio. Simply put, a portfolio is a collection of examples. These examples will vary from field to field. Where a graphic designer might submit examples of layouts, a health services administrator might submit a previously conducted assessment of efficiency. The sophisticated word for these things you put in your portfolio is “artifact”. A portfolio should showcase your best work. Some fields will require examples of your creative process along with the final product. The portfolio is not the time for humility, nor is it the time for plagiarism. Be sure that the examples/artifacts that you are using in your portfolio are actually works of superior quality and that they belong to you. Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but you should want to showcase your own individual works. Also, you should look to showcase a variety of works. Do not submit 15 versions of the same kind of item, instead showcase the breadth of your brilliance by giving an employer or admissions panel many types of artifacts so that they can see your ability to create across a spectrum. ePORTFOLIO Where a portfolio is comprised of actual tangible items, an ePortfolio is electronic. No less representative of your work or ability, it is just not an actual physical item. The same types of things you would include into a physical portfolio should be included here as well. Include artifacts that show evidence of skills and knowledge as they relate to the positions to which you are applying. The types of artifacts included in your ePortfolio will vary between students of different majors. The electronic version might allow for more ability to provide context and why an employer should care that you’re electing to show them these items. One should take special note, however, to not get too weighted down in reflection and context when many employers will be wanting to get directly to the point. What might work for an academic audience might not work for an industry oriented audience. You will need to use your best judgment when assessing what will work for either audience. In addition to being wonderfully convenient, ePortfolios are part of official University policy. The University officially supports several electronic portfolio platforms and more information can be found at auburn.edu/eportfolios.

ARTIFACTS MAY INCLUDE:

− Video recordings of presentations − Highlights from internship experiences − Pictures from volunteer or study abroad experiences − Work samples from related class projects

For more information on developing an ePortfolio and to see portfolio samples from other Auburn University students, visit auburn.edu/eportfolios.