Think you haven’t achieved anything? 62 real-life achievement statements for undergraduate resumes

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Remember how I gave you a checklist of ways to job search over winter break without networking? (If not, read it here.) Step one is to add this semester’s classes and accomplishments to your resume. Does that stop you cold, thinking, “I’ve done stuff, but it was all for clubs and class… what do I do?”

Never fear! I’ve collected 62 inspiring real-life accomplishments, all from the in-class or on-campus experience of undergrads like you.

Did you do marketing for an organization, volunteer in a school or write a research paper? If the answer is yes (and I bet it is), the examples below will show you how to help an employer see value in your experience, even if was unpaid.

And if you’re wondering why I led with student publications, it’s because I was president and creative director of a monthly mag at UNC-Chapel Hill. And yes, that experience is still on my resume AND employers always ask about it! So stop worrying that classwork and extracurriculars don’t count; they do.

Student Publications

1. Increased recognition of tri-weekly newspaper and helped qualify the 2007-2008 version as a Pacemaker Finalist
2. Assigned and copyedited articles for daily publication; pitched story ideas and managed over 50 writers.
3. Redesigned the magazine for the first time in three years while delegating assignments to 10 designers and editing their layouts each month
4. Advised photographers working on photo stories and essays from conception to publication
5. Create blog posts on more time-sensitive issues, like product recommendations for an unexpectedly cold week
6. Oversaw a desk of 30 writers for daily university newspaper with a readership of 38,000
7. Hired new photographers and supervised 60-person photo staff
8. Assisted with planning story topics, such as alumni profiles and campus events, for a monthly magazine with a distribution of approximately 5,000

Greek Life

1. Enforce and uphold chapter bylaws through clear communication of standards, increasing member participation by 40%
2. Launched, wrote and distributed weekly Greek Newsletter to more than 2,500 Greek members, advisors and commissioners
3. Designed and presented Greek End of the Year Report to members, advisors, commissioners and University officials
4. Organize five to seven social events a week to facilitate bonding for 140+ brothers
5. Educated and served as mentor for 45 new ADPI members

School Volunteer / Tutor

1. Worked with three at-risk third graders twice a week to improve math and reading skills
2. Improved reading skills of kindergartners and first graders by animatedly reading books aloud and actively encouraging their participation in the process
3. Committed 3 hours weekly for tutoring and mentoring students in 9-12th grade during after school hours.
4. Instructed 24 second-grade students in an urban school district with multiple learning styles
5. Disciplined and mentored an eight year old girl twice a week for 4 hours each day
6. Tutored and encouraged low-income middle school students in various courses
7. Provided a safe and motivating after school environment for 10 to 12 kids
8. Function as a student assistant in a kindergarten classroom while collaborating intently with the teacher and sometimes parents to develop the students’ reading, writing, and mathematical comprehension skills.

Student Government

1. Lead the Student Government Association with the Executive Board; personally revised constitution, formed attendance policy, and oversaw duties of senators and cabinet/ staff members.
2. Managed the annual programming budget of the campus using excel; amount roughly $125,000
3. Evaluated project proposals including the implementation of food waste composting, solar water heating for the sports and fitness facilities, and the conversion of 20% of the college’s grounds to native prairie grass.
4. Worked with 30 students to accelerate support and spirit of XXX athletics

Admissions Ambassador

1. I am one of an inaugural four-person team hired to initiate projects with goals of increasing admitted student yield rate, information publicity to transfer students, number of campus visits, and more.
2. Applied for and was selected out of 150 Albright students to represent the student body as an Admissions Ambassador

Resident Advisor

1. Helped organize annual Housing Fair & increased attendance from the prior, record-breaking year through a strategic marketing plan and personal advocacy.
2. Develop relationships with 40 residents to meet their academic, emotional, and social needs
3. Manage 200 residents and quickly address concerns such as room conflicts, school policy violations, and class scheduling issues.
4. Present 12 programs per semester for the residence halls, including social programs, diversity programs, community partnership programs, academic environment programs, and individual development programs.

Classwork

1. Worked on a microfinance project with students from the University of Liberia by compiling a 20-page research report with information focused on successes/failures of microfinance practices in Haiti
2. Collaborated with a team of five students to conduct original research and create a comprehensive media relations plan based on an expert positioning strategy. The team presented the plan to a panel of executives and students.

Student Organization Leadership

1. Acquired Registered Student Organization recognition by University
2. Attained 501(c)(3) status and sponsorship with Princeton Review
3. Elected by 90 dues-paying member peers to lead student-run PR firm for the 2011-12 school year
4. Oversee a student club that serves as an “umbrella” organization of all multicultural student clubs on campus and maintain a membership roster of 100 members or more
5. Secured two new chapter professional advisors and utilized all professional advisors by setting up a mentorship program between advisors and executive board members
6. Co-founded student group, which strives to raise awareness of the inherent inequality in the current educational system and to correct this inequality through the creation of opportunities currently unavailable to disadvantaged high school students.
7. Managed a 501(c)3 non-profit, an 80-person staff and an $18,000 budget
8. Assembled a team of 30 to fill positions in finance, public and internal relations, and development

Student Organization Membership Acquisition

1. Increased membership by more than 500 percent during two semesters
2. Secured a 20 percent increase in firm membership, with more than 200 members, for 2011-2012 school year
3. Spearheaded the PRSSA Student-run Firm National Affiliation application and received accreditation in February 2011
4. Recruited over 100 members to participate and contribute to the sustainability of the group
5. Produced the chapter’s quarterly newsletter by recruiting writers, editors and photographers, generating and assigning story ideas, designing the layout and distributing it to chapter members, journalism students and professionals

 Student Organization Marketing / Event Planning

1. Created and organized a petition to have gluten-free foods available on campus
2. Produced and edited articles for chapter’s newsletter and blog, sent to all PRSSA students and faculty in 2008-2010
3. Designed promotional tools, such as fliers and t-shirts, for the 2009 male beauty pageant Mr. Ohio University
4. Coordinated all marketing and communications efforts for one of the largest homecoming celebrations in the nation.
5. Planned several events to raise funds and create buzz about Penn State Homecoming. Events included a 5k and Homecoming Night with the local minor league baseball team.
6. Worked closely with and acquired sponsorship from XXX Gluten-Free Foods
7. Secured a 78 percent increase in client base compared to previous year and a 50 percent increase in firm membership for 2010-2011 school year as vice president of administration
8. Organize campus events including information sessions and food sampling
9. Scheduled over 35 diverse visiting professionals to speak at fall, winter and spring quarter meetings
10. Manage 45 on campus events, including Springfest, the annual week-long homecoming in the spring semester, which includes co-sponsoring with 10-15 other clubs and organizations, three events daily, 15 events in the week, culminating in the campus-wide comedian show with attendance of up to 2,500.

 Student Organization Fundraising

1. Collaborated with volunteers and Executive Director to increase fundraising from $3,000 in 2006 to over $50,000 in 2008
2. Implemented more than 10 fundraising projects as member of the chapter’s finance committee in 2009

Honors and Awards

1. Selected for academic and professional performance to represent the School of Journalism at various times and for various functions throughout the academic year
2. Earned Outstanding Freshman & Sophomore awards in ’08-’09 & ’09-’10 school years for involvement in the chapter
3. Selected as one of 10 students to write and perform a play about diversity to the incoming freshman class
4. Served on the highly selective Residential Life staff
5. Elected by peers to be the PR manager for the Sailing Team

9 ways to jumpstart your job search over winter break WITHOUT networking

You probably know the holidays are a great time to network. I’ve even written about why. But I also know what you’ve just been through. A week of all-nighters, cramming for exams and eking out term papers. The last thing you probably want to do is head home and start setting up informational interviews.

So, instead, here are nine easy (read: online) things you can do to avoid underachiever’s guilt and get your parents off your back. Happy holidays from me to you 😉

1. Add this semester’s classes and accomplishments to your resume.
2. While you’re at it, update LinkedIn.
3. Write down one great story from the semester that you could use in an interview.
4. Subscribe to five career-relevant blogs.
5. Upload your best assignments to SlideShare or Scribd.
6. Find 10 career-relevant people to follow on Twitter.
7. Not on Twitter? Get on Twitter.
8. Start a gratitude journal.
9. Identify three people to ask for informational interviews next semester. (Hey, I didn’t say networking wasn’t part of the plan; I just said you don’t have to do it now.)

Image credit: sandwichgirl

QUIZ: Are you afraid to ship?

Source: redmolotov.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Sounds good, doesn’t it? And if you’re one of those people who’s constantly having “open mouth, insert foot” moments, you need this advice.

But if you’re one of those people* who uses those words of wisdom as an excuse to wait just a while longer for the perfect idea, stay quiet until you know just the right thing to say, or tirelessly revise projects that don’t really need it… STOP. And just ship something.

*Full disclosure: I’m one, too.

Odds are, you know which camp you’re in. But in case you’re not sure, here’s a quiz. If any of these behaviors sound remotely like you, start shipping a little more often and thinking a little less.

You’re a job seeker with a fear of shipping if you have:

• Agonized (for more than 30 seconds) whether “best regards” or simply “best” is more appropriate
• Rewritten the third bullet point of the fifth job description on your resume five times, and you’re debating a sixth round
• Spent an hour fussing with an information interview request only to give up because you can’t get it quite perfect, and you’re sure you’ll sound like an idiot
• Gone into interviews so over-prepared that you couldn’t deviate from your script enough to be effective

If that sounds like you, I can help. As a recovering perfectionist, I understand where you are and what’s holding you back. Just get in touch, and we can put together a plan to have you shipping like a pro in no time.

The crazy-easy way to start a gratitude journal – and some ideas on what to say

After talking about the benefits of gratitude journals last week, I promised I’d share my favorite online gratitude journal. Soooo, drumroll please:

Why I love it

1. It is dead simple. It’s so simple, I don’t have to remember to use it. Happy Rambles sends me an email with the subject line, “What are you grateful for today?” I just reply with my answer, and away it goes, stored in my private account on their site.
2. It’s a blast from the past. In addition to asking me what I’m grateful for, the email also includes a past entry and asks, “How good was this?”
3. It’s consistent. Every night at 8 p.m., I know that little email will show up in my box, and it makes me take just a few minutes and think about the good things in my day.

How it works for me

You can reply in most any form — paragraphs, bullets, photos, even incoherent sentences if that’s your thing. It’s easier and less daunting for me to write three things in a simple numbered list, so that’s what I do. It usually takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes.

It’s okay to focus on the small things

When I started out, I thought I might run out of things to say; being grateful for friends and family every night would get boring in a hurry.

But I quickly figured out that it’s more fun to focus on the small random things that make you smile or laugh. Here are just a few examples of quirky little things from my journal:

• The yard guy who stops to pick up wind-blown trashcans
• Fall moon on a periwinkle backdrop
• Frozen strawberries
• Getting a compliment on my new sweater
• Negotiating with Time Warner
• New sidewalk from my office to Rite Aid
• Fresh, delicious, yummy-smelling bagels
• New laptop battery

Bonus idea for job seekers

Use your gratitude journal as a way to record progress in your search. Make it a goal to have one positive piece of job-search news to report each night. It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe you found a new company to research, made a new contact, had a great conversation, figured out a new way to frame your skills, or got a target company to retweet something you said.

So, what are you waiting for? Pop over to Happy Rambles and get your own journal!

In honor of Thanksgiving: Benefits of a gratitude journal for job seekers

What better time than Thanksgiving Eve to talk about gratitude journals? If you’re here, some of you might be thinking, “Um, I don’t have a job, and you want me to say thank you?”

That’s really the point. When you’re job searching, it’s easy to focus on the negative things — the resume you sent that didn’t get a response, the interview question you flubbed, the networking meeting you couldn’t get. A gratitude journal forces you to focus on the wins, however big or small, related or unrelated to your job search.

BTW, a gratitude journal can be as simple or complex as you want. It can be on paper or online. It can be in paragraphs or in bullet points.  Next week, I’ll show you my favorite online gratitude journal. It’s super easy, and it’s free.

Mmk, so, specifically, what are the benefits?

People who keep gratitude journals…

1. Are more likely to make progress toward goals.
2. Sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed.
3. Are less stressed out by everyday hassles.
4. Do more exercise.
5. Are more optimistic about their future.

Are you convinced yet? You’ll have more energy to put into your job search, you won’t be as discouraged by little things that go wrong, and you’ll feel more confident about your chances of success. It’s a win-win-win.

So let’s get the ball rolling. Leave a comment with something you’re grateful for, career related or otherwise.

I’ll start — it’s November 23, and it’s almost 70 degrees outside. And I’m grateful that of everything you could be doing, reading and thinking, you’re spending some time here. Thanks, it means a lot.

So the holidays are good for networking. Now what?

Let me state the obvious: The holidays are coming. You’ve probably realized or read that the holidays are the perfect time to network.

And they are!

You have lots of down time to talk to people who 1) care about you 2) are older than you and 3) you don’t see very often. Perfect networking opportunity.

Until you get asked that super-tough question, “How can I help?”

How many of you have been in that situation? I have. How many of you have stumbled and said, “Uh, well, I don’t know right now, but I’ll let you know!” I have. Can you say awkward/missed opportunity?

There are (clearly) better ways to respond, and here are five of my go-to answers. All of them start with some variation of, “Oh, that’s so nice of you to ask! You know…”

1. I would love for you to look over my resume. Could I email it to you for feedback?
2. I’m looking to speak with people in xxxx industry (or function). Do you know of anyone I should talk with? Would you mind introducing me?
3. I’m trying to translate my (school/work/internship) experience to my resume. What do you think a hiring manager would find most valuable about that experience?
4. I’d love to hear any networking tips you have. Do you belong to any associations or groups that are especially helpful?
5. The toughest interview question I’ve encountered is (insert it here). How would you answer that?

You’ll choose your response depending on how you think the person can be most helpful. However you respond, thank them, explain your need, then — and this is key — toss it back to them with a question.

And of course, at the end of the conversation, you can always say, “I’m looking for a (marketing, IT, name-your-ideal-job). Would you keep your ears and eyes open for me?”

What do you tell people who ask how they can help?

Need a jolt of pre-interview confidence? Put down your smart phone and head to the bathroom, says Harvard research

If you spend the minutes before your interview nervously tapping away at your phone, STOP! And watch this video.

OK, it was 17 minutes. Maybe you didn’t watch the whole thing.

Quick summary: Harvard research shows that our confidence and stress levels can change in just TWO MINUTES depending on how our bodies are positioned.

If you sit hunched forward — like you do when you’re reading news on your phone — your stress hormone (cortisol) levels rise and your confidence hormone (testosterone) levels decrease.

BUT, good news! If you spend just two minutes in a ‘power pose’ (the researcher’s term, not mine), you will see opposite effects. Stress levels decrease, confidence rises.

Even better news, the study shows that people who adopt power poses are more likely to get hired, largely because they come across as more charismatic and enthusiastic.

Are you now wondering how to pose powerfully? Look at the video image. She’s in a power pose. She’s standing up straight and tall, with her chest puffed out and hands on her hips. Her body takes up as much space as possible.

That’s why the researcher advises heading to the bathroom before your interview. You’ll be standing up on your way there, and inside, you’ll be able to spread out a bit without attracting weird looks from the receptionist.

 

Lessons from TV: Showing versus telling on America’s Next Top Model

If you didn’t see it, Angelea almost went home last night on America’s Next Top Model. (Right, like you don’t have any guilty TV pleasures.)

She didn’t take a bad picture or even write a terrible song (the models were singer/songwriters last night). She almost went home because she was telling one thing but showing another. (To get all technical, her brand wasn’t aligned.)

Watch her video. She’s singing about being a tough girl who gets up when she’s been kicked down. The words are feisty, punky, even a little angry. Despite Angelea’s best attempts at fist pumping and head swinging, the judges said things like:

• “It never registered”
• “It was a little flat”
• “You were blank”
• “You need to sell everything”

Tyra even showed her that she needed to get her angry-pretty face on and really put some force in her air punches. Basically, she needed to align her words with her actions. She needed to SHOW and tell.

 

Apply it to your job search

Let’s clear up one thing first — I am NOT advising you to begin forcefully air punching during interviews. With that out of the way, how can you avoid falling flat like Angelea?

Angelea was trying to convince the judges that she was tough and feisty. You, on the other hand, are trying to convince an employer that you’re the best person for the job. To break it down, you need the employer to know that 1) you have the skills and 2) you have the passion.

SHOW you have the skills

1. In your resume. That little skills section isn’t enough. You need to show how you’ve used those skills. That’s why your experience descriptions should contain lots of accomplishments.

2. In the interview. If you find yourself speaking in generalizations like, “I really enjoy working with people,” you need to get acquainted with the Situation-Action-Response interviewing strategy. It forces you to turn your experience into illustrative stories.

3. In a portfolio? Nope, they’re not just for artists. Even if you’ve revamped your resume, a portfolio can help employers see the accomplishments you’ve mentioned. For example, if you talk about writing a 20-page research paper, put it in a portfolio.

SHOW you have the passion

Remember how the judges called Angelea ‘blank’? That’s the absence of passion. Other synonyms are blah, boring and safe.

Here’s the thing — sometimes, when you’re trying really hard to be professional, you can come across as blank. This is especially true for new job seekers. You’re worrying about being labeled immature or unprofessional, so you stick with uber-formal language or play it very tight laced in interviews.

Being excited doesn’t make you unprofessional, and employers want to know that their job and company make you light up. Don’t believe me? Take a look at this cover letter written by a hiring manager sick of receiving the same “professional” sounding letter.

It’s a tough line to walk, but let your excitement and passion come through in your cover letter and interview. Smile. Smize, even.

3 ways job seekers are like Halloween candy

I heard two couples have virtually the same conversation on Target’s Halloween aisle this weekend. It went something like this:

Couple enters aisle full of candy.
Person 1: Sighs heavily
Person 2: How do we choose???
Person 1: Silence

And then it hits me. Job seekers (especially entry-level job seekers) are like Halloween candy. Let’s explore.

1. You have a lot of competition. There are two aisles stacked floor to ceiling with sugary goodness, but there’s only so much space in your Halloween bowl. Employers see the same thing. There are about four job seekers for every job opening, but you’ve probably heard stories of employers receiving hundreds of resumes for a single position.

2. You start to look alike. Once you’ve weeded out the obvious low quality/bad fits (ehm, Palmer’s chocolate), you’re left with similarly strong competitors. Reese’s, Hershey’s and Almond Joy vs. Milky Way, Snickers and Twix. It’s really hard to go wrong. Likewise, you’re not the only candidate who has a great GPA and stellar internships.

3. You’re shoved in with the Christmas decorations. Come mid-October, the Halloween stuff is scrunched alongside Rudolph and sparkling ornaments. That’s because stores have competing priorities. So do the companies where you’ve applied. That job may be the center of your universe, but it’s only one piece of theirs. Just keep that in mind if the process drags on, or if it takes them a while to get back to you. They’ve been distracted by the penguin yard ornament.

From a grad that’s been there and landed a job: Learning and Organizing

A guest post by UNC senior Courtney Miller. (Thanks for all the wonderful posts, Courtney!)

It’s been a pleasure guest posting on Kelly’s blog (thanks, Kelly!) and I hope I’ve covered helpful tips that you can apply to your job search! Now it’s time for a few final words on how to learn from the job hunting experience and how to stay organized.

On learning:

• Interviewing. It’s unlikely that your first few interviews out of college will be your best. After an interview, take the time to write down what was said. Take special note of what you did well and what you could have phrased better. Write down the questions that took you by surprise because you never know when you might hear them again. Go over your questions and answers with someone who can give good feedback – a seasoned friend, ex-boss, professor, career counselor, or parent for example. Practice the questions you messed up on with a friend or career counselor so you’ll be ready next time.
• Pick up new skills in the downtime. You might notice you’re finding job descriptions that mostly fit your skills, but ask for a few skills you don’t have, such as HTML, Web 2.0, JavaScript, content management systems, etc. Now is a great time to try to learn these other skills to add to your resume and flexibility. Expanding your skill set will only improve your candidacy.
• Etiquette. Constantly watch out for the little things that usually go unsaid in phone or in-person interviews. Manners can go a long way. For example, be conscious of what you’re wearing, your body language, and mannerisms. Make sure you practice your handshake, keep your hands on the table and don’t rock back and forth if you have a chair that pivots. You can also test your phone etiquette knowledge with a quiz on QuintCareers.

On Organization:

• Spreadsheets. An organized spreadsheet will help you stay on top of deadlines and keep records. Create an excel spreadsheet to track the jobs. Make columns for: company/organization, job title, location of the job, the URL of the post, username, password, date the job was posted, due date, application status, date you turned in your application,  contact person (and the person’s contact info), whether you followed-up or not (and dates), whether you heard from them (and dates), and if you have an interview scheduled.
• E-mail organization. Every e-mail server is different, but it’s important to come up with an organization system to keep track of correspondence. Create a folder for job search agents, application e-mails, interview correspondence, application confirmations, and networking correspondence. Star or highlight the ones you have not responded to or the ones that contain important information. When you’re applying to ten jobs a day, your inbox can get a little crowded and you need to remember not to overlook or forget to send important e-mails.
• Computer Files. Create a system for organizing your computer files. Keep all job hunt materials in one folder, “Job Hunt 2009.” Place your most important and used documents in this folder, such as your resume, general cover letter, job search Excel database and reference list for easy access. Create sub folders under this folder for each month and then sub folders for each organization. Save all cover letters, thank you notes, interview questions, and interview notes under the organization’s folder. Keep a separate folder for networking and save important things you learned from each contact and the contact’s information.
• Paper files. Buy a tabbed accordion folder to keep paper files. Create a tab for each organization you actually interview and keep interview notes, directions or handouts in the section. Also create a tab for useful resources you printed or received and anything else related to your job search that is in hard copy.